Note: These are only series I’ve seen in their entirety. (I’ve seen a lot more series that I haven’t come around to finishing, whether it’s because I got bored, forgot, or couldn’t find the time. I haven’t “graded” those here.)
Also, I’ve separated ratings into 
Because there’s nothing wrong with liking populist material. I just can’t quite bring myself to rate one, for instance, above something less “fun” but more substantial.
Javabeans‘s ratings in black.
| K-DRAMA SERIES | HOW MUCH I ENJOY IT vs. HOW I RATE IT (of 10) | |
| 49 Days (2011) 49일 |
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Didn’t hate the ending, but it did make me think I’d given the drama way too much credit along the way. Decent effort, mucky execution. (7 /7) |
| Air City (2007) 에어시티 |
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Hot guys. Cold plot. (5 / 5) |
| All In (2003) 올인 |
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| Athena: Goddess of War (2011) 아테나: 전쟁의 여신 |
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| Attic Cat (2003) 옥탑방 고양이 |
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| Baby-Faced Beauty (2011) 동안미녀 |
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Plot and characters are familiar, and the heroine’s rather meek for my post-Sam-soon tastes, but it does the workplace setup and the cute noona-romance with a sweet, funny touch. (7 / 7) |
| Bad Couple (2007) 불량커플 |
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Bursts out of the gate with peppy chemistry, then slows with tears and angst and The Dreaded Illness. Lost interest after episode 6. (6 / 5) |
| Bad Family (2006) 불량가족 |
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Love it. Heart-warming and hilarious as this motley mock family becomes a real one, without dipping into cheesiness. Kim Myung-min is a hoot. (9 / 9) |
| Bad Guy (2010) 나쁜남자 |
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I can’t heap enough superlatives for the drama’s assured directing, gorgeous visual appeal, music, acting, overall ambiance. Story drove me nuts. (7 / 7) |
| Best Love (2011), aka Greatest Love 최고의 사랑 |
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Tight writing, hilarious scenarios, memorable acting, and a string of the wackiest, yet oddly appropriate metaphors I’ve ever seen in a drama. Feel-good and satisfying. (9 / 9) |
| Biscuit Teacher Star Candy (2005) 건빵선생과 별사탕 |
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| Bottom of the 9th with 2 Outs (2007) aka 9 End, 2 Outs 9회말 2아웃 |
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| Boys Before Flowers (2009) aka Korean Hana Yori Dango 꽃보다 남자 |
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Such a hot mess, but a blast to watch. The fandom frenzy was sometimes more fun than the show itself. (8 / 5) |
| Brilliant Legacy (2009) aka Shining Inheritance 찬란한 유산 |
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| Can’t Lose (2011) 지고는 못살아 |
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Cute and funny, proving that conflict can exist without crazies or baddies. Simple but sweet. (7 / 7) |
| Chuno (2010) 추노 |  |
Visually breathtaking and characterized by sweeping grandeur, though a bit lacking in soul. (7 / 8 ) |
| Cinderella’s Sister (2010) 신데렐라 언니 |  |
Marvelous start and stellar acting counter the heavy angst, but the frustrating plot slows to a near-crawl. (4 / 6) |
| City Hunter (2011) 시티헌터 |
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It isn’t flawless, but it did everything I wanted it to and then some. Action, intrigue, humor, heart. (10 / 9) |
| Coffee House (2010) 커피프 하우스 |
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Wacky, offbeat comedy with loose plotting and a light feel, though second half gets heavier. (7 / 7) |
| Coffee Prince Store #1 (2007) 커피프린스1호점 |  |
Proof that popular does not always equal mediocre. At times cheeky, at times poignant. Standout soundtrack. (9 / 9) |
| Dal Ja’s Spring (2007) 달자의봄 |
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Fresh and fun, with dashes of insight into modern (career-)womanhood, rife with Heroine’s romantic and professional foibles. Adorable main couple, great supporting cast, easy to zip through. (9 / 9) |
| Delightful Girl Chun Hyang (2005) 쾌걸춘향 |
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High comedy factor with strong chemistry between the leads. It’s Romeo & Juliet with a twist; Jae Hee is wonderful, and the directing is sharp. A sentimental favorite. (9 / 8 ) |
| Dr. Champ (2010) 닥터 챔프 |
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| Dream High (2011) 드림 하이 |
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Adorable friendships, great handling of youthful foibles and the shark-infested showbiz waters. A showcase for its idol cast; if only they were better actors, it could’ve been even better. (9 / 8 ) |
| Dream High 2 (2012) 드림 하이 2 |
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Was it lazy, trying to ride Season 1′s coattails, or was it overambitious, trying to be everything and ending up with idol/dance-off/rivalry/romance hodgepodge? It tries both too hard and not enough. (5 / 4) |
| East of Eden (2008-9) 에덴의 동쪽 |
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| Exhibition of Fireworks (2006) 불꽃놀이 |  |
