I’m not suggesting that my recognition of Korean dramas is
vast. However, I have been watching k-dramas since birth due to my upbringing
in Burma and I still continue to watch them after I moved here in London. To be
honest, I have lost interest in watching TV because I’m always on the computer
watching episodes after episodes of dramas. The same goes for my mother- no
wonder my father’s always agitated when there’s no one there to watch TV with
him at night.
To be honest, I am slightly ashamed to have never watched a
single episode of East Enders or TOWIE, being a Londoner myself. It is also a
pain when I can’t understand what on earth my friends are talking about when it
comes to TV shows. (Sigh)
But, let me make one thing clear; I don’t have the slight
intention of giving up K-dramas. It’s hard to say why I think they are so much
better than American and British soaps. You’ll only understand if you’ve
watched one.
I cannot guarantee 100% satisfaction. Unfortunately, there
have been a number of occasions where I had to stop watching certain dramas
because the plot and/or the characters were a total bore (not to mention any
names here...but the Heirs, though
the actors were amazing seemed to have a more modern copycat plot of Boys over Flowers- it was really
disappointing).
Before I list my top 10, I’d like you to know that I have
only included the ones that I have watched. I could not include other ‘amazing’
kdramas like To the Beautiful You or
The Running Man that my friends have
recommended simply because I haven’t had the time to watch them.
So, here goes my top 10…
No.10
High kick 3:
Revenge of the Short-legged
This sitcom aired from 2011
to 2012 and revolved around the Ahn family who suddenly went bankrupt which led
to a whole chain of seriously hilarious events. Every single character has
their own unique touch on the audience but most of all, Ahn Nae-sang, whose has
such a peculiar style of acting that he has always sent me off in tears from
laughing. He’s absolutely sensational.
No.9
Jumong
This historical drama
that is set during the time of the Gojoseon era in Korea tells the story about
Jumong Taewang a Prince who beomes a lengendary figure. I have to say that even
my dad who very rarely compliments k-dramas have said it was one of the best
things he has ever watched. I agree- the plot and the battle scenes are
ingenious! No wonder it had the highest
views in 2006 when it was first aired.
No. 8
You’re all
surrounded
Four newly recruited
rookie detectives at Gangnam Police Station who joined to meet their own needs
and not out of genuine enthusiasm to protect the citizens of Korea, learns what
it really takes to become detectives. They later learn the tragic past of their
team mate Eun Dae-Gu and struggle to fight for justice. A must-watch for 2014!
No. 7
God's gift: 14 days
After Kim Soo-hyun’s
little daughter gets kidnapped and murdered, she is given another chance to go
back in time exactly two weeks before the murder. Determined to save her
daughter, she works with a former detective Ki Dong-chan but as they race
against the clock, they discover even more sinister secrets they could never
have imagined.
No. 6
Boys Over
Flowers
This is quite an old
k-drama now but it is something that every true k-drama lover would have
watched. Its ratings for cheesiness would be off the scale at many points in
the drama but I believe it tears me up nearly everytime I watch it because it
reminds me of my young teenage years spending my days lounging on the sofa with
my sisters. The main storyline is on a poor struggling student being offered a
scholarship in the most prestigious high
school in Korea, where she after many fights and hardship befriends the famous
gang F4.
No. 5
Gap-Dong
No. 4
Full House
‘Full House’ the name
of the house, built by Han Ji-eun’s father, which later becomes her only
inheritance and memory left of her parents after they pass away. But she is
embezzled by her two closest friends whilst she is sent away on holiday to
Japan, and finds her precious house sold to Lee Young-Jae, a popular actor.
This drama, aired in 2004 (wow, it’s been 10 years now) is based on the lives
of these two characters whose lives took an unlikely turn of fate. I usually
hate all the lovey-dovey stuff but this is the only drama that not only can I
tolerate but actually enjoy watching it over and over again.
No.3
I Hear Your
Voice
This is a beautiful combination
of courtroom drama and romantic comedy with a few elements of fantasy. Jang Hye-sung,
a public defender, finds her life changed forever when she encounters Park
Soo-ha, a high school boy with the supernatural ability to read other people's
thoughts and a dorky ‘cop-turned-lawyer’ Cha Gwan-woo.
No. 2
Oh! Pil-seung and Bong Soon-young
Oh! Pil-seung and Bong Soon-young
This is one of those
dramas that leave you at the end with awe and a lump in your throat. Oh
Pil-seung is a free-spirited character who is somewhat lazy and uneducated but
somehow touches the bottom of your heart as he suddenly transforms from an
ordinary guy to the long-lost grandson of a wealthy CEO and finds himself
competing with a gang of snobby rivals. Bong Soon-young finds the man of her
dream after so many failed relationships but later become attracted to the
warm-hearted Pil-seung. The love triangle isn’t what interested me but the fact
that I had never felt that much empathy towards a character like Pil-seung
before. I’m not surprised he actually managed to get two Best Actor awards out
of this drama, aired in 2004.
No. 1
Jewel in
the Palace- Dae Jang Geum
This historical drama
first aired in 2004 tells the true tale of Jang-geum an orphaned kitchen cook
who becomes the first female royal physician of the Joseon Dynasty. In n era
when women had little influence in society, Jang-geum struggles to learn the
secrets of traditional Korean cooking and medicine as well as to uncover her
late mother’s cruel past. This is truly the best thing I have ever watched in
my life. Every aspect of this drama is pure intellect and can’t be anymore
perfect. Don’t assume it’ll be boring because it’s historical- I was only 6
when I first watched it and I love it even now.
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