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Korea is riding on the
"hallyu" movement - the globalization of Korean dramas
(K-dramas). Whether it's Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China
or the U.S., viewers who watch Korean dramas are enamored by the
"real" acting and fascinating stories that unfold
before their eyes.
K-dramas are a refreshing
change for many, and some, like Winter Sonata, take them back to
first loves. Others like, Dae Jang Geum, tell about
history in a fascinating way with rich costumes and realistic
sets.
While some viewers may
find them too "mild" for their taste, many others will
be thrilled to find tasteful, endearing programming that reels
them in and leaves them wanting more...and more...and
more....and then they're hooked only to find that they are part
of the "hallyu" movement.
Buying
Korean Dramas
If you are
interested in buying Korean dramas, be careful where you buy
them. Buying from eBay and other sites may be less
expensive, but as the saying goes "you get what you pay
for."
From personal
experience, buying off of eBay or other sites usually results in
bootleg or illegal copies of the dramas which results in poor
picture quality. Some bootleg copies also have very poor
English subtitles, ranging from jibberish to excessive foul
language. The only site we use and recommend, because of
the excellent quality of the DVDs and English subtitles, is
YesAsia.com. YesAsia.com is the only authorized distributor of
Korean DVDs in North America.
If
AsianInfo has helped you in your search or interest in Korean
dramas, please use the links posted below each drama.
There is no additional cost to you to purchase through these
links. We need your help in improving our website and
appreciate your visiting us!
Min Joo ~ Lee
Young Ae Kim Su Hyung ~ Jang Dong Gun
Kim Jun Ki ~ Son Chang Min
Synopsis:
2007 saw the airing of
popular medical dramas The Great White Tower and
Surgeon Bong Dal Hee, piquing audience interest in the
genre, but the medical profession is hardly a new theme for
Korean television. 2000's Medical Center and 90s dramas
Sunflower and General Hospital all revolved around
the field of medicine, not to mention historical period dramas
Hur Jun and Dae Jang Geum. One of the most
memorable and representative medical dramas though has to be
MBC's 1997 series Medical Brothers (a.k.a. Doctor
Brothers) starring two of Korea's biggest stars, Jang Dong
Gun (All About Eve, Taegukgi) and Jang Geum herself, Lee
Young Ae. Both gave breakthrough performances in this riveting
drama, performing fairly daring love scenes by Korean television
standards. Jang Dong Gun, in particular, departed from his usual
good guy image to play a cool and complicated character.
Both brothers and rivals,
Kim Su Hyung (Jang Dong Gun) and Kim Jun Ki (Son Chang Min,
Woman of the House) are doctors at the same hospital. Young
and promising figures in the field, Su Hyung and Jun Ki are
dedicated to their profession, though not always as disciplined
in other matters. Su Hyung's rash and insensitive personality
often brings tears to his longtime girlfriend Min Joo (Lee Young
Ae), who is also a doctor. The brothers face crises in both
their personal and professional lives when Jun Ki's mistake
leads to his friend's wife's passing and Su Hyung discovers a
family secret concerning his identity.
Review:
Not reviewed.
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Geum Na Ra ~
Park Shin Yang ~ Park Jin Hee
Cha Yeon ~ Kim Jung Hwa
Ma Dong Po ~ Lee Won Jong
Synopsis:
As soon as
it premiered, Money's Warfare became an instant
attraction. First, the SBS drama is about everyone's favorite
topic of conversation - money. Second, it stars Park Shin Yang,
the ever-charismatic actor from Lovers in Paris, who
started a craze with the charming one-liner "Ae-gee-ya!", which
literally translates as "Baby!" Money's Warfare easily
won the ratings war in its time slot with rave reviews from
critics and fans alike, who praised the drama's unique storyline
and superb cast, including Park Jin Hee ( Come Back Soon Ae!),
Kim Jung Hwa (Snow White), and Lee Won Jong (Hi,
Dharma 2), whose role as a notorious loan shark brought much
realism to the drama. Money's Warfare tackles one of
Korea's biggest problems: debt.
Top-ranked
investment banker Geum Na Ra (Park Shin Yang) was living the
good life - but he didn't know his own father was suffering from
an insurmountable debt. Na Ra and his girlfriend Cha Yeon (Kim
Jung Hwa) attend his sister's wedding, only to have chaos erupt
at the blissful event. The notorious loan shark Ma Dong Po (Lee
Won Jong) and his men force Na Ra's father to sign an organ
waiver in lieu of the debt payment, before stuffing the
newlyweds' gratuity into their bags. Ma Dong Po and his gang
continue to harass Na Ra at his workplace, and even barge into
his house demanding payment, traumatizing Na Ra's mother, who
collapses on the floor. In desperate need of money to pay for
his mother's hospital fees, Na Ra runs to a nearby bank for a
loan, only to be flatly denied. Meanwhile, Na Ra's disgruntled
boss takes advantage of Na Ra's troubles, using them as an
excuse to fire him. Enraged and at his wit's end, Na Ra flips
out completely, officially declaring war on all things having to
do with money!