Started great with lots of comedy, went downhill with convoluted evildoers gumming up the works. Kang Ji-hwan is the only good thing here. (5 / 4) |
| Fantasy Couple (2006) aka Couple or Trouble 환상의커플 |
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Flawed but enjoyable opposites-attract comedy. Its humor overdoes the slapstick, but the Hong sisters writers keep the plot moving. (7 / 7) |
| Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (2011) 꽃미남 라면가게 |
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Super cute camaraderie in the ramyun family. Jung Il-woo is a hoot. Plot spins its wheels a bit, but it’s sweet and funny. (8 / 7) |
| Flowers For My Life (2007) aka I Came In Search of Flowers 꽃찾으러 왔단다 |
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Criminally underrated. Witty with a touch of dark humor. Set in a funeral home, it gives lovely, quirky insights on life and death. (10 / 10) |
| Friends (2004) 프렌즈 / フレンズ |
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Joint collaboration between Korea and Japan. Pleasant, with gorgeous leads Won Bin and Fukada Kyoko, but unexceptional. (6 / 6) |
| Full House (2004) 풀하우스 |
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One of the most popular cohabitation dramas out there — lots of bickering-as-courtship and some cute couple moments. It’s overrated (plot becomes repetitive in the last quarter), but enjoyable. (7 / 6) |
| Girl K (2011) 소녀K |
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At 3 episodes, this badass shoot-em-up revenge story tantalizes with hints of what a full drama could have done. Doesn’t have time to really get you in the heart, but sets up a great world. If this is the future of cable, I’m onboard. (8 / 8 ) |
| God of Study (2010) 공부의 신 |
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| Goong (2006) aka Palace or Princess Hours, 궁 |
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Beautifully executed but slow. Overrated but entertaining. Mediocre acting at best. (7 / 7) |
| Goong S (2007) aka Palace S or Prince Hours, 궁S |
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A reverse-Cinderella tale as an ordinary guy becomes a prince. Disappointing start and poor acting. Still, picked up toward end, inversely to its ratings. (5 / 5) |
| Gourmet (2008) 식객 |
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Solid execution perhaps obscures a banal story, but Kim Rae-won makes this work. Predictable but enjoyable, like comfort food. (8 / 7) |
| Green Rose (2005) 그린로즈 |
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Dramatic thriller veers into over-the-top territory, but this underdog revenge story can get addictive. Great romantic angst. (7 / 7) |
| Hello! Miss (2007) aka Hello Baby 헬로! 애기씨 |
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Light and jokey, but not much emotional depth. Lee Da-hae can do (and has done) better. (5 / 5) |
| High Kick 3: Counterattack of the Short Legs (2011) 하이킥 3: 짧은 다리의 역습 |
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Surprisingly well-drawn characters and relationships that mean something. Packs a lot of heart into those 20-minute episodes, and consistently, week after week. Slice of life and poignant. (8 / 8 ) |
| Hong Gil Dong (2008) 쾌도 홍길동 |
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This fusion historical drama has action, comic gags, romance, political intrigue, betrayal — but lacks subtlety. The tone is uneven, but Kang Ji-hwan is wonderful. (7 / 7) |
| Hyang Dan Jeon (2007) aka The Story of Hyang Dan, 향단전 |
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Fun blending of folktales and modern humor in a fusion romantic comedy. Only two episodes, it’s a silly, Shrek-like goof. (8 / 7) |
| I Am Legend (2010) 나는 전설이다 |
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Started off so well, but suffered an identity crisis halfway through. (6 / 5) |
| I Need Romance (2011) 로맨스가 필요해 |
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| IRIS (2009) 아이리스 |
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Some smoldering performances decorate this explosion-packed action series but the writing gets spotty. More style than substance, a fun ride with eye candy. (7 / 7) |
| It’s Okay, Daddy’s Girl (2010) 괜찮아 아빠딸 |
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Okay, this show isn’t good. It’s got the potential to be, but is marred by poor acting and weird pacing — it’s like a highlight reel of a longer family drama. Yet, oddly, it draws you in with its good-naturedness and warmth. (7 / 4) |
| Joseon X-Files (2010) aka Secret Investigation Record, 기찰비록 |
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FANTASTIC. Quite possibly genius melding of historical record and sci-fi mystery. (10 / 10) |
| The King 2 Hearts (2012) 더킹 투하츠 |
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(? / ?) |
| The Last Scandal of My Life (2008), 내 생애 마지막 스캔들 |
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What happens when first loves reconnect 20 years later… when one’s an ajumma and the other’s a movie star lying about his age? Hilarious, touching, and well-acted. Never a dull moment. (9 / 8 ) |
| Lie To Me (2011) 내게 거짓말을 해봐 |
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It’s like Drama blew its budgetary wad on the stars and forgot to provide a story. Some randomly cute couple scenes, but mostly so boring. (4 / 3) |
