Korean Drama: Full House Review

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As far as I’m concern, this is the one of the best Korean drama ever produced next to the all time favorite, Jewel in the Palace. And no, I was not a big fan of Rain. What captured my attention was the chemistry between the two main characters, Han Ji-eun and Lee Young-jea. It was fantastic. Although the series was adapted from a 1993 comic, the story was ‘cooked’ to perfection with all the necessary ingredients of human emotions that made it an all time favorite.

Han Ji-eun and Young jea are two very different people from very different background. Han Ji-eun was an aspiring script writer who lived alone in a beautiful seaside bungalow her father built. Her loving parents passed away when she was about 17 years old. With no relatives to take care of her, Han Ji-eun lived alone and became attached to her friends from school. One day, out of desperation, her friends tricked her to leave for China for a week and then sold her beautiful property to a superstar actor, Young Jea while she was away. These two clowns needed money to prepare for the birth of their unborn child.

Full House OST

On the flight to China, Han Ji-eun sat next to Young Jea, who was filming a movie there. Han Ji-eun tried to make small talk but Young Jea was very aloof and a bit rude. As it was her first flight, Han Ji-eun became sick and accidently threw-up on Young jea’s shirt. He was very angry with her but when he returned to the seat after cleaning himself in the washroom, Han Ji-eun was asleep with her mouth open. He left his shirt in the seat pocket and alighted from the plane with his bodyguards while Han Ji-eun was still asleep.

Later it turned out, they stayed at the same hotel. It was at the hotel that Han Ji-eun met Min Heok, the handsome rich businessman who is also Young jea’s senior and best friend in school. Min Heok was at the hotel to meet Young Jea. When Han Ji-eun realised she had no money left for her filght home and that she was conned by her own friends, she decided to take a bold step by borrowing money from Young Jea.

She convinced him that she was Min Heok’s ex-girl friend who was unfairly dumped and needed help. He loaned her some money and she vowed to pay him back when she return to Korea. Young Jea had other plans in his mind. He was in love with Hye-won but she was in love with Min Heok. Hye-won treated Young Jea like a friend.

Onced back in Korea, Han Ji-eun got the shock of her life when she found her home was totally bare, her savings gone and her credit card spent to the max by her friends. She was furious and tried to find her friends and get her money back. Young Jea returned and was jealous to find Min Heok sharing a light moment with Hye-won at her boutique. He called Han Ji-eun and set-up dinner plans with Min Heok and Hye-won. He wanted to reveal Han Ji-eun to Min Heok, thinking that it would reveal Min Heok’s true colours to Hye-won. But, the plan failed and he found out that Han Ji-eun tricked him. They parted ways that night.

When Young Jea arrived at his new house, he was surprised to find Han Ji-eun at the front door with her lugage. She told him her story and he confronted his agent. The agent cannot explain the fraud but he had no choice but to throw her out. One thing led to the other, and he eventually agreed to let her stay but only as a housekeeper. Later, he forced her into a 3-year marriage contract where in the end, she gets to keep the house.

Han ji-eun eventually falls in love with Young Jea but tries to deny it. Meanwhile he continues to long for Hye-Won. Things became complicated when Min Heok falls for Han Ji-eun, Young jea’s parents involvement in their marriage and the return of her friends.

I cried and laughed while watching this movie, and I saw it three times. I’m not the kind of person to do this but this just shows how good the drama is. I must add that the music had played a large part in the success of this drama series.

Overall, this is definitely a box office drama series that shouldn’t be missed. I’d gladly give it a perfect 10/10.

Click here to get Full House Korean Drama (2004) with English Subtitles

Source written by CheAyu at Korean Drama reviews

Top Korean Dramas Based In High School

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The Heir: Highschool Korean Drama
Korean Drama are pretty cool, coming from Kdrama addict. Many of Korean Dramas are based in high school and have high school romance, triumph and trials period. At first I did not think high school drama would appeal to me, as I have passed high school decade ago and moved on. However, somehow I like high school age teen romance drama from Korea.

Top Korean Dramas in High School:

Korean TV networks and viewers does not seem to get tired of High school dramas, as there are plenty of Korean Dramas that takes place in high schools. How else can Lee Min Ho can play a high school kid in “Boys Over Flowers” in 2009 and again as 18 years high school boy in “The Heirs”? I totally buy it, he can pull it off, sort of. Don’t you think?

If you were in Kdrama High school, who would you meet? Here are some notable Korean Dramas where main characters played High School Students and some case University.

Boys Over Flowers:

Majority of the story takes place in Shinhwa Elite High School. Goo Jun-pyo is the leader of F4 and heir to Shinhwa Group, one of the most powerful business groups in South Korea. As leader of the most popular and powerful clique in Shinhwa High, he torments Geum Jan-di after she stands up to his bullying ways, but ends up falling for her instead.

Sang Doo Let’s Go To School:

Cha Sang-doo (Rain) and Chae Eun-hwan (Gong Hyo-jin) grew up as best of friends, who secretly have crushes on each other. Circumstances separates love birds and send Sang Doo to Prison. Whenhe comes across his long-lost first love, Eun-hwan, who is now a high school math teacher in his city. In an effort to regain her love, he returns to high school, first as a security guard and then as a student in her class .

Playful Kiss:

Oh Ha-ni is a not so bright girl and is the bottom of her class. She has a crush on Baek Seung-jo, the smartest and handsomest boy in the whole school. One day, Ha-ni decided to write a love letter for Seung-jo but Seung-jo rejected her through correcting the grammars of her letter. Fate happens when an earthquake strikes Ha-ni’s new buit home and they are invited to his father’s friend house, who turns out to be Seung-jo’s house.

Dream High (Season 1):

Six students at Kirin High School have the dream of becoming K-pop idols. During their school years, they learn how to develop their singing, songwriting and dancing skills while undergoing personal growth. They also go through their love life and start to develop feelings for each other.

Dream High (Season 2):

Like its predecessor Dream High, it follows a group of students at the Kirin High School of Art stars who pursue their dream of becoming K-pop stars. However, it has a slightly different plot with a completely new group of students.

School 2013:

The teen drama depicts the struggles and dilemmas that modern-day Korean youth face, such as bullying, student suicides, school violence, deteriorating teacher-student relations, private tutoring and other real-life high school issues, all within the confines of one small classroom at Seung Ri High School.

