KDramas: My Top Ten!
- erikasagum
- Jun 8, 2016
- 9 min read
Annyeong everyone! If you’ve known me for a long time, you would already know that I like everything Korean – the country, FOOD, music, and of course, their dramas! So today, as suggested by my friend and co-teacher (who I’ve recently converted into a Kdrama addict haha!) Anna, I will list down my top ten Kdramas and some other dramas that I think will be worth your time!
10. My Husband Got A Family or Unexpected You (2012)
Genre: Family, Romance
Episodes: 58
Summary: Cha Yoon Hee is married to Terry Kang, an orphan. Cha Yoon Hee lives every woman’s dream, successful in her own career and married to a doctor without in laws. But Terry suddenly finds out that their neighbors are actually his real parents. Suddenly, Cha Yoon Hee needs to deal with his husband’s family - not only with the in laws, but with the extended family as well!
I don’t usually watch weekend dramas because they have more than 20 episodes which can be dragging. I made an exception with this one because I liked one couple/side story from chancing upon one episode on TV. I wanted to know what would happen with the said couple so I ended up watching the whole drama. I don’t regret it anyway because this drama turned out to be really nice! I experienced a lot of emotions watching this drama, I laughed, cried, had my heart broken and put back into a whole again. This drama was a roller-coaster ride!
9. Midas (2011)
Genre: Romance, Business
Episodes: 21
Summary: The main lead, Kim Do Hyun is a really smart lawyer. He was recruited to work for a rich family. Soon, he started figuring out some hidden wealth of his employers. Now, he has to choose if he wants a peaceful life with his girlfriend or let greed ruin his life.
This drama is so different from what I’m used to watching. I’m really drawn to romantic-comedies, or pure romance genres but I just couldn’t stop watching this drama. Even if it was a serious one, and focused more on the business area, I was still glued on the screen trying to finish this.
8. Twenty Years Old or 20’s (2014)
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 4
Summary: The story is about Lee Ki Kwang, a famous idol who sees his first love and childhood friend, Kim Hye Rim after a long time. They reminisce about their friendship and start communicating again.
Even if this series only had 4 episodes, I was satisfied with how the story progressed. I really like this mini-drama, I wish there were more episodes! Watch this when you just want to kill time. I promise that you will not regret this!
7. A Gentleman’s Dignity (2012)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 20
Summary: This drama is about 4 single male adults in their 40s trying to deal with their lives. They’ve been friends since high school and their friendship will be tested as they experience love, being broken, failure, success and everything between.
This drama is really funny! The leads are already in their 40s but they still act like they’re in high school! This show has the perfect balance for humor and seriousness. Even if there were four stories in this drama, it didn’t feel messy and they actually connected each story perfectly to the others. And I actually like the part where the focus was on the male leads rather than the usual focus on female leads.
6. 49 Days and Pinocchio
49 Days (2011)
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Episodes: 20
Summary: Shin Ji Hyun was living the perfect life and was about to marry her fiancé when she experienced a car accident. She went under coma but is given a second chance by “The Scheduler.” She can live again only if she finds three people out of her family who will cry genuine tears for her. She borrows Yi Kyung’s body to complete this mission.
I cried so much in this drama. You wouldn’t believe the twists this drama has! Most of the scenes were unexpected! It will make you think deeply about your relationships and make you appreciate the sincere people you have in your life. It will also make you value life and live to the saying, "Life's short, so make the most of it and live everyday like it's your last."
Pinocchio (2014-2015)
Genre: Romance, Family
Episodes: 20
Summary: Choi In Ha has Pinocchio Syndrome (not real, purposely made for the drama), which makes her hiccup every time she lies. She has a childhood friend, Dal Po which her family adopted back then. They both become reporters as Dal Po wants to take revenge on what happened to his family due to a fake report on a fire incident. On the other hand, Choi In Ha became a reporter because it has been her dream since she was a child, but finds it difficult to prove herself because of her Pinocchio Syndrome.
I couldn’t stop watching this drama! I just kept clicking next right after each episode! This has one of the best story lines I have ever encountered. It’s not just about their dreams of becoming reporters, but how the news manipulates people and changes the truth. This drama made me question news reports in my own country and every time I encounter “shallow” news, I couldn’t help but think what big, more important news is being covered up. This is really worth your time, please watch it!
5. My Lovely Sam Soon and Full House
My Lovely Sam Soon (2011)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Summary: Kim Sam Soon is a good baker. She makes awesome cakes and pastries. Unfortunately on Christmas Eve, she found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her. She ends up in the men’s washroom and meets her future employer, Hyun Jin Hun – a restaurateur who needed a baker in his restaurant badly. Sam Soon accepts the offer and soon she gets another job offer from Jin Hun - to pretend to be his girlfriend. They end up developing real feelings for each other but things get complicated when both their exes come back in their lives.
This is a funny drama! Story-wise, I think this isn’t as original as the other dramas I watched but the way that the actors delivered the lines and portrayed their roles were very outstanding. I especially liked how the female lead acted. It seemed very natural, like how a girl would typically react to things happening to her. When she got heart broken, I also felt the pain in my heart; and every time she felt kilig, I would also be kilig for her.
Full House (2004)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Summary: Han Ji Eun’s house was secretly sold by her best friends to a popular actor, Lee Young Jae because they were in need of money. When Ji Eun came back from vacation, she found out about it and could not get her house back from Young Jae. Ji Eun and Young Jae decided to sign a marriage contract so Ji Eun can get back her house and to make Young Jae’s best friend jealous. They end up living together and falling for each other but as the story progresses, the fake marriage is exposed.
Song Hye Kyo (Han Ji Eun) is really funny here! You might be familiar with the name because she’s the same female lead from Descendants of the Sun, the most hit Kdrama this year! Okay, going back to Full House, this drama is one of the best rom-coms! I also like Rain’s (Lee Young Jae) acting here. From an idol (in Korea idol means “music performer” or a member of a boy/girl group), he really showed that he can also act! Also, the story is different, very original from what I’m used to. This really gained a huge following in the Philippines.
My Lovely Sam Soon and Full House were such huge hits that Philippine local TV channel – GMA7, even made their own versions of the drama!
4. Reply 1997 and Queen Inhyun’s Man
Queen Inhyun’s Man (2012)
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Period
Episodes: 16
Summary: Kim Boong Do is a scholar who fully supports Queen In Hyun. A lot of corrupt officials wanted to get rid of the queen so Boong Do did whatever he could to save the queen. Boong Do was given an amulet to help him in times of danger. The amulet made him able to time-travel. The first time the amulet helped him, he ended up in the present year where Choi Hee Jin, a starting actress was playing the role of Queen In Hyun in a drama. Hee Jin believes about Boong Do’s time-traveling and helps him cope with the present. They fall in love but finds it difficult to maintain the relationship because they were from different periods.
This is like The Time Traveler’s Wife Korean version. Not really because of the story, but just because of the time-travelling part. I’m so used to female leads following the “ladylike” role, but with this drama, the girl is so straight-forward. She admits her feelings and acts upon them. Some people may not like the time-travelling part because it’s not realistic at all, but for me, it works. You should give this drama a try and see if fantasy genre fits your style!
Reply 1997 (2012)
Genre: Romance, School Life, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Summary: This drama revolves around Shi Won and her high school friends during the 90s where Kpop bloomed and when “fangirling” went overboard for most Koreans. Fast forward to 2012, where they meet up again and reminisce about their high school life.
This drama reminded me of How I Met Your Mother because of the reminiscing/flashback parts. This had so much mystery in it. I love how the script writer/s built the characters of everyone and how they evolved. There were times when I was so sure of what one character portrayed but would end up wrong. This drama kept me guessing until the very end. I’m sorry if you don’t get what I’m really talking about but I just don’t want to spoil this drama for you (if you decide to watch it anyway).
3. My Love from Another Star or You Who Came from the Star (2013-2014)
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Comedy
Episodes: 21
Summary: Do Min Joon went to Earth for “research” for his planet but didn’t get to return because he saved a girl the same time their ship was about to return to their home planet. He lived on earth for a long time, moving from one place to another, and having different careers from time to time. Everything was going smoothly as he was waiting for the return of the ship but one day, he became neighbors with a top actress – Chun Song Yi and this experience turned his quiet life around.
As far as fantasy dramas go, this would be my top pick. This made me go back to watching Kdramas after I decided to take a break from it. It had everything that I was looking for in dramas – romance, humor, mystery and even suspense! The actors were great, especially the two main leads! Also, every time I would watch this, I would crave for chicken and beer because the female lead kept mentioning it haha! Watch this and try not to order chicken and beer!
2. Descendants of the Sun (2016)
Genre: Action, Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Summary: Capt. Yoo Si Jin and Doctor Kang Mo Yeon meet in the hospital. They instantly get attracted to each other and date despite their busy schedules. But because of their different views about life, they end up “breaking up.” Si Jin gets assigned in Urk and after a few months, Mo Yeon follows (without knowing that Si Jin is also in Urk) as a volunteer doctor.
The main reason why I started this drama was because of Song Joong Ki (Big Boss/Capt. Yoo Si Jin). The reason why I continued watching this until the end was still because of Song Joong Ki… and the rest of the actors, the plot, and everything else this drama is made of! This was so good that I even got to make my co-teachers (who never watched a single Kdrama in their life) to watch it. This was such a huge hit that the actors of the drama, especially Joong Ki got a huge following in most Asian countries! The drama was even featured in international news! And recently, it was just announced that a season 2 will follow soon! *fingers crossed that they retain the actors*
1. Goong or Princess Hours (2006)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, School Life
Episodes: 24
Summary: In order to bring back the popularity and the trust of the people to the Royal Family, Prince Lee Jin weds a normal girl, Chae Kyung. It was a fixed marriage that was agreed upon by both of their grandfathers who were really good friends. Lee Jin is in love with someone else but agrees nonetheless for his family while Chae Kyung also agrees because she wants to help her family who is in debt.
This is the reason why I started watching Kdramas in the first place. I was second year HS when I watched this and I repeated the episodes over and over again until our DVD copy got broken. ABS CBN even showed a Tagalog dubbed version of the drama and I still watched. I remember teasing my classmates who watched that I would spoil what happens next in the story haha! I could probably recite the memorable lines by heart. One of my favorites would be, “Before she is the crown princess, she is my wife.” I just couldn’t get enough of this drama that I even read the manga (comic book) where it originated! I strongly recommend you to watch this drama, even after 10 years, this is still my top 1 and my favorite Kdrama of all time!
Some other dramas I recommend:
I started watching Kdramas back in HS so you could say that I had a lot of titles in my mind when I started the draft. My sister even helped me remember some of the titles! Writing this was hard for me. Choosing and ranking the dramas were difficult! The only thing I was sure of was my top 1 haha! I kept interchanging the ranks of the dramas but now that it's complete, I'm actually satisfied with how my top 10 turned out. For those who watch Kdramas like me, you may not agree with my list. We all have different tastes when it comes to series, but hey, to each his own right?
I hope you enjoyed my list and if you think I missed a drama, feel free to comment
the title and I'll give it a shot! Now go and watch! :)
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