Top 10 favorite dramas of all time

522 February 10, 2017October 4, 2017

by DB Staff

javabeans: And here we are, with the last of our 10th-anniversary Top 10 lists! Our initial goal in doing these Top 10’s was to celebrate our 10th birthday, and while we didn’t quite make all 10 fit into our birthday month, better late than never?

girlfriday: Since we’re 10 years old all year long, I think it counts!

javabeans: We do intend to keep writing Top 10 lists, but this puts an end to our Anniversary 10 Top 10’s for the time being.

girlfriday: Our last list is, appropriately, Top 10 favorite dramas of all time.

javabeans: We opened this one up to the rest of our staff, and it was fascinating to see not only which titles everyone picked, but also their reasoning for going that way. One person might have been influenced most by character, another by plot, another by emotional response.

girlfriday: I had a lot of fun reading everyone’s lists, so we hope you do too!

javabeans

There are great dramas that can be excellent fun while watching, but they don’t make my all-time favorites list without this one crucial element: feeling that perfect (or close-to-perfect) sense of satisfaction at the end. These are the dramas that make me sigh in contentment, feel that every minute was worth it, and leave a warm glow for years to come.

1. Shut Up: Flower Boy Band: Captures the turmoil of adolescence, with bromance and rock music.

2. Princess’s Man: One of the fiercest, most resourceful heroines around. Thrilling and romantic.

3. Delightful Girl Chun-hyang: A sentimental favorite! Funny, sweet, and satisfying.

4. Soulmate: Witty, refreshing take on modern love with a breezy attitude.

5. Joseon X-Files: Smartly written, mind-bending plot twists, wryly funny, and unexpectedly moving.

6. Return of Iljimae: Achingly poignant, beautiful, wistful. Not one false step.

7. Gaksital: Epic. Intense. It’ll shred you up and stick with you for ages.

8. Dal Ja’s Spring: Relatable heroine, sweet romance, uplifting take on modern careers and friendships.

9. Story of a Man: Sometimes dark, sometimes zippy fun—capers, bromance, and a satisfyingly matched hero-villain standoff.

10. This Week, My Wife Will Have an Affair: Both cuttingly painful and cuttingly funny, interwoven with hope and understanding.

girlfriday

These are the dramas that burrowed into my soul and took up residence there, leading me down countless imaginary roads where their stories continued and I never had to say goodbye. My favorite stories are the ones that naturally lead me to write a second season in my head, because the characters just refuse to go towards the light.

1. Answer Me 1997: My era, my youth, my story.

2. Misaeng: This drama is how I feel about adulthood. This explains my reluctance to be an adult.

3. Coffee Prince: My ideal romance, if the world were perfect.

4. I Hear Your Voice: Pure addiction in drama form. My favorite cohabitation hijinks and noona romance in one.

5. Return of Iljimae: Sweeping origin story of a hero full of loneliness and pathos.

6. My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Grade A beef rom-com comfort food. Nom nom nom.

7. Gaksital: Sometimes history is the best drama, and ordinary heroes are the most extraordinary.

8. School 2013: The only drama couple I ship in real life.

9. Splish Splash Love: Such a perfect little dose of swoony fantasy romance in such a small bite.

10. White Christmas: Left me scarred for life. Why do I keep rewatching it?

HeadsNo2

I always gravitate more toward dramas with both intellectual and emotional value, so these aren’t just my favorites, they’re also dramas I would wholeheartedly recommend without a moment’s hesitation as perfect examples of what K-dramas bring to the table that other forms of television media rarely can: an unmatched sense of pathos, a complete story, and the ability to both immerse and transport us.

1. White Christmas: Gorgeous, dark, twisty, what-is-the-nature-of-humanity masterpiece.

2. Chuno: Manes of glory and abs and Jang Hyuk, oh my!

3. Tree With Deep Roots: That villain reveal is still unmatched. Also, Jang Hyuk.

4. Liar Game: Best drama villain ever, best hero ever, best mind games. #sixseasonsandamovie

5. Six Flying Dragons: It’s like my fifth favorite drama wrapped around my third favorite drama.

6. End of the World: Death and disease on an apocalyptic scale? Yes please.

7. Conspiracy in the Court: Gripping, depressing, uplifting, unrelenting, masterful.

8. Punch: Amazing villain, deft storytelling, out of this world acting.

9. Heartless City: Dark like my soul.

10. History of the Salaryman: Truly one of a kind, offbeat and hilarious. All hail Yeo-chi.

gummimochi

Take one look at this list and here’s what you can learn about me: I like my heroes flawed, my villains smart, and the darker and grittier the dramaverse, the better. My demands are simple, but hard to meet when it comes to all-time faves, and these are the stories that have secured an eternal place in my heart.

