Believe it or not, prosopagnosia, also known as a condition where a person has difficulty recognizing people's faces and identifying them, is a common trope in K-dramaland. You can find quite a few South Korean shows that use this plot device to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
If the idea of prosopagnosia intrigues you, here are seven shows that use the trope to its fullest.
The Idle Mermaid (2014)
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki
The mermaid princess Aileen is obsessed with the human world and falls in love with a famous chef, Kwon Shi-kyung. So she steals a magic potion that turns her into a human girl and leaves the sea to be with Shi-kyung. But it turns out that the mermaid only has 100 days to find true love, which is difficult because Shi-kyung has face blindness and is a generally arrogant person.
Rich Man (2018)
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Where to stream: Viki, Apple TV
Lee Yoo-chan is a genius programmer and CEO of a large IT company. His prosopagnosia has made him a cold and distant person, but when he meets a young job seeker, she manages to stand out from the crowd and intrigue him.
Color Rush (2020-2022)
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, Apple TV
The two-season BL web series is set in a world where some people (like protagonist Yeon Woo) can't see colors until they meet a person destined for them. When Yeon Woo meets Yoo Han, he experiences a so-called 'color rush' that scares him. But Yoo Han has his own condition to worry about, he can't recognize faces.
The Beauty Inside (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki
Han Se-gye is a top actress who suffers from a supernatural condition: every month, she transforms into someone else for a week. Seo Do-jae is the boss of a company Se-gye models for, hiding his face blindness from everyone. But in case of a relationship with Se-gye this turns out to be an advantage.
The Secret Life of My Secretary (2019)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, kocowa+
Do Min-ik is a boss at a large company who is left with prosopagnosia after a brutal attack on him. He teams up with his longtime secretary to find out who tried to hurt him, and suddenly finds himself falling in love with her.
My Holo Love (2020)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to stream: Netflix
Han So-yeon is a successful woman, but she suffers from face blindness, which affects her social life. Everything changes when she receives the unique prototype of an AI called Holo, designed after its creator. Now So-yeon has a perfect everyday helper, but will she be able to resist getting attached to her robot friend?
100 Days My Prince (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Where to stream: Netflix, prime Video, Viki, Apple TV
This historical romance tells the love story between a crown prince with amnesia and a common girl with a big secret. While neither protagonist has prosopagnosia, one of the secondary characters does, and it has a direct impact on the plot.