To Beautiful You:

The series centers on Goo Joo Hee (Choi Seol Ri), a Korean girl becomes attracted to one of the high jump competitors, Kang Tae Joon (Choi Min Ho). Tae Joon suffers an accident that could potentially end his career. However, Tae Joon attends an all-boys high school and Jae Hee must disguise herself as a boy to enter to help her idol

Shut Up Flower Boy Band:

When their delinquent-ridden school is forced to close down, A few students debate whether it’s even worth returning to high school at all. However, due to an outside confrontation with their new school’s current ruling band, Strawberry Fields, Eye Candy decides to attend Jungsang High out of spite so they can rule the school once again

Reply 1997:

This series that centers on the lives of six friends in Busan, as the timeline moves back and forth between their past as 18-year-old high schoolers in 1997 and their present as 33-year-olds at their high school reunion dinner in 2012, where one couple will announce that they’re getting married

God Of Study:

Based on the Japanese comic series Dragon Zakura, it is about a determined lawyer who takes up a teaching position at a failing high school. To save the school from the ax, he comes up with the unconventional plan of starting a special class curriculum devoted to getting the school’s five worst students into the country’s top university

I Am Sam:

The story focuses on the conflicts between the young teachers and the problems that high school students have. Jang Yi San (Yang Dong-Kun) is a timid and incompetent homeroom teacher who has to teach the only daughter of a highly dangerous mob leader, Jae-kon Yu (Park Jun Gyu).

Hello, My Teacher:

After overcoming numerous hardships and getting her GED, Na Bo-ri rejects job offers from other high schools and works on becoming a substitute teacher at her old high school so she can work side by side with her longtime high school crush, the art teacher Ji Hyun-woo (Kim Da-hyun).

Love Rain:

Story starts its first generation story in college. It’s love at first sight when Seo In-ha (Jang Geun-suk) and Kim Yoon-hee (Im Yoona) meet as shy university students in the seventies. Their love did not get happy ending, will their kids will get theirs?

Goong / Princess Hours:

Yoon Eun Hye plays poor, normal girl who by chance get to get married to royal prince in modern era. Prince is love with some other girl and prince’s cousin who also attends same high school as prince and girl falls in love with her to complicate matters further.

Heart Strings:

Set at an art university, the youth romance drama “Festival” depicts the sweat and tears of students who run towards their dreams of love and friendship. It includes modern as well tradition Korean music.

Tree Of Heaven:

Bright and optimistic Japanese teenager Hana (Park Shin-hye) lives at a small hot springs inn owned by her mother. When her mother decides to marry a Korean man, she tries her best to reach out to her odd, introverted stepbrother-to-be Yoon Seo (Lee Wan) more than one way. Story takes place in high school and continues after graduation.

White Christmas:

Deep in the mountains of Gangwon, the private, elite Soo-sin High School is attended by the top 1% of students in the country. Their stellar marks are the result of constant pressure and a strict punishment system, to the point where students avoid any activities outside of studying. It is in this atmosphere that seven students and a teacher remain at school for the winter break, joined by Kim Yo-han, a psychiatrist who was forced to take shelter with them from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day.

Jungle Fish:

A drama about school life that sheds light on the serious issue of cheating and falsifying grades, as well as the stress of entrance exams at ruthlessly competitive South Korean high schools.

Winter Sonata:

Story starts off as high school sweet and innocent romance between main leads and supportive characters. Story moves 10 years later to what happens in their lives.

The Heirs:

The Heirs also takes place in elite high school and stars Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye. But unlike Lee Min Ho character from Boys Over Flowers, here Lee Min Ho’s Character Kim Tan is more mature and level headed person,.

Reply 1994:

Set in 1994, six university students from various provincial areas (Jeolla Province, Chungcheong Province, and Gyeongsang Province) live together at a boarding house in Sinchon, Seoul, which is run by a couple with a daughter named Na-jung. The timeline moves back and forth between the past in 1994 and the present in 2013.

Top Japanese Dramas To Watch

Japanese television drama  also called dorama, are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others. Japanese drama series are broadcast in three-month seasons, with new dramas airing each season.

Japan has four television seasons: Winter (January–March), Spring (April–June), Summer (July–September), and Autumn or Fall (October–December). Some series may start in another month though it may still be counted as a series of a specific season. One characteristic of Japanese drama that differentiates it is that each episode is usually shot only a few (two to three) weeks before it is actually aired. Many fans have been able to visit their idols shooting scenes even as the show is still airing.

My love of Japanese drama started slowly,  from a few Korean drama and Taiwanese dramas based on Japanese Manga and based on other drama lover’s recommendations. Many of the Japanese drama are based on Manga and high school based where teacher is trying to make difference to life of students. Some of the Japanese drama are down right funny.

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Zenkai Girl:

Devoted to becoming an international lawyer, Ayukawa Wakaba is full of ambition. Her hard work pays off when she lands a job at an international law firm, but to her disappointment, the first prestigious assignment that is given to her is to babysit the boss’ 5 year old daughter, Hinata. Wakaba loathes kids and nursing, but unwillingly takes on the job as she is fixated on wealth and success.

One day when she goes to a preschool to pick up Hinata, she meets a man named Yamada Sota. Sota is a man without higher education, wealth, or a future goal, someone that Wakaba absolutely cannot stand, the complete opposite of her ideals. Once again, contrary to her will, she ends up looking after Hinata and a few other kids along with Sota. Despite being exhausted from all the first-time experiences in child care, Wakaba begins to realize what is truly important to her. A heart-warming comedy about work, relationships and love.

Click here to get and see Zenkai Girl with English subtitle

 

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Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend):

Riiko is a girl unlucky in love. One day a strange-looking salesman gives her a business card for a website that sells “love figures” (androids designed for love-making). On the spur of the moment and without really understanding the implications, Riiko orders one for a 3-day free trial.

She forgets to return him before the deadline, and must then work out some way to return the one million debt she now owes without anyone discovering about this embarrassing secret. Meanwhile, robot boy also develops real feeling of love for Rikko. Love between a Robot and human can be possible? Watch it in Japanese Manga, which will make you root for Robot!

