This drama also gets called “My Delightful Girl Choon Hyang”. It’s an adaptation of a classical Korean drama about a girl Choon Hyang born into slavery who despite the odds, and a corrupt official trying to force her into being his mistress, ends up the wife of a police inspector. As such Choon Hyang is an archetype of hope, showing that from humble beginnings if you’re good hearted and work hard you can go up in the world.

The drama makes explicit allusions to the classical legend by parodying or deconstructing it in opening or closing scenes with the actors in period dress. This is very funny, but tends to undermine how seriously one can take the drama as a whole.

“Sassy Girl Chun-Hyang” starts as light comedy with the two leads being forced into a fake marriage while at school in Namwon province. The action then moves to Seoul where towards the end we veer into melodrama as the bad guy decides to get the girl by fair or by foul means. Whether this is any social comment in this is up to the viewer. It bumbles along happily.