If you are already dreading the ending of 신입사원 강회장, believe me, you are not alone. The drama series has succeeded in ticking almost all the boxes there can be: body swap fantasy, chaebol family feud, corporate politics, emotional redemption and an intelligent protagonist who knows how to stay ten steps ahead of everybody else. One minute, you are applauding Kang Yong Ho for outsmarting his kids at the boardroom table, and the very next minute, you find yourself getting emotional about him slowly becoming the father he never was.
Therefore, if you are looking for another Kdramas like Reborn Rookie that gives you the same irresistible mix of fantasy, revenge, family conflicts and corporate politics, you are at the right place. Starring Lee Jun-young, Son Hyun-joo, Lee Joo-myung, Jeon Hye-jin, and Jin Goo. In this drama, where the chairman’s soul finds itself awakened within that of a young footballer named Jun-hyeon following a shocking incident, the powerful man finds himself reduced to nothing but a rookie employee at his own firm. Reborn Rookie shows how the theme of revenge does not have to involve constant fight scenes to make it worthwhile.
In this drama, all you need is a genius strategist who feigns weakness while controlling everything from behind the scenes. Throw in some emotional family dynamics and a fantasy element, and there you have one of the best dramas of the year. Whether it is the fantasy aspect, the vengeance that satisfied you, or the endless quest for power that brought you to this series, there are many Korean dramas such as Reborn Rookie, which will fit well in its place after the drama finishes. With issues ranging from the struggle for succession of the chaebols to second chances, hidden identities, and heroes outwitting their opponents, you will not be left wanting.
Best Kdramas Like Reborn Rookie
The Judge Returns
Sometimes, all it takes is just one more shot. This is what The Judge Returns tries to convey through its lead characters, Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, and Won Jin-ah. In this legal drama, a judge discovers that he can travel back in time to the past decade due to his death. Having access to information on everything that would be happening, he aims to stop the corruption and failure of his life from happening again.
While the context changes from corporate boardrooms of chaebols to courtrooms, the catharsis appears to be very familiar indeed. Like Kang Yong-ho, Lee Han-yeong finds himself having to face the repercussions of his own choices while bringing down people who think themselves above reproach. The common element of both shows is how they combine the exhilaration of vengeance with personal development, showing that redemption is not only about creating a different future but also about improving yourself.
Reborn Rich
Let’s be honest, this recommendation was inevitable. Song Joong-ki’s Yoon Hyun-woo (later Jin Do-jun) and the enigmatic Jin Yang-cheol played by Lee Sung-min are just as intriguing as the equally complex Kang clan from Reborn Rookie. It is always riveting watching Do-jun steadily rise up the ladder of the Soonyang Group as people underestimate him, and every investment and decision becomes yet another turn of the game.
Just as Kang Yong-ho takes back Choiseong from inside Jun-hyeon, Do-jun systematically undermines an empire from the inside without revealing any intentions of his own. Incessant succession war, corporate betrayal, and power shift from person to person mean that every episode will be a challenge for your intellect. If the scenes in the boardrooms were what you enjoyed about Reborn Rookie, then you will simply adore this one.
Unlock My Boss
It seems like only Korean dramas could be able to make us interested in a chairman who ends up locked inside his smartphone. Unlock My Boss, starring Chae Jong-hyeop, Park Sung-woong, and Seo Eun-soo, uses another silly concept and manages to turn it into a thrilling office mystery full of comedy, excitement, and emotional moments as well.
The reason why it feels so similar to Reborn Rookie is that both drama series deal with plots where powerful CEO characters end up losing their control over their lives, while trying to save their companies from others’ bodies. There is something very satisfying about seeing how Sun-joo coaches Se-yeon from inside his smartphone, just like how we see Yong-ho guiding the action from Jun-hyeon’s body.
High School Return of a Gangster
Now, if you found Kang Yong-ho getting used to his new environment of living inside Hwang Jun-hyeon’s body to be amusing, just wait till you see how Lee Seo-jin’s Kim Deuk-pal behaves in the body of Yoon Chan-young’s Song Yi-heon in High School Return of a Gangster. After being involved in a mishap, the seasoned gangster finds himself in the body of this bullied high schooler. Using his street wisdom and experience all these years, he not only defends the people around him but also helps Yi-heon relive the youth that he never experienced before.
Add to that the presence of Bong Jae-hyun’s Seo Se-kyung and the essence of their emotionally charged friendship in this series, and you will find yourself loving it more than expected. Yes, sure, the one story happens in the boardroom and the other in a high school, but it’s hard not to notice how similar they are. The main characters in both stories are wise old men trapped in young boys’ bodies in places where no one knows their true identity.
Unlike Reborn Rookie, these heroes don’t use violence and power to influence others; instead, they silently gain people’s respect, transform their lives for the better, and finally face those regrettable things they have been carrying within themselves for years. And this path of redemption and victories is what makes this show a perfect recommendation.
Again My Life
It is truly amazing to watch a hero who can outsmart everybody, and the creators of Again My Life got it right in assigning this role. Featuring Lee Joon-gi together with Kim Ji-eun and Lee Kyung-young, this fantasy thriller revolves around prosecutor Kim Hee-woo, who is murdered during the course of his chase of one of the country’s most influential politicians. However, instead of ending in death, he finds himself waking up back in the past with all his memories still in place.
Similar to Kang Yong-ho, Hee-woo does not act impulsively when it comes to exacting revenge on his enemies. Each step he takes to make new friends, establish himself in his chosen profession, and even in every decision he makes is done with the intention of serving a greater cause altogether. In both stories, viewers learn that a mind can be a more lethal weapon than physical force, particularly when the protagonist is well aware of the dangers posed by the enemy.
Mr. Back
Long before such concepts as body switch and second life became the staple of K-drama’s fantasy genre, Mr Back offered one of the most interesting twists on this plot device. With actors like Shin Ha-kyun, Jang Na-ra, Lee Joon, and Park Ye-jin in starring roles, the story revolves around chairman Choi Go-bong of an influential conglomerate who experiences a sudden transformation to his younger version, which turns out to be a real gift of nature. As a result, he begins viewing both his business and his dysfunctional family in a totally new light.
The reason why Mr. Back can relate to Reborn Rookie due to the fact that the same question is asked in both shows: what will happen when the chairman has the chance to correct his past mistakes as a father? While Go-bong’s story is more romantic and therapeutic in nature than one filled with corporate vengeance, his emotional journey has been brilliantly reflected in that of Yong-ho’s. It is amazing how both stories have become emotionally compelling despite all the fantasy elements in them.
Have you seen any of these kdramas similar to Reborn Rookie, and what is the next one you plan to watch? Feel free to comment below!
