Sooo I’m fairly new to drama but I’ve made my way through a fair sum already- here is my guide in order of watching for anyone looking to start/looking for new shows!!
My first drama- and a great one to start on for beginners! Geum Jan-di (Ku Hye-Sun) is poor but through a series of events ends up at an elite high school, where she runs into Gu Jun-pyo (Lee Min-Ho) and his ‘gang’ F4. They are the school’s popular bullies, and no one messes with them- until Jan-Di. If you’re a sucker for hate->love romance, this one should definitely go on your list. Although at times I did feel a bit uneasy about the bullying and treatment of women etc, I put that aside and enjoyed the show thoroughly as it progressed. I 100% cried at this and it will forever stay in my favourite dramas purely because it was my first and holds some great nostalgia, there are also some truly hilarious parts which I was not expecting going into drama. I wouldn’t say it holds any really intriguing storylines or anything in particular, but as a sucker for romance and comfortable watching, this ticked all my boxes.
Where Can I Watch?: Netflix
2. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Badass Do Bong Soon (Park Bo-Young) has superhuman strength which has been passed down through the generations of women in her family. She has been acting cute and weak since she discovered her long-term crush Guk Doo (Jisoo) likes girls like that. In trying to protect an old man, she accidentally reveals her strength to onlooker and game company owner An Min-Hyuk (Park Hyung-Sik), and he decides to hire her as his bodyguard to deal with the threats he has been getting. This has everything!! Comedy, Romance, Drama, Mystery. It took me a while to even realise who was the first lead and who was the second(I will not spoil it for you!) as I was rooting for both equally! The storyline of the murders and kidnaps definitely caught my attention and kept me on tenterhooks, appropriately broken up by very humourous moments. Again, I cried, and definitely laughed- the love between the main couple in this show is the cutest, and you’ll find yourself squealing at the adorable-ness!!
Where Can I Watch?: Netflix
3. Who Are You: School 2015
I watched this on a whim as I saw it on Netflix. It took me a while to get into, and I have huge issues with the ending, but overall I’m glad I watched it. Lee Eun-Bi and Ko Eun-Byeol (Kim So-Hyun) are twins who were separated at birth and now lead very different lives. Eun-Bi is a bullied orphan on the brink of death, and Eun-Byeol is popular and from a loving home. After Eun-Byeol goes missing, and Eun-Bi attempts suicide, the latter is found with amnesia and accidentally assumes her twin’s identity. Eun-Bi is stuck living her sister’s life whose existence she did not know of, pretending to be close with her best friend Han Yi-An (Nam Joo-Hyuk), and forming an unlikely friendship with outcast Gong Tae-Kwang (Yook Sung-Jae). The mystery and ability for secrets to be revealed at any moment were what kept me watching this one. That and the fantastic relationship between Eun-Bi and Tae-Kwang, which I could not have shipped harder. SPOILER:: this means crazy second-lead syndrome, which was new to me, and now I understand the pain. I would recommend this show, but probably not above others on this list.
Where Can I Watch?: Netflix
Also aptly named as Cheer Up!, this show brought both cheer and tears to my life. Kang Yeon-Du (Jung Eun-Ji) hates her school and the prestigious Baek Ho cheerleading crew who run it. Cue outcast dance crew she has formed named ‘Real King’. The groups hate each other, until they are forced to work together to form a real cheerleading group to pad a student’s college application. Romance, friendship, and heartbreak ensue as Eun-Ji and best friends Kim Yeol (Lee Won-Keun) and Seo Ha-Joon (Jisoo) get entangled in each other’s lives. Ha-Joon has such a heart-wrenching storyline and this show deals with mental health amazingly in all of its students portrayals, namely also with Kwon Soo-Ah (Chae Soo-Bin), and Ha Dong-Jae (Cha Hak-Yeon). Eun-Ji and Dong-Jae’s friendship is also utterly adorable and I was happy it was kept 100% platonic. The whole group gets on so well and I want to protect them all 24/7.
P.S. I got real bad second lead syndrome again. Ffs.