Click here to get Absolute Boyfriend with English Subtitles

 

HYD

Hana Yori Dango

This is a 2005 Japanese TV series based on manga Hana Yori Dango was serialized in Shueisha’s bi-weekly Margaret magazine from October 1992 to September 2003. This manga has been remade in Korean (Boys Over Flowers), Taiwan ( Meteor Garden and Meteor Garden II) , Japan (Hana Yori Dango Retruns 2007) and bad US version ( Boys before Friends). Story is about Makino Tsukushi who is a tough, hard-working, middle-class student at the prestigious escalator school Eitoku Gakuen. The elite school is ruled by the F4 or Flower Four, composed of playboys Nishikado Soujiro and Mimasaka Akira, introverted Hanazawa Rui and violent and bratty Domyouji Tsukasa. The F4, sons of Japan’s wealthiest and most powerful tycoons, bully fellow students out of boredom or malevolence until they are expelled or quit. The courtship between Tsukasa and Tsukushi is the main theme throughout the series. Various challenges threaten their blossoming relationship including Tsukushi’s wavering feelings for Rui, the envy of fellow Eitoku students, an obsessed childhood classmate, their differences in social class, Tsukasa’s brash and possessive nature, and the animosity of Domyouji Kaede, Tsukasa’s mother.

Click here to learn more about Hana Yori Dango

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Majo no Jōken:

This drama aired in 1999. It revolves around Michi, a 26 years old high school teacher and 17 years old Hikaru and their love.  As their relationship grows they realize that they both feel that they have lost themselves to the pressures of those around them, and it is this common bond that draws them dangerously close. What follows is a heart-wrenching story of forbidden love where Michi must face society’s judgement for corrupting a minor, abandoning her fiance, and disappointing her parents and co-workers. It was an interesting and forbidden love theme for 1999 time.

Click here for more information on Majo no Jōken

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Orange Days:

This 2004 Japanese drama just popped up in search when I was watching another Japanese drama in youtube. When I searched the plot line, it looked interesting so I watched it. Yuuki Kai (Tsumabuki) is a senior at a university studying social welfare psychology and trying to find a job. One day, he encounters a girl, Hagio Sae (Shibasaki), playing the violin, and becomes intrigued. He eventually discovers that she has lost her hearing, and can now only communicate using Japanese Sign Language. Before they reveal what they think about each other, Sae and Kai must overcome a lot of barriers. They both become stronger along the way, finding their goals.

Click here to find out more about Orange Days

 

Proposal Daisakusen (Operation: Love)

Ken Iwase is at his friend, Rei Yoshida’s, marriage ceremony. However, he still loves her and regrets not having confessed his feelings towards her. A fairy helps him and  lets him travel back in time and try one more time to get Rei’s heart. The lead protagonist of this drama. Ken’s biggest regret is never being able to confess his feelings to his Rei. Rei calls him Ken-Zou as a term of endearment. He was on the baseball team in high school and is currently a salesperson for electronic whiteboards. During Rei’s wedding, he is given the chance to relive key moments of his life by entering into different photos in one of the presentations. He is extremely kind-hearted, even helping Tetsuya Tada knowing that in the future, Tada will be his main rival for Rei’s affection

In each episode, Ken travels to each photo that will appear in the slideshow that Mikio made, so that he can correct his regrets in each photo. Will he be able to change the past? Does time wait for anyone?

Click here to get: Operation: Love With English Subtiles

hanakimi

Hana Kimi:

The drama is based on the popular comic of the same name by Nakajo Hisaya. I had seen the Korean Version of drama called “To Beautiful You” first even though Japanese manga and series came first. So, I had to check out the original version of the drama and I was not disappointed to watch this series with funny moments and made me a fan of Japanese drama.

Horikita plays the protagonist Ashiya Mizuki, a Japanese girl in the United States who one day sees the young athlete Sano Izumi compete in the high jump on television. She begins to idolize him. Sano gets injured one day in America while trying to help Mizuki escape from some gangsters. He stops high jumping ever since. Mizuki blames herself for the incident and decides to go to Japan and help Sano find his love for high jumping.

Click here to get  Hana Kimi with English Subtitles

 

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GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka:

Eikichi Onizuka is in his early twenties, never had girl friend or relationship and ex gang member.One day he meets a girl, who agrees to gi out with him and later to hotel with him. Onizuka fails to sleep with her when her older boyfriend and teacher shows up and she leaps from window to leave with that teacher. Onizuka, upon seeing this display of a teacher’s power over girls, decides to become a teacher himself. While he is earning his teaching degree, he learns he has a conscience and morals so he won’t be able to take an advantage of innocent and impressionable school girls but good looking moms to those schoolgirls are different matters. He enjoys teaching and, most of the time, he teaches life lessons rather than the routine schoolwork.

He sets out to become the greatest teacher ever, using his own brand of philosophy and the ability to do nearly anything when under enough pressure. He is hired as a long-shot teacher by a privately operated school, in Kichijōji, to tame a class. He embarks on a mission of self-discovery by breaking through to each student one-by-one, and helping each student to overcome their problems and learn to genuinely enjoy life.

Click here for more information on Great Teacher Onizuka

 

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Rich Man, Poor Woman:

It is a modern Cinderella Story take between a rich guy and poor girl, a staple for many Asian Drama. Oguri Shun plays Hyuga Toru, an affluent CEO of an IT company whose personality with many flaws. A A woman who meets Toru and eventually becomes attracted to him is Sawaki Chihiro, played by Ishihara Satomi. Chihiro is a hardworking college student at Tokyo University who is looking for a job. Upon meeting Toru, she begins to unravel a genuine pureness inside him and solitude resulting from such pureness, which eventually draws her closer to him. The two repeatedly conflict each other, but little by little learn about one another to grow and develop together.

Click here for more information on Rich Man Poor Woman Japanese Drama

 

ourandramaOuran High School Host Club:

In the story, high school freshman Haruhi pretends to be a boy so that she can take part in the wealthy school’s Host Club, to which she owes a large debt.

Scholarship student Haruhi Fujioka has made the grade for the super-elite Ouran High School. Looking for a quiet place to study, Haruhi runs into the six member Host Club – filthy rich young men with too much time on their hands who entertain filthy rich young women who also have too much time on their hands. Unfortunately, Haruhi accidentally breaks a very expensive vase they were going to use to raise money – and has to pay it off by joining the club. The catch? Haruhi is a girl. So begins her crossdressing adventures with Tamaki Suoh, the loud and overdramatic fearless leader; Kyoya Ohtori, the calculating veep who’s the most normal of the group; Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, the mischievous, funloving twins whose world is turned upside down when Haruhi becomes the first person who can tell them apart.

