My Best 10 Korean Drama List...
So I decided to list my favorite Korean dramas. It's listed in ascending order and is subjective to change if and when they''re replaced. FYI, my taste in dramas is a bit old school. I tend to watch my favorites over and over again before finding new favorites so this list might be a smidge ancient. Of course there are also current favorites, but not a whole lot. Most of them are the first Asian dramas I ever watched so they hold special places in my heart.
P.S. This list isn't based on the quality of the drama as a whole but on its sentimental value to me
I'll get the ball rolling with Nnnnuuuuummmmbberrr....
10. The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry/ Still, Marry Me
Who's in it : Park Jin Hee, Uhm Ji Won, Wang Bit Na, Kim Bum, Choi Chul Ho, Lee Pil Mo and Park Ji Young.
What's it about : This drama depicts lives of three women who are closing one chapter of their life and entering the next. Lee Shin Young (Park Jin Hee), Jung Da Jung (Uhm Ji Won) and Kim Boo Ki (Wang Bit Na) are three women in their 30s whose romantic relationships have faltered due to their career ambitions, but find themselves given a chance to make a fresh start.
Why I like It : It's a very enjoyable and pleasant ride. Mostly because that ever-present angst is only limited to the last two episodes. I watched 14 episodes straight without that niggling sense of dread in the pit of my stomach…
Watch - If you're in a laughing mood.
If you want a drama about older women.
If you liked Dal Ja's Spring.
What's Iffy : There's a separation between the main characters.
9. The Ist Shop of Coffee Prince
Who's In it : Yoon Eun Hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun Gyun, Chae Jung Ahn
What's It About : The life of Go Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) is not easy; she works many jobs to pay off debts and even gave up her feminine image. Choi Han Kyul (Gong Yoo) is the heir of a big food company, but his grandmother wants him to settle down, so she arranged many dates for him. After Eun Chan bumped into Han Kyul and was mistaken for a boy, Han Kyul decided to hire Eun Chan to be his gay lover in order to avoid the arranged dates. Desperately in need of money, Eun Chan had no choice but to accept. Han Kyul's grandmother also made Han Kyul in charge of a filthy coffee shop in danger of being bankrupt. Eun Chan begged to work at the coffee shop, and not long after, feelings start to spark, except, how would Han Kyul accept his "homosexuality"?
Why I Like It : Honestly, I've yet to come across a Korean drama list that does have this drama on it in some way. Whether it is liked or not so liked, it's on that list somewhere. Personally, I love it to death. It's not higher up on my list because I've come across some pretty amazing dramas so I tend to push this one further down the list. Coffee Prince is very easy watching and if watched in one sitting, the angst seems very tolerable. At least to me.
Watch - If you're in the mood for a gender bender.
If you're a fan of Eun Hye or Gong Yoo.
What's Iffy : It's not a problem for me but most people who've watched this think the extension killed what could have been a great ending. I liked it even with the extension but that's just me.
8. Dal Ja's Spring
Who's In It : Chae Rim, Lee Min Ki, Lee Hyun Woo, Lee Hye Young, Gong Hyung Jin.
What's It About : ‘Dalja’s Spring’ is the story of Dalja, a 33-year old single at a crossroad of whether to remain single or get married before she gets older. The drama aims to comically and candidly portray the reality and undying pursuit of romance of a thirty something single woman.
Why I Like It : What can I say about this drama? Hilarious. Heartwarming. Beautiful plot about life. Engaging characters. There's a funny scene in almost every episode but it still manages to take itself seriously. Overall, this is just a joy to watch.
Watch - If you're in the mood to watch a drama about women in their thirties.
If you liked The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry.
What's Iffy: The ending is a bit touch-and-go, a little iffy, methinks. But if you’re willing to overlook unnecessary separation(at least, in my opinion), then this drama is absolutely for you.