| Love & Marriage (2008) 연애결혼 |
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Cute story between an uptight divorce attorney and bubbly matchmaker. It’s like a meal of dessert. Sweet filler, but speedy, flirty fun. (7 / 7) |
| Lovers (2006) 연인 |
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Brisk start descends into weepy melodrama with birth secrets, family strife, and a Love That Cannot Be that’s more like a Love That Should Not Be. By the end I couldn’t stand it. Oh! The! Tragedy! (3 / 6) |
| Man of Honor (2011) 영광의 재인 |
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| Manny (2011) 매니 |
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A cute premise and a light, episodic format keep this comedy watchable, but the romance angle is the least interesting. Why are the adults acting like kids? (6 / 6) |
| Mary Stayed Out All Night (2010) 매리는 외박중 |
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Uber-boring. Worst drama I saw in 2010. (3 / 4) |
| Me Too, Flower! (2011) 나도, 꽃! |
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What a way to tank a promising series; watching its steady decline was a sad thing. Too much Madam Crazy, too little focus on the characters we cared about. At first, it was unfairly underrated. By its end, deservedly so. (6 / 6) |
| Miss Ripley (2011) 미스 리플리 |
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Interesting character study of some unlikable personalities who draw you in with charged acting. Story loses its bite in the end, though. (7 / 7) |
| Mixed-up Investigative Agency (2007) 얼렁뚱땅 흥신소 |
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Quirky, offbeat, extremely well-plotted. Strong acting, particularly by Yeh Ji-won. A comedy romp, treasure hunt, and mystery rolled into one. (9 / 9) |
| The Moon That Embraces the Sun (2012) 해를 품은 달 |
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A straight-up juvenile romance, dressed up as a grown-up sageuk. The drama’s one-track mind keeps it from having depth or substance, but it’s easy to watch. (7 / 7) |
| My Fair Lady (2009) aka Please Take Care of the Lady aka Lady Castle 아가씨를 부탁해 |
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Terribly written plot, even if the chemistry of the couple carries the drama. Skip. (4 / 4) |
| My Girl (2005-06) 마이걸 |
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Fantastic fun, speedy pace. Super chemistry between the endearing lead couple. (9 / 8 ) |
| My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010) 내 여자친구는 구미호 |
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Super enjoyable, adorable chemistry, and great mix of the gumiho mythology with the rom-com bits. But somehow it’s only my No. 3 Hong sisters drama. (9 / 8 ) |
| My Love Patzzi (2002) 내 사랑 팥쥐 |
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Short, cute drama with two too-perfect guys and a spunky heroine as an anti-Cinderella. Not very deep, but easy to watch. (7 / 6) |
| My Name Is Kim Sam Soon (2005) 내 이름은 김삼순 |
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Poignant and funny, worth the hype. (9 / 9) |
| My Princess (2011) 마이 프린세스 |
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Who knew such a middling rom-com could be a turning point for Kim Tae-hee (and, to a lesser degree, Mr. Robot Hotness Song Seung-heon)? (7 / 6) |
| My Sweet Seoul (2008) 달콤한 나의 도시 |
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Halfway between indie and trendy. Plotting is loose, but has a refreshing atmospheric feel and good directing. Unfortunately, I hate the main character. (6 / 8 ) |
| Myung-wol the Spy (2011) 스파이 명월 |
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Could’ve been so wacky and hilarious, but changed its mind halfway through and tried for earnest angst. We got tedious moping instead. (5 / 5) |
| Oh! My Lady (2010) 오! 마이 레이디 |
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Light and fluffy older-woman/younger-man, housekeeper-landlord romance. Choi Siwon’s charm carries the show. An easy, unchallenging watch. (6 / 6) |
| Ojakkyo Brothers (2011-2) 오작교 형제들 |
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| One Fine Day (2006) 어느 멋진 날 |
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| Only You (2005) 온리 유 |
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Bleh. I can’t remember why I bothered. Han Chae-young is pretty, but Jo Hyun-jae is wasted. (3 / 3) |
| Operation Proposal (2012) 프로포즈 대작전 |
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(? / ?) |
| Pasta (2010) 파스타 |
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The couple is SO cute together, and individually very appealing. Yet there’s so very little plot. (6 / 6) |
| Personal Taste (2010) 개인의취향 |
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The jerky directing is the biggest flaw; the writing is engaging at parts but random in others. Lead couple is well-acted and have charming chemistry. (7 / 6) |
| Playful Kiss (2010) 장난스런 키스 |
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Despite lack of conflict, the couple is sweet and Jung So-min lovable. But there’s so little story here. (6 / 6) |
| Poseidon (2011) 포세이돈 |
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Choi Siwon and Lee Shi-young are an adorable matchup. Too bad this coast guard action thriller wants to be cooler than it is. (4 / 4) |
