A Girl Who Sees Smells
A 2015 SBS drama adapted from a webtoon.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
A Girl Who Sees Smells (Korean: 냄새를 보는 소녀) is a 2015 South Korean television drama based on the KTOON webtoon by Seo Soo-kyung, also known as Man Chwi. The series stars Park Yoo-chun, Shin Se-kyung, Namgoong Min, and Yoon Jin-seo. It aired on SBS every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:55, running for 16 episodes from April 1 to May 21, 2015. Originally titled *Sensory Couple* (감각남녀; Gamgak namnyeo), it later switched back to the webtoon’s name. The drama topped the Contents Power Index (CPI) rankings for most influential dramas.
The story follows Choi Eun-seol (Shin Se-kyung), who returns home to find her parents murdered. When their bodies are discovered with a barcode carved into their skin, detective Oh Jae-pyo (Jung In-gi) realizes the now-comatose Eun-seol is the only surviving witness. That same night, Choi Moo-gak (Park Yoo-chun) visits his younger sister (Kim So-hyun), also named Choi Eun-seol, in the hospital after a bus accident. When he returns to her bed, he finds her dead with her throat slit.
Six months later, Eun-seol wakes from her coma with no memory of her life before the hospital. Her left eye has turned blue for no known reason, and she has gained the ability to see smells as visible colors and shapes, even tracking people by their lingering scent trails. To protect her, Jae-pyo adopts her and creates a new identity, telling her she is his daughter named Oh Cho-rim. Three and a half years later, Cho-rim is a cheerful young woman who has adapted to her ability. She dreams of becoming a comedian and works as a gofer for a small theater group called Frog Troupe.
The main cast includes Park Yoo-chun as Detective Choi Moo-gak, who becomes a police inspector to avenge his sister’s murder and has lost his sense of smell and taste. Shin Se-kyung plays Oh Cho-rim/Choi Eun-seol, the sole witness to the barcode murders who can see smells. Namkoong Min appears as Chef Kwon Jae-hee/Jay Kwon Ford, and Yoon Jin-seo as Yeom Mi. The series also features supporting roles and special appearances.
- field
- Television drama
- nationality
- South Korean
- known_for
- Adaptation of a webtoon; unique premise of a girl who sees smells; top CPI rankings
- air_dates
- April 1 to May 21, 2015
- network
- SBS
- episodes
- 16
Lore & Background
The drama follows Choi Eun-seol (Shin Se-kyung), who arrives home to find her parents murdered. When they are later found with a barcode carved into their skin, detective Oh Jae-pyo (Jung In-gi) realizes that the now-comatose daughter Eun-seol is the sole surviving witness. That same night, Choi Moo-gak (Park Yoo-chun) is at the hospital visiting his younger sister (Kim So-hyun), also named Choi Eun-seol, who is treated for mild injuries after a bus accident. However, when Moo-gak returns to her bed, he finds her dead with her throat slit.
Eun-seol comes out of her coma six months later, but has no memories at all of her life before waking up at the hospital, and her left eye has turned blue with no scientific explanation. She has also gained the unique ability to 'see' smells as visible colors and shapes, and can even trace where people have been because their lingering scents are like a trail. Wanting to protect her, Jae-pyo adopts her and invents a new life for her, telling her that he is her real father and that her name is Oh Cho-rim. Three years and six months pass, and Cho-rim is a cheerful girl who's adjusted to her ability. She dreams of becoming a comedian and works as a gofer for a small theater company called Frog Troupe.
Reader's Guide
A Girl Who Sees Smells is significant as a South Korean drama adaptation of a webtoon by Seo Soo-kyung (Man Chwi), airing on SBS in 2015. It reached the top of the Contents Power Index (CPI) rankings, indicating its influence during its run. The drama's early working title was Sensory Couple, but it reverted to the original webtoon name. The plot centers on a young woman who gains the ability to see smells as colors and shapes after a traumatic event, and a detective who lost his sister to the same serial killer. The series blends mystery, romance, and supernatural elements, and its cast includes Park Yoo-chun, Shin Se-kyung, Namgoong Min, and Yoon Jin-seo. Its legacy lies in its successful adaptation of a webtoon and its unique sensory concept, which contributed to its high CPI ranking.
Did You Know?
- The drama is adapted from the KTOON webtoon of the same title by Seo Soo-kyung a/k/a Man Chwi.
- Its early working title was Sensory Couple (감각남녀; Gamgak namnyeo).
- It reached top of the Contents Power Index (CPI) rankings for the most influential dramas.
- The female lead, Oh Cho-rim, has the ability to see smells as visible colors and shapes.
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