7. Resurrection/ Rebirth/ Revenge
Who's In It: Uhn Tae Woong, Han Ji Min, So Yi Hyun, Go Joo Won
What's It About: Yu Gang-Hyuk was only 7 years old when his father was murdered in a car "accident" and separated from his identical twin, Yu Shin-Hyuk. He forgot his name and family and given the name Suh Ha-Eun by his adopted father Suh Jae-soo. He falls in love with his adopted sister, Eun-ha and tried to be very honorable about it. He was led to become a cop because of his father’s badge. While investigating an alleged case of suicide, he eventually learns of his twin brother. Against the warnings of his peers, Ha-Eun becomes more and more involved in this suspicious case. As a part of a larger scheme, Ha-Eun is targeted for a hit by unknown individuals. And when Ha-Eun and Shin-Hyuk finally meet for the first time after twenty years, the murderers kill Shin-Hyuk accidentally mistaken him for Ha-Eun. As a result, Ha-Eun vows to get revenge by giving his enemies psychological torture and takes on his brother's persona as an undercover cop and that is where the drama begins... This is a wonderful detective drama with a psychological twist.
Why I Like It: I have never really been a fan of thrillers. I'm still not. This is one exception I'm more than happy to make. This drama pulled me in from the very first episode and didn't let go till I was screaming for more. It is an insanely smart and serious drama. I recommend you watch it for the gist the first time, and then watch more carefully the second time. It's easier to make sense of it that way as every clue, little or not so little, has some connection to the big picture.
Watch - If you're in the mood for something intellectual.
If you want to see Uhn Tae Woong play two different roles.
If you liked The Devil, Time Between Dog and Wolf or Story of A Man.
What's Iffy: I'll let you know.
6. You're Beautiful
Who's In It: Jang Geun Suk, Park Shin Hye, Lee Hong Ki, Jung Yong Hwa.
What's It About: The management company of the idol group A.N.JELL insisted on adding a new singer to the group as the lead vocal, Tae Kyung’s voice was hurting. However,the new member, Mi Nam, had to go to the States to repair a botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the idea of having his twin sister, Mi Nyu,to stand in for him and pretend that she was her brother. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mi Nyu, who was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn’t want to spoil her brother’s chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother.
Why I Like It: This drama makes me feel all warmy and fuzzy inside. I loved the characters, the plot, the acting. The main guys clothes? Maybe not so much. However, once I got over the feminine-like clothes on guys, I really enjoyed this drama. I’ve already rewatched it about five more times. It’s great!
Watch - If you're in a laughing mood.
If you like idol dramas.
If you like gender bender dramas.
What's Iffy: It appeals to very select groups of people seeing how its an idol drama.
5. Life is Beautiful
Who's In It: Kim Hae Sook, Song Chang Ui, Lee Sang Woo, Nam Sang Mi
What's It About: The daily lives of a family living in Jeju Isalnd. Yang Byung Tae’s mother is a stubborn and tough family-head who holds the Yang family together despite of going through the heart-break of being betrayed by her husband. Byung Tae who married Kim Min Jae in his second marriage after the death of his first wife, brought in more people into his side of the family. His seemingly prefect elder son, Yang Tae Sub is actually having a love relation with another man which will be threatening to their family relations if he was discovered. His second son, Ho Sub who is their family’s trouble-maker, wants to be in tourist submarine business after failing in his studies while his youngest daughter, Cho Rong is after fame after being scouted as the resort model.
(credits: Soompi Forum):
Why I Like It: Don't be turned off by the less than stellar synopsis. Life is Beautiful is one of the few dramas that make you want to pack up and move to South Korea. I loved it for the beauty of Jeju Island as well as the story, which is kind of unique in its own right. This is not the first drama to deal with the topic of homosexuality. It is, however, the first drama to actually have gay characters and not girls acting as boys. Plus, the homosexuality theme is handled in a really beautiful adult manner that makes you wish everyone is as mature as the writer.
Watch - If you're a yaoi fangirl (like me)
If you're a fan of Song Chang Ui or Lee Snag Woo or any of the actors.
If you want to go to Jeju Island someday.
What's Iffy : The homosexuality theme is a bit of a controversial topic. If you aren't an open-minded type of person, don't attempt to watch it. Or maybe you can watch it but skip the gay scenes. There are other lovely, heterosexual relationships in the drama.
4. Golden Bride
Who's In It: Lee Young Ah, Song Chang Ui, Choi Yeo Jin, Song Jong Ho.