| The Princess’s Man (2011) 공주의 남자 |
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Epic and stirring. Constant plot twists, tight political intrigue, and a strong Romeo and Juliet romance with stakes that actually feel life-and-death. (10 / 9) |
| Prosecutor Princess (2010) 검사 프린세스 |
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| Que Sera Sera (2007) 케세라세라 |
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Took a few episodes to fall in love, but boy did I. Intense and unapologetic. Not for the casual watcher. Flawed but complex people drive this character drama. (9 / 9) |
| Queen In-hyun’s Man (2012) 인현왕후의 남자 |
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(? / ?) |
| Queen of Reversals (2011) 역전의 여왕 |
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| The Return of Iljimae (2009) 돌아온 일지매 |
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Gorgeous. Poignant. Soundtrack and cinematography are exceptional. (10 / 10) |
| Rooftop Prince (2012) 옥탑방 왕세자 |
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(? / ?) |
| Runaway Plan B (2010) aka Fugitive Plan B, 도망자 플랜비 |
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Wastes a lot of time in the beginning with flashy action and goofy comedy, but once it settles down, there’s a compelling conflict here. Rain does a fabulous job juggling emotions, action, and humor. (8 / 7) |
| Scent of a Woman (2011) 여인의 향기 |
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A drama about death that’s not really about death. The main trio’s stories edge out the aggravatingly meddly second leads. (8 / 8 ) |
| Secret Garden (2010) 시크릿 가든 |
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Well-acted, sharp dialogue, great chemistry. Beautiful to look at, but it’s a lot of slick veneer. Alas, I found it hard to connect with emotionally. (7 / 8 ) |
| Shut Up: Flower Boy Band (2012) 닥치고 꽃미남밴드 |
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Pitch-perfect. It’s rockin’ with music and brotherhood, but most of all it’s about the heart-tugging process of finding yourself. (10 / 10) |
| The Sons of Sol Pharmacy House (2009) aka My Too Perfect Sons, 솔약국집아들들 |
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Hilarious, heartwarming family comedy about a family with four sons who each find love, with some help (and interference) from their boisterous family. (8 / 7) |
| Soulmate (2006) 소울메이트 |
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Witty, trendy, funny. Fabulous soundtrack and surprisingly tight plotting. Skillful use of chronology and narrative. (10 / 9) |
| A Star’s Lover (2008-09) 스타의 연인 |
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Pro: Choi Ji-woo and Yoo Ji-tae’s acting and great chemistry. Con: Everything else (slow, repetitive, predictable). (5 / 6) |
| Story of a Man (2009) aka The Slingshot 남자이야기 |
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Intense, thrilling, smartly woven together. Great balance of light and dark. Hits on all three points of acting, directing, writing — and it’s FUN. (10 / 10) |
| Strongest Chil Woo (2008) 최강칠우 |
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This is not a good drama, but thankfully its outrageousness (intentional and otherwise) keep it entertaining. Alas its hilarity doesn’t come as frequently as one would like. (6 / 6) |
| Summer Scent (2003) 여름향기 |
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| Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010) 성균관 스캔들 |
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So cute and well-done. But, ran out of steam toward the end, curtailing the earlier addiction high. (8 / 8 ) |
| Thousand Day Promise (2011) 천일의 약속 |
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Su Ae is commanding. Virtually no plot, just a grim progression of a disease with no hope at the end. Depressing and a little smug. (5 / 7) |
| Tree With Deep Roots (2011) 뿌리깊은 나무 |
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Sharp writing, slick directing, stellar acting by Han Seok-kyu as Korea’s most famous king. Full of intrigue and thrills. (8 / 9) |
| Triple (2009) 트리플 |
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Breezy and refreshing, but also slow. Tone feels like Coffee Prince, but lacks focus and direction. (6 / 5) |
| Unstoppable High Kick (2006-07) 거침없이 하이킥 |
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Loosely plotted family sitcom featuring an adorable cast of future superstars. The problems are small, but the show’s heart is big. (8 / 7) |
| Vampire Prosecutor (2011) 뱀파이어 검사 |
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Sexy and smart, this action-crime drama is more procedural than paranormal, but damn if the paranormal (Mr. Vampire Hotness) isn’t sizzling. (8 / 8 ) |
| The Vineyard Man (2006) 포도밭 그사나이 |
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Mildly amusing, but very ordinary. Oh Man-seok is great, Yoon Eun-hye is forgettable. If you’re a Yoon fan, skip it and see Coffee Prince instead. (5 / 6) |
| Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011) 무사백동수 |
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| What’s Up, Fox (2006) 여우야 뭐하니 |
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Good follow-up by writer of Samsoon. Go Hyun-jung is always a treat to watch, as is Chun Jung-myung. Not necessarily exciting, but humorous and witty. (8 / 8 ) |
