Rewriting Fate: Why ‘Chicago Typewriter’ Is a K-Drama Worth Revisiting
Introduction
Chicago Typewriter is not your average K-drama. Combining elements of mystery, fantasy, historical fiction, and romance, it tells a haunting and heartfelt story that spans generations. Set between 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea and present-day Seoul, this drama explores reincarnation, artistic destiny, and the bonds that transcend time. With stunning cinematography, layered performances, and a typewriter that bridges past and present, it offers a narrative as profound as it is imaginative.
Overview
Title: Chicago Typewriter
Year: 2017
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Historical, Drama
Main Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Im Soo-jung, Go Kyung-pyo
Episodes: 16
Runtime: Approximately 60 minutes per episode
Streaming Platform: Viki
Overall Story
Han Se-joo (Yoo Ah-in) is a brilliant but temperamental bestselling author suffering from severe writer’s block. Though praised for his intellect and brooding charm, Se-joo hides deep wounds from the past and pressures of perfection in the present. His life takes a mysterious turn when he comes into possession of an old typewriter—one that seems to bring back flashes of a life he doesn’t remember.
Jeon Seol (Im Soo-jung) is a former shooting athlete turned veterinarian—and a huge fan of Se-joo. She's tough, principled, and more connected to Se-joo's past than either of them initially realize. When she delivers the vintage typewriter to him, strange memories begin to surface for both of them, linking their present lives to a shared history during Korea’s 1930s resistance movement.
Go Kyung-pyo plays Yoo Jin-oh, a ghostwriter who claims to have lived in the 1930s and insists on helping Se-joo complete his latest manuscript. Jin-oh is charming, gentle, and deeply mysterious. As his secrets unravel, the trio discovers they are the reincarnations of comrades from a past life, bound together by unfinished business and unresolved emotions.
The drama weaves past and present with remarkable elegance. Scenes set during the Japanese occupation showcase the trio’s past lives as writers and revolutionaries fighting for Korean independence. These moments are emotionally charged, highlighting their friendship, betrayal, and sacrifice.
In the present day, as the characters recover repressed memories, they are forced to confront guilt, longing, and the consequences of choices made decades ago. The typewriter serves as a magical conduit, compelling Se-joo to write their story as a way to break free from fate and heal old wounds.
Chicago Typewriter is a poetic journey through time, identity, and the redemptive power of storytelling. It celebrates writers as witnesses to history and love as a force that endures even after death. The result is a drama that’s both visually and emotionally breathtaking.
Highlight Moments / Key Episodes
In Episode 2, Se-joo’s first encounter with the vintage typewriter triggers a violent hallucination of the 1930s, hinting at a much deeper mystery behind his writer’s block. The sequence is beautifully edited and sets the tone for the narrative’s dual timelines.
Episode 5 delivers a moment of unexpected warmth as Jin-oh, the ghostwriter, helps Se-joo reorganize his chaotic life—leading to the beginning of a humorous yet touching bromance.
Episode 8 flashes back to the trio’s 1930s personas, revealing their secret resistance group and the emotional weight of living under Japanese surveillance. It’s the first time we fully see the stakes of their past lives.
Episode 11 features a heartbreaking confrontation between Se-joo and Jeon Seol, as memories from their previous lives come crashing down, threatening their present relationship with unbearable guilt and sorrow.
In Episode 14, Jin-oh’s bittersweet farewell scene to Se-joo—realizing his mission as a ghost is complete—is one of the drama’s most emotionally resonant moments, with haunting music underscoring their final words.
Memorable Lines
In Episode 3, Jin-oh muses, “Some stories are meant to be told—even if the world has forgotten them,” reminding us of the power of remembrance.
Episode 6 features Se-joo’s outburst: “Writing isn’t about inspiration—it’s about exorcism,” revealing his struggle with trauma and artistic identity.
In Episode 9, Jeon Seol says tearfully, “I know you… not from this life, but from the pain in your eyes,” echoing the theme of reincarnation and emotional memory.
Episode 13 includes Jin-oh’s quiet confession: “The hardest part of being dead… is watching you forget me,” encapsulating the ghostwriter’s lingering sorrow and longing.
Finally, in Episode 16, Se-joo writes the last line of his novel: “This is our story—unfinished then, but complete now.” It ties the entire journey together with catharsis and peace.
Why It’s Special
1. Time-Travel Without Sci-Fi Tropes: Chicago Typewriter isn’t about time machines or portals—it’s about memory, reincarnation, and karma. It masterfully layers past and present without losing coherence, allowing emotional resonance to emerge across timelines. The way it uses historical memory as a narrative device makes it profoundly reflective.