Click here to get Ouran High School Host Club

meinchanMei-chan No Shitsuji:

The plot seems like a typical and ordinary story however the drama actually is beautiful and has many comedic scenes. Only thing I would that English subtitles were translated bit poor, even non-native speaker would find. The story revolves around a young woman named Mei, who was rescued as a young girl by someone calling himself her “butler.” With only a vague memory, though, the experience seems like just a dream.

But one day, after her parents’ accidental death, he appears: Rihito comes from a line of outstanding butlers, and he has been appointed to serve her! Now her ordinary life has completely flipped, as she discovers that she’s actually the heiress to a fortune, and is forced to transfer to St. Lucia Girls’ Academy, where all the students have butlers! As a result, her childhood friend Kento decides to enroll in a butler school so that he can stay close to her.

Click here to get Mei-chan No Shitsuji With English Subtitles

petlover

Pet Lover / Kimi wa Petto:

Smart, successful and good-looking Iwaya Sumire works for a big newspaper. However, her boss asks her to leave for being too “perfect” a woman. Feeling angry and dejected Iwaya returns home depressed, and most of all lonely.

However, when she finds an unconscious young man lying in a box out the front of her home and takes him in. He looks like a dog she used to own called Momo. She dubs him Momo and decides to “keep him as a pet.” It’s the start of an unexpected life together as they overcome obstacles and become quite attached to one another. But can love like this exist?

The plot sounds corny to me, but when I watched it, this was a very fun and sweet romantic comedy that should appeal to many people.

Click here to get Pet Lover / Kimi wa Petto With English Subtitles

 

bokunastar

BOKU TO STAR NO 99 NICHI:

An inconspicuous body guard Namiki Kohei (Nishijima Hidetoshi) is assigned to be a body guard to a mega Korean super star, Han Yuna (Kim Tae Hee). Kohei is less than ordinary, a single man almost 40 in age working part time at a security company. Despite his kind and attractive looks, he is surrounded by people who boss him around with unreasonable demands.He keeps a dream to himself, a desire to someday become an astronomer and find his very own star. He justifies not being able to fulfill this dream to lack of funds and issues with his family.

Han Yuna, on the other hand, while having a perfect face and body, loves to eat junk food. She also has a kind heart for helping others in need. While every aspect of her life may seem like a girl’s dream come true, she feels a certain solitude being in the entertainment industry. As Kohei and Han Yuna come closer and closer to each other, they become an inseparable couple, discovering true love. Where will the couple end up after the contracted 99 days? A heart-warming love comedy that will make you realize once again how precious love can be

Click here to get BOKU TO STAR NO 99 NICHI With English Subtitles

 

Trick_(TV_series)_cast

Trick Japanese Drama:

This 2000 Japanese TV series based on novelizations and meta-fiction novels about a failed magician and an arrogant physicist who debunks fraudulent spiritualists. It stars Hiroshi Abe and Yukie Nakama. 23-year-old Naoko Yamada (Yukie Nakama) considers herself a talented magician, she is continuously fired and broke. Before firing her, her manager shows Yamada an ad for a physics professor, Jiro Ueda (Hiroshi Abe), a non-believer of all things magical, offering money to anyone who can prove to him that magic is real. Desperately needing the money, Naoko accepts the challenge, which is how she comes to meet Professor Ueda. Falling prey to her simple magic tricks, Ueda is impressed, and enlists the reluctant Naoko to help him uncover the tricks behind a local cult. Soon, they are debunking spiritualists. Eventually Ueda develops a reputation for solving supernatural cases, but his secret weapon is Yamada, who hates the work but needs the money.

Click here for more information on Trick Japanese Drama

liargame

Liar Game:

Liar game is interesting and intelligent drama about a few people chosen to play game, where they can lose or win big. At the start of the manga, a scrupulously honest college student named Nao Kanzaki – receives a package containing 100 million yen (about 1 million dollars) and a note that she is now a contestant in the Liar Game Tournament. In this fictional tournament, contestants are encouraged to cheat and lie to obtain other contestants’ money; those who lose have to bear a tremendous debt. When Nao’s first opponent – a trusted former teacher – steals her money, she seeks assistance from a con man named Shinichi Akiyama. Though they manage to defeat him, Nao and Akiyama decide to buy out his debt and advance through different rounds of the Liar Game Tournament against merciless contestants, while at the same time attempting to free their opponents from debt and to defeat the Liar Game organization from within.

Click here for more information on Liar Game

Surely I see more Korean Dramas but there are many good Japanese, Hong Kong, Taiwanese and Chinese Dramas that are fun to watch.  If I find right dramas and with good English Subtitles I am going to try to see more good dramas.  Which Japanese dramas you have seen that you like?

If you want to know more Japanese dramas to watch click here: Japanese Drama with English Subtitles

Which Kdrama Is Best For Beginner?

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Boys Over Flower: Another Love Story Couple

When I first started watching Korean Drama was by accident and I chose the good Kdrama for expert, but not for a beginner. I watched melodrama which was slow and had many sad scenes. However, somehow, I stuck along 20 episodes of it and survived. Since then I realized that there are much more better choices of Kdramas I could have started with.

Watching Korean Drama is very different compared to American Drama and even BBC mini series sitcoms, it is very unique experience.  If you are new to Korean Drama or want to experience the craze about Kdrama, then these are the dramas you should start with.