1. Heartless City: Bros before hos, and sometimes drugs.

2. Signal: Can you hear my still beating heart now? Good.

3. Bad Guys: It takes one to know one.

4. Story of a Man: Brainy is the new sexy.

5. Shut Up: Flower Boy Band: Eye Candy.

6. Punch: Sock it to ’em.

7. Liar Game: Go big or go home.

8. Soulmate: This is not a love song.

9. Kill Me, Heal Me: I can’t split my love for you into seven.

10. Autumn Fairy Tale: Won Bin, the original Oppa.

dramallama

It’s difficult to articulate my subjectivity and natural draw to my favorite dramas, but my final picks ultimately depended on my chemistry with the drama itself. Something in the narratives of these dramas sparked my inclination to fall into the stories head first and remain captured by them through the end.

1. Signal: Waiting for the walkie talkie crackle from Season 2 to let me know that it’s happening.

2. Healer: Clever and lonely night errand boy with adorable alter egos finds people he’d risk his life to protect.

3. Answer Me 1997: A nostalgia for young effervescence that woke up the fangirl I never knew existed.

4. My Name is Kim Sam-soon: The original mortified and unapologetic heroine who strutted away all her haters. She was my idol.

5. Misaeng: Life will always be tragically incomplete, but at least we’re trying to complete it together.

6. Dear My Friends: When I grow up, I want to be them.

7. Gaksital: Epically treacherous. Epically revolutionary. So. Freaking. Epic.

8. Full House: Imagine younger Rain playing himself and adorably dancing to “Gom Se Mari” to cheer up his cohabiter.

9. Queen In-hyun’s Man: Just keep kissing the Joseon scholar until he figures out what it means.

10. Famous Chil Princesses: The family drama that made me want to live in a family drama. Maybe Lee Seung-gi and Park Hae-jin have a little to do with that.

LollyPip

I don’t really have any particular theme or reasons for my top ten, other that that these are the shows that have grounded and increased my love for Korean dramas for one reason or another. And it’s difficult to condense into one sentence why I love them so much, but I’ll do my best — basically, I just love them because I love them, and that’s all there is to it.

1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju: Favorite relationship, Bok-ju and Joon-hyung were perfect for each other in every way.

2. Shut Up: Flower Boy Band: Favorite boys, I’m still upset Eye Candy isn’t a real-life band.

3. Flower Boy Ramyun Shop: Favorite first Korean drama, the one that started it all.

4. The King 2 Hearts: Favorite downfall of an anti-hero due to love, also favorite second lead (I love you Earnest Bot).

5. School 2013: Favorite bromance, no romance could ever hold a candle to the love between Nam-soon and Hyung-soo.

6. Queen In-hyun’s Man: Favorite time-traveler (Boong-do will always be my ideal sexy nerd).

7. Answer Me 1997: Favorite bit of nostalgia… who can forget their first boy-band crushes?

8. Coffee Prince: Favorite cross-dressing drama, and my favorite first kiss.

9. Arang and the Magistrate: Favorite fantasy, the lore and world-building are still unmatched.

10. Heart to Heart: Favorite show I’ve recapped, I can’t even really say why, just that I enjoyed every minute of it.

odilettante

As a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” drama addict, “favorite” primarily means “watched more than once.” Likely drama candidates contain memorable characters, establish a sense of ownership after experiencing the debut of now beloved actors/actresses, and exploit my weakness for an ensemble cast filled with oddball personalities.

