Season 1
16 episodes Aug 11, 2010 7.6
Overview
After meeting a mysterious yet very beautiful girl, a wannabe action star discovers that she's, in fact, a gumiho – a legendary fox with nine tails.
Seasons
1 listed- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 16 episodes
- First aired
- Aug 11, 2010
- Last aired
- Sep 30, 2010
- Episode length
- 66m
- Network
- SBS
Latest episode: S1 E16 Episode 16 (Sep 30, 2010)
Cast
9 people
Reviews
6 min readNine Tails, One Very Human Ache
A fox spirit who wants to become human is, in the right hands, a pretty perfect romantic-comic device. She can be magical and needy at once, immortal and embarrassingly vulnerable, a creature of myth who still has to deal with hunger, jealousy, and the wrong kind of weather. My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho understands that contradiction almost immediately, and what lingers with me isn’t the premise’s cheeky novelty so much as the way the series keeps slipping between folklore and apartment-neighbor awkwardness. latestnetflix.com's read is that One minute it’s teasing the audience with a supernatural set-up; the next it’s playing the oldest human comedy there is — two people circling each other, both convinced they’re the one with the better self-control.
What’s interesting, in retrospect, is how neatly the show fits the wave of early-2010s Korean fantasy rom-coms that treated myth as a way to freshen up familiar domestic feelings. This isn’t a prestige drama with a grand historical canvas or a bleak modern melodrama trying to win us over with suffering. It’s lighter, brasher, more openly eager to charm.
Still, that doesn’t mean it’s trivial. The gumiho legend gives the series a built-in tension between appetite and restraint, between the body and the story people tell about it. That tension is what the show keeps returning to, even when it’s busy making a joke out of jealousy, bad luck, or the mortal panic of being asked to share a meal with someone who may or may not eat you later.
I kept thinking about how carefully the series uses Shin Min-a’s face. She’s so often lit as if the camera itself is slightly flustered by her, but the important thing is that she never turns the role into pure ornament. Her Mi-ho is funny because she’s not polished; she’s intensely, even absurdly literal, and Shin lets that literalness register in the body.
A pause before answering. A head tilt that reads as innocent until it suddenly feels strategic. A stillness that seems less like composure than someone doing arithmetic in her own chest.
She’d already spent years moving between comedy and melancholy in films like A Bittersweet Life and later would carry drama with a very different gravity in Our Blues; here, you can see the beginnings of that easy duality. She can look ethereal without seeming remote. That’s not a small thing.
Lee Seung-gi, meanwhile, has the far trickier job. His Cha Dae-woong has to be vain enough to be funny, childish enough to be annoying, and sincere enough that the romance can take root without irony poisoning it. Lee plays him with a kind of running embarrassment, as if the character is constantly discovering — too late, always too late — that his instincts are terrible.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 6.7/10
"Carried by the charming dynamic between Lee Seung-gi and Shin Min-a, this supernatural romantic comedy delivers an engaging twist on folklore that overcomes occasional mid-series pacing lulls."
Blending modern romantic comedy with Korean myth, the story follows a carefree university student dreaming of becoming an action star who accidentally frees a legendary nine-tailed fox. Audience appreciation centers on the humorous and tender interplay between the leads, which [latestnetflix.com]() argues anchors the series through its standard 16-episode dramatic arc. While the hour-long installments occasionally drag into familiar television tropes, the lighthearted fantasy tone and memorable romantic highlights keep viewers invested throughout.
What viewers praise
- Charming Lead Chemistry The playful dynamic and romantic rapport between the aspiring stunt actor and the nine-tailed fox form the emotional core of the series.
- Engaging Folklore Twist Audiences enjoy the modern, comedic reinvention of the mythical gumiho legend.
Common complaints
- Formulaic Episode Pacing The 16-episode runtime leads to familiar narrative stretching across the hour-long episodes.
Recommended for
Fans of Korean romantic fantasy comedies Viewers who enjoy folklore-inspired modern dramas
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010): Romance, Myth, and K-Drama Magic
My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010) blended fantasy, romance, and comedy into a hit K-drama that catapulted its leads, Lee Seung-gi and Shin Min-a, into the spotlight. While the series’ on-screen chemistry was undeniable, the behind-the-scenes buzz was just as electric—though details remain scarce. latestnetflix.com's take is that here’s what we know (and what’s still rumor) about the making of this mythical love story.
A Gumiho Love Story: Casting the Leads
The drama’s premise—a 500-year-old nine-tailed fox (gumiho) disguised as a human woman falling for a mortal man—demanded leads who could balance supernatural whimsy with heartfelt romance. Lee Seung-gi, already a rising star, took on the role of Cha Dae-woong, a reckless college student who accidentally frees the gumiho, Mi-ho (Shin Min-a), from a magical bead. Shin Min-a, known for her versatility, brought a mix of innocence and ferocity to Mi-ho, a character torn between her fox instincts and human emotions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ6fhCY-em0
The chemistry between the two was a major selling point. Fans and critics praised their playful yet tender dynamic, with some behind-the-scenes footage hinting at off-screen camaraderie. A 2010 entertainment news clip captured the pair goofing around during a photoshoot, suggesting a natural rapport that translated seamlessly to the screen. Whether their bond was purely professional or something more remains a topic of speculation—K-drama fans love a good shipping rumor, after all.
The Making of a Myth: Production Secrets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7DsLDDXYxc
My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho leaned heavily on its fantasy elements, requiring creative visual effects and set design to bring the gumiho legend to life. While the evidence doesn’t reveal specifics about the VFX process, the drama’s trailer showcases Mi-ho’s transformation scenes, including her iconic nine tails—a signature of the mythical creature. The practical effects and CGI likely required meticulous planning, though no behind-the-scenes accounts confirm the challenges faced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPwI_rtzqkE
The series also stood out for its soundtrack, particularly Lee Seung-gi’s Losing My Mind , a melancholic ballad that became synonymous with the drama’s emotional highs. The OST’s success added another layer to the show’s appeal, proving that music could elevate the fantasy-romance genre.
Cast Then and Now: Where Are They Now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHWHXKu8p5M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAXagM1eRUU
A decade after My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho aired, fans still revisit the drama—and its cast. Lee Seung-gi and Shin Min-a remained A-listers, with Seung-gi expanding into hosting and variety shows, while Shin Min-a continued to dominate both film and television. Behind-the-scenes retrospectives highlight how the drama’s success shaped their careers, though neither has publicly shared major anecdotes about the filming process.
Supporting cast members like No Min-woo (Park Dong-joo) and Park Soo-jin (Eun Hye-in) also gained recognition, though their post-Gumiho careers took different paths. Byun Hee-bong, who played Dae-woong’s grandfather, brought gravitas to the role, while Sung Dong-il’s portrayal of a quirky professor added comedic relief.
The Legacy: Why Fans Still Love It
With a rating of 6.7/10 on SensCritique 
, My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho wasn’t a critical darling, but its charm lay in its lighthearted take on Korean folklore. The drama’s blend of romance, comedy, and fantasy filled a niche that resonated with audiences, particularly in the Philippines, where it gained a cult following . Its influence can be seen in later K-dramas like My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021) , though the 2010 version remains the more iconic adaptation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDWri8wEaxA
Despite its popularity, behind-the-scenes details are surprisingly thin. No major scandals, on-set feuds, or juicy revelations have surfaced—just a well-loved drama with a timeless premise. For fans craving more, the BTS footage and cast retrospectives offer glimpses into the making of the show, but the full story remains untold.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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