What's It About: Jin Joo is a half Korean and Vietnamese girl who marries a Korean man, Kang Jun Woo, in order to come to Korea to look for her biological father who abandoned her. The drama is not only about her searching for her dad but also about the cultural differences between her and her husband's family. There is bad blood between the two families, Kim and Kang. The rivalry is even more fueled because Jun Woo's mother used to date Young Min's father but Young Min's mother stole him away from her. Kang Sae Mi is Jun Woo's sister and Kim Young Soo is Young Min's younger brother. They want to get married but both families oppose their marriage which leads to the two young lovers running away and living together.
Why I Like It: There's just something really magical about the "Love Conquers All" premise. It's starts slow but by the time the main characters get it together, you're stuck and addicted. I love the actors and I love the story. And it's one of those dramas that's totally re-watchable.
Watch - If you're a fan of arranged marriage plots.
If you're a fan of Song Chang Ui or Lee Young Ah.
If you have a lot of free time; it's 64 episodes.
What's Iffy: It's a bit draggy at some points but I think the dragginess helps out the plot in the long run. I've also heard people complain that it focused too much on the main characters. Me, on the other hand, loved that focus. I think a lot of dramas focus too much on the side characters and end up not telling much of the story of the main characters. Plus Jin Joo and Jin Woo are too cute for words.
3. Family's Honor/ Glory of the Family
Who's In It: Yoon Jung Hee, Park Shi Hoo, Lee Hyun Jin.
What's It About: Ha Dan Ah (Yoon Jung Hee) is very dignified and beautiful yet she also had a sad life. Dan Ah was married in her 20′s, but her husband died in a car accident during their honeymoon. She will be pursued by two men, a man from a rich family, Lee Kang Suk (Park Shi Hoo) and a man who is younger than her, Jung Hyun Kyu (Lee Hyun Jin). The drama chronicles how the Ha Family upholds their aristocratic reputation.
Why I Like It: Okay, this is one of those dramas that you overlook for a long time and then one day, due to acute boredom, you decide to take a whack at it. And then, BAM!. Just like that. You fall in love. Maybe not so much for you, but for me, that’s exactly how it happened. Once I watched it, I could not stop rewatching. Sadly, it’s also one of those dramas that doesn ’t enjoy popularity. And no matter how much people watch it now, it will always be known as one of those dramas… It's totally underrated and totally doesn't deserve to be.
Watch - If you're a fan of Yoon Jung Hee or Park Shi Hoo.
If you're a fan of the writer who also wrote How To Meet the Perfect Neighbor, Gloria and Stars Falling From The Sky.
Here are some MVs for you if you're interested.
What's Iffy: People say the main character, Dan Ah, is boring. I'm not one of those people. However, even if you feel that way, there are three other different couples. I'm pretty sure your taste in couples will be satisfied by any one of the couples.
2. Gloria
Who's In It: Bae Doo Na, Suh Ji Suk, So Yi Hyun and Lee Chun Hee
What's It About: Gloria is an intense tale of people who are fiercely devoted to surviving their rough lives, focusing in particular on the life of a nightclub singer, Na Jin Jin, who braves the difficulties of her work to provide for her mentally handicapped older sister, Jin Joo. She finds an unwavering source of strength and support from her loyal childhood friend, Ha Dong Ah, a third-rate gangster with a big heart. Jin Jin also meets a potential love interest in Lee Kang Suk, the president of Double Sharp Entertainment, who has his own problems to face as the illegitimate son of an entrepreneur.
Why I Like It: Glorious Gloria (that's how I'll forever think about it). This drama introduced me to Bae Doo Na and Suh Ji Suk who are both going on my favorite Korean actors list. What can I say about Gloria that hasn't already been said and blogged about? It's a criminally underrated drama and the only thing that makes me feel better about that is that the less people know about it, the more personal it feels to me. I loved everything about it - the relationships and friendships i especially loved. There's also no annoying 3rd party in any of the relationships, as an added bonus. It would have been my number 1 pick if I wasn't a very loyal drama watcher.
Watch - If you're a fan of any of the actors.
If you're a fan of Family's Honor, Stars Falling From The Sky or How To Meet The Perfect Neighbor.
If you're in the mood for something amazing.
Here is an MV with one of the drama's great OST.
What's Iffy: Just one. The villain takes quite a while to disappear from the screen.
And at the Number 1 spot is....