Where Can I Watch?: Netflix
This is the Chinese version of Boys Over Flowers. It is similar enough that it was the story I knew and loved, but different enough that I felt I was watching something different, and was not always sure where the storyline was going. Both had their pros and cons, but I did really love ShanCai (Shen Yue) and DaoMing Si’s (Dylan Wang) relationship as I felt their chemistry was extraordinary and they made me cry terribly so many times. As this was my first Chinese drama, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and was a little disappointed by the dubbing which they use as it felt a bit less authentic. However, since I am English and barely understand Chinese anyway, this didn’t have a huge impact and I just got on and read the subtitles. I really loved it personally (plus Dylan Wang will make your heart melt 1883848272626 times)
Where Can I Watch?: Netflix
Episodes: 49, 45min length
6. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Where do I even start with this one… heartbreak, heartbreak, AND SO MUCH HEARTBREAK. I s2g how did I even have a heart after this?? One of my favourites, EVER. Go Ha-Jin (Lee Ji-Eun/IU) is cheated on by her boyfriend and best friend in the modern day. Whilst wallowing, she spots a drowning boy and attempts to save him, in doing so drowning herself. Some freaky crap happens with the lunar eclipse and she emerges in a swimming pool in the Goryeo dynasty as Hae Soo. There are 8 Princes here (all very attractive…) and she must navigate her new life as Hae Soo whilst also dealing with her newfound attraction for 8th Prince Wang Wook (Kang Ha-neul), and the scary 4th Prince Wang So (Lee Joon-Gi), and did I mention pain and heartbreak?? Ji-Eun and Joon-Gi’s performances are utterly enchanting and I could not keep my eyes off them. Love, hate, betrayal, insanity, sacrifice, the throne. Also Nam Joo-Hyuk and Jisoo are in it and I love them. The OST was also fantastic and I’ve listened to it many, many, times. You really should watch this, I’m still waiting on news of a sequel tbh.
Where Can I Watch?: KissAsian
This was enjoyable, but for some reason i’ve still not watched the final episode. I don’t know why, so many people loved this but there was just something missing for me. At a school reunion, Sung Shi-Won (Jung Eun-Ji) and her friends revisit their teenage years in Busan and the highs and lows they encountered. At the reunion, one couple is to announce their marriage, and you’re kept guessing throughout who that might be. It explores fan culture and teenage life, and there are some really sweet moments. It also does breach into exploring homosexuality, and loneliness in pensioners, which put it in my good books. They love Karaoke and their friendship is lovely to watch. An enjoyable watch over all.
Where Can I Watch?: Netflix
I adored this. I’ve seen so many reviews which hated this but I really, really liked it (and not just because Nam Joo-Hyuk was in it). Yoon So-Ah (Shin Se-Kyung) is a psychiatrist struggling with money and a fear of water. Habaek (Joo-Hyuk) is the God of Water and must be sent to earth to be able to become God of all realms. He is self-centred and not clear on the rules of earth, causing So-Ah to believe he is delusional. So-Ah is fated to be his servant due to a crime her family committed many generations back, but she struggles to believe in Habaek. She is alone as her family have long passed away, and this causes her much hurt. Watching Habaek learn how humans live and experiencing things for the first time is very amusing, not to mention Habaek’s God servant Nam Soo-Ri is also adorable and hilarious, and the other gods are awesome. This drama has THE BEST kiss scene out of any drama I have seen so far. The OST for this was also beautiful. I was so upset when I finished this and will probably rewatch sometime soon.
Where Can I Watch?: KissAsian
9. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
I’ve never seen a bad thing written about this drama, it is lovely and fantastic and one for everyone! Kim Bok Joo (Lee Sung-Kyung) is a weightlifter who has a crush on swimmer Joon Hyung’s (Nam Joo Hyuk) older brother, Jung Jae Yi (Lee Jae-Yoon). Joon Hyung teases her and tries to help her case with his brother, but soon realises he has feelings for her himself. What is so lovely about this is that Bok Joo is insecure of her body and profession as a weightlifter, but Joon Hyung does nothing but support her and love her, and even finds her more attractive this way. Again, this show deals very well with mental health and the pressure on these teenagers. Both have their hardships and high points, but their friendship and then relationship is almost always there for the other to fall back on. It is ADORABLE, their displays of affection and adoration for each other make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I can’t get enough. SWAG.
Where Can I Watch?: KissAsian
A mother loses her son and decides to make a robot exactly like him. NamSin3 (Seo Kang-Joon) and his mother live in hiding with David, NamSin3’s ‘father’, in the Czech Republic. One day the real Nam Sin decides to find his mother, but runs into NamSin3, and in his shock is run over by a truck, causing him to fall into a coma. NamSin3 must then take his place back in Korea in order to secure the real Sin’s place as head of his company. However, NamSin3 was not expecting to meet Sin’s plucky bodyguard Kang So-Bong (Gong Seung-Yeon), who he develops a friendship with. But how can a robot feel? This drama was very different and I certainly enjoyed it. The main couple had me teetering on the edge for ages, and feeling many confusing emotions. The short episodes mean it is easy viewing and I believe it is well worth the watch.
Where Can I Watch?: KissAsian
Episodes: 36, 35min length