| Who Are You? (2008) 누구세요? |
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This drama is all heart. Surprisingly better than its silly start, it gets steadily better as you go along, and the body-swapping is both hilarious and meaningful. Yoon Kye Sang is a standout. (9 / 8 ) |
| Will It Snow For Christmas? (2009-10) 크리스마스에 눈이 올까요? |
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First half of this romance melodrama is poignant, emotionally wracking, layered; second half gets too convoluted for comfort. Go Soo is marvelous. (8 / 7) |
| Wish Upon a Star (2010) 별을 따다줘 |
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Pro: It’s unexpectedly charming. Con: Messy plot and weak secondary characters. Adorable kids and an appealing heroine keep it watchable. (8 / 6) |
| Witch Amusement (2007) aka Witch Yoo Hee, 마녀유희 |
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Endlessly mockable, but in the fun way. Pure eye candy, no nutrition. (6 / 3) |
| The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry (2010) 아직도 결혼하고 싶은 여자 |
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Breezy, witty. Touching and fun depiction of modern friendships and romance. (9 / 8 ) |
| The World They Live In (2008) aka Worlds Within 그들이 사는 세상 |
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| You’re Beautiful (2009) 미남이시네요 |
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Hilarious situations, fast-moving plot, memorable characters. Park Shin-hye is adorable (if dim), but it’s Jang Geun-seok who kills it. (9 / 8 ) |
| You’ve Fallen For Me (2011) aka Heartstrings, 넌 내게 반했어 |
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And for the old stuff…
| Autumn Story (2000) aka Autumn Fairy Tale 가을동화 |
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Feelings (1994) 느낌 |
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One of the earliest trendy dramas boasting a hip, young, good-looking cast. Probably the first college campus drama. |
| First Love (1996-7) 첫사랑 |
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| Forever Yours (1998) 세상끝까지 |
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| Hotelier (2001) 호텔리어 |
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| Icing (1996) 아이싱 |
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A direct rip-off of The Last Match (see below), it tried to re-create its success with recycled cast and story. See Jang Dong-gun with Lee Seung-yeon back when they were trendy young things. |
| Jealousy (1992) 질투 |
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THE original trendy drama starring still-famous Choi Jin Shil and Choi Su Jong. Funny and cute, see the drama that started the trend. |
| Last Match (1994) 마지막 승부 |
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Superstar Jang Dong Gun in one of his earliest roles, featuring an extremely young and new Shim Eun Ha! Spawned the sports-drama trend. |
| Popcorn (2000) 팝콘 |
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Oh, this was a bad drama. Mediocre acting and all the typical cliches — she’s dying, he cries a lot — but it’s old-school Song Seung-heon, before he hit his big break. |
| Propose (1997) 프로포즈 |
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| Sandglass (1995) 모래시계 |
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One of the highest-rated dramas ever, and one of the most highly regarded. Stellar cast, stellar writing, this swept the nation and deals with some intense historical events, such as the Gwangju Massacre of 1980. |
| Star in My Heart (1997) 별은 내가슴에 |
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Early Hallyu hit and one of the first Cinderella-story dramas. Over-the-top by today’s standards, but who doesn’t love a rags-to-riches romance? |
| Tomato (1999) 토마토 |
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| Wedding Dress (1997-8) 웨딩드레스 |
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| Winter Sonata (2002) 겨울연가 |
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RECENTLY COMPLETED
haha, I love your (girlfriday) rating on MNIKSS. I agree with you ^^
EOE was definitely epic for me but… it dragged… and dragged… and then the ending was a WTF O__o. I want my ~56 hours back too!
thanks javabeans for explaining.. i rest my case now. anyways, they’ve all got good ratings, and they’re all good dramas. DJS is still the best for me.. your ratings list really helped me in choosing which drama to watch, as i am relatively a newbie. you are a big part of my drama watching self! more power to you, and to girlfriday as well!
Here it starts :
Coffee Prince Store #1 Ditto…Just love Gong Yoo ..The END
One Fine Day seriously sometime I think whay did I even Watch It simple Gong Yoo..but what the heck I had a major downfall why did I even bother but Gong Yoo make me do all these kinda thinks ..
Biscuit Teacher Star Candy : awesomeley lovely Drama
Cannot wait for Biscuit Gong Yoo new project ..Fingers Crossed
Its crazy that 1999-2003 seems like just yesterday but is listed as being “old stuff”! Not bashing the fact, just realizing how damn old I am compared to lots of kdrama watchers.
I think Girlfriday has convinced me to watch Biscuit Teacher Star Candy even though I haven’t heard any other bloggers etc saying anything nice about it. I will watch it for the two Gongs!
