Korean Dramas

Korean drama is rapidly gaining global popularity. Every Kdrama has a different concept and yet the main element is romance. First time viewers are attracted by the fact that Kdramas end in 16 or 20 episodes, but on the other hand, it is a heartbreaking reality for the Kdrama addicts. Another thing to look forward to is the soundtracks, which perfectly suit each drama. Here are some of my all time favourite Korean dramas listed in terms of year of release. So here we go...

# Personal Taste (2010) - Episodes: 16

Also known as Personal Preference. This is a story bending the rules of love, a love story between straight and gay. Park Gae In (Son Ye Jin), a furniture designer who lives in her father’s designed house, Sanggojae (meaning "a place for mutual love"). She is kind yet impulsive and clumsy with her personal life. Hurt by love and about to lose her house, she runs into Jeon Jin Ho (Lee Min Ho), a dashing architect but self-centered guy who has an obsession with cleanliness. In order to keep his firm running Jin Ho needs to win a project, but it turns out that Sanggojae is the design that can make or break his future. He pretends to be a gay to move in with Gae In and get access to the house design. This is a win-win situation for both when Gae In agrees to have Jin Ho as her roommate. Gae In begs Jin Ho to ‘make her a woman’ so that she can get over her ex boyfriend. While Jin Ho trains Gae In they gradually fall in love and Gae In has a hard time believing she’s fallen for her gay roommate.

This was my second Kdrama. Keeping up with ‘subtitled entertainment’ was a very strange experience but this drama got me hooked. The complications in Gae In and Jin Ho’s relationship is quite interesting to follow.  My favourite scene is where they go to a party in episode 6 (no spoilers!). It is fun to watch Gae In make a mess but later become a graceful lady who falls in love again.

# Scent of a Woman (2011) - Episodes: 16

Lee Yeon Jae (Kim Sun A) is a single woman in her mid-thirties working for a travel company. She works tirelessly and endures the ill-treatment from her colleagues for the sake of her job. After ten years of loyal service, the company falsely accuses her of stealing a client’s ring. To add to her misery, she finds out she has gallbladder cancer and only 6 months to live. She musters up courage to quit her job, withdraw her hard earned money and spend it on herself and her mother fulfilling her desires. She begins makes a bucket list and starts ticking off things to do. She meets Kang Ji Wook (Lee Dong Wook), the handsome successor of Yeon Jae’s former company, in Okinawa Island, Japan. Kang Ji Wook was sent on a business trip by his father. He misunderstands Yeon Jae to be a tourist guide and ends up with her for a whole day. However, his fiance follows him and the three of them have an unpleasant encounter. They meet again in Korea and through various events eventually fall in love when they both have reasons not to.

This is a love story with insecurities. The actress may not seem very beautiful or glamorous at first sight but we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, right? She does a great work with the character displaying the emotions perfectly. To my surprise there is a Muslim client handled by Yeon Jae. I don’t think they did justice to the Muslim part but it was interesting to see Yeon Jae running after chickens for the client’s meal. Overall, this drama is going to make you laugh and break your heart at times and that’s why it’s a worthy watch. I personally think shedding a few tears while watching a drama proves the drama’s worth.

# Fated to Love You (2014) - Episodes: 20

Lee Gun (Jang Hyuk) is the successor to a large company run by his family. His family is after him to get married and settle down. Then there is Kim Mi Young (Jang Nara), an average-looking secretary in a law firm who cannot say no and is taken advantage of by colleagues. The two of them accidently spend a night together in a hotel after drinking love potion. Mi Young later finds out that she is pregnant which lead to the two of them deciding to get married until the child is born.

This drama is a romantic comedy with a pinch of heart-rending scenes. Gun's laughter is the funniest thing; you’ll find yourself laughing along for no reason. The actors have great chemistry. You may find yourself hurting when they were hurting, fall in love when they do and laugh when they laugh. You will learn how to say snail in Korean (dalpaengi).

