7 K-Dramas Where Lookalike Characters Trade Lives, Parent Trap Style
Identity-swapping at its finest.
Films like The Parent Trap and The Princess Switch prove that the role-swapping trick is a hit with both filmmakers and viewers. It allows two look-alike characters, often from different worlds, to trade places and walk in each other's shoes. Watching how the characters navigate their new lives can offer a new perspective on our own issues.
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If you love the trope, K-dramaland has some amazing shows for you. Here are seven K-dramas packed with switcheroo twists, surprises and dramatic flair that'll have you hooked to the screen.
One the Woman (2021)
IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, Viki, Kocowa
A hard-nosed prosecutor loses her memory in a car crash and is mistaken for a member of a dysfunctional wealthy clan. But when she lands on their doorstep, her new stepmother and family treat her like dirt, causing our lead to fight fire with fire.
Mask (2015)
IMDb rating: 7.5/10
Where to stream: Viki, Kocowa, SBS World
A saleswoman finds out she's the spitting image of another woman, the daughter of a wealthy congressman and the fiancée of a corporate heir. But when the doppelgänger dies, things get eerie. Blackmailed into replacing her, the lead is forced to gaslight her almost-husband.
Who Are You: School 2015 (2015)
IMDb rating: 7.6/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, KBS World, iQIYI
Separated since childhood, twin sisters lead contrasting lives. One grows up in luxury and attends a prestigious school, while the other faces hardship in an orphanage and endures schoolyard bullying. Their paths cross again, but not without tragedy.
A Time Called You (2023)
IMDb rating: 7.8/10
Where to stream: Netflix
This K-drama isn't exactly about identity swap, but it does offer a unique twist on doppelgängers. The main character is a woman mourning the recent death of her boyfriend. Suddenly, she's catapulted 25 years into the past, inhabiting the body of a high school student, coincidentally, a classmate of a boy who is the spitting image of her lost love. But how can this be?
Are You Human Too? (2018)
IMDb rating: 7.9/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, iQIYI
When a wealthy conglomerate heir falls into a coma, his brilliant estranged mother creates a robotic doppelgänger to keep up appearances. The android is a dead ringer for the heir, but his bodyguard, a former MMA fighter, picks up on peculiarities. She launches a quest to uncover the truth behind his eerie behavior.
The Crowned Clown (2019)
IMDb rating: 8.0/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, iQIYI, WeTV
To avoid assassination plots, the king of the mid-Joseon Dynasty replaces himself with a look-alike court jester. Surprisingly, the jester-turned-ruler excels in his newfound role, winning over even the king's foes with his superior leadership skills.
The King's Affection (2021)
IMDb rating: 8.0/10
Where to stream: Netflix
During the Joseon Dynasty, twins were seen as a bad sign. So when a queen gives birth to a boy and a girl, they are separated, and the girl is secretly cast aside to be raised in a commoner's family. Many years later, the main character is reunited with her brother, the Crown Prince, and is forced by tragedy to step into his shoes.