1. Answer Me 1997: “The reason I like you? … Because you’re you.”

2. What’s Up?: students filling my soul with their stories and song

3. Misaeng: the joy and pain of an exquisitely crafted drama

4. White Christmas: it’s not the holidays without Merry Mad Mir-eu

5. City Hall: Kim Sun-ah at her best, both comedically and emotionally

6. Story of a Man: platonic ideal of cat-and-mouse games (plus Park Ki-woong!)

7. Harvest Villa: goes to 11 on the “dark and quirky” dial

8. Flower Boy Next Door: Webtoon Editor is my patronus

9. King of Dramas: Jung Ryeo-won *heart eyes* and “What would Anthony do?”

10. Coffee Prince: Waffle Prince is the only prince I need

Saya

This list is fluid and ever-changing—it’s what I love now, with a slant towards recent shows because my memory sucks. It also doubles as my “shows I hawk to K-drama virgins”-list. For me, these shows transcend culture, language, and genre, to make a full meal for my hungry heart.

1. Signal: I don’t think I need to explain this one.

2. Healer: Just so heart-bursting and badass.

3. I Hear Your Voice: Hits every single sweet spot.

4. Two Weeks: Grand High Oppa, Lee Jun-ki.

5. Secret: I discover revenge melos. Where were you all my life.

6. I Remember You: Creepy, funny and bleeding-hearty.

7. Shut Up: Flower Boy Band: Aaall the bromance forever! Scraping my heart off the pavement.

8. Faith: I adore old-fashioned romances, especially when they involve sword-wielding warriors.

9. Dal-ja’s Spring: Also noona romances.

10. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju: And youthful romances. Everything about this drama is unadulterated joy.

awcoconuts

If I were stranded on a deserted island and could only take ten dramas with me, which ten would I take? Here’s my list as of this writing, but I can’t promise that a new show (or a new-to-me, but old show) won’t cause an overhaul in the future.

1. Answer Me 1988: Wholly satisfying on so many levels.

2. Healer: Swoony hero + plucky heroine = consummate romance.

3. School 2013: Teenage angst, wrapped in a perfectly imperfect package.

4. Coffee Prince: Whether man or alien, love conquers all (harbinger of #9).

5. My Name is Kim Sam Soon: Sassy protagonist changes the drama landscape.

6. Bottom of the 9th with 2 Outs: A favorite friends-to-lovers tale.

7. Sandglass: Deservedly the drama of the decade, possibly the century.

8. Moonlight Drawn By Clouds: Puppy love packs an unexpectedly emotional punch.

9. You From Another Star: No one’s immune to Chun Song-yi’s charms.

10. The Lonely Shining Goblin: Flawed, but if you’re in the mood for melancholy…

chickachunga

My favorites are relatively recent except for a few oldies in the mix. I generally gravitate towards human and/or dark dramas with deft writing; eye candy isn’t even a requirement for me anymore! Perhaps because of my quarterlife crisis, I have a preference for pathos over sunshine and rainbows.

1. Misaeng: Jang Geu-rae got me TOO well.

2. Signal: The two operative words will always be “must” and “watch.”

3. I Hear Your Voice: I finally understood that the noona romance hype is real.

4. This Week, My Wife Will Have an Affair: Writing and directing perfection.

5. The Producers: Behind the scenes drama never ceases to amuse me.

6. Dear My Friends: Aging is sobering, but there’s comfort in its universality.

7. Answer Me 1988: Warmed my heart like a mother’s home cooked meal.

8. Memory: Guaranteed inducer of catharsis. Didn’t mind crying in every episode.

9. Stairway to Heaven: My full-blown obsession with this one lasted many years.

10. Autumn Fairy Tale: Three beautiful actors + tear-jerking story = smitten K-drama neophyte, aged nine.

CandidClown

In the spirit of the Top Ten Countdown, I’ve divided my favorite dramas into ten categories. Granted, my selections may not be the best examples of their groupings, but when I’m in the mood for a certain type of show, these are my go-to choices.

1. Coffee Prince (Gender Bender): Proof that love is blind whether you’re man, woman, or alien.

2. Witch’s Romance (Noona Romance): The end all of noona romances. Plus, Park Seo-joon…

3. Healer (Action): Cheeky hero, plucky heroine, clever story, and beautiful action scenes.

4. I Hear Your Voice (Supernatural Twist): Adorable puppy love, and one of my favorite villains.

5. Descended From the Sun (Bromance): The main leads actually get out-chemistry-ed by the male leads.

6. Arang and the Magistrate (Fusion Sageuk): Awesome world-building and character development. And Lee Jun-ki is preeetty.