2. Unique Setting and Period: Few dramas explore the Japanese occupation era with such artistic restraint and dignity. The 1930s timeline is shot with vintage filters and meticulous costume design, offering a poignant contrast to the modern world while evoking Korea’s fight for independence with authenticity and heart.
3. A Love Triangle Transcending Death: The emotional tension between Se-joo, Jeon Seol, and Jin-oh becomes even more complex when you realize it’s a continuation of a past-life triangle filled with betrayal, unspoken love, and sacrifice. It’s not just a romantic subplot—it’s an existential one.
4. Artistic Symbolism: The typewriter itself isn’t just a prop—it’s a narrative engine. It becomes a vessel of memory and truth, compelling characters to confront what’s been buried. Scenes where it activates or triggers flashbacks are among the most suspenseful and thematically rich moments in the series.
5. Musical Brilliance: The OST features hauntingly beautiful tracks like “Satellite” and “Come with Me,” which underscore major emotional beats. The music bridges the old and new worlds, reinforcing the melancholic, poetic tone of the story.
6. Philosophical Reflections on Writing: Through Se-joo’s arc, the drama explores what it means to be a writer—not just a storyteller, but a witness, a healer, and a keeper of truth. It’s a love letter to literature and the act of remembering through words.
Popularity & Reception
Chicago Typewriter garnered strong critical praise for its bold concept and rich execution. While it didn’t dominate ratings, it developed a loyal global fanbase that continues to recommend it as a hidden gem. Its unique narrative structure earned it cult status among international viewers.
On Reddit’s r/KDRAMA, users call it “the most underrated K-drama of the decade” and praise it for its “beautiful pain.” Many fans shared how they cried not from tragedy, but from the emotional closure the characters finally received.
YouTube comment sections under OST videos remain filled with viewers reminiscing about their first watch: “I keep coming back to this drama when I feel lost,” one fan wrote. “It taught me how stories can heal, even if the people in them are gone.”
Though it didn’t win major awards, it was nominated for Best Drama at the Seoul International Drama Awards and received commendation for its art direction and original screenplay.
Cast & Fun Facts
Yoo Ah-in (as Han Se-joo / Seo Hwi-young) delivered a powerhouse dual performance, portraying both a modern novelist in crisis and a 1930s resistance leader. Known for films like Veteran and Burning, Yoo brought gravitas and subtle emotional shifts that kept both versions of his character compelling.
In interviews, Yoo Ah-in said he studied resistance literature and old photos from the Japanese occupation to emotionally anchor his historical scenes. He also practiced typing on a vintage typewriter to physically connect with the role’s symbolism.
Im Soo-jung (as Jeon Seol / Ryu Soo-hyun) returned to television after a long hiatus, and her performance was praised for its quiet strength and nuance. As both a fan and a fighter, her character held the emotional core of the story, especially in the 1930s scenes.
Im shared in a press conference that she was drawn to the script because of its layered female lead. "Soo-hyun wasn’t just love interest—she was a fighter, a comrade, and a writer in her own right," she explained.
Go Kyung-pyo (as Yoo Jin-oh / Shin Yool) surprised audiences with his emotional range. Known previously for comedic roles in Reply 1988, his portrayal of a lonely ghost seeking redemption was touching and dignified. His line delivery and restraint made Jin-oh unforgettable.
One fan-favorite trivia: Go Kyung-pyo actually shot many scenes alone due to the nature of Jin-oh’s ghostly existence, and he later shared how isolating yet meaningful that experience was—mirroring the emotional tone of his character.
Director Kim Cheol-kyu, known for Mother and On the Way to the Airport, employed parallel visual motifs to unite the past and present. His careful control of color palettes and pacing brought out the haunting beauty of the script without melodrama.
Writer Jin Soo-wan also penned the acclaimed Kill Me, Heal Me. Her talent for weaving psychological themes into genre dramas is evident here as well. She described Chicago Typewriter as “a love letter to writers who bear witness to forgotten history.”
Conclusion / Warm Reminders
Chicago Typewriter is for viewers who crave more than surface-level romance or action. It’s a reflective, visually rich drama that challenges you to think about memory, art, and resistance. The pacing may be meditative, but the payoff is emotional catharsis of the highest order.
For anyone with a love of history, literature, or second chances, this drama feels like a revelation. And if you're in a legal field—perhaps researching how narratives shape national identity or collective trauma—its philosophical insights may surprise you. In a subtle way, it addresses how records, like legal testimony, carry the power to restore dignity long after injustice.
As stories go, this one asks not just who we are, but who we were—and whether that still matters. In every line typed, Chicago Typewriter writes not just fiction, but freedom.
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