Amnesia/Mental Variance/Coma/Brains
I originally made this list in order to avoid dramas with amnesia, but I found that many of my favorites contained bouts of amnesia. I've begrudgingly accepted amnesia as an overused plotline (seriously, Koreans should outlaw white trucks, as they seem to cause 75% of the amnesia victims). Conversely, I'm drawn to dramas with characters who live with brain dysfunctions such as prosopagnosia (I have a special list just for that), OCD, or other neural conditions that challenge daily life. I'm especially engaged with short-term memory loss (like Devilish Joy) where the character has to journal his life in order to understand it (been there; done that); if you have any K-drama recommendations for that, I'd appreciate them.
P.S. I'm beginning to think I should have made a list strictly for dramas that did NOT contain amnesia.
-
![Shoot My Heart]()
101. Shoot My Heart
Korean Movie - 2015
Schizophrenia.
-
![Shopping King Louie]()
102. Shopping King Louie
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![Smile, You]()
103. Smile, You
Korean Drama - 2009, 45 episodes
Mental Illness.
-
![Smoking Gun]()
104. Smoking Gun
Korean Drama - 0000, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
[“Smoking Gun” is an espionage action thriller about a former South Korean agent with memory loss and a North Korean secret agent who is trying to kill him as they carry out an intense chase in order to stop a terrorism plot.]
-
![Stranger]()
105. Stranger
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
"Hwang Shi Mok underwent brain surgery as a child to curb his violent temper, which left him devoid of emotions. Hwang becomes a prosecutor known for his piercing intelligence and logic, but he is ostracized because he lacks empathy and social skills."
-
![Suo Ai San Seng]()
106. Suo Ai San Seng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![Sweet Sweet]()
107. Sweet Sweet
Chinese Drama - 2021, 22 episodes
Brain Damage. Aphasia (impaired speech).
-
![The Gentleman and the Lady]()
108. The Gentleman and the Lady
Korean Drama - 2021, 52 episodes
Amnesia and reverse amnesia. This drama is responsible for my initial hatred of amnesia as a plotline.
-
![The Girl Who Sees Scents]()
109. The Girl Who Sees Scents
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
Coma. Amnesia. Brain translated scents into visuals (synesthesia).
-
![The Love by Hypnotic]()
110. The Love by Hypnotic
Chinese Drama - 2019, 36 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![The Man Who Can't Get Married]()
111. The Man Who Can't Get Married
Korean Drama - 2009, 16 episodes
Mental Illness. OCD.
-
![The Miracle Brothers]()
112. The Miracle Brothers
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![The Plan Man]()
113. The Plan Man
Korean Movie - 2014
Mental Illness. OCD. Anxiety Disorder.
-
![The Smile Has Left Your Eyes]()
114. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
-
![The Uncanny Counter Season 1]()
115. The Uncanny Counter Season 1
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![The Undateables]()
116. The Undateables
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Aquaphobia (an irrational and intense fear of water).
-
![Thirty But Seventeen]()
117. Thirty But Seventeen
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Coma for 13 years.
-
![Time Between Dog and Wolf]()
118. Time Between Dog and Wolf
Korean Drama - 2007, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![Timetable]()
119. Timetable
Korean Drama - 2024, 5 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![Timing]()
120. Timing
Korean Drama - 2020, 4 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![To My Harry]()
121. To My Harry
Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Dissociative Identity Disorder.
[Joo Eun Ho is an unknown announcer with 14 years of experience. She struggles to get the chance to have her name recognized by the public. She also has another personality, Joo Hye Ri, due to a deep wound in her heart.]
-
![Tomorrow]()
122. Tomorrow
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
Coma.
-
![Tomorrow's Memory]()
123. Tomorrow's Memory
Korean Movie - 2021
Amnesia.
-
![Trot Lovers]()
124. Trot Lovers
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![Two Faces of My Girlfriend]()
125. Two Faces of My Girlfriend
Korean Movie - 2007
Dissociative Identity Disorder. Mental Illness.
-
![U-Turn]()
126. U-Turn
Korean Special - 2008, 4 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![Ugly Duckling Series: Pity Girl]()
127. Ugly Duckling Series: Pity Girl
Thai Drama - 2015, 5 episodes
Short-term Memory Loss.
"After falling from a tree 6 months ago Alice now suffers having "goldfish memory."
-
![Untitled Park Ji Eun Project]()
128. Untitled Park Ji Eun Project
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Amnesia after surgery for a brain cloud cancer.
-
![Unusual Idol Love]()
129. Unusual Idol Love
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![What If You're My Boss?]()
130. What If You're My Boss?
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
OCD. Amnesia.
-
![Who Are You]()
131. Who Are You
Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
Coma. Amnesia.
-
![Who Are You: School 2015]()
132. Who Are You: School 2015
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
-
![Winter Sonata]()
133. Winter Sonata
Korean Drama - 2002, 20 episodes
Amnesia from traumatic vehicular accident (can't recall if it was a white truck).
-
![Wonder Woman]()
134. Wonder Woman
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Amnesia after a car crash.
-
![You Raise Me Up]()
135. You Raise Me Up
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
Mental Illness.
-
![Zombie Detective]()
136. Zombie Detective
Korean Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Amnesia.