1. Dear Heaven/ Love in Heaven
Who's In It: Yoon Jung Hee, Lee Tae Gon, Lee Soo Kyung, Wang Bit Na
What's It About: Ji Young Sun (Han Hye Sook), when she was very young, gave away her daughter Lee Ja Kyung (Yoon Jung Hee) after giving birth. She later remarries and creates a new family, but soon after, her husband dies leaving her behind with her stepson Gu Wang Mo (Lee Tae Gon) and daughter Gu Seul Ah (Lee Soo Kyung). Lee Ja Kyung now grown, after being orphaned once again as a child by the passing of her foster parents, lives a life of loneliness and lack of love. Her birth mother Young Sun comes to find her, but in order to keep her daughter Ja Kyung by her side, tries to match her up with her stepson.
Why I Like It: Sometimes I wonder why I love this drama so much. It's a drama with birth secrets, attempted suicide and an iffy familial relationship between the leads (they share a half sister between them). I wonder and wonder... and then I remember the OTP. One of my favorite korean drama OTPs, Wang Mo and Ja Kyung are not the typical couple. Once he knows what he wants, he pursues it to no end adn she isn't your typical, run-of-the-mill heroine. Yes, she's being abused by her family but she's no damsel in distress, that's for sure. The love between them grows steadily and genuinely. I think that's why I love it so much. Or maybe it's because this was the first drama I bought with my own money? *shrugs* As an added plus, the OTPs get married in the middle of the drama so we get to see some wedded bliss moments.
Watch - If you're a fan of any of the actors.
If you're a fan of the writer who also wrote Assorted Gems and the ongoing New Tales of the Gisaeng.
If you're a fan of birth secret dramas.
Here are some MVs to get you interested.
What's Iffy: It's definitely not to everyone's taste. Try the first episode and see if you like it. Then we'll talk.
Honorable Mentions
There are some dramas that I liked but didn't make it on my list because I loved the ones above considerably more.
1. Sweet 18
2. My Life's Golden Age
3. 9 Ends 2 Outs
4. Beautiful Days
5. All About Eve
6. Bad Couple
7. Which Star Are You From
8. Save The Last Dance For Me
9. Love Story in Harvard
10. Delightful Girl Choon-hyang.
One of these days, I'll explain why they aren't on my list.
* All synopsis unless otherwise noted taken from : http://wiki.d-addicts.com
P.S. This list isn't based on the quality of the drama as a whole but on its sentimental value to me
I'll get the ball rolling with Nnnnuuuuummmmbberrr....
10. The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry/ Still, Marry Me
Who's in it : Park Jin Hee, Uhm Ji Won, Wang Bit Na, Kim Bum, Choi Chul Ho, Lee Pil Mo and Park Ji Young.
What's it about : This drama depicts lives of three women who are closing one chapter of their life and entering the next. Lee Shin Young (Park Jin Hee), Jung Da Jung (Uhm Ji Won) and Kim Boo Ki (Wang Bit Na) are three women in their 30s whose romantic relationships have faltered due to their career ambitions, but find themselves given a chance to make a fresh start.
Why I like It : It's a very enjoyable and pleasant ride. Mostly because that ever-present angst is only limited to the last two episodes. I watched 14 episodes straight without that niggling sense of dread in the pit of my stomach…
Watch - If you're in a laughing mood.
If you want a drama about older women.
If you liked Dal Ja's Spring.
What's Iffy : There's a separation between the main characters.
9. The Ist Shop of Coffee Prince
Who's In it : Yoon Eun Hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun Gyun, Chae Jung Ahn
What's It About : The life of Go Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) is not easy; she works many jobs to pay off debts and even gave up her feminine image. Choi Han Kyul (Gong Yoo) is the heir of a big food company, but his grandmother wants him to settle down, so she arranged many dates for him. After Eun Chan bumped into Han Kyul and was mistaken for a boy, Han Kyul decided to hire Eun Chan to be his gay lover in order to avoid the arranged dates. Desperately in need of money, Eun Chan had no choice but to accept. Han Kyul's grandmother also made Han Kyul in charge of a filthy coffee shop in danger of being bankrupt. Eun Chan begged to work at the coffee shop, and not long after, feelings start to spark, except, how would Han Kyul accept his "homosexuality"?
Why I Like It : Honestly, I've yet to come across a Korean drama list that does have this drama on it in some way. Whether it is liked or not so liked, it's on that list somewhere. Personally, I love it to death. It's not higher up on my list because I've come across some pretty amazing dramas so I tend to push this one further down the list. Coffee Prince is very easy watching and if watched in one sitting, the angst seems very tolerable. At least to me.
Watch - If you're in the mood for a gender bender.
If you're a fan of Eun Hye or Gong Yoo.
What's Iffy : It's not a problem for me but most people who've watched this think the extension killed what could have been a great ending. I liked it even with the extension but that's just me.
8. Dal Ja's Spring
Who's In It : Chae Rim, Lee Min Ki, Lee Hyun Woo, Lee Hye Young, Gong Hyung Jin.
What's It About : ‘Dalja’s Spring’ is the story of Dalja, a 33-year old single at a crossroad of whether to remain single or get married before she gets older. The drama aims to comically and candidly portray the reality and undying pursuit of romance of a thirty something single woman.
Why I Like It : What can I say about this drama? Hilarious. Heartwarming. Beautiful plot about life. Engaging characters. There's a funny scene in almost every episode but it still manages to take itself seriously. Overall, this is just a joy to watch.
Watch - If you're in the mood to watch a drama about women in their thirties.
If you liked The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry.
What's Iffy: The ending is a bit touch-and-go, a little iffy, methinks. But if you’re willing to overlook unnecessary separation(at least, in my opinion), then this drama is absolutely for you.
7. Resurrection/ Rebirth/ Revenge
Who's In It: Uhn Tae Woong, Han Ji Min, So Yi Hyun, Go Joo Won
What's It About: Yu Gang-Hyuk was only 7 years old when his father was murdered in a car "accident" and separated from his identical twin, Yu Shin-Hyuk. He forgot his name and family and given the name Suh Ha-Eun by his adopted father Suh Jae-soo. He falls in love with his adopted sister, Eun-ha and tried to be very honorable about it. He was led to become a cop because of his father’s badge. While investigating an alleged case of suicide, he eventually learns of his twin brother. Against the warnings of his peers, Ha-Eun becomes more and more involved in this suspicious case. As a part of a larger scheme, Ha-Eun is targeted for a hit by unknown individuals. And when Ha-Eun and Shin-Hyuk finally meet for the first time after twenty years, the murderers kill Shin-Hyuk accidentally mistaken him for Ha-Eun. As a result, Ha-Eun vows to get revenge by giving his enemies psychological torture and takes on his brother's persona as an undercover cop and that is where the drama begins... This is a wonderful detective drama with a psychological twist.
Why I Like It: I have never really been a fan of thrillers. I'm still not. This is one exception I'm more than happy to make. This drama pulled me in from the very first episode and didn't let go till I was screaming for more. It is an insanely smart and serious drama. I recommend you watch it for the gist the first time, and then watch more carefully the second time. It's easier to make sense of it that way as every clue, little or not so little, has some connection to the big picture.
Watch - If you're in the mood for something intellectual.
If you want to see Uhn Tae Woong play two different roles.
If you liked The Devil, Time Between Dog and Wolf or Story of A Man.
What's Iffy: I'll let you know.
6. You're Beautiful
Who's In It: Jang Geun Suk, Park Shin Hye, Lee Hong Ki, Jung Yong Hwa.
What's It About: The management company of the idol group A.N.JELL insisted on adding a new singer to the group as the lead vocal, Tae Kyung’s voice was hurting. However,the new member, Mi Nam, had to go to the States to repair a botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the idea of having his twin sister, Mi Nyu,to stand in for him and pretend that she was her brother. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mi Nyu, who was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn’t want to spoil her brother’s chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother.
Why I Like It: This drama makes me feel all warmy and fuzzy inside. I loved the characters, the plot, the acting. The main guys clothes? Maybe not so much. However, once I got over the feminine-like clothes on guys, I really enjoyed this drama. I’ve already rewatched it about five more times. It’s great!
Watch - If you're in a laughing mood.
If you like idol dramas.
If you like gender bender dramas.
What's Iffy: It appeals to very select groups of people seeing how its an idol drama.