Expanded ratings…thanks GF
It was Lovers in Paris that turned me into a K drama fan. The drama had a rating rivaling My name is Kim Sam Soon. I’m just surprised that there’s no rating for it here.
Dear girlfriday,
Your drama ratings comments sealed the deal for me: you DESERVE to be the offical editor to this wonderful site. Your wonderful, witty writing style complements javabeans’ beautifully, and I look forward to reading more from both of you. We readers sure are a lucky bunch to be able to visit this site anytime we want to get the best kdrama news and recaps. THANK YOU!
Please keep adding ratings… it helps us avoid the BAD ones!!! Pleeease…. (eg. there was not rating for “spotlight” so I picked it up one day…. and did not survive the 1st episode.
girlfriday, you’re in love with gong yoo?? me to…, haha.
definitely agree when you said will always in love with choi han kyol.
coffee prince will alwaya 10/10 for me. i have watch it for two years and keep watch it everyday until now. it’s like a drug to me, i should watch it to keep me healthy,haha.
kind of surprise cause there One Find Day and Biscuit Teacher appear on this drama ratings. well, i watch one find day only because of gong yoo cause the story is too flat and make something simple so complicated plus stupid (aquarium) ending even gong yoo look so hot after (never) surfing scene and with his short hair. one thing i love about one find day is the soundtrack. it makes me in love with loveholic-keu dae man it damyon. it’s a sad pathetic song.
for biscuit candy i have watch it i guess, before i in love with gong yoo, so i’m not really remember the story. guess i have to find the dvd.
well, thank you for the new drama ratings. please make recaps for the next gong yoo drama even it’s too bad to watch.
keep up the good work JB dan GF, nice to meet you both…
thanks, girlfriday, for adding your thoughts to the mix!
Love your comment on Coffee Prince… just made me smile like a child!!!
Love you guys the now so called Dinamyc Duo by me.
Girlfriday…your recaps & comments, always crack me up!!! You have an unusual style of writing that’s so refreshing…& downright FUNNY!!! I love it!!! I believe your style matches Dramabeans’ to the MAX!!!
Like you, I’m a Gong Yoo-holic, too!! Am going to Korea, with two GYL (Gong Yoo Lover) friends next week to try & meet… see….& greet him on his 32nd birthday!!!
We even timed our visit to coincide w/ his birthday..in hopes that he’ll hold a fan meeting, of sorts!!!
Anyway, welcome aboard Dramabeans helm!!!
City Hall is conspicuously absent. I guess neither of you finished watching it. I would rate it 11 / 10 because it brought me all the ingredients I look for in a drama: humour, angst, a bit of suspense, chemistry between couples, and the most wonderful ending.
Prosecutor Princess – I would rate 10 / 8. Enjoyed it heaps altho’ there were a few things that annoyed me or seemed unrealistic or stretching it. The shoes bumped it up, loved MHR’s shoes, tho’ I won’t wear them.
Coffee Prince : 12 / 10. It would have been 11/10, however the sound track brought it up to 12. I’ve memorised some of the lyrics and I’m no Korean.
MNIKSS : 11 / 10, 11 just because it’s the first k-drama I watched and I’m still going.
THANK YOU ! CITY HALL WAS LIKE FOR ME THE BEST DRAMA OF 2009 ALONG W/ SHINING INHERITANCE!!! THE PLOT, CHARACTERS, VISUALS….EVERYTHING WAS ABSOLUTELY PURRRFECT!
N.B.: My bad for the caps!
MNIKSS, still my favorite ever. it’s got so much heart, and yet is so friggin funny. i can rewatch that little sucker 234089 times hahahah
much love to jb and new partner in crime (xppp) girlfriday!
Hotelier’s lead couple is BYJ and Song Yuna, not Song Hye Kyo
@416 Rubysing: That just goes to show you how long it’s been since I’ve seen it, and how many dramas get jumbled in between! Duly noted, and changed. Thanks.
I love reading your opinions on these dramas and most of the time I agree with you.
But not on the GOS one, I loved that drama but that may have been because of Baek Hyun/ Hyun Jung couple or the fact that I am such a child inside.
ahh, I just finished watching Biscuit Teacher Star Candy. I loved it in the beginning, but it got a bit…eh(?) for me around episode 12, so I just skipped to episode 15. The Finale was really good. Gong Yoo was especially amazing.
javabeans, i seriously recommend “which star are you from”
its not new at all, but its a darn good drama and i suggest you check it out and add it to the ratings
Finally, someone else who thought Summer Scent is at least passable!!! I liked it! Agree with GF’s rating!
i just finished this movie called “Do re mi fa so la si do”… i don’t think it’s very popular but i liked it a lot ^^ its a very bittersweet, touching love story.
just saying.
i still love you’re beautiful…and i totally agree with your comments!!
OMG!