Review:
Not reviewed.
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Mi-Ok ~ Bae
Jong Oak Lee Young-Ja ~ Ko Doo Shim
Kim Do-Chil ~ Joo-Hyun
Mi-Soo ~ Han Go-Eun
Synopsis:
A story about a sweet,
innocent mother who tries everything to insure that her family
enjoys a happy life. Her husband however neglects the entire
family by starting an affair and living separately with another
woman who has his baby. While the elder, newly divorced daughter,
advises her mother to settle the affair by means of divorce, the
younger daughter is attracted to the good looks of an investor who
hides a terrible secret…
It's ultimately a story
about the strength of family ties, and the bond that holds
everyone together, through good times and bad.
Review:
Good - This
was a sweet, sad story but as with Bodyguard, it ended without
tying up loose ends. Many questions were left unanswered
and problems unresolved.
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Jang Soo
Jin ~ Choi Ji Woo Kim Yong Nam ~
Kim Seung Woo
Synopsis:
Before her captivating
performances in epics like Stairway to Heaven and Winter Sonata,
Korea's leading lady Choi Ji-Woo starred in Mr. Duke, an elegant
and sophisticated Korean TV drama mini-series.
Choi Ji-Woo stars as Jang
Soo-Jin, whose rich and powerful father tricks her into
returning to Korea, so
that she can get married and provide him with a successor to his
business empire. Desperate to stop her father's madness, Soo-Jin
pretends she already has a boyfriend, and so enlists the help of
simple water deliveryman Kim Yong-Nam (Kim Seung-Woo, Hotelier).
But now she must pass Yong-Nam off as a member of high society
if she is to stop her father's plans!
This DVD boxset includes
all 16 episodes of Mr. Duke, a highlight of Choi Ji-Woo's
illustrious career featuring one of her most touching and
heartfelt performances.
Review:
Very
Good - Choi Ji Woo
does an excellent job as Soo Jin, the spoiled princess daughter.
You won't see too many Winter Sonata/Stairway to Heaven scenes
in this drama. I highly recommend this for any Choi Ji Woo
fan.
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Hyeon-seo ~
Ahn Jae Wook Choi Young-in ~
Lee Bo Young Kang Su-jin ~
Oh Yun Ah Kyle ~ Cho
Dong Hyuk
Synopsis:
“Mr. Good-Bye” is a
story about the last love of a dying man, Hyeon-seo, who had to
live in loneliness after losing his both foster parents but
eventually succeeded as a hotelier. He finally finds happiness
when he returns to Korea, where he learns that he has a son from
a woman who loves him and finally meets his biological mother.
The series also sarcastically portrays good and evil of the
human world with a hotel as the background. The series also
depicts how hotel concierges help hotel customers heal their
spiritual wounds. The upbeat and outgoing Young-in, one of the
concierges, teaches Hyeon-seo the meaning of love and fights for
his love with Su-jin, a doctor.
Review:
Not reviewed.
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Jia Ying ~ Yoon Joo Young
Tang Hao ~ Calvin Zheng Guolin
Zhou Lan ~ Fu Xinyin
Hong Ming ~ Shim Ji Ho
Synopsis:
Acclaimed filmmaker Park Cheol Su presents a fresh variation
on the Korean melodrama in the Chinese-Korean co-production
TV drama My Destiny. Set in both China and South
Korea, the drama tells a compelling tale about love and
betrayal amid the dreams of youth and the loss of innocence.
Newcomer Korean actress Yoon Joo Young, popular Chinese
actor Calvin Zheng Guolin (Family, The Legend of Hero),
and Korean actor Shim Ji Ho, who starred in director Park's
film Green Chair as well as hits like Stained
Glass and A Frozen Flower, form a confused
romantic triangle in this heartwrenching drama. Other than
the unique cast and production background, My Destiny
stands out from other series with the topic of
cross-cultural romance and unique storytelling devices like
using alternate dream sequences to reveal the characters'
true sides and unvoiced confrontations.
Chinese
college students Jia Ying (Yoon Joo Young) and Tang Hao (Zheng
Guolin) are the perfect couple in everyone's eyes. Both
coming from humble family backgrounds, they've persevered
together in the city, and look ahead to marriage and better
days after graduation. Things seem to be going well when Jia
Ying finds a promising job as a translator for a Korean firm
and Tang Hao enters the corporate world, but the two begin
to drift apart. Blinded by his ambitions, Tang Hao starts to
change after meeting willful rich girl Zhou Lan (Fu Xinyin),
who's determined to steal Tang Hao away. Purehearted Jia
Ying tries hard to hold on to love in the face of Tang Hao's
lies, and a burgeoning relationship with her kind boss, Hong
Ming (Shim Ji Ho), who stays by her side through the tough
times.
Review:
Not reviewed.
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She thinks that romantic
feelings are driven by nothing else than money, while he
believes that a lot of new love affairs are waiting for him just
to be picked up even though he is just another penniless guy …
Review:
Not reviewed.
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Gong-chan ~ Lee
Dong Wook
Yu-rin ~ Lee Da Hae
~ Park Si Yeon
Jung-woo ~ Lee Jun Ki
Synopsis:
When Gong-chan (Lee Dong-wook)
meets the lively and beautiful Yu-rin (Lee Da-hae), he notices
the resemblance between her and his long-lost cousin, whom his
dying grandfather has been searching for. He hires Yu-rin to
stand in for his missing cousin as a final gesture to his
grandfather - but his own growing feelings for her threaten to
ruin everything. The real drama begins when Gong-chan's
ex-girlfriend, a pro tennis star (played by Park Si-yeon),
enters the scene determined to win him back.
My Girl was a Top Ten hit
in Korea in 2006, aided by the appearance of hot new actor Lee
Jun-ki. The King and The Clown star plays Jung-woo, an
unscrupulous playboy who sets his sights on Yu-rin. Can Gong-chan
protect Yu-rin from Jung-woo's advances? Can he help fulfill his
grandfather's dying wish? And what will happen if his real
cousin is finally discovered? All will be revealed in the hit
K-drama My Girl!
Review:
Not reviewed.
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My Love Fool - Not
currently available
My
Love Patzzi a.k.a. In
Love With Red Bean Paste Girl SBS 2002
Starring:
Yang Song-yi ~ Jang
Na Ra
Eun Hee-won ~ Hong Eun Hee Kang Seung-joon ~Kim Jae Won Kim Hyun-sung ~ Kim Rae Won
Synopsis:
This an amusing and
romantic parody of a popular Cinderella-like Korean folktale. In
the folktale, Patzzi is the mean, ugly sister whom everyone
hates. Kongzzi is the nice, pretty girl that ends up with the
prince. However, in this parody, Kongzzi really isn’t all that
nice... and Patzzi, although at times mischievous, tomboyish,
and rude, is actually a good-hearted, innocent girl.
Review:
Good -
Jang Na Ra is a funny, quirky girl who brings life to the
drama. Of course both Kim Jae Won and Kim Rae Won are
entertaining as well as nice to watch.
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Based on a true story, the
film tells the tale of a woman (Ha Hee Ra) who loses her sight
in an accident. She despairs at first, but finds new hope to
live again through the help of her guide dog, Toram.
Review:
Excellent
- This
is a sweet, moving story - for the tenderhearted, have a box of
tissues nearby. The actors are cast well for their parts.
It is a mini-drama, but worth every penny.
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Hyun
Jin-Heon (27-year-old restaurant owner) ~
Hyun Bin
Yo
Hee (Jin Jin-Heon’s old girlfriend) ~ Jeong
Ryeo-Won
Henry
Kim (adopted Korean American doctor) ~ Daniel
Henny
Synopsis:
This is the story of
insecure, weight-obsessed Sam Soon (Kim Sun Ah, who gained 15
pounds for the role), a loud, brash woman who is never
afraid to speak her mind. She isn't pretty or slim or rich. She
knows there's no Prince Charming waiting to whisk her off her
feet. When she gets stressed out with life, she eats and sleeps
and couldn't care less what anyone else thinks.
When Sam Soon loses her
job as a
pastry chef on Christmas Eve, her problems are just beginning.
She spots her boyfriend going into a hotel with another woman.
At first she wants to charge right in there and confront him,
but instead decides to wait for him to come out, planning to
dump him in front of everybody. However, when he finally does
materialize, Sam Soon breaks down and begs him not to leave her
for the other woman.
Realizing she has made a
fool of herself in public she runs to the bathroom, but
accidentally goes into the men's room. Hyun Jin Hun, on a blind
date he has no desire to go through with, walks in on Sam Soon,
who is crying and making a scene in a bathroom stall! And so
begins the worst Christmas of Sam Soon's life!
Review:
Very Good
- The chemistry between SamSoon and JinHeon was
great. Kim Sun Ah was very funny (and crass) as Sam-soon
and Hyun Bin was great to watch - in spite of his character's
arrogance. Definitely a "chick-flick."
Most "English speaking" actors in dramas have pitiful
acting skills, but Daniel Henny did surprising better than
most..
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Kyun Woo
~ Cha Tae Hyun ~ Jeon Ji Hyun ~ Gwak Jae Young
Synopsis:
Yupki Girl is a movie based
on a series of real-life incidents published on the Internet.
Kyun Woo (Cha Tae Hyun) is
a kind-hearted but at times naïve college student who seems to
keep getting into trouble. On his way home one night, he
encounters a beautiful but completely smashed young woman (Jeon
Ji Hyun) who causes a scene in the subway, calls him
"honey," and then passes out. With the eyes of the
other subway passengers upon him, he has little choice but to
take responsibility for her. Thus begins his relationship with
the at-times charming, at-times violent damsel who steals his
heart.