7. Queen In-hyun’s Man (Time Travel): An almost perfect show that redefines “long-distance relationship.”

8. Delightful Girl Chun-hyang (Old School): So, not that old school, but it’s the oldest of my favorites.

9. Secret (Melodrama): I watched, I cried, I angsted — rinse, repeat.

10. Scent of a Woman (Chemistry): Ignore the plot and just watch for any Tango scene.

lovepark

I love dramas with memorable characters which is why I probably favor shows with an ensemble cast or scene-stealing side characters. Effortless rapport between characters is the essential element of a good show for me.

1. Mixed-up Investigative Agency: Wacky, mysterious, and utterly brilliant.

2. Jejoongwon: The quintessential story of a remarkable underdog.

3. The Chaser: The monologues are pure gold.

4. Giant: Epic.

5. Signal: Riveting and suspenseful.

6. Queen’s Classroom: A thoughtful and sophisticated depiction of youth and school.

7. Kyung-sook, Kyung-sook’s Father: Four masterfully crafted and darkly funny episodes.

8. Bad Family: The perfect balance of outrageous comedy and family love.

9. Answer Me 1988: A nostalgic tale about family and friends that transcends time.

10. Resurrection: Dark, intricate, and an exemplar in its genre.

tineybeanie

Some dramas come and go, but these have stayed in my heart. I gravitate toward them because they’ve withstood the test of time, and I’m continually surprised by how much I enjoy them even after multiple rewatches.

1. Jumong: Best ruler origin story ever.

2. Hwang Jin-yi: Why I still try Jang Geun-seok dramas, despite all the flops.

3. Empress Ki: No man stands in the way of this female badass.

4. Full House: Celebrity’s contract marriage and Rain’s cute jealousy face. I’m sold.

5. Stairway to Heaven: Heartbreaking in the most painfully addicting way.

6. Ojakkyo Brothers: Warming like piping hot duck soup on a snowy day.

7. My Daughter Seo-young: Family drama where every subplot is heartfelt and rewarding.

8. Family’s Honor: I love you because you love a dead man – the catch-22 hurts so good.

9. Nice Guy: Ultimate prickly ice princess story, with a twist of revenge.

10. The King 2 Hearts: You can never have too much Ha Ji-won in your life.

mary

I’m surprised (and kinda embarrassed) that my favorites are nowhere near my Top 10 Objectively Best K-dramas list. Looking at it, I seem to love shows with female characters that I either support, adore, or am in awe of.

1. Delightful Girl Chun-hyang: Still waiting for my Chun-hyang ♥ Mong-ryong reunion, Drama Gods…

2. Splish Splash Love: Only Algebra can make Sejong fall in love.

3. Prosecutor Princess: No frying pans of badassery, but Unni learns lawyering while staying fabulous.

4. Sungkyunkwan Scandal: Geol-oh’s hero hiccups + Yoon-shik/hee’s nerdery = Move over, Titanic.

5. My Girl: Jun-ki’s hair is the least funniest thing in this show, and that’s saying something.

6. Dream High: Adorable Robot Suzy as a plot point. What’s not to love?

7. Heartless City: Everyone’s here for the bromance, sismance, and sexy gang war music.

8. W—Two Worlds: Really shocking and amazing start. I don’t regret watching it.

9. Tree With Deep Roots: I didn’t know a language’s history can be this bloody (awesome).

10. Age of Youth: My subconscious was split into five and they became roommates.

SailorJumun

Happy big one-oh, Dramabeans! Now with dramas, I tend to gravitate towards the outrageously weird (fantasy, slapstick, etc.). But as I get older, the slice-of-life dramas sneak their way into my heart and, inevitably, my favorites list. So yeah, I like weird. With the occasional sprinkle of ordinary.

1. My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: This will never be dethroned from its #1 spot. Never.

2. I Hear Your Voice: Redefined love for me. OTP moments still leave me breathless.

3. You From Another Star: Magic. Reminded me why I’m so obsessed with fairy tales.

4. Flower Boy Ramyun Shop: So silly, loud, and downright wild. In other words, awesome.

5. Coffee Prince: The Disney of dramas – it’s just a classic.

6. School 2013: My go-to comfort show. It’s like a nice angsty hug.

7. Pinocchio: Can never have enough Lee Jong-seok. Or writer Park Hye-ryun.

8. Healer: Jumped on this bandwagon super late, but I jumped nonetheless.

9. