My all-time favorite Korean dramas, with summaries, reasons and vids. Yes, it's a converting post :)
As I am sure is clear to anyone reading this LJ, of all the dramas out there, Korean ones are my favorite kind. Whether it's the amazing production values, tall and masculine hotties (often with swords), adorable heroines, or just the total cracktastic emo, I don't know. But kdramas rock.
But which are my favorite kdramas? And why? Here is a Top 10 list, with reasons, vids, and pics. Note: no drama that I haven't finished completely is on this list, because who knows how it will turn out. Hong Gil Dong or The Legend might end up on this list, but are not included because I am not done. We'll see...Also, I have a 'favorite scene' from each drama, and I described it very briefly, if at all, to make it as unspoilery as possible.
(1) CAPITAL SCANDAL (2007) (16 episodes)
Starring: Kang Ji Hwan, Han Ji Min, Ryu Jin, Han Go Eun
Plot: In 1930s Korea under Japanese occupation, the dapper Sun Woo Wan, arguably the Capital's biggest flirt, crosses paths with the idealistic, old-fashioned book-seller/teacher Yeo Kyong. Yeo Kyong is someone who wants to join the rebel underground, someone unswerving and as involved in the world as Wan is not. But after a series of chance, hilarious, unlucky encounters with her, Wan makes a bet when drunk with his friends: he will transform the unfashionable Yeo Kyong into a 'proper' girl. Or will he be transformed instead?
Why: This is the drama that finally joined My Girl at the top spot. How come? It's lightning-paced, both hilarious and heart-breaking, clever and emotionally pitch-perfect. There are no love triangles, but two awesome love stories, and friendships, and family bonds, and rebellion. It is, simply, one of the best things you will ever see.
Favorite Moment: Wan teaching Yeo Kyong to waltz.
Vid:
Wan/Yeo Kyung:
General:
(1 tie) MY GIRL (2005) (16 episodes)
Starring: Lee Da Hae, Lee Dong Wook, Lee Jun Ki, Park Si Yeon
Plot: Our heroine, Yu-Rin, is plucky and resourceful. She has to be, what with lack of stability courtesy of a good-natured but useless father. One day, her paths cross with Gong-Chan, the manager of the super lux hotel, and the member of the upper crust. Gong-Chan is serious, driven, reserved and a bit of a workaholic, nice but nobody's fool. He is also a very good grandson to a dying grandfather, whose last days he is trying to make happy by locating the Old Gentleman's long lost granddaughter (Gong-Chan's cousin), daughter of Gong-Chan's aunt whom Grandpa disowned on her hasty marriage. and Gong-Chan is feeling hopeless with no leads at all, desperate enough to maybe hire someone for the role...
Why: It is madcap funny, it is heart-breaking, it never slows down its pace, the heroine is beyond adorable, and the hero very functional, and is that rare type of somewhat serious and stable but yet awesome. And oh, my OTP. They own me like very few OTPs do. And then there is also Lee Jun Ki being so perfect.
Favorite Scene: Gong-Chan telling Yu-Rin he didn't leave for Jeju because he is 'snowed in' and the whole surrounding scene.
Vid:
Gong-Chan/Yu-Rin. One of my fave OTPs ever:
General:
(3) A LOVE TO KILL (2005) (16 episodes)
Starring: Rain, Shin Min Ah
Plot: Bokgu (Rain) is a lowlife boxer, who decides to get close to and ruin a young actress, ES, to avenge the fact that his brother was supposedly toyed with by her and ended up in a coma because of her (which isn't true but he doesn't know it). But of course he falls in love with her himself.
Why: Not only is it one of the most gorgeously shot and acted dramas out there, but its harshness ,and yet romantic intensity and beauty reminded me of one of those 19th century Russian novels I used to read. This is seriously incredible.
Favorite Scene: He is being beaten into unconsciousness by goons and she tries to shield him so they start whaling on her, so even though he is barely conscious, he rolls over to shield her with his own body.
Vid:
General:
Shippy:
(4) TREE OF HEAVEN (2006) (10 episodes)
(still courtesy of alexandral)
Starring: Lee Wan, Park Shin Hye
Plot: This angsty, gorgeously-filmed short drama, set in Japan, tells the story of a forbidden, and ultimately doomed, attraction between two brand-new stepsiblings: perky, half-Korean Hana, 18 when the story starts, and her brand-new stepbrother, the mute, odd Yoon-Suh, 20-year-old Korean son of the new man in Hana's mother's life. The story takes various twists and turns (there is a two-year time jump in the middle) but is very tightly woven.
Why: It is almost dream-like in its intensity and in its images of snow, alienation, and close-ups of Yoon-Suh and Hana's eyes. Throw in a love story that made me bawl, one of the coolest (and hottest) male characters ever, and so much longing the screen almost explodes, and you have ToH. I marathonned it in a day and a half, despite being sick, despite the subs of my initial copy being engrish. So amazing.
Favorite Scene: Yoon-Suh, on his knees, begging that mobster to stab him, because the alternative is that mobster going after Hana.
Vid:
Unspoilery (and shippy):
Spoilery (and shippy):
(5) SNOW QUEEN (2006) (16 episodes)
Starring: Hyun Bin, Sung Yuri
Plot: A young math prodigy, haunted by a suicide of a close friend. A high-strung rich girl, sick since childhood, who knows she has only a few years left to live. Who knew this could make a delicate, uplifting, gorgeous love story? The makers of SQ, that's who.
Why: The colors. Oh, the colors in this: pale and clear and true. And the fast pace, and the nuanced characters, who don't speak much but convey a lot. One of my favorite love stories ever, somehow unsappy despite the topic. And oh, oh, OH, Hyun Bin.
Favorite Scene: Sung Yuri is in the hospital and Hyun Bin has to pretend it's OK, but he steps out to fill the water jar for her, and stands in the bathroom, water overflowing, clutching it, his eyes fixed unswervingly, blindly, on the mirror.
Vid:
General:
Shippy:
(6) DELIGHTFUL GIRL CHUN-HYANG (2005) (17 episodes)
Starring: Han Chae-Young, Jae Hee
Plot: A modern, tongue-in-cheek retelling of the classic story of ChunHyang. Our heroine, Chun Hyang, is a brainy, future valeditorian daughter of a small town singer. Our hero, Mong Ryong, is a good natured slacker son of a bigwig prosecutor who moves to this small town. The two meet, become friends, and...to say more would be to ruin it.
Why: One of the most delicious, delightful OTPs ever (think kdrama version of Ron and Hermione, really). An incredibly feminist drama (arguably most feminist kdrama I've seen), with a hero who is yet, not in the least less masculine or a wimp. So much funniness and some totally heart-breaking scenes. It's by the same people who did My Girl.
Favorite Scene: He finds her diary. To say more would be to spoil it. I literally shrieked at that point.
Vid:
Funny:
Angsty:
(7) GOONG (2006) (24 episodes)
(no, the baby is not a spoiler. It was one of those 'what if' fantasy inserts they did)
Starring: Joo Ji-Hoon, Yoon Eun-Hye, Kim Jeong Hoon, Song Ji Hyo
Plot: In this AU world, where Korea is a constitutional monarchy, plucky and sweet but not brainiac commoner Chae-Gyung (YEH) finds out she is actually betrothed to her co-student, the haughty, reserved Prince Shin (JJH). A lovely fate except not only is life in the palace something no normal person would want, being rigid and confining, but Chae-Gyung just overheard the Prince propose to another woman. Can the bubbly, cheerful Chae-Gyung and the withdrawn, sarcastic Shin ever learn to tolerate each other, let alone fall in love? What do you think?
Why: Goong can always make me smile. seriously. It is just an automatic mood booster. YEH is one of the most adorable, lovable heroines out in the drama world, and JJH is not only scarily good-looking, but it totally my fictional type: a dysfunctionally icy woobie. In fact, I came for Chae-Gyung but stayed for Shin, who has a wonderful character gradual reveal and growth. I am such a sucker for extravert girl saving introvert boy through cheeriness story. Oh, and the girls' costumes! The sets! The kiss to end all kisses! It does get a bit draggy in the middle, but not much, and hey, you can always stare at the art design during those times.
Favorite Scene: I will be like every fangirl out there, and say THE KISS. You know which one I mean.
Vid:
A very sweet Shin/CG one:
Another adorable one. Oh, they are so one of my major OTPs. I think I am rewatching Goong this weekend:
(8) COFFEE PRINCE (2007) (17 episodes)
Starring: Gong Yoo, Yoon Eun-Hye
Plot: YEH is a very tomboyish girl who gets mistaken (understandably) for a boy by a coffee shop owner (Gong Yoo), who at first hires her to pretend to be his bf (so the family would stop match-making him) and then hires her to work in his store. But soon, the manager discovers he is beginning to have feelings for the boy. OMG! What to do! Why, revel in het slash, of course.
Why: You know, if it ended shortly after ep 13-14 or so, it probably would have been my number 1 drama. But they really continued it for too long. Now, I loved all of the 17 episodes, but it did get a bit draggy at the end, ergo it's number 8 spot. Still, it's gut-bustingly hilarious, rather subversive, quite original, with an OTP that makes me weak at the knees, secondary characters every single one of which I love, and best of all, Gong Yoo, making me swoon. Oh, and such awesome kissing scenes!
Favorite Scene: Gong Yoo asks for a hug. You know the scene.
Vid:
Funny one:
Shippy one that made me squee:
(9) FULL HOUSE (2004) (16 episodes)
Starring: Rain, Song Hye Kyo
Plot: A fanfic author (OK, internet novelist) is scammed out of her house by her 'friends.' Said house is bought by a very famous, rather childish star (Rain) and due to a combination of circumstances too funny and too cute to spoil, they end up sharing the house. LOLness and OTPness ensue.
Why: This was the first kdrama I ever saw, and one that hooked me on the rest. It's incredibly funny, has an OTP to die for, it made me tear up and squee and yell at TV and is just...perfect. "Aza Aza Fighting" used to be my cell greeting for a really long time.
Favorite Scene: The one with the roses. Dozens and dozens and dozens.
Vid:
Shippy sweetness:
Cute funny one mark 2:
(10) DAMO (2003) (14 episodes)
Starring: Lee Seo Jin, Ha Ji Won
Plot: Set in medieval Korea, this 14 episode drama follows a 'damo' (tea servant) to a police commander, and investigations of counterfeiting, complex politics and family history, and unspoken love.
Why: It's incredibly hard to explain why Damo is so amazing (it has quite a cult status in Korea). It has to be seen to be believed. Not only is it filmed like a movie, it manages the feat of having a complex plot that does not revolve around romance, and yet being one of the most passionate love stories I've seen, at the same time. The heroine, Chae-Ok, is probably the strongest kdrama heroine I've seen, emotionally and fight-wise. No damsels in distress here. And Commander Hwangbo Yoon, the police Lord she 'serves' is one of my all-time fictional crushes. Their story kills me about eighteen million ways. Oh, and how could I forget the charismatic, mysterious rebel leader, Sang-Baek. It's only not higher because a few secondary characters weren't as interesting as they should have been, and because...well...that would be spoilery.
Favorite Scene: Tent scene.
Vid:
This one almost made me cry:
Wonderful but very spoilery:
(10 tie) SOMETHING HAPPENED IN BALI (2004) (20 episodes)
Starring: Ha Ji Won, Jo In Sung, So Ji Sub
Plot: The heroine, poor and with not much family to call her own, gets entangled with two very different men: an ambitious working-class 'icy' type, played by SJS, and the dysfunctional, temperamental rich one, played by JIS. Nothing good to anybody comes of it.
Why: How could I have a list without one of those 'traditional' kdramas, a kdrama everybody thinks of, when they think kdrama: love triangles, sad endings, rich guy/poor girl, etc. What really makes it work for me, as opposed to a lot of other 'traditional' kdramas I've watched, is two things: (a) the grinding innobility of poverty, as shown here and (b) Jo In Sung's character, a dysfunctional, abused rich boy, who makes me think of a darker VM's Logan and turns the whole story into a much darker version of Hana Yori Dango. Plus, the kissing against the wall scene! MMMM.
Favorite Scene: Kissing against the wall with JIS and HJW, when she comes to his apartment.
Vid:
Jo In Sung/Ha Ji Won characters shippy vid (skip the last ten seconds, as they are spoilery):
Very spoilery:
But which are my favorite kdramas? And why? Here is a Top 10 list, with reasons, vids, and pics. Note: no drama that I haven't finished completely is on this list, because who knows how it will turn out. Hong Gil Dong or The Legend might end up on this list, but are not included because I am not done. We'll see...Also, I have a 'favorite scene' from each drama, and I described it very briefly, if at all, to make it as unspoilery as possible.
(1) CAPITAL SCANDAL (2007) (16 episodes)
Starring: Kang Ji Hwan, Han Ji Min, Ryu Jin, Han Go Eun
Plot: In 1930s Korea under Japanese occupation, the dapper Sun Woo Wan, arguably the Capital's biggest flirt, crosses paths with the idealistic, old-fashioned book-seller/teacher Yeo Kyong. Yeo Kyong is someone who wants to join the rebel underground, someone unswerving and as involved in the world as Wan is not. But after a series of chance, hilarious, unlucky encounters with her, Wan makes a bet when drunk with his friends: he will transform the unfashionable Yeo Kyong into a 'proper' girl. Or will he be transformed instead?
Why: This is the drama that finally joined My Girl at the top spot. How come? It's lightning-paced, both hilarious and heart-breaking, clever and emotionally pitch-perfect. There are no love triangles, but two awesome love stories, and friendships, and family bonds, and rebellion. It is, simply, one of the best things you will ever see.
Favorite Moment: Wan teaching Yeo Kyong to waltz.
Vid:
Wan/Yeo Kyung:
Click to viewGeneral:
(1 tie) MY GIRL (2005) (16 episodes)
Starring: Lee Da Hae, Lee Dong Wook, Lee Jun Ki, Park Si Yeon
Plot: Our heroine, Yu-Rin, is plucky and resourceful. She has to be, what with lack of stability courtesy of a good-natured but useless father. One day, her paths cross with Gong-Chan, the manager of the super lux hotel, and the member of the upper crust. Gong-Chan is serious, driven, reserved and a bit of a workaholic, nice but nobody's fool. He is also a very good grandson to a dying grandfather, whose last days he is trying to make happy by locating the Old Gentleman's long lost granddaughter (Gong-Chan's cousin), daughter of Gong-Chan's aunt whom Grandpa disowned on her hasty marriage. and Gong-Chan is feeling hopeless with no leads at all, desperate enough to maybe hire someone for the role...
Why: It is madcap funny, it is heart-breaking, it never slows down its pace, the heroine is beyond adorable, and the hero very functional, and is that rare type of somewhat serious and stable but yet awesome. And oh, my OTP. They own me like very few OTPs do. And then there is also Lee Jun Ki being so perfect.
Favorite Scene: Gong-Chan telling Yu-Rin he didn't leave for Jeju because he is 'snowed in' and the whole surrounding scene.
Vid:
Gong-Chan/Yu-Rin. One of my fave OTPs ever:
General:
(3) A LOVE TO KILL (2005) (16 episodes)
Starring: Rain, Shin Min Ah
Plot: Bokgu (Rain) is a lowlife boxer, who decides to get close to and ruin a young actress, ES, to avenge the fact that his brother was supposedly toyed with by her and ended up in a coma because of her (which isn't true but he doesn't know it). But of course he falls in love with her himself.
Why: Not only is it one of the most gorgeously shot and acted dramas out there, but its harshness ,and yet romantic intensity and beauty reminded me of one of those 19th century Russian novels I used to read. This is seriously incredible.
Favorite Scene: He is being beaten into unconsciousness by goons and she tries to shield him so they start whaling on her, so even though he is barely conscious, he rolls over to shield her with his own body.
Vid:
General:
Shippy:
(4) TREE OF HEAVEN (2006) (10 episodes)
(still courtesy of alexandral)
Starring: Lee Wan, Park Shin Hye
Plot: This angsty, gorgeously-filmed short drama, set in Japan, tells the story of a forbidden, and ultimately doomed, attraction between two brand-new stepsiblings: perky, half-Korean Hana, 18 when the story starts, and her brand-new stepbrother, the mute, odd Yoon-Suh, 20-year-old Korean son of the new man in Hana's mother's life. The story takes various twists and turns (there is a two-year time jump in the middle) but is very tightly woven.
Why: It is almost dream-like in its intensity and in its images of snow, alienation, and close-ups of Yoon-Suh and Hana's eyes. Throw in a love story that made me bawl, one of the coolest (and hottest) male characters ever, and so much longing the screen almost explodes, and you have ToH. I marathonned it in a day and a half, despite being sick, despite the subs of my initial copy being engrish. So amazing.
Favorite Scene: Yoon-Suh, on his knees, begging that mobster to stab him, because the alternative is that mobster going after Hana.
Vid:
Unspoilery (and shippy):
Spoilery (and shippy):
(5) SNOW QUEEN (2006) (16 episodes)
Starring: Hyun Bin, Sung Yuri
Plot: A young math prodigy, haunted by a suicide of a close friend. A high-strung rich girl, sick since childhood, who knows she has only a few years left to live. Who knew this could make a delicate, uplifting, gorgeous love story? The makers of SQ, that's who.
Why: The colors. Oh, the colors in this: pale and clear and true. And the fast pace, and the nuanced characters, who don't speak much but convey a lot. One of my favorite love stories ever, somehow unsappy despite the topic. And oh, oh, OH, Hyun Bin.
Favorite Scene: Sung Yuri is in the hospital and Hyun Bin has to pretend it's OK, but he steps out to fill the water jar for her, and stands in the bathroom, water overflowing, clutching it, his eyes fixed unswervingly, blindly, on the mirror.
Vid:
General:
Shippy:
(6) DELIGHTFUL GIRL CHUN-HYANG (2005) (17 episodes)
Starring: Han Chae-Young, Jae Hee
Plot: A modern, tongue-in-cheek retelling of the classic story of ChunHyang. Our heroine, Chun Hyang, is a brainy, future valeditorian daughter of a small town singer. Our hero, Mong Ryong, is a good natured slacker son of a bigwig prosecutor who moves to this small town. The two meet, become friends, and...to say more would be to ruin it.
Why: One of the most delicious, delightful OTPs ever (think kdrama version of Ron and Hermione, really). An incredibly feminist drama (arguably most feminist kdrama I've seen), with a hero who is yet, not in the least less masculine or a wimp. So much funniness and some totally heart-breaking scenes. It's by the same people who did My Girl.
Favorite Scene: He finds her diary. To say more would be to spoil it. I literally shrieked at that point.
Vid:
Funny:
Angsty:
(7) GOONG (2006) (24 episodes)
(no, the baby is not a spoiler. It was one of those 'what if' fantasy inserts they did)
Starring: Joo Ji-Hoon, Yoon Eun-Hye, Kim Jeong Hoon, Song Ji Hyo
Plot: In this AU world, where Korea is a constitutional monarchy, plucky and sweet but not brainiac commoner Chae-Gyung (YEH) finds out she is actually betrothed to her co-student, the haughty, reserved Prince Shin (JJH). A lovely fate except not only is life in the palace something no normal person would want, being rigid and confining, but Chae-Gyung just overheard the Prince propose to another woman. Can the bubbly, cheerful Chae-Gyung and the withdrawn, sarcastic Shin ever learn to tolerate each other, let alone fall in love? What do you think?
Why: Goong can always make me smile. seriously. It is just an automatic mood booster. YEH is one of the most adorable, lovable heroines out in the drama world, and JJH is not only scarily good-looking, but it totally my fictional type: a dysfunctionally icy woobie. In fact, I came for Chae-Gyung but stayed for Shin, who has a wonderful character gradual reveal and growth. I am such a sucker for extravert girl saving introvert boy through cheeriness story. Oh, and the girls' costumes! The sets! The kiss to end all kisses! It does get a bit draggy in the middle, but not much, and hey, you can always stare at the art design during those times.
Favorite Scene: I will be like every fangirl out there, and say THE KISS. You know which one I mean.
Vid:
A very sweet Shin/CG one:
Another adorable one. Oh, they are so one of my major OTPs. I think I am rewatching Goong this weekend:
(8) COFFEE PRINCE (2007) (17 episodes)
Starring: Gong Yoo, Yoon Eun-Hye
Plot: YEH is a very tomboyish girl who gets mistaken (understandably) for a boy by a coffee shop owner (Gong Yoo), who at first hires her to pretend to be his bf (so the family would stop match-making him) and then hires her to work in his store. But soon, the manager discovers he is beginning to have feelings for the boy. OMG! What to do! Why, revel in het slash, of course.
Why: You know, if it ended shortly after ep 13-14 or so, it probably would have been my number 1 drama. But they really continued it for too long. Now, I loved all of the 17 episodes, but it did get a bit draggy at the end, ergo it's number 8 spot. Still, it's gut-bustingly hilarious, rather subversive, quite original, with an OTP that makes me weak at the knees, secondary characters every single one of which I love, and best of all, Gong Yoo, making me swoon. Oh, and such awesome kissing scenes!
Favorite Scene: Gong Yoo asks for a hug. You know the scene.
Vid:
Funny one:
Shippy one that made me squee:
(9) FULL HOUSE (2004) (16 episodes)
Starring: Rain, Song Hye Kyo
Plot: A fanfic author (OK, internet novelist) is scammed out of her house by her 'friends.' Said house is bought by a very famous, rather childish star (Rain) and due to a combination of circumstances too funny and too cute to spoil, they end up sharing the house. LOLness and OTPness ensue.
Why: This was the first kdrama I ever saw, and one that hooked me on the rest. It's incredibly funny, has an OTP to die for, it made me tear up and squee and yell at TV and is just...perfect. "Aza Aza Fighting" used to be my cell greeting for a really long time.
Favorite Scene: The one with the roses. Dozens and dozens and dozens.
Vid:
Shippy sweetness:
Cute funny one mark 2:
(10) DAMO (2003) (14 episodes)
Starring: Lee Seo Jin, Ha Ji Won
Plot: Set in medieval Korea, this 14 episode drama follows a 'damo' (tea servant) to a police commander, and investigations of counterfeiting, complex politics and family history, and unspoken love.
Why: It's incredibly hard to explain why Damo is so amazing (it has quite a cult status in Korea). It has to be seen to be believed. Not only is it filmed like a movie, it manages the feat of having a complex plot that does not revolve around romance, and yet being one of the most passionate love stories I've seen, at the same time. The heroine, Chae-Ok, is probably the strongest kdrama heroine I've seen, emotionally and fight-wise. No damsels in distress here. And Commander Hwangbo Yoon, the police Lord she 'serves' is one of my all-time fictional crushes. Their story kills me about eighteen million ways. Oh, and how could I forget the charismatic, mysterious rebel leader, Sang-Baek. It's only not higher because a few secondary characters weren't as interesting as they should have been, and because...well...that would be spoilery.
Favorite Scene: Tent scene.
Vid:
This one almost made me cry:
Wonderful but very spoilery:
(10 tie) SOMETHING HAPPENED IN BALI (2004) (20 episodes)
Starring: Ha Ji Won, Jo In Sung, So Ji Sub
Plot: The heroine, poor and with not much family to call her own, gets entangled with two very different men: an ambitious working-class 'icy' type, played by SJS, and the dysfunctional, temperamental rich one, played by JIS. Nothing good to anybody comes of it.
Why: How could I have a list without one of those 'traditional' kdramas, a kdrama everybody thinks of, when they think kdrama: love triangles, sad endings, rich guy/poor girl, etc. What really makes it work for me, as opposed to a lot of other 'traditional' kdramas I've watched, is two things: (a) the grinding innobility of poverty, as shown here and (b) Jo In Sung's character, a dysfunctional, abused rich boy, who makes me think of a darker VM's Logan and turns the whole story into a much darker version of Hana Yori Dango. Plus, the kissing against the wall scene! MMMM.
Favorite Scene: Kissing against the wall with JIS and HJW, when she comes to his apartment.
Vid:
Jo In Sung/Ha Ji Won characters shippy vid (skip the last ten seconds, as they are spoilery):
Very spoilery: