Inspired by a classic Joseon legend from Korea’s first collection of unofficial historical tales, about a fisherman who captures and releases a mermaid, this drama tells the love story between the son of a noble family in Joseon era and a mermaid.

How can a mermaid from the Joseon era survive in modern-day Seoul? Shim Chung (Jun Ji Hyun) is a mermaid who finds herself transplanted to modern times. She is caught by Heo Joon Jae (Lee Min Ho), a charming but cold con artist who is the doppelgänger for Kim Moon, the son of a nobleman from the Joseon Dynasty. But in the present time, Joon Jae works with Jo Nam Doo (Lee Hee Joon), a skilled conman who guides Joon Jae to become a genius scammer. But Joon Jae’s friend, Cha Shi Ah (Shin Hye Sun), who works as a researcher at KAIST, may be Chung’s only hope for surviving in her strange new world.

Legend of the Blue Sea tells the story of a mermaid (Jun Ji Hyun) who goes to Seoul to find the human man (Lee Min-Ho) she loves.  As she tries to adjust to life on land, the two begin a romantic relationship.
Legend of the Blue Sea was a fantastic drama! It’s a beautiful love story with that twist of fantasy. Romance, humor, and drama along with a gorgeous couple that has many obstacles to overcome on their journey to happiness make this a wonderful drama.

The drama follows two storylines, one in the modern time and one in the Joseon era. We flashback to the historical portion to learn the back story of our characters. In the past, the love story of the human, Dam Ryung, and the mermaid, Se Hwa, unfolds bit by bit throughout the drama. The main story is set in the present where their modern-day selves reunite and begin their romance again.

Jun Ji Hyun plays our mermaid Sim Chung. Sim Chung has a fun innocence to her. Adjusting to life on land is quite hilarious with everything being so new and strange. Jun Ji Hyun was very funny in her portrayal of Sim Chung. I also really enjoyed Sim Chung’s dedication and love for Heo Joon. She loves him plain and simple.

Get Legend of the Blue Sea (2016) | Complete Season

Lee Ji Hoon plays Joon Jae’s stepbrother Chi Hyun. He’s been at odds with Joon Jae from the beginning, and he’s an interesting character on many levels. I was very pleased with Lee Ji Hoon’s portrayal of him.

Shi Ah (Shin Hye Sun) is the other woman in Joon Jae’s life. She’s been a good friend for a long time, but she wants to be more. Luckily, this is a case where our main lead has zero interest in that sort of thing.

Of course, we have our villains to cause trouble for our lovers. Joon Jae’s stepmother (Hwang Shin Hye) is a force to be reckoned with as is Dae Young (Sung Dong-Il) who causes problems for our lovers in both the past and the present.

I really adored the historical portion of the drama. Even though it only got about 10 minutes per episode, the story felt so rich and full. The romance was also very tangible between Dam Ryung and Se Hwa.

I loved Dam Ryung’s passion for Se Hwa. The world always seemed to be against them, and he would stop at nothing to protect her from those who wanted to harm her. Their love story was beautifully tragic with a richness and fullness that had me glued to the screen. I was completely swept up in their romance.


Luckily, their beautiful love story continues in the present. I loved Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun as a couple. They are what make this drama shine. I adored all of their interactions from Joon Jae’s humorous reactions to Chung, his falling for her, and the lovely romance between the two.

What starts as a more humorous relationship blossom into a dedicated love. I greatly enjoyed watching Joon Jae fall deeper and deeper in love with Chung. Then as their modern-day lives begin to parallel their past lives, the stakes get higher between the two, including their devotion to each other.

This couple just made me happy on so many levels. There’s just something about a fated love story such as theirs that hits all the right spots. They are definitely everything I love in a romance drama.

In the first half of the drama, I personally found most of the other parts of the drama to be on the mediocre side. Nothing bad, just not very engaging. I was also pretty neutral towards all of the other characters. The main plot is also pretty slow to get going. Luckily, I enjoyed the developing romance so much that this didn’t really bother me.

But things greatly improve on all fronts in the second half. The plot thickens with the stakes being raised and secrets coming out. I also warmed up to several of the supporting characters which made me more interested in their storylines. The romance also deepens during this time period. All of this comes together to deliver a lot of drama and tension that I just loved.

Legend of the Blue Sea pulled me in with the romance and set it up beautifully. That was enough to carry me through some of the slower parts. Then the drama just gets better and better with every aspect of it improving along the way.

Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun made such a beautiful couple, and I completely enjoyed their past and present love stories that were filled with laughter, heartache, and romance. Legend of the Blue Sea is simply a beautiful love story.

Get Legend of the Blue Sea (2016) | Complete Season