Things to know before watching any Korean Drama:

  1. Korean dramas are 16-24 episodes long, unlike decade running series like “All My Children” or “General Hospital. That means there is finite time and end.
  2. Korean dramas are over an hour long, without any ads or commercials. If you watch it on some streaming drama sites, they would add their own ads every 15 minutes or so, making it long (Unless you get paid subscription)
  3. Make sure before you buy or pay for Kdrama, it has fully English subtitles, or whichever language you prefer. If you are native Korean speaker, ignore this tip.
  4. Korean drama are slower in pace and culture is quite different compared to US or western culture and drama. Sometimes holding hands between lead pairs can take long time.
  5. There is less importance on physical relationship. Sometimes lead pair can kiss in last episodes, or sometimes they may not even kiss despite loving such as “49 days”. Don’t worry, it will not make it dull or less romantic viewing. Believe me and other Kdrama addict fans.
  6. There will be lot of back hugs, piggy back rides, drinking and eating food together, plenty of guy shower scene as they seemed to do lot of thinking during shower.
  7. Storyline either be modern time, or Joseon era of past, or time traveling between old and modern time such as Rooftop Prince or Queen In Hyun’s Man.
  8. Do not start a Korean Drama just before test, before project is due. Believe me, everything will be left as it is and drama will be finished.
  9. You may lose your sleep, just trying to watch JUST ONE MORE episodes. I have done it plenty of time.
  10. You may start to read Kdrama blogs and recruit other people missing out on watching Korean Drama.

Okay, now that I said what to expect, let’s move on important part such as which is the best Korean Drama to start watching. After watching Korean Drama since 2010 and watching many good, bad, ugly and all in between dramas, I can suggest and share my best drama list for new beginners to Kdrama world.

Best Korean Dramas For a Beginner:

One more thing, first episodes is always a introduction of situations, characters and it is all jumble usually for most Korean Drama. You will have to watch at least 2 or 3 episodes to really get in to drama. So, have little patience and watch 2-3 episodes at least.

 

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 City Hunter

This is best Kdrama for beginner in my opinion, as the story takes place in modern time, and has cool spy things, politics, love, revenge all rolled in to one. Of course, having a Good looking Lee Min Ho starring in it, sure helps.  Based on a famous Japanese comic, CITY HUNTER is a Korean TV drama thriller starring Lee Min-Ho(Boys Over Flowers(  and Park Min-Young (Sungkyunkwan Scandal) that follows a trail of revenge and romance all the way to the presidential Blue House.

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 You’re Beautiful

This series is about 3 guys in boy band group and one girl, pretending to be a boy in a boy band which surely leads to love, confusion and heartaches. Taekyung (Jang Keun-Suk) is A.N.JELL’s arrogant and insufferable lead singer. Guitarist Shinwoo (Jung Yong-Hwa of C.N.Blue) is too perceptive for his own good, and happy-go-lucky drummer Jeremy (Lee Hong-Ki of F.T. Island) is just plain slow on the uptake. Into the boy band mix comes A.N.JELL’s bumbling newbie, Go Minam (Park Shin-Hye). But what the fans don’t know is that he’s actually a she! Roped into posing as her twin brother, Minam has to hide her real identity. But secrets have a way of coming out, especially when her bandmates start falling for her!

 

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Secret Garden:

Story is cute and has un-realistic plot line, but that will not matter, you will want true love life like them in no time. From shiny tracksuits to cappuccino foam kisses, the fantasy romance Secret Garden provided some of the hottest topics in 2011. Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won bicker away in the series as an eccentric, elitist CEO and a spunky stunt woman who hate each other almost as much as they’re undeniably attracted to each other.  It’ll take some magical intervention to get these two stubborn lovebirds to ‘fess up to their feelings!

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This drama story takes places in both modern and old Joseon era times, however it is mostly in modern present time. There is re-incarnation of both male leads and female leads in both modern and olden era.

Prince Lee Gak finds himself time traveling 300 years into the future with his 3 trusted sidekicks as they are investigating murder of Princess, his wife. They would have to go through considerable challenges as he adapts to 21st century Seoul and Park-ha. Can love last when there is 300 years gap? You will laugh, cry and fall in love with Omurice, J4 (Joseon 4 guys) and lead pair’s love story.

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Full House:

This was very popular series in 2004, by singer actor Rain and I can see why, it has every thing Kdrama needs, rich, good looking male lead, pretty, happy go lucky poor female lead, fake marriage contract and love square.

Female lead Han Ji-eun’s loses her house by greedy friend to Rain. She and rain makes an arrangement for her to earn her house back by working at home for him, which leads to Fake Marriage contract and confusion and eventual love. Even though I am not a big Rain fan, I like his acting in this series.

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Boys Over Flower:

This is high school romance story between unlikely pair has its origin in Japanese Manga. Only reason you should watch this drama is, unless you have watched Boys Over Flower once you do not know Kdrama. While it has too much hype as most popular Korean dram, you should watch it for experience and who Jan Di and Gun Pyo are, and who F4, fabulous four guys are.  Story takes place in high school where F4 are rich, good looking and bully to the core. One poor girl, stands up to them and 2 guys falls for her from F4. How their love survives between evil mom, memory loss and fiance is what makes it fun.

 

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Queen In Hyun’s Man:

To people who complain that there are not enough hot kisses in Korean drama should watch this drama as it has many passionate kisses between the lead pair. They are dating in real life at the time, so I guess the chemistry shows up on screen. The story takes place in modern time but time traveling is also there. Male lead who is smart, considerate and adapts to modern life quickly. Love story has cute, comedy scenes are there and fun to watch, so go ahead and try it.

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The Heirs:

The Heirs also takes place in high school and stars Lee Min Ho. But unlike Lee Min Ho character from Boys Over Flowers, here Lee Min Ho’s Character Kim Tan is more mature and level headed person, even though he used to be a bully in past. Kim Tan is in California in first few episodes, his English leaves lot to desire but it will not matter. Love story between illegitimate rich son and housekeeper’s daughter is shown in realistic way. Seeing screwed up lives of rich parents and kids made me feel at ease that I am not rich. Watch this series for fun viewing as it is in modern times that we can relate.

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IIjimae:

Unlike other Korean Drama for beginner, this is only Kdrama that is completely takes place in olden time. The reason I picked it here but it story line is similar to Robin Hood. The hero or Iijimae robs and steal to help poor, oppressed people under corrupt lawmakers. We get to see his past story to why he does what he does. There is love from 2 girls that Iljimae has, but does he have time for it? I believe, new Kdrama viewers will love this series even though it is takes place in Joseon era.

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Dream High:

Dream high is a feel-good fluff Kdrama that is fun to watch. Six students at Kirin High School have the dream of becoming K-pop idols. During their school years, they learn how to develop their singing, songwriting and dancing skills while undergoing personal growth. They also go through their love life and start to develop feelings for each other. Each one of the students has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, but they strive to debut with the support and guidance of each other. The series was so popular that there is season 2 of Dream High was made with new actors and season 1 actors making a cameos in it.

