Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Yu Jin Kim
In the JTBC weekend drama Behind Your Touch, the main character Bong Ye Bun (played by Han Ji Min) gains an unusual ability – she can read a person or animal’s past when she touches a their butt. With this unexpected and quirky talent, Ye Bun finds herself teaming up with the determined elite detective Moon Jang Yeol (Lee Min Ki) for a collaborative investigation. Even prior to Behind Your Touch, characters in various dramas have used their unique superpowers to tackle complex cases, delivering an abundance of excitement to viewers. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at five best comical-investigative dramas to watch for Behind Your Touch fans.
Brain Works (2023)
Starring Jung Yong Hwa and Cha Tae Hyun, Brain Works follows two men with contrasting personalities as they solve a crime related to a rare brain disease. The show piques viewers’ curiosity with its relatively unfamiliar theme of neuroscience and cleverly categorizes the characters based on their personalities, making the drama much more enjoyable. Jung Yong Hwa plays Shin Ha Ru, the sensitive and aloof neuropsychologist, while Cha Tae Hyun takes on the role of Keum Myung Se, the nosy yet compassionate detective, as they showcase their bickering bromance. The two, with different problem-solving approaches, encounter numerous modern brain diseases such as Corsakov syndrome, prosopagnosia, and Korsakoff syndrome, adding more excitement to the story. In addition to their dynamic, the love triangle involving Cha Tae Hyun, Kwan Sun Young, and Ye Ji Won enhances the drama’s fun factor.
Delivery Man (2023)
Delivery Man is a comedy crime series with an eye-catching theme of a “Ghost-Only Taxi.” The story revolves around taxi driver Young Min (Yoon Chan Young), who will go anywhere for money, and Ji Hyun (Bang Min Ah), a ghost with no memory of her mortal life. Together, they delve into the stories of ghost passengers and solve mysterious murder cases. From the early stages of the story, the narrative flows joyfully as Ji Hyun hops on Young Min’s taxi without paying and actively engages in recruiting ghost passengers in return for the cab fare. Young Min boldly transforms his taxi into a “Ghost-Exclusive Taxi,” exclusively catering to ghost passengers, while Ji Hyun welcomes ghost passengers and helps them fulfill their last wishes. Yoon Chan Young, who previously dealt with zombies in All of Us Are Dead, now confronts ghosts, while Bang Min Ah breathes life into a spirit character that cannot be seen by normal people. Delivery Man offers a diverse range of entertainment by blending comedy, romance, and humanism into one drama.
Café Minamdang (2022)
Café Minamdang is a comedic investigative drama that centers around a former criminal profiler turned fake shaman, Nam Han Jun (Seo In Guk), and his fellow team members. The clever premise of a profiler becoming a shaman adds to the fun of the drama, creating synergy with Seo In Guk’s versatile acting. Seo In Guk effortlessly portrays the witty side of his character with an unusual past, while Kwak Si Young plays Han Jun’s sidekick, Gong Soo Chul, showcasing his adorable goofiness in his first comedy drama series project. Some may find the storyline somewhat difficult to grasp, but the distinctive characters, playful direction, and outstanding performances by the actors more than suffice for an enjoyable comedic investigative drama.
From Now On, Showtime! (2022)
From Now on, Showtime! is another comedy crime series that delves into the intriguing collaboration between humans and ghosts, much like the previously mentioned Delivery Man. This narrative unfolds the tale of magician Cha Cha Woong (Park Hae Jin), who dazzles audiences with mesmerizing magic performances aided by spiritual allies. Alongside him is the justice-driven police officer Go Seul Hae (Jin Ki Joo), as they join forces to unravel various criminal cases. Throughout the storyline, Cha Cha Woong’s trio of hired spirits—Nam Sang Gun (Jeong Seok Yong), Ma Dong Chul (Ko Gyu Pil), and Kang Ah Reum (Park Seo Yeon)—adds a hilarious touch to the story. The collaborative investigation between humans and ghosts brings heartwarming moments to the show, while the budding romance between Park Hae Jin and Jin Ki Koo is sure to set viewers’ hearts aflutter. Furthermore, the inclusion of the renowned magician Lee Eun Gyeol adds an extra layer of spectacle to this captivating drama series.
The Fiery Priest (2019)
The Fiery Priest tells the story of the gruff and hot-tempered priest named Kim Hae Il (Kim Nam Gil) and the timid detective named Goo Dae Young (Kim Sung Kyun) who cross paths while investigating a murder case involving a nun. Together, they embark on a chaotic joint investigation to bring corrupt forces to justice. As indicated by Korean episode titles such as God Wants to Strike You, The Priest Abandoned God!, and I’ll Temporarily Set Aside the Lord’s Way, the drama’s main charm lies in its protagonist, who breaks away from the fixed stereotypes about Catholic priests. Kim Nam Gil drives the popularity of the show by brilliantly portraying the unconventional character. Furthermore, the drama features a cast of characters each with a strong personality. In addition to the lead trio of Kim Nam Gil, Kim Sung Kyun, and Lee Ha Nee, supporting actors like Ahn Chang Hwan, Eum Moon Suk, and Ko Kyu Pil contribute significantly to the story. The drama’s refreshing narrative, along with clever references to films like The Matrix, A Better Tomorrow, and Tazza and more, added to its popularity. It was reported last December that discussions about a Season 2 are underway, and fans hope to see another enjoyable story unfold.
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