HOW CAN YOU GUYS NOT INCLUDE; ALL ABOUT EVE!?!?!
it’s like EPIC MAN!
Saw the most EPIC kiss scene eva~~! Coffee House ep 11. watch it!
awww thx loads…everytime I wanna watch a drama, I come here 1st to see what are the ratings:p What about the rating for Smile You? I started to watched but didnt continue bcoz of exams(I think) :p
1st drama I watched was Autumn in my heart/Autumn Tale…Oh God, I never knew that I could cry so much….after this one though, I didnt watch any tearjerker would lose too much water hahaha XD
Any soundtrack ratings?
I’ve wachted Coffee Prince, just want to know about the hype… But maybe it’s not my cup of tea. I got bored after watching the first 5 epi. Why many people love this drama? I Want to know… ^^
don’t kill me… >.<
That’s b/c CP starts a bit slow and doesn’t really get going until about ep. 7 (or whenever the gang returns from the apple farm).
The eps. after that are near perfect.
omg GF. FINALLY! someone who agrees with me about summer scent out of all the seasons. what the hell was autumn in my heart all about anyway?
im SO glad ive found someone who agrees with me ><
First of, want to thank you for setting up this blog bcoz I enjoy reading your recaps on my favorite dramas which I find nail most of my feelings about them too. Some of your high rated dramas are in my list too but I hope you can watch Lawyers of Korea too.. the characters and the actors who acted in it are way awesome I think! And the proposal scene in the elevator is I think one of those great Kdrama moment..
I also like Shining Inheritance, My Woman, Insoong is Pretty..
Dear JB,
I am surprised you didnt rate Painter of the Wind as it was one of the best drama that year w outstanding acting by Moon. Would love to see how u rate it…!
Oooo, glad I checked this page again since I just finished watching Story of a Man (finally got around to it, boy it did not disappoint…glad i stayed away from spoilers, hehe)! I always like to re-read JB’s ratings after I’ve seen a couple more dramas and it’s nice to read GF’s comments, too.
A commenter above me mentioned this as well…I’d love to read how you two would rate City Hall and Prosecutor Princess, both of which I enjoyed. And Devil, too?
Dramabeans <3
thanks for all the ratings. how can you not include dae jang geum and queen seon duk? dae jang geum is the drama of all dramas. i agree with the previous comment about including “lovers in paris.” that was my first drama. i cried a lot even though i didn’t completely understand since i was watching without subtitles.
What about Cityhall???
I am surprised City Hall not on this rating list.
@ 32 KBC12 I felt the same feeling as you (with question mark )
it is nice to see that I am not the only one totally in love with Choi Han-gyul because of coffee prince!
Goong was..mediocre…..I hated how slow everything was,
A short but funny couple’s night follows a lingering depression then it quickly gets resolved….
Personally it is not worth watching
just curious about your rating for Goodbye Solo? It’s mentioned a few times in this blog so I think you guys watched it already.
City Hall is like MNIKSS… the kdrama that you will never get tired to repeat all over again, its romantic comedy in more mature way, the sweetness lingers in your mind ( OST corresponds weel with the scene ) I LOVE ITT!!
hehe
i love this rating thing
please rate city hall, prosecutor princess & beethoven virus
i loved PP and BV
<3
I’m going to respond to some of the ratings here, although I ended up writing a LOTTTT… X_____X
I somehow did not enjoy Coffee Prince as much, although the ride was fun… perhaps I have a thing against grudges due to misunderstandings or secrets that kept me from enjoying the show as much near the ending? I think I tried rewatching it once but would not watch it again soon… and maybe I’m really bad with soundtracks but I didn’t remember any CP songs, I totally remember Kim Sam Soon’s and My Girl’s though… I would give it an 8/8.5.
