We open this puzzle to see 6 ferris wheel cars, each with 4 clues. Using a combination of looking up the title and the oddly specific clues, we find that each clue describes a character from a Korean drama (K-drama).
| Clue | Drama | Character | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| A musical actress in an arranged marriage | The Last Empress | Oh Sunny | Jang Na-ra |
| Cop who used to be a stalker | Hello Monster/I Remember You | Cha Ji-an | Jang Na-ra |
| Genius profiler with a serial killer brother | Hello Monster/I Remember You | Lee Hyun | Seo In-guk |
| Respected (but corrupt) modern-day emperor | The Last Empress | Lee Hyuk | Shin Sung-rok |
| Clue | Drama | Character | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Former singer and CEO of entertainment company | You're the Best Lee Soon Shin | Shin Joon-ho | Jo Jung-suk |
| News anchor diagnosed with breast cancer | Jealousy Incarnate/Don't Dare to Dream | Lee Hwa-shin | Jo Jung-suk |
| Weather forecaster | Jealousy Incarnate/Don't Dare to Dream | Pyo Na-ri | Gong Hyojin |
| Young girl named after military admiral | You're the Best Lee Soon Shin | Lee Soon Shin | IU |
| Clue | Drama | Character | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| An ex-convict who is also a restaurant owner | Wok of Love/Greasy Melo | Doo Chil-sung | Jang Hyuk |
| Former pediatric psychiatrist | Witch at Court | Yeo Jin-wook | Yoon Hyun-min |
| Horseback rider and fencer from a rich family | Wok of Love/Greasy Melo | Dan Sae-woo | Jung Ryeo-won |
| Prosecutor who toes the line of legality | Witch at Court | Ma Yi-deum | Jung Ryeo-won |
| Clue | Drama | Character | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adopted after being mistaken for man's dead son | Pinocchio | Ki Ha-myung | Lee Jong-suk |
| Bully who is the heir to his dad's hotel | The Heirs | Choi Young-do | Kim Woo-Bin |
| Newbie reporter who hiccups when she lies | Pinocchio | Choi In-ha | Park Shin-hye |
| Scholarship student whose mom is mute | The Heirs | Cha Eun-sang | Park Shin-hye |
| Clue | Drama | Character | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| A hopeless romantic raised in an orphanage | King of Ambition | Ha Ryu | Kwon Sang-woo |
| Murdered step-father to become the first lady | King of Ambition | Joo Da-hae | Soo Ae |
| Rich man in an arranged marriage | Mask | Choi Min-woo | Ju Ji-hoon |
| Took the place of doppelganger for money | Mask | Byun Ji-sook | Soo Ae |
| Clue | Drama | Character | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandson of Mongol leader | The King Loves/The King in Love | Wang Won | Im Si-wan |
| Leader and parent of three | Prime Minister & I | Kwon Yul | Lee Beom-soo |
| Persistent writer of trashy tabloids | Prime Minister & I | Nam Da-jung | Im Yoon-ah |
| Rich man’s daughter | The King Loves/The King in Love | Eun San | Im Yoon-ah |
We notice that each of these ferris wheel cars contains one repeated actor/actress along with their character’s partner (or at least suitor) in each drama which forms a “love triangle”, a K-drama staple, between the other two actors/actresses. Taking into account the flavor text, we find the “drama” between the love rivals.
| Actor 1 | Actor 2 | Shared Drama | Car Number | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seo In Guk | Shin Sung Rok | The King’s Face | 7 | G |
| Gong Hyojin | IU | The Producers | 6 | O |
| Jang Hyuk | Yoon Hyun Min | A Beautiful Mind | 2 | B |
| Lee Jong-suk | Kim Woo-Bin | School 2013 | 6 | L |
| Kwon Sangwoo | Ju Ji Hoon | Medical Top Team | 4 | I |
| Im Si Wan | Lee Beom Soo | Triangle | 5 | N |
Indexing the car number into the title of each drama starting at the entrance of the ferris wheel (the bottom) and moving clockwise gives us our answer which is a famous K-drama, GOBLIN.
Author's Notes
Margaret: Please don't take any specific drama being in here as a recommendation.
Patrick: I've never watched K-dramas, don't ask me