Review:
Good -
Actually, I don't really know. It looked painfully
amusing, but I was watching this without subtitles. I
really like Cha Tae Hyun as an actor, he is really funny.
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Jung Jae-min
~ Lee Chang Hoon Kim Ki-joon
~ Kim Seung Soo Yoo In-young~ Lee Bo Young Na Hee-joo ~ Oh Joo Eun
Synopsis:
The trials of married life
and single life mixed with the drama of family infrastructure.
This drama makes K-drama fans around the world wonder if
mothers-in-law are really like this in Korea. There's too
much to say (it's over 150 episodes) about it as it goes from
one extreme to another in family and marital relations.
Review:
Fair -
What can I say? It's a daily drama, and they rarely get
rave reviews, but the music is nice.
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Ko Mi Yeon ~ Kim Ha Neul Hyun Ji Seok ~ Kang Ji
Hwan Park Jeong Ran ~ Jung Hye Yeong Noh Yu-jeong ~ Park Sun Young
Synopsis:
A fate
that surpasses taboo. A love that surpasses morality.
Here, at the peak of his life at thirty-one years of age, is a
man who is fated to vanish into space as a mere speck of dust in
three short months. [In 90 days, I will surely cease to
exist, yet the world will go on as if nothing has happened.
Even my wife will someday dry her tears, telling herself that
the dead are dead and the living must go on living. Then,
would it be wrong to ask my wife for a leave of absence during
my remaining 90 days?] The fall of 2006.A man and a woman
were fated to meet, but their hearts were destined to be broken
in the end. They are now desperately pleading for 90 days in
which to love each other for the last time on earth. If you were
this man's wife, or this woman's husband, how would you answer
their plea that transgresses both morality and taboo...?
Review:
Not reviewed.
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Oh Pil-seung ~ Ahn
Jae Wook Bong Soon-young ~ Chae
Rim Yun Jae-ung ~ Ryu Jin Noh Yu-jeong ~ Park Sun Young
Synopsis:
Oh Pil-seung is a
free-spirited, but somewhat lazy regular joe who suddenly finds
himself heir apparent to a top-level logistics company! With
rivals and detractors simply waiting for him to foul up, will
Pil-seung be able to rise to the challenge? Or will white-collar
intellectuals and their snobby ways force this blue-collar
everyman out?
This is a colorful,
youthful drama about unselfish love, trying your hardest, and
above all being a decent, warm-hearted human being.
Review:
Good
- I really enjoyed watching this, but when it ended, I
felt something was missing. A lot of humor with Chae Rim
and Ahn Jae Wook.
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Oh Seong Ah
~ Kim Ha
Neul Seo Young-eun
~
Song Yoon Ah Lee Kyung Min ~
Park Young Ha Jang Ki Joon ~
Lee Bum Soo ~Lee Hyung
Cheol
Synopsis:
From the
makers of the popular Lovers trilogy comes the trendy
melodrama On Air which takes you behind the scenes of a
fictional television drama, revealing fascinating details
about what normally goes on behind a TV drama production.
Boasting an impressive roster of stars, On Air was one
of the highest-rated dramas in Korea during the first season
of 2008. Hailed by critics for its craftsmanship and realism,
On Air revolves around four entertainment industry
figures - a director, a writer, an actress, and her manager -
as their personal and professional lives intertwine during the
shooting of a drama. Kim Ha Neul (Romance) melts into
her role as a beloved actress with a spiteful streak
off-camera. Her nemesis is the quirky, eccentric screenwriter
played by Song Yoon Ah (Jail Breakers) who caused quite
a stir with her exaggerated acting. Though overshadowed by two
strong female leads, Park Yong Ha (Winter Sonata)
manages to work his charm as a visionary director, while Lee
Bum Soo (Surgeon Bong Dal Hee) delivers the goods
playing a manager who is determined to make his star the next
Jeon Do Yeon.
Call it
guts or sheer arrogance, but Korea's sweetheart Oh Seong Ah
(Kim Ha Neul) just declined to accept the Grand Prize at the
live broadcast of SBC's year-end awards, all because she was
named a co-winner. How can there be two Grand Prize winners?
Such a diva act would end anyone else's career, but not Oh
Seong Ah's, as fans loudly applaud her courage. Then Oh Seong
Ah pulls yet another stunt by switching from her current
sleazy hotshot manager (Lee Hyung Cheol) to a near-bankrupt
manager (Lee Bum Soo). Meanwhile, bestselling scriptwriter
(Song Yoon Ah), popular for her cliche-ridden dramas, faces a
great challenge when a newbie director (Park Yong Ha) proposes
a fresh new concept taken from an award-winning drama she
wrote a long time ago.
On
Air pulled off a major casting coup not only with its
leads, but also with its record-breaking 27 cameo appearances.