OMG but I LOVED Story of a Man… I saw your recommendation, stopped after watching the first two episodes and then tried again months later and was insanely rewarded… definitely a 12/10 or even 12/11 for me. My new favorite by far. Although I totally want an alternate ending with a certain pairing that could have happened but… yeah, no spoilers. And the day after I finished I read about Park Yong Ha’s death. I cannot believe it. I was so in love with his character at parts and totally admired his acting…it’s almost like a good friend is gone and you wish you could have done something, anything but you can’t because… you only know them from a screen and interviews and the like. But… man…
Oh and I read the news just after finishing your Flowers for my Life recaps too. That’s another drama that I tried watching… I got to episode… 10? I remember seeing him find out about his illness. Anyway it never really did it for me, but reading your recaps I could find places that I could have enjoyed more in a different mood perhaps? Perhaps I was uncomfortable with some aspects, from the symbols of death everywhere (reflecting on things in a coffin? That’s original but a bit… direct) and the girl’s initial motive for approaching the guy… Well all the symbolic stuff – all the components of the storyline, actually – seem to serve the purpose of telling us “Let’s learn how to deal with death!” It’s kind of like Story of a Man – “What is good revenge? Is there such a thing as good revenge?” but much MUCH more blatant/obvious. I don’t know… I guess I would have liked more of a focus on… something besides it to round things out. It was skillfully directed though… and the writer definitely succeeded at getting the message out there…
Oh, and the Last Scandal of My Life is another one that I never got into (I think I got to episode 2 after two tries months apart) and I got to episode 6 or so of Return of Iljimae but I found it slow-paced. After the first girl died, which was so sad, and then he finds the second girl – somewhere around there I stopped/lost interest. Was it the pace? Perhaps was it my mind screaming “Really? How could he think this is the same one?” Or was it his depression/aloofness? I forget… probably mainly the pace
And I think the character JGS played in You’re Beautiful is the only one that I’ve never liked through the show, maybe it’s the hair that only got worse when he changed it or maybe it’s the whole thing but though it was a fun ride the first time I watched the first half I gagged watching the first half again… not one of my favorites. Not for the couple, the fact that none of the other guys had a chance because they had so little screentime with the girl (poor Shin-woo, was that the character? Sadly pathetic when he was on though…) and not for the way the conflict was handled really… made me like JGS’s character less, but that’s me. Maybe a 7/8 or 7/7.5 for me?
I agree with your other ratings though, for the dramas I’ve seen! (Besides Who Are You which I would give 7/8 because… I could only finish it with recaps too, it wasn’t really fun for me perhaps partly because I thought the female character was lame.)
just finished my lovely samsoon…so disappointed with the ending but still loved every minute of it because of Hyun Bin. I am a fan of his now. He is incredibly sexy.
your ratings/comments about the old stuff really reminded me of those 1990s dramas: simple love story, obvious evil characters, yet I found them all interesting with fangirl squeal moments (I supposed being a teenager helped
) can’t remember how many times I have watched Star in my hearts, First love and Hotelier 
Hey, dramabeans. I have been curious on why you did not do a recap on Brilliant Legacy since you have always deal with almost every popular dramas. Is there any reason? Hahahaha. And good job on your critiques. It reflects your personality which does not bow down to mediocracy. C=
loved how gf declared her love for choi han gyul.. and the end!! same here so it made me laugh!! i’d watch for a million episodes even if it had plot holes the size of grand canyon!!! wonder whats on his plate right now???
i know its too late to comment but why no WHIB?
I would love to hear your analysis about this show.
Hey Javabeans and Girl Friday,
You would never know how much I truly appreciate the both of you! Super Thank You!
I always had fun reading the site and all the more fun, reading your recaps. I just want to see the dramas I watch it in a perspective other than my own.
Thank you. I truly appreciate you!
Ainijan
P.S. Have you rated Prosecutor Princess and Personal Taste? What’s their figure? Just want to know. ^^ thanks again.
It would be nice if we could see the ratings for the dramas recapped by your guest bloggers
Can their ratings get included here for the dramas they recapped ?
Hi! I felt it would be a discredit to you if I never gave my sincere thanks for all the great dramas you suggest and recap. You see I started watching both Korean and Japanese dramas when I realized my college summer break was going to be from May til September. I stumbled upon your site when looking up something related to Coffee Prince. Being from New York and Puerto Rican my natural languages are English and Spanish but I’ve really grown to love K dramas and have great respect for the language and culture. This is at least partly because of all your great suggestions my favorites that I’ve watched based purely on your suggestion are Soulmate, My Girl, and Your Beautiful. Sorry if this is rambling but I just wanted to give an honest thank you.
Do you only review K-Dramas? What abt Japanese or Taiwanese Dramas? Don’t recall seeing any..
Hey JB and GF,
I was wondering about how you guys rated Bad Guy and CH,
but you never update.
But TY!
Coffee House and Full House get the same rating? NO! NO! NO! lol… but I respect your opinions.
For me, I would switch the Coffee Prince and Coffee House ratings. Although for Coffee House, “7″ is my more objective rating while “9″ is how much I enjoyed it.
Anyway, it’s interesting to see how you guys rate your dramas and how my opinion compares. I agree with your MNIKSS ratings
Actually, perhaps it’s closer to (9/8) for me Coffee House and then Coffee Prince is like (6/7). Full House is like a (7/7) for me. I agree with your rating there.
To continue my other post, Oh My Lady is like (5/5) for me. It was enjoyable at first but by the time I finished, it was clear it was very slow with very little plot. After watching it, I felt like I wasted my time and it was a huge waste of the cast, director and everything. I think the script was the biggest problem.
You Are Beautiful is like (7/7) for me. It didn’t get me like it did a lot of other people.
Oh, I just saw the You Are Beautiful and Oh My Lady ratings. Oh My Lady and Coffee House at the same level? OH NOES! lol… we are so different. hahaha.