Comparisons with the American version are inevitable. The answer: This Korean version exceeds expectations and is so much better in many respects.
The protagonist is really an inexperienced - but smart and principled - outsider, not a Superman unconvincingly masquerading as a Clark Kent. The NIS agent is believable in her capabilities and conduct, not some supermodel-like super-cop. And the plot, while equally fanciful, is a bit less fantastical and thus more plausible.
That plot, combined with good acting and writing, is what makes this series a strong one. The political intrigues here are much more interesting, given the backdrop of the Korean Peninsula. With so much at stake and only 60 days, there is a tighter focus in storytelling that makes this "Designated Survivor" quite engrossing.
As a fan of political dramas, I enjoyed this aspect of the series. If you do not, then there is still the conspiracy angle to sink your teeth into. Unfortunately, the latter is not as well developed as the former, and takes much longer to get going. Fortunately, when it does pick up, this part of the series is still engaging enough to hold your attention.
My other minor complaint is that some of the characters are a bit of a caricature and disappointingly takes away from the realism. And that is the main downside of the series. Given the generally smart storytelling, I'm not sure why this happened. Still, a very good drama.