The drama's writer and director used their Lovers
series connection to lure in such mega stars as Jeon Do Yeon
and real-life couple Kim Jung Eun and Lee Seo Jin. Song Yoon
Ah also brought in her celebrity friends like Lee Hyo Ri, Kang
Hye Jung, Uhm Ji Won, and comedian Kim Jae Dong. Dubbed as a
blueprint for TV drama production, On Air shows the
gritty side of show business and explores a multitude of
critical steps along the production pathway, including
brainstorming, scriptwriting, casting, budget, shooting,
soundtrack production, promotion, and interacting with network
studios, management companies, and third-party investors.
This
edition comes with the following special features:
Introduction of Characters
Jang Ki
Joon (Lee Bum Soo) vs. Lee Kyung Min (Park Yong Ha)
Review:
Not reviewed.
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Suh Gun ~ Goeng
Yu
Suh Ha-neul ~ Sung Yu-ri Kang Dong-ha ~ Nam Goong-min Goo Hyo-joo ~ Lee Yun-hee
Synopsis:
“One Fine Day” is a
drama about a girl who works at an aquarium as an aquarist, that
reunites with her brother from whom she’s been separated for
15 years. Different from other dramas, this one was shot in
Australia, giving the viewers many beautiful new locations to
look at. As it introduces a new kind of occupation, called an
aquarist, it uses many different kinds of underwater filming
techniques. These new techniques use a HD camera, which
captivates the viewers with great pictures.
“As common as the
grains of sand on a sandy beach, as common as the lyrics of a
love song we are about to add on another love story to this
common theme.”
This drama is a love
story. You might say “Another love story?” Yes it is another
love story. The drama might turn out to be another typical and
ordinary love story and you might wonder why we even bother to
tell another love story… the reason is because love stories
are still the interesting stories and there hasn’t been a true
love story that’s been told. People still have a great
interest in love stories.
In this drama each character holds a problem with his or her
heart (love). A guy who thinks that he never had a heart from
the beginning and a girl who thinks that this very man is her
heart and another guy who, after losing the one he loved, thinks
that he doesn’t have a heart anymore, and a girl who looks
weak but has the most powerful heart out of them all, which
helps make everyone’s heart beat again. The story of this girl
is the main subject of the drama.
These four characters face
such serious and cruel trials and tribulations that they make
them want to die waiting for their resolutions. Therefore there
might even be some who say that these characters shouldn’t
even have started up their love in the first place. But
while this drama is in process our one wish and hope is that all
the viewers while watching the characters fight against fate,
cheer for them in the hope that they attain their love and that
fate might just pass them by. Our last hope is that by watching
this drama the viewers come to think that if they were in the
characters’ shoes they would endure all the pain and hardships
needed to attain their love.
Review:
Not reviewed.
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Cha Eun Jae ~ Han
Chae Young
Han Ee Joon ~ Jo Hyun Jae
Synopsis:
After winning a cookery
competition, Cha Eun Jae (Han Chae Young) wins the opportunity
to go and study at a cookery school in Venice, Italy. Once there
she goes searching for her old landlord to learn the secret
recipe for perfect spaghetti, but instead meets the handsome,
yet arrogant Han Ee Joon (Jo Hyun Jae). There is an instant
attraction between the two but, due to a misunderstanding, Ee
Joon leaves, believing Eun Jae to have another boyfriend.
Six years later, back in
Korea, the couple meet again and Eun Jae discovers that Ee Joon
is now the successor to a large company. Will she pursue him
after he abandoned her all those years ago?
Review:
Not reviewed.
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Hee Soo ~
Kim Ok Bin
Hyuk Joo ~
Ji Hyun Woo
Rex ~Fany ~ Now ~ Poppin' Hyun Joon
Synopsis:
Youth is the time for dreams
and love, but only the determined will find what lies at the end
of the rainbow. MBC's new mini series Over the Rainbow
takes viewers into the dynamic world of music and dance. The
vibrant cinematography, bopping soundtrack, and amazing dance
choreography set the tone for this colorful ode to youth.
Directed by Han Hee (Super Rookie), Over the Rainbow
features a fresh, young cast including Fany of pop group Fly to
the Sky in his acting debut, Kim Ok Bin (Hello, God), Ji
Hyun Woo (Old Miss Diary), newcomer singer Now, and
pioneering hip-hop dancer Poppin' Hyun Joon.
Aspiring singer Hee Soo
(Kim Ok Bin) runs away from home, traveling from America to
Korea to pursue her musical dreams. Rough-and-tumble hip-hop
dancer Hyuk Joo (Ji Hyun Woo) hopes to shine on stage, but the
music industry is full of obstacles for a newcomer. Pop idol Rex
(Fany) has countless fans and a hit music career, but he is
unbearably arrogant and self-centered. When these three young
people meet, new sparks dance into their lives. Rex meets his
match with the spunky and lovable Hee Soo, but her heart seems
to point to Hyuk Joo. Amidst the unseen hardships, backstage
drama, and conflicts of heart, they must find their own path to
their dreams and earn their places on stage.