 

So, pick any one of the drama and start watching Korean Drama, soon you will be viewing more complex and wonderful world of Korean Drama in no time.

Top Taiwanese Dramas To see

marsMars: Taiwanese Drama

At first, I was only watching Korean Asian Dramas, but then a friend suggested I should check out some Taiwanese Drama that she was watching, so I started watching with here with little to no expectations. I expected Taiwanese Drama to be similar to Korean drama, but boy I was surprised, they were quite different as apples and oranges.

Chinese Drams can be broken down to Taiwanese Drama, Hong Kong Drama, Mandarin Language Drama, Cantonese Language Drama and so on. Many Chinese dramas are not as main stream such as Japanese or Korean Dram. What it means here is that finding some Chinese drama with exception of Taiwanese drama, finding drama with English subtitle was not so easy, that means non-native speaker would not be able to see it. Another thing about Chinese entertainment industry as not commercially sophisticated as South Korea and Japan in terms of Universal appeal and story line that match mass population. That not to say, there are not so great drama from China. You can see more Taiwanese Drama in my Drama list, where I have listed all drama I have watched.

How Taiwanese Drama Different from Korean Drama?

  • Parents are more understanding of kids and supportive, No evil Mom like Boys Over Flower
  • Notmany evil ex-girl-friend or boy- friend from past
  • If by chance there is evil person, they will be given help (example. “Just you” Taiwanese Drama)
  • Kiss is more than touching lips unlike in Kdrama
  • Usually much longer, 21-72 episodes
  • Much more family oriented
  • Male leads are less metro-sexual unlike Kdrama, where guys puts lip-gloss etc
  • Some Taiwanese drama are remake from Korean Drama, Japanese Manga

Top Taiwanese Drama To See:

1. Just you:  (2013)

This is my most favorite drama because of cute leading pairs and message for love and forgiving that makes me feel uplifted even with a one evil character in it. Qi Yi is a boss from hell. He is worst than a control freaking dictator. He is the saboteur of office romances. Cheng Liang Liang was tasked by her coworkers to break down the boss’ defense and have him lift the anti-office-romance rule. This series is 21 episodes long.

2. Mars: (2004)

Han Qi Luo, an extremely shy art student went to the same college as Chen Ling,a popular play boy. They both are haunted by past traumatic events of their own and began to heal together slowly.  However, each of them had a secret past that needed to be addressed and overcome before they could accept and love one another freely. It is deep series that talks about many taboo subject and lovely love story within haunting and sad lives they had. It has 21 episodes.

Mars Fall in Love OST

3. Love Around: (2013)

Another series of Annie Chen and George Hu after Love Now. Radio DJ Liang Xiao Shu is outgoing, straightforward and speaks up against bad guys in her radio show. After finding out her boyfriend of three months is cheating on her, she is devastated. By a chance encounter she meets Zhou Zhen who comes from a former gangster family that has decided to go straight. Zhen is gentle, gracious and upright, he encourages and helps Xiao Shu by taking on his father and working for Liang’s radio show to help her. Little does he know the seed of love has already begun to grow. This series is 21 episodes long.

Love Around Trailer: English Subs.

4. Meteor garden : (2001)

This is Taiwanese version of “Boys Over Flowers”, story takes place in college, instead of high school. Yet another adaptation of a Japanese manga. Based upon Hana Yori Dango. It’s the story of a poor girl in a rich, private school who falls in with the four richest boys in school. At first they hate her, but her defiance to them, (when no one defies them) eventually wins them over.  Can they adjust to each others differences due to their vastly incompatible social status? 27 episodes long.

5. When Love Walked In: (2012)

This series stars, idols stars, Calvin Chen, Zhou Mi (Super Junior-M) and Victoria from F(X). Young, talented, and handsome Qing Yu Jiang receives orders to look for Chairman Yuan’s long lost granddaughter, Shen Ya Yin. Because of her parents’ death, Ya Yin is bitter towards her grandfather. Yu Jiang not only eases the tension between them, but he gradually enters Ya Yin’s heart. But when their love begins, Yu Jiang backs out because of his love for his childhood friend. Yu Jiang tries to find her, but fails to realize that she has been by his side all along. This series is 32 episodes long.

6. Skip Beat: (Also Known as Extravagant challenge): 2011

This Taiwanese series stars Siwon and Donghae from Super Junior. It is based on the Japanese manga Skip Beat. High school graduate Gong Xi  starts working on multiple jobs in order to support Bu Po Shang whom she has one-side love. Bu PO Shang’s popularity quickly rises, eventually becoming one of the top idols in Taiwan. One day, Gong Xi catches Bu Po Shang flirting with his manager, and learns that he only used her so she can help him with his living expenses. Heart-broken and betrayed, Gong Xi vows to get revenge by becoming a bigger star than him. Gong Xi auditions for L.M.E., Bu Po Shang’s rival talent agency, and joins L.M.E.’s new-found department “Love Me”. At L.M.E., Gong Xi meets famous actor Dun Helian, who eventually falls in love with her. This series is 15 episodes long.

7.It Started With a Kiss: (2005)

Story line is similar to Korean Drama Playful Kiss but it goes in much more depth and details. After an earthquake destroyed Xiang Qin’s house, she and her father moved in with the family of her father’s college buddy, Uncle Ah Li. To her surprise, the kind and amicable aunt and uncle are the parents of her cold and distant schoolmate Jiang Zhi Shu, a genius with an IQ of 200 whom not too long ago rejected her endless crush on him. Will the close proximity give her a second chance to win Zhi Shu’s heart? Or, will her love for him end under his cold words? What happens when there is competition for his heart? This series is 30 episodes long.

8. Fabulous Boys: (2013)

This is Taiwanese remake of a hit drama You’re Beautiful. The story revolves around a fictional boy band named A.N.JELL. The new member, Mei Nan, had to go to the States to repair a botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the idea of having his twin sister, Gao Mei Nu a nun-in-training who has to pose as her twin brother and take his place in the group and to stand in for him. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mei Nu, who was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn’t want to spoil her brother’s chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother. The story leads to a complicated relationship between the group’s members: jealousy arises and love comes in between. 13 Episodes.

