kdramas.

In addition to my first love (that is, the J-DORAMA) I also rather compulsively watch its Korean counterpart! The (significantly) draggier albeit glossier Korean Drama. Although this interest is very specifically limited to the Romantic-Comedy genre. Simply because (I figure) that given how melodramatic the angsty bits of a typical romantic-comedy already are, a full-out soap-operatic romantic-tragedy type might just be an overkill.

We live in a postmodern world! We embrace a diversity of interests!

And do not scoff at that! Although Korea and Japan are seperated by but a tiny strip of sea, I find their culture to be WORLDS APART! Hell, frankly, Japan is an entirely different universe…is what Kristi and I concluded after watching some documentary about their Host Clubs and countless dramas about the singularly unique aspects of Japanese life (like…Harajuku and cosplaying…hello?!) So it goes to follow that a Jdorama is nothing like a Kdrama and likewise, a Kdrama is nothing like a Jdorama. Hm. Does that make sense?

…ANYWAY! Enough Jibber-Jabber! Bring on the Ratings!

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Boys Before Flowers (2009) AKA Korean Hana Yori Dango

Cannot. Stand. the. Lead. Actress! And in Hana Yori Dango, she’s half the magic. Nevertheless! They must have done something right to cultivate the huge fanatic mob I have just offended by actually suggesting there could be something imperfect about this show. *gasp!* I would like to suggest…the crazy-gorgeous F4 boys! And also, the most extravagant set I’ve seen coming out from this part of the world in a long long time. The eye-candy will make this so worth it!

Quality: 6/10

Loveability: 7.5/10

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Couple or Trouble (2006)

HOHO!I think this a gem! One of the rare romantic-comedies with slapstick humour (not that it is particularly characterised by having lots of that) I actually find funny and with tragedy moments which actually moved me to tears! I suppose then, it must be the cast (although I think the general consensus is that this drama was a one-off for the lead actors), clever scripting and gorgeous scenery. I would also describe this to be some kind of Korea Sparkling! tourism advert masquerading as a rom-com if it weren’t such an accomplished drama in and of itself!

Quality: 9/10

Loveability: 10/10

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Dal Ja’s Spring (2007)

This would be an unremarkably typical Korean Drama – love triangle in which impeccably polished man *surprise surprise* loses out to rough-round-the-edges boor; contract love affair that *surprise surprise* turns into a One-True-Love type relationship…blahblahblah…gets superdraggy towards the end…

Except it is so irresistably uplifting! Plus, there are moments when it truly sheds (intelligent and )”poignant insight” on life in general. Something that so few Korean dramas actually accomplish. In the rom-com landscape, it is a rare stand-out. So it is 90% formulaic. Doesn’t everybody agree that the Kdrama formula works?

Quality: 8/10

Loveability: 8/10

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Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang (2005)

Oh urgh! It starts off entertainingly enough but this show eventually annoyed me on so many levels! First, the impossibly-perfect main character girl with her in-you-face virtuousness and self-righteousness and rare quality of heroic self-sacrificing-ness(?) and ohmygod! She’s so sweet and saccharine and… aren’tyouinlovewithheralready? Second, overplayed, over-the-top angsting – one of the most self-indulgent shows EVA! Like, get over yourselves, people. Third, draggy. Why anybody would bother dragging out something as crappy, I can never imagine. Still, the beginning of the show was seriously entertaining.

Quality: 5/10

Loveability: 4/10

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Flowers for My Life (2007)

Terminally ill cancer patient falls in love with money-grubber Na Hana, they both learn Important Things about Love and Life. Could this possibly be any different from the usual, desperately inane fare of Kleenex soap-operas? YES YES! This series is a precious rarity in its treatment of what seems would-have-seemed destined to be an unescapably sorrowful subject matter (and plot). It was quirky, genuinely funny and irrepressibly uplifting. PLUS, seriously adorable leads! Does that not pique your interest? Perhaps this will – I could never do as much justice to this show as Dramabeans has. Does that still not pique your interest…? You cruel, cold-hearted person! Go…do some charity work at a hospice or something. (No full marks because I thought there were character development problems I felt couldn’t be easily glossed over and it lost its quirkiness towards the end. Still…it was good 99% of the way!)

Quality: 9/10

Loveability: 9/10

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Full House (2007)

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Get Karl! Oh Soo Jung (2007) aka Butcher Oh Soo Jung

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Goong (2006) aka Princess Hours

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My Girl (2005)

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Sweet 18 (2004)

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What’s Up Fox? (2006)

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Witch Yoo Hee (2007)