Review:
Fair
- I'm sure many
fans loved this drama, but I just couldn't get interested in it.
It might have been because this drama focuses on the music and
dance industry. While I can appreciate good pop music and
great dance moves, this drama is definitely for a younger
generation.
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Shin Yook Bok ~
Moon Geun Young
Kim Hong Do ~ Park Shin Yang
~Bae Soo Bin ~ Lim Ji
Eun ~ Park Jin Woo ~ Moon Chae Won
Synopsis:
Korea's sweetheart Moon Geun
Young (My Little Bride, Tale of Autumn) returns to the
small screen for the highly anticipated 2008 SBS period drama
The Painter of the Wind. The series attracted a lot of
attention since conception for being Moon's first TV drama in
five years, and for featuring a gender-bending heroine like the
wildly popular 1st Shop of Coffee Prince. Based on Lee
Jung Myung's best-selling novel which also inspired the film
Portrait of a Beauty in 2008, The Painter of the Wind
reimagines the life of renowned Joseon-era painter Shin Yoon
Bok, interestingly portraying the artist as a woman disguised as
a man.
On the big screen, Shin
Yoon Bok is played by Kim Min Sun; on the small screen, she is
charmingly embodied by Moon Geun Young. After meeting family
tragedy in her youth, Shin chooses to live disguised as a male
and sets out to find the truth behind her father's mysterious
death. Acclaimed actor Park Shin Yang (Lovers in Paris,
Money's Warfare) plays master painter Kim Hong Do, who
becomes Shin's mentor in both art and life. Underlined by
beautiful cinematography, a majestic score, keen attention to
historical details, and a supporting cast that includes Bae Soo
Bin (Jumong), Lim Ji Eun (Rude Women), Park Jin
Woo (Unstoppable Marriage), and Moon Chae Won (Our
School E.T), The Painter of the Wind has emerged as
one of the best Korean dramas of 2008.
This edition comes with
interviews and other special features.
Review:
Good
- This drama started with a bang and then proceeded to slow
down to a snail's pace until it ended. Jung Hye Young's
evil character, Mi Ran, was the only "spice" in this
drama.
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Lee Ji Eun ~ Lee
Eun Joo
Jang Sae Hoon ~ Lee
Suh Jin
Yoon Mi Ran ~Jung Hye Young Suh Jung Min ~ Eric
Synopsis:
Lee Ji Eun, a rich
princess who defies her family's wishes to marry poor student
Jang Sae Hoon. But love cannot conquer all, and tough times and
her family's prodding convince Ji Eun to file for divorce.
Filled with bitter feelings, Sae Hoon leaves Korea for New York,
and eventually returns to Korea ten years later. But times have
really changed! Now a wealthy self-made businessman, Sae Hoon
returns to work for the Seolin Group, and soon meets Ji Eun,
whose life has taken an alarming tumble. Ji Eun is now a poor
domestic helper, driven to her position in life by a multitude
of misfortunes. Is the timing right for a reunion? Or is the
couple's once-fated love impossible now?
Review:
Good
- This drama started with a bang and then proceeded to slow
down to a snail's pace until it ended. Jung Hye Young's
evil character, Mi Ran, was the only "spice" in this
drama.
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Eun Bin ~ Sung
Yu Ri
Gun Hee ~ Cha Tae Hyun Sung Hyun ~ Kim Nam Jin
Synopsis:
Top stars
from the Korean entertainment scene, beautiful scenery in Tahiti
and Hokkaido, and an engaging love story promise to keep you
glued to this enchanting MBC TV mini series. Featuring Fin.K.L.
member Sung Yu Ri (One Fine Day), Cha Tae Hyun (My
Sassy Girl), and Kim Nam Jin (Spring Bears Love),
A Prince's First Love is sure to put you under its spell
from the first minute to the last.
Eu Bin
(Sung Yu Ri) has no greater wish than to spend the rest of her
life working at a comfortable holiday hub. Delivering food for a
sandwich shop, the charming girl secretly falls in love with
handsome top businessman Sung Hyun (Kim Nam Jin). Unaware that
she has the chance for a blind date with Sung, she leaves for
Hokkaido after winning a ticket to the picturesque Japanese
island. As luck would have it, she meets the rich and arrogant
Gun Hee (Cha Tae Tyun) who is immediately drawn to her adorable
personality. Torn between Sung whom she loves and Gun Hee who is
willing to do anything to win her heart, what will the final
outcome be?
Review:
Very funny
show. My favorite character was Cha Tae Hyun, very good
actor. This was the first show I'd seen Kim
Nam Jin in and he seemed a little stiff. Overall, the
actors did their parts well and I thoroughly enjoyed watching
it.
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First Love
Min Hyo-rin ~ Song
Ji Hyo
Lee Shin (crown prince) ~ Joo Ji Hoon Shin Chae-kyung (commoner) ~ Yoon Eun Hye Lee Yool (prince) ~ Kim Jung Hoon
Synopsis:
Journey into the
fantastic world of Palace, where present day Korea is still
ruled by the Joseon Dynasty and a beautiful palace sits in the
heart of modern day Seoul.
Chae-Kyung,
(Yoon Eun-Hye) is just an ordinary girl from a modest family.
Although she is not particularly smart or beautiful, Chae-Kyung
is compassionate, free-spirited and fiercely loyal to her loved
ones. Shin (Joo Ji-Hoon) is the handsome but outwardly
unemotional Crown Prince of Korea. Although everyone believes
him to be the perfect prince charming, he has secretly vowed to
give up the throne for a life free of the crown's obligations.
Chae-Kyung and Shin's lives are worlds apart, however, those
worlds are about to collide when they discover they are engaged
to be married! Will Chae-Gyung and Shin be able to straighten
out this royal mess before it's too late?
Palace is truly a spectacular cinematic experience with its
kaleidoscope of over-the-top set design, elaborate costumes and
vividly colored cinematography. Royal secrets, love triangles,
and plots to overthrow the throne all await you in this offbeat
romantic comedy of rags-to-riches.
Kim Jung Eun from Lovers
in Paris and Evil Lake's Jung Jun Ho have teamed up
for the romantic TV series tale Princess LuLu. The music
director of Lovers in Paris Park Sae Jun as well as the
composer Park Geun Chul who worked on Jo Sung Mo's My First
LP plus many other potential composers have joined hand for this
fascinating soundtrack.
The opening theme features
jazz vocalist So Young Eun who has worked on many soundtracks
before. Furthermore, the title song Love Me Do is by new
singer Park Jae Bum and many of this year's other top newcomers
are also featured. On top of that music lovers also get to enjoy
the tune "I loved you" (track 18) by red hot Joon San
Hyun (soon to become a member of the dynamic band X5) who has
taken the music world by storm as so called Korean Kimura
Takuya!
Kim Seung Yoo
~ Park Shi Hoo Se Ryung ~ Moon Chae Won Prince Suyang ~ Kim Young Cheol Kim Jong Seo
~ Lee Soon Jae Princess Kyung Hye ~ Hong Soo Hyun
~Song Jong Ho
~Lee Min Woo
Synopsis:
Topping ratings
throughout its broadcast, the hit 2011 KBS period drama
The Princess' Man has been described as the
Joseon-era Romeo and Juliet. Using a real
historical coup as the background for its heartbreaking
love story, the beautiful drama stars Park Si Hoo (Prosecutor
Princess) and Moon Chae Won (Brilliant Legacy)
as the star-crossed couple whose fate is tested by the
river of blood that runs between their families. Kim
Young Cheol (Life is Beautiful) co-stars as
Prince Suyang, whose royal ambitions set off a spiral of
bloodshed and tragedy. The Princess' Man also
co-stars veteran actor Lee Soon Jae (High Kick),
Song Jong Ho (Will It Snow For Christmas?) Hong
Soo Hyun (Lie to Me), and Lee Min Woo (Life is
Beautiful)
The daughter of
Prince Suyang (Kim Young Cheol), Se Ryung (Moon Chae
Won) often enters the palace to meet Princess Kyung Hye
(Hong Soo Hyun), with whom she is good friends. Kyung
Hye's new teacher is Kim Seung Yoo (Park Si Hoo), the
son of premier Kim Jong Seo (Lee Soon Jae). When Se
Ryung attends lessons in the princess's place, it leads
to a case of mistaken identity and budding love. What Se
Ryung doesn't know yet is that her father has designs on
the throne, and Kim Jong Seo is his greatest obstacle.
To take the throne
for himself, Suyang brutally kills Kim Jong Seo and his
faction. Though Seung Yoo survives, he becomes a
different man, intent on overthrowing Suyang and
avenging his father's death. What happens when he finds
out that the woman he loves is in fact the daughter of
his mortal enemy? And to what lengths will she go to
save him?
This edition comes
with:
Unsubtitled
Special Features (Interviews, Making-of, 500min of
Additional Footage)
Excellent - I almost quit watching this drama because of the first
episode, but was told to keep watching by someone who'd already
seen it. I am so glad I did because it has become one of
my favorite dramas of all time.
The story line is
frustrating, funny and heart-breaking
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Traveling from Yanbian,
China to Seoul cheerful, ethnic Korean,
Guk-hwa plans to marry her fiance and start a new life. To
her dismay, he has died expectedly in an accident. This
turns her plans upside down, especially since can't (or won't)
return home to China. A series of events, brought about by
her inexperience and innocence, endears her to some and causes
outrage in others.