9. Love Now: (2012)

Yang Yi-ru, as a workaholic never had time for a holiday, so her family tricks in to a vacation telling she has cancer and only six months to live. It was meant to be told when she reaches the hotel room, but she does not get the letter of truth in time and really believes she is dying. When Yi-ru told Shi-de that she only has six months left to live and that one of her dream was to get married and have kids, Shi-de proposed to Yi-ru. Not knowing that Shi-de actually had met her years ago and had fallen in love with her since that time, Yi-ru accepted his proposal. Now Shi-de is hurt when truth is out in open. It has 72 episodes but worth watching.

10. Lady Maid Maid: (2012)

Xiao Jie (Nicholas Teo) is a womanizer who changes girls like the way he changes clothes. Whereas, Shu Qi (Reen Yu) is a sweet and caring girl who sees Xiao Jie as her only prince charming because when Xiao Jie was at the lowest point in her life, not only did Xiao Jie give her and her family a home to live. Until one day a child shows up claiming to be Xiao Jie’s and with this changes their whole world.. With two people from two different worlds, can they be together and have happiness? It is 67 episodes long.

11. Fated To Love You: (2008)

Xin Yi sticky note girl who is ordinary and forgettable person. She gets dumped by her boyfriend at cruise vacation she paid for and  ends up in  Ji Cun Xi’sroom. Cun Xi is the sole male heir to his family’s company and is on cruise to propose to his girlfriend Anna, who does not show up. Xin Yi and Cun Xi end up having a one night stand. Xin Yi later finds out that she’s pregnant and Cun Xi’s grandmother forces them to get married. Will a couple forced to marry for the sake of their unborn child find love with each other? It has 24 episodes.

12. Devil Beside You : (2005)

Devil Beside You is adaption of manga Akuma de Sourou (The Devil Does Exist) by mangaka Takanashi Mitsuba.  A girl writes a love letter to a boy. The wrong boy (a delinquent) intercepts the letter and blackmails her with it. The wrong boy later turns out to be her future step-brother (and love interest). Even though they were not related by blood, who will accept this step brother-sister relationship? What is to become of their relationship when other lovers come into the picture? It has 20 episodes.

Devil Besides You: English Subtitle

13. Autumn’s Concerto: (2009)

Ren Guang Xi, a cocky law student, seems to lead the perfect life with rich parents and being talented hockey player. But in reality, his lonely life lacks joy, laughter until he meets Liang Mu Cheng,who is poor bento seller but passionate and happygoing. A harmless bet brings the two together and Guang Xi slowly changes as Mu Cheng teaches him how to give and love. Tragedy strikes when Guang Xi loses his memory. His mother begs Mu Cheng to leave him and the latter has no choice but to do so. Little does she know that she already has Guang Xi’s child. They meet after 6 six years, when he is engaged to be married with someone else.How will the couple make up for six years of lost time? Happiness, which stop do I alight at? It has 21 episodes.

14. Hana Kimi: (2006)

This was remade in Kdrama To Beautiful you with Choi Min Ho from Shinee and Suli from F(x). After watching a high jump competition on TV, Lu Rui Xi was so inspired by a jumper named Zuo Yi Quan that she decides to transfer to his school, which happened to be an all-boys school; therefore, she disguises herself as a boy to get accepted to help and inspire Zuo Yu Quan back in to game. It has 15 episodes.

15. Tiamo Chocolate: (2012)

Story is very similar to Korean Drama Coffee Prince, with Coffee being replaced with Chocolates. Vanness plays a successor of a business. His dream is to open a chocolate store and be an expert in chocolates, so he leaves his business and his family to fulfill his dream. Joanne is someone who spent her days slogging and taking up part time work. One day, she ends up working for Vanness and above all, she has to dress herself as a man for the job. It has 80 episodes.

16. Smiling Pasta:(2006)

The story begins with Xiao Shi day dreaming on her balcony, wishing for a successful love. She meets He Qun by chance. This marks the beginning of their intertwined destinies. It has love story, love contract, family and sibling relationship and great Italian cooking. It has 17 episodes.

Smiling Pasta Trailer

17. Princess Stand In: (2013)

The ugly Jin Da Hua daydreams that if she is as beautiful as Du Liang Yan, maybe her best friend Lin Guan Jun will fall in love with her. Then one day, through plastic surgery, she is given the chance to change her life. It has 21 episodes.

18. In Born Pair (2011-2012)

Two strangers, who never had much luck in the love arena, found themselves betrothed by their families. They decided to take chance on  arranged marriage. They fight but slowly gave way to genuine fondness for one another. In the end, the couple discovered that true love is not to be found but has to be cultivated.

19. Corner With Love (2007)

Barbie Hsu stars as Xinlei, a rich Shanghai girl who has taken for granted all her fortune and happiness. Cook and amateur painter Chin Lang (Show Luo) is less lucky.  The two cross path in metropolitan Shanghai, and with the help of Xinlei, Chin Lang finally returns to Taipei. He expects never to see her again. But as fate would have it, she shows up at his door all of a sudden – and as if that is not surprising enough – to claim the ownership of his apartment.

20. Office Girls (2011)

Qin Zi Qi is a MBA graduate who has everything handed to him because he is the future successor of Jingshi Department Store. who is working as an entry-level employee for a year without revealing his identity as his father’s wishes.  Qin could not have survived the year has it not been for Shen Xing Reng’s office survival guide. Together, Shen and Qin accomplish the impossible, which is to shine on the bottom of the office pyramid.

There are many great Taiwanese Dramas, which I have yet to watch, which is your Favorite Taiwanese Drama?

Check out other Great Taiwanese Dramas: Taiwanese Dramas

Boys Over Flowers Korean Drama Review

 Boys Over Flower:

I did not know the hype of boys over flower so much when I started out watching Korean Dramas so It was not my first watched nor it is my most top favorite Korean drama. So, why I am writing about it? Boys over Flowers created a Korean wave and made a culture impact that still visible since 2009, when it was first aired.

The show  starts with bulling and blood in high school, where a kid is ready to die to avoid all F4’s bullying. There seemed to be no signs of law and order or good teacher, adult to stop all of these atrocities. I thought I would stop it but after watching 2 episodes I got hooked and curious enough to see the end, so I invested over 25 hours to watch this and I can say I was not disappointed. The bully and all characters grows with time and you can understand loneliness around all richness and money.  F4, flower four boys are surely handsome and easy on eyes which surely helps female fan base like me.

If you are fan of Lee Min Ho, then this is show for you. The guy has charm and he makes his character alive, one can feel his pain and agony. I did not care much for the Jan Di’s character, as she hardly shows any feeling or care towards Goo Joon Pyo. I like the character played by Kim So Eun as Jan Di’s best friend Chu Ga Eul. She could have been a lead lady, she is pretty, holds her dignity while caring for a guy and is level headed.

Buy Boys Over Flowers With English Subtitles

Cast:

Koo Hye Sun as Geum Jan Di
Lee Min Ho as Goo Joon Pyo
Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo
Kim Bum as So Yi Jung
Kim Joon as Song Woo Bin

Kim So Eun as Chu Ga Eul (Jan Di’s best friend)
Kim Hyun Joo as Goo Joon Hee (Joon Pyo’s elder sister)
Lee Hye Young as Kang Hee Soo (Joon Pyo’s mother)
Han Chae Young as Min Seo Hyun (F4’s best friend/Ji Hoo’s ex girl friend)
Lee Min Jung as Ha Jae Kyung (JK Group’s CEO’s daughter and Jun Pyo’s fiancee)
Lee Jung Gil as Yoon Seok Young (Ji Hoo’s grandfather)
Jung Ho Bin as Jung Sang Rok (Kang Hee Soo’s Chief Secretary)

   
Geum Jan Di (Koo Hye Sun)

As I mentioned earlier, Jan Di’s character confused me a bit. When I see her pictures on internet, she looks pretty but during most of the show she looked not so pretty most of time, sometimes she looked cute but never pretty enough comparing to other korean Drama heroine. She was about 25 when this series came out as a highs chooler, she was older compared to all F4s, but being small and petite worked in her favor.

I also could not fathom that why all the guys either was loving her or wanting to protect her. Her character came across as confused and occasionally heartless, especially when Lee Min Ho character did so much her and her family, she kept on thinking of Yoo Ji Hoo instead. At first shown as feisty female, who can kick ass. However, as show progresses, she becomes typical Korean cliche heroine who ends up crying a lot and not fighting much. I am not against crying females, as I cry myself at littlest thing but then again, I am not trying to pass a kickboxing champion too.

When she goes to Macau to meet Goo Jun Pyo and he breaks off the relationship, she is sad for moment and then she goes off to site seeing with  Yoo Ji Hoo all around and shown smiling and happy while Goo Jun Pyo who broke off the relationship looked more pained and in love compared to her. It bothered me much and felt she did not deserve the love if she was not willing to work hard for him to show her emotion. But of course, this is modern take on Cinderella so story revolves around her and we wish for her to succeed and find happiness.

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Goo Jun Pyo (Lee Min Ho)
When this drama came out, Lee Min Ho was a newcomer and this drama made him the star loved by many people in Korea and Japan. He is one of the reason I wanted to watch and find out about all hype about it.
I did not care much about his curly hair style or unique fur wardrobes that he wore. He is handsome, tall and can act just by showing his eye expressions. He made the bully character likeable. I like scenes where he spends time with Jan Di’s family, has a sleep over, makes Kim Chi and so on. He is nice guy, innocent child inside hiding behind cold, angry persona. He did well to show that, at least to me and my friend.
If you want to know more about star necklace he gives to Jan Di, see here: Boys Over Flower Star Necklace
 
Yoon Ji Hoo  (Kim Hyun Joong)
Someone wrote that out of all F4 Ji Hoo was most beautiful! Apart from Jan Di and Jun Pyo, he had biggest part and being part of love triangle. I heard he was offered the role of Jun Pyo but he chose Ji Hoo Role instead. I can see why, his character has many things that are positive, he plays music well, he is actually one of F4, who does not take part in bullying much and helps Jan Di many times and becomes friend and protector of her over the time. I like scenes with grand father and family issues that we all face regardless of how rich or poor we may be.
He hair style and color reminds me of Kang Jun Sang of Winter Sonata and he laughs and has similar mannerism as well.
 
So Yi Jung (Kim Bum)
Kim Bum had a big role and it was nice to see his character of playboy who is really good guy lost somewhere surprised me. He is cute and has a nice smile, however it was hard to imagine as a playboy and heartbreaker, as he looks innocent and young to be bad. That just me, I still enjoy his character and his talent at being a potter.
 Don’t they look cute Together?
 
 I liked to side love story of him with Ga Eul that developed slowly but surely. I think these two supporting character had more love and chemistry together compared to main lead, don’t you think? I wanted to know more about them and their life.
 
Song Woo Bin (Kim Joon)
 
Woo Bin seemed more Americanized and said Yo Yo,. and Wasss up type of things. We know he is from the mob family and handsome but we do not get much know much about his life outside of F4 and friend circle. It’s too bad, it would have been nice.Other Characters:

Goo Jun Pyo’s Mom was one nasty lady, as Jun Pyo called “Old hag” (at least in english translation, I am not sure what does it mean in Korean, is it same?) She is so ruthless to break Jan Di’s family and her so her son can be married to rich. I hated her, that means she was good at acting as nasty lady.

Goo Jun Pyo sister had a small role but whenever she came, she left a impact as a loving sister who wants to do right thing and not afraid to share what she thinks. She becomes big supporter of Jan Di as well.

Jan Di’s parents are big money minded, poor parents who do not plan things well and leave kids alone more often than they should. One thing is for sure, despite all their shortcoming, they seemed like a family who loved each others, including Jan Di’s little brother.

Ga Eul, Jan Di’s best friend was cute and much more level headed compared to Jan Di. I liked how she held on to her dignity while liking Yi Jung.

Lee Min Jung as Ha Jae Kyung was likable in some sort of way. She seemed so much more fitted and similar to Goo Jun Pyo’s Character, in some other time, they might have been perfectly fit for each other but it was not meant to be for this one.

Many other supporting characters with small roles were great. While this show is not Oscar worthy in acting part, for entertaining in super duper and 100% great. As I said, I could not stop watching, it was not love story that held me but it was charm of all F4! They all wore suits, and nice clothes and looked great in even crappy designer clothes somehow.

F4: Flower Four or Fabulous Four?

Buy Boys Over Flowers With English Subtitles

Have you watched it? What did you think of it/