Secret Affair
a.k.a 밀회
| More info on MyDramaList | 2014|
Because of his extraordinary ability, he immediately got the attention of the venue's art director, Hye Won. She scouts Seon Jae to become her husband's protege. Hye Won's husband, who happens to be a piano professor, agrees on tutoring Seon Jae and honing him into becoming the next leading classical musician in the industry.
The piano lessons served as Seon Jae's ticket into escaping his miserable life. He is thankful for the care and support he got from the couple. Music became his salvation and he found a muse in Hye Won. Undeniably, Hye Won also got deeply affected by Seon Jae's gift. She was swept off her feet by this young genius pianist. Now, romantically and artistically, they're drawn to each other. Is it too late for them to turn back? Will Seon Jae's confession lead to a secret affair?
Before One Spring Night became my favorite Ahn Pan Seok drama of 2019, there was Secret Affair. I watched this before the whole Netflix era. Now that everyone gets to stay at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I thought of watching the Secret Affair once more.
Boy, it didn't disappoint me! I never knew that I could love it even more. Honestly, the Secret Affair wasn't popular among K-Drama fans. I must say it isn't for everyone... AND fans are irked the moment they see the word “affair”.
I'm telling you now: don't put off a hidden gem just because of the “affair”. Personally, I never looked at it as Hye Won and Seon Jae's love affair, but for me, it was their love affair with music. I can set aside the age gap for a good drama. So, I beg you to set aside your prejudices because Secret Affair is truly a piece of art.
The soul of the drama was their love for music, and it's not their love affair. Have you heard of the OST? One of the best! The piano pieces are music to my ears. I can listen to the melodies and not care of the world around me. The music alone transports me to Hye Won and Seon Jae's little world.
Trust me, the affair should be the least of your problems. It's an insult to say that it's just another drama about illicit affairs because Secret Affair is waaaay more than that. I love how mature and moving this 16-episode series is. Every little thing -- the conversations, the music, the chemistry between Hye Won and Seon Jae -- is just utter perfection. Both actors showed intense chemistry. I can watch them all day because they simply make beautiful music together.
The romance aspect was elegantly portrayed. It didn't seem dirty and cheap. Instead, it was very loving. The romance was handled with care and gentleness. They took their time and did not let their raging hormones dictate the course of their relationship. It was definitely geared to a more mature audience. I would definitely recommend this to people who would understand the delicateness and tenderness of love.
Their relationship is not about lust; you can genuinely feel their love for each other. Seriously, have you seen how Seon Jae looks at Hye Won? There was love, longing, respect and admiration all at once. I cannot find the right words to describe how Yoo Ah In nailed his performance as Seon Jae!
Whether you like the main leads or not, you can't deny that there was so much emotion in one single scene than an entire pile of romcom movies combined. Their love made me cry. It's rare to find a love this deep. The Secret Affair wasn't just romantically done, but it was artistically done as well.
Overall, Secret Affair is a classic drama that was able to hit the high notes. I can safely say that this is on favorites list despite having watched many K-Dramas out there. The Secret Affair captivated me from start to finish. I was put under a spell by its classical OST. With a great cast and crew, it clearly stood out from the rest. Definitely deserving of all the awards and positive comments it gained along the way. A solid 10/10 for me!