From Childhood to Adolescence: A K-Drama Fanatic in the Making!

Posters of some popular K-dramas. No copyright infringement intended.

By Sanniah Hassan

As kids there are so many things which we love to do but, as we grow up and get busy in our daily lives, as only adults can, we tend to let go of some of those most cherished memories and activities. Recently, in my search of the soul [or my soul to be more precise] I stumbled upon my love for Japanese Animes and Korean TV series or as they are popularly referred to, K-dramas.

What better way to relive those memories than to re-indulge in my favourite pastime as a child: watching K-dramas. So, I decided to create a list of the top 10 K-dramas [in my opinion of course] that I have recently seen and why. 

So without further ado and in no particular order:

1. Goblin / Guardian: The Lonely and Great God

In all honesty, it was this series as well as my sister's insistence that I watch it with her, that made me re-enter the marvellous and dynamic world of the South Korean series once again. 

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, is basically a fantasy series about a Goblin who is passing away his time on Earth in search of his bride because she is the only person who can rid him of his "miserable" existence. However, life is never this simple so Kim Shin or the Goblin goes through a series of endless trials with and without his 19-year-old bride, Kim Eun Tak who can see ghosts, while also falling deeply in love with her before he is forced to leave forever. But there's a catch! which you will have to find out by watching the series.


Clip from the Series: * Gong Yoo Screams at his Own Movie
*[Gong Yoo is the name of the lead actor, who plays the Goblin. In this scene he can be seen screaming at his own movie, Train to Busan.]

Rating: 7.75/10 [with 10 being the highest]. 


2. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

This is one of those series that, although they carry a serious message, are also extremely light-hearted and uplifting. You just need to watch it to understand where I am coming from. Every time I watch it, [Yes, I have seen it 5 times already... starting to seem borderline psychotic] I'm reminded of why I have restarted watching K-Dramas. 

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, is yet another somewhat fantastical series about a girl who is super-strong. Strong enough that she can bend iron bars, make steel cages fly across the expanse, and the list goes on and on. This girl, named, Do Bong Soon, dreams of becoming a video game designer for Ainsoft, the leading game development company based in South Korea. It is her journey of how she learns to embrace her strength as well as win a chance to work her dream job all while falling in love.

Clip from the series: * Park Hyung Sik Arm Wrestles Park Bo Young.
*[Park Bo Young plays the lead Do Bong Soon while Park Hyung Sik is her future Boss and potential love-interest, An Min Hyuk.] 

Rating: 8.75/10 

  

3. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

The official trailer does not do this series enough justice. Extremely funny and at times absolutely thrilling, this series is centred around a young, narcissistic businessman who has trouble with women. The only woman he is able to have around him apart from his eccentric mother is his secretary, Kim Miso, who is considered a legend in the world of secretaries. 

It is through their budding romance and their work chemistry that we are welcomed into their lives never to return because let's be honest. Once you start watching this series you will be hooked! [Trust me, I have already seen it more than once... let's leave it at that]. 

Clip from the series:* What's Wrong With Secretary Kim 5-min Highlight
*[This video is a compilation trailer from the series starring Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young]

Rating: 9/10


4. Legend of the Blue Sea

As the name suggests, this is a series based on the life of a mythical creature and not just any creature but, one thought to be exceptionally beautiful and alluring, a mermaid. 

This is a perfect romance, in a nutshell, incorporating the Korean ideals of reincarnation and fated love, this series comes together with perfect comedy, sweet moments and devoted friendships. You just have to watch it to rekindle your dying belief in true love, that is if you are a hopeless romantic, otherwise, you can stay for the humour and the friendship of course because this series has something for everyone. 

The chemistry between the two leads: Lee Min Ho and Jung Ji Hyun, is absolutely amazing. 

Clip from the series: Funny Scenes of Legend of the Blue Sea

Rating: 8.5/10



5. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

This one is a special favourite. A girl who dreams of being a weightlifter but also just a regular girl. This series is loosely inspired by the life of the South Korean weightlifter, Jang Mi Ran. Two childhood friends meet in university to rekindle their friendship while they explore deeper waters by falling in love with each other and overcoming fears they never expected. 

Clip from the series: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo Trailer.

Rating: 8/10



6. Descendants of the Sun 

I like and recommend Descendants of the Sun for multiple reasons. My undying love for the military, the fact that the 2 leads are together in real life [this satiates my inner romantic who wants a happily ever after all around] and lastly, the chemistry between the 2 couples in the series.

The basic storyline consists of two soldiers serving their country simultaneously trying to find girlfriends for themselves. The main couple is played by Song Joon Ki and Song Hye Kyo, who come together after a series of misadventures and misunderstandings [typical!] and although the audience gets to experience many an endearing moment in-between, it is the side couple that has me cheering, played by Jin Goo and Kim Ji Won, this couple is the epitome of strength in the series fighting the highest authority, the girls' father who so happens to be their commanding officer as well. 

Clip from the series: Song Joong Ki Knocks Song Hye Kyo's Phone Out Of Her Hand.

Rating: 9/10



7. Healer

A complex web of interconnected stories, this series is great for those who love mystery and thrill with a twist of love and friendship. "Healer" is a young man working as a night courier whose life gets intertwined with that of a young reporter, Chae Young-Shin, who Healer must protect from the threat of assassination. 


Clip from the series: Healer - Best Action Scenes

Rating: 8.75/10



8. Suspicious Partner / Love is Difficult

Suspicious Partner follows the storyline of an internee lawyer trying to acquit herself of murder charges. She makes many a likely and unlikely friend along the way including her conservative and often aloof superior, Prosecutor Noh [Ji Chang Wook].

Clip from the series: SUSPICIOUS PARTNER - OFFICIAL TEASER [Eng Sub]

Rating: 9/10


9. Boys Over Flowers

This series presents the typical rich boy falling in love with a strong-minded, poor girl. The series documents the failures and misadventures of Gu Jun Pyo and Gum Jan Di to be together, with his mother as the villain trying to keep the young lovers apart, the series comments on the global perspective of relations between individuals belonging to different classes, sects, and even religions et cetera.   


Clip from the series: Boys Over Flowers (Trailer)

Rating: 7/10


10. My Love from the Star

This series is considered one of the best because of the chemistry between the two leads despite a huge age difference. Do Min Joon suddenly comes to Earth but due to unavoidable circumstances is unable to return to his home planet and remains stuck on Earth for nearly four hundred years. 

During his time on Earth, he learns a lot about human beings, however, he is not prepared to deal with a snobbish and overconfident actress played by Jung Ji Hyun, who irks him in ways he never thought possible. She is irritating, childish and stupid. She succeeds in pushing his buttons every chance she gets but, they share a history. Through the course of the series, they must discover their connection while fighting to stay alive and together against the evil executive director of a highly influential company. 

Clip from the series: You Who Came From the Stars

Rating: 6.75/10


Plus some Honourable Mentions including a bonus drama which is really the equivalent of a Pakistani Telefilm [basically an hourly series]. 

• Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
• Review Notebook of My Embarrassing Days
• Father is Strange
• Funny Woman
• Because This Is My First Life

So without wasting time, head on over to your laptop/iPhone/tablet or whichever device you prefer and start surfing for your favourite K-drama, maybe even one from this list. 

Have you seen the above series already? If you haven't head on over right now, you won't be disappointed!

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