The
role of the modest and honest guy Hong Ug-yeong, who works at
telecom company UT, is played by Lee Min-woo, while the
ill-mannered Yun-hu, a scion of a conglomerate, is portrayed by
Seo Ji-suk. The cast also includes several famous middle-aged
actors: Shin Koo, who plays the oldest person in Hong’s
family, and Kang
Nam-kil and Kim Mi-kyung, who play Ug-yeong’s parents. Kang
Seok-woo appears in a comic role of Shin’s second son as a
third-class bar singer. Adding to the cheerful atmosphere of the
series is Cho Jung-rin, who plays Woo-kyung’s younger sister.
Han Jin-hee and Yoon Yeo-jung appear as Yoon-hu’s family.
Review:
Good - The
lead actress did a great job in portraying purity without
overacting. Her charm and perkiness, in my opinion, played
a big part in carrying this drama.
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Pure In Heart - Not
currently available at YesAsia.
Lee Shin Jeon ~ Joo
Min Mo Kang Eun-soo ~
Lee Bo Young Kim Pil Seo ~ Choi Joon Young Park Joo Won ~ Kim Su Hyeon
Synopsis:
A story of revenge, love,
betrayal and heartbreak.
Review:
Very Good -Joo Min Mo is an excellent actor, and
he gives a superb performance in this drama as Shin Jeon.
It was refreshing to Lee Bo Young show more enthusiasm in a
drama.
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Choi Kwan Woo ~ Kim
Jae Won Kim Chae Won ~ Kim
Ha Neul
Synopsis:
This is a story of a
teacher and a student who come face to face with the hardest
decision of their lives. Choi Kwan-Woo, a vivacious and noble
young man who is in high school, and Kim Chae-Won, a
free-spirited high school teacher, meet at a blossom festival
and hopelessly fall in love amid innocent lies and social
taboos.
Review:
Good -The story was sweet, but I
couldn't forget the age difference and the fact this was a
teacher and student relationship.
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Lee Kyung-min ~ Kim
Rae Won Nam Jung-eun ~ Jung Da-bin Na Hye-ryun ~ Choi Jung Yoon Yoo Dong-joon ~ Lee Hyun Woo
Synopsis:
A funny drama about the
ups and downs of one-sided love. Kyung-min is a
self-centered, spoiled rich boy who squanders his money.
Jung-eun is a self-motivated, hardworking girl who is struggling
to make ends meet. The two meet in an unfortunate
encounter and Kyung-min ends up living in Jung-eun's rooftop
apartment - as part of a contract.
It shows two dramatically
different people, struggling to survive with the other's
characteristics. As a person who never had to think about
money, it's hard for Kyung-min to have to sacrifice his rich
lifestyle to fit in with Jung-eun's penny pinching ways. ~Meow!~
Review:
Very Good
~ Lots of humor in this drama. Kim Rae Won and Jung Da Bin
really interact well, their onscreen charm make the drama even
more enjoyable.
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Ko Bok-Su ~ Yang Dong
Geun Chun Kyung ~ Lee Na Young
Synopsis:
Ko Bok-Su’s life is a
mess. After a difficult childhood and time in prison, fate leads
him to Chun Kyung. Bok-Su steals her wallet, but the chain
reaction that follows from the act is both unpredictable and
unforgettable. Ko Bok-Su embarks on a journey that ultimately
touches the lives of all those around him, and will inspire and
surprise even the most jaded K-drama fan!
Review:
Not reviewed
- won the 2003 Baeksang Award for Best
Korean TV Drama Screenplay.
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that she can get married and provide him with a successor to his
business empire. Desperate to stop her father's madness, Soo-Jin
pretends she already has a boyfriend, and so enlists the help of
simple water deliveryman Kim Yong-Nam (Kim Seung-Woo, Hotelier).
But now she must pass Yong-Nam off as a member of high society
if she is to stop her father's plans!
a
pastry chef on Christmas Eve, her problems are just beginning.
She spots her boyfriend going into a hotel with another woman.
At first she wants to charge right in there and confront him,
but instead decides to wait for him to come out, planning to
dump him in front of everybody. However, when he finally does
materialize, Sam Soon breaks down and begs him not to leave her
for the other woman.
Guk-hwa plans to marry her fiance and start a new life. To
her dismay, he has died expectedly in an accident. This
turns her plans upside down, especially since can't (or won't)
return home to China. A series of events, brought about by
her inexperience and innocence, endears her to some and causes
outrage in others.
The
role of the modest and honest guy Hong Ug-yeong, who works at
telecom company UT, is played by Lee Min-woo, while the
ill-mannered Yun-hu, a scion of a conglomerate, is portrayed by
Seo Ji-suk. The cast also includes several famous middle-aged
actors: Shin Koo, who plays the oldest person in Hong’s
family, and Kang
Nam-kil and Kim Mi-kyung, who play Ug-yeong’s parents. Kang
Seok-woo appears in a comic role of Shin’s second son as a
third-class bar singer. Adding to the cheerful atmosphere of the
series is Cho Jung-rin, who plays Woo-kyung’s younger sister.
Han Jin-hee and Yoon Yeo-jung appear as Yoon-hu’s family.