5. Life is Beautiful
Who's In It: Kim Hae Sook, Song Chang Ui, Lee Sang Woo, Nam Sang Mi
What's It About: The daily lives of a family living in Jeju Isalnd. Yang Byung Tae’s mother is a stubborn and tough family-head who holds the Yang family together despite of going through the heart-break of being betrayed by her husband. Byung Tae who married Kim Min Jae in his second marriage after the death of his first wife, brought in more people into his side of the family. His seemingly prefect elder son, Yang Tae Sub is actually having a love relation with another man which will be threatening to their family relations if he was discovered. His second son, Ho Sub who is their family’s trouble-maker, wants to be in tourist submarine business after failing in his studies while his youngest daughter, Cho Rong is after fame after being scouted as the resort model.
(credits: Soompi Forum):
Why I Like It: Don't be turned off by the less than stellar synopsis. Life is Beautiful is one of the few dramas that make you want to pack up and move to South Korea. I loved it for the beauty of Jeju Island as well as the story, which is kind of unique in its own right. This is not the first drama to deal with the topic of homosexuality. It is, however, the first drama to actually have gay characters and not girls acting as boys. Plus, the homosexuality theme is handled in a really beautiful adult manner that makes you wish everyone is as mature as the writer.
Watch - If you're a yaoi fangirl (like me)
If you're a fan of Song Chang Ui or Lee Snag Woo or any of the actors.
If you want to go to Jeju Island someday.
What's Iffy : The homosexuality theme is a bit of a controversial topic. If you aren't an open-minded type of person, don't attempt to watch it. Or maybe you can watch it but skip the gay scenes. There are other lovely, heterosexual relationships in the drama.
4. Golden Bride
Who's In It: Lee Young Ah, Song Chang Ui, Choi Yeo Jin, Song Jong Ho.
What's It About: Jin Joo is a half Korean and Vietnamese girl who marries a Korean man, Kang Jun Woo, in order to come to Korea to look for her biological father who abandoned her. The drama is not only about her searching for her dad but also about the cultural differences between her and her husband's family. There is bad blood between the two families, Kim and Kang. The rivalry is even more fueled because Jun Woo's mother used to date Young Min's father but Young Min's mother stole him away from her. Kang Sae Mi is Jun Woo's sister and Kim Young Soo is Young Min's younger brother. They want to get married but both families oppose their marriage which leads to the two young lovers running away and living together.
Why I Like It: There's just something really magical about the "Love Conquers All" premise. It's starts slow but by the time the main characters get it together, you're stuck and addicted. I love the actors and I love the story. And it's one of those dramas that's totally re-watchable.
Watch - If you're a fan of arranged marriage plots.
If you're a fan of Song Chang Ui or Lee Young Ah.
If you have a lot of free time; it's 64 episodes.
What's Iffy: It's a bit draggy at some points but I think the dragginess helps out the plot in the long run. I've also heard people complain that it focused too much on the main characters. Me, on the other hand, loved that focus. I think a lot of dramas focus too much on the side characters and end up not telling much of the story of the main characters. Plus Jin Joo and Jin Woo are too cute for words.
3. Family's Honor/ Glory of the Family
Who's In It: Yoon Jung Hee, Park Shi Hoo, Lee Hyun Jin.
What's It About: Ha Dan Ah (Yoon Jung Hee) is very dignified and beautiful yet she also had a sad life. Dan Ah was married in her 20′s, but her husband died in a car accident during their honeymoon. She will be pursued by two men, a man from a rich family, Lee Kang Suk (Park Shi Hoo) and a man who is younger than her, Jung Hyun Kyu (Lee Hyun Jin). The drama chronicles how the Ha Family upholds their aristocratic reputation.
Why I Like It: Okay, this is one of those dramas that you overlook for a long time and then one day, due to acute boredom, you decide to take a whack at it. And then, BAM!. Just like that. You fall in love. Maybe not so much for you, but for me, that’s exactly how it happened. Once I watched it, I could not stop rewatching. Sadly, it’s also one of those dramas that doesn ’t enjoy popularity. And no matter how much people watch it now, it will always be known as one of those dramas… It's totally underrated and totally doesn't deserve to be.
Watch - If you're a fan of Yoon Jung Hee or Park Shi Hoo.
If you're a fan of the writer who also wrote How To Meet the Perfect Neighbor, Gloria and Stars Falling From The Sky.
Here are some MVs for you if you're interested.
What's Iffy: People say the main character, Dan Ah, is boring. I'm not one of those people. However, even if you feel that way, there are three other different couples. I'm pretty sure your taste in couples will be satisfied by any one of the couples.
2. Gloria
Who's In It: Bae Doo Na, Suh Ji Suk, So Yi Hyun and Lee Chun Hee
What's It About: Gloria is an intense tale of people who are fiercely devoted to surviving their rough lives, focusing in particular on the life of a nightclub singer, Na Jin Jin, who braves the difficulties of her work to provide for her mentally handicapped older sister, Jin Joo. She finds an unwavering source of strength and support from her loyal childhood friend, Ha Dong Ah, a third-rate gangster with a big heart. Jin Jin also meets a potential love interest in Lee Kang Suk, the president of Double Sharp Entertainment, who has his own problems to face as the illegitimate son of an entrepreneur.
Why I Like It: Glorious Gloria (that's how I'll forever think about it). This drama introduced me to Bae Doo Na and Suh Ji Suk who are both going on my favorite Korean actors list. What can I say about Gloria that hasn't already been said and blogged about? It's a criminally underrated drama and the only thing that makes me feel better about that is that the less people know about it, the more personal it feels to me. I loved everything about it - the relationships and friendships i especially loved. There's also no annoying 3rd party in any of the relationships, as an added bonus. It would have been my number 1 pick if I wasn't a very loyal drama watcher.
Watch - If you're a fan of any of the actors.
If you're a fan of Family's Honor, Stars Falling From The Sky or How To Meet The Perfect Neighbor.
If you're in the mood for something amazing.
Here is an MV with one of the drama's great OST.
What's Iffy: Just one. The villain takes quite a while to disappear from the screen.
And at the Number 1 spot is....
1. Dear Heaven/ Love in Heaven
Who's In It: Yoon Jung Hee, Lee Tae Gon, Lee Soo Kyung, Wang Bit Na
What's It About: Ji Young Sun (Han Hye Sook), when she was very young, gave away her daughter Lee Ja Kyung (Yoon Jung Hee) after giving birth. She later remarries and creates a new family, but soon after, her husband dies leaving her behind with her stepson Gu Wang Mo (Lee Tae Gon) and daughter Gu Seul Ah (Lee Soo Kyung). Lee Ja Kyung now grown, after being orphaned once again as a child by the passing of her foster parents, lives a life of loneliness and lack of love. Her birth mother Young Sun comes to find her, but in order to keep her daughter Ja Kyung by her side, tries to match her up with her stepson.
Why I Like It: Sometimes I wonder why I love this drama so much. It's a drama with birth secrets, attempted suicide and an iffy familial relationship between the leads (they share a half sister between them). I wonder and wonder... and then I remember the OTP. One of my favorite korean drama OTPs, Wang Mo and Ja Kyung are not the typical couple. Once he knows what he wants, he pursues it to no end adn she isn't your typical, run-of-the-mill heroine. Yes, she's being abused by her family but she's no damsel in distress, that's for sure. The love between them grows steadily and genuinely. I think that's why I love it so much. Or maybe it's because this was the first drama I bought with my own money? *shrugs* As an added plus, the OTPs get married in the middle of the drama so we get to see some wedded bliss moments.
Watch - If you're a fan of any of the actors.
If you're a fan of the writer who also wrote Assorted Gems and the ongoing New Tales of the Gisaeng.
If you're a fan of birth secret dramas.
Here are some MVs to get you interested.
What's Iffy: It's definitely not to everyone's taste. Try the first episode and see if you like it. Then we'll talk.
Honorable Mentions
There are some dramas that I liked but didn't make it on my list because I loved the ones above considerably more.
1. Sweet 18
2. My Life's Golden Age
3. 9 Ends 2 Outs
4. Beautiful Days
5. All About Eve
6. Bad Couple
7. Which Star Are You From
8. Save The Last Dance For Me
9. Love Story in Harvard
10. Delightful Girl Choon-hyang.
One of these days, I'll explain why they aren't on my list.
* All synopsis unless otherwise noted taken from : http://wiki.d-addicts.com