# She Was Pretty (2015)

Sung Joon (Park Seo Joon) and Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) are childhood friends and each other’s first love. Sung Joon used to be fat and ugly and Hye Jin, the beautiful and popular girl who befriended him. He then moves to USA and comes back 15 years later and asks Hye Jin to meet up. Hye Jin finds out that Sung Joon has become a handsome man. Afraid to show her ugly self and ruin his perception of her, Hye Jin sends her friend Min Ha Ri (Koh Joon Hee) to pretend to be her. Things get complicated when she discovers her new boss is Sung Joon. She pretends to be strangers and he buys it because she looks nothing like the Hye Jin he knew. Not knowing her true identity, he gives her a hard time at work because she’s clumsy. Meanwhile, Min Ha Ri develops feelings for Sung Joon and Hye Jin gets an admirer, Kim Shin Hyuk (Choi Si Won), at her workplace.

The drama has two main funny characters, Kim Shin Hyuk and Kim Ra Ra (Hwang Seok Jeong), along with Hye Jin. One thing you take with you from this drama is Kim Shin calling ‘Jackson!’ For me, this drama means a high dose of second lead syndrome; Si Won, my favorite character, has shown exceptional acting skills which was more than expected from a singer. There is not an episode that you’d want to skip. Also the ending is mysterious, heartbreaking and surprising.

# Cheese in The Trap (2016) - Episodes; 16

This drama depicts the delicate relationship between female university student Hong Seol (Kim Go Eun) and her senior Yoo Jung (Park Hae Jin). Hong-Seol works part-time due to her family's poor background. Yoo Jung is good looking, gets good grades, athletic and has a kind personality, but he has a dark side. At first she things that Yoo Jung is giving her a hard time for no reason until he asks her out. While they are dating random events make her suspicious about her boyfriend and she tries to figure him out.

This drama has a scene which shows the struggle that students go through during course registration; fighting for seats and even doing finger exercise and the course add/drop. The main couple along with Hong Seol’s friends are very cute and adorable. The main attraction is the mysterious charm of Yoo Jung while he’s protecting Hong Seol from behind the curtain.

# Descendants of the Sun (2016) - Episodes: 16

Yoo Shi Jin (Song Joong Ki) is the charming captain of the special forces along with equally handsome Sergeant Major Dae Young (Jin Goo) catch a thief. The thief is injured during his capture and is sent to the hospital. Dae-Young realises his cellphone was stolen by the thief and goes to the hospital to retrieve his cellphone. In the emergency room, Yoo Shi Jin meets Dr. Kang Mo Yeon (Song Hye Kyo) for the first time. He falls in love with her immediately. They  begin to date, but due to their jobs their dates don't go well. They break up and Yoo Shi Jin Goes to Uruk for a mission. Few months later Kang Mo Yeon is sent to volunteer in Uruk from her hospital where they meet again. They both are still hung up on each other but cannot commit because of the nature of their jobs and priorities.

This drama does not shows the lead female as a weak personality as most dramas do. Kang Mo Yeon portrays the role of a strong, protective, funny, person who helps others, is firm in her decisions and not afraid to declare them. There are many funny scenes in the drama not to mention those conversations between Yoo Shi Jin and Kang Mo Yeon. Their chemistry is great. The second lead couple is also very interesting. This is not a very action based drama but does have a little action towards the end.

# Goblin (2016) - Episodes; 16

In ancient times, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), an unbeatable general in wars, was killed by the jealous King Yeo  (Kim Min Jae) Kim Shin becomes a Goblin, possessing an immortal life. At first he thinks that he is blessed, but he realizes that he is cursed to watch close ones die while he lives.

900 years later, Kim Shin finally finds his bride, Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun)  who can help him end his life by pulling out the sword from his chest that only she can see. Ji Eun Tak grew up seeing ghosts and hearing whispers that refer to her as ‘the bride of the Goblin’. On her birthday, Ji Eun Tak blows the candle on and Kim Shin suddenly appears in front of her. It turns out that she can summon the Goblin if she blows on fire. Having found his bride, Kim Shin is reluctant to end his life as he finds himself attracted to her. But destiny has something else in store for them. Meanwhile, the Goblin and Grim Reaper end up living together and having small fights at home but their past life spoil their relationship.

I love everything about this drama and every episode of this drama. I can repeat every single episode many times more. The childish behavior of the Goblin around his young bride is hysterical and adorable. Although he’s 900 years old, he acts like a teenager around her. Their arguments are also cute and funny. The Grim Reaper’s love story is just as interesting. All the actors have done a stellar job in this drama. This drama is hilarious, painful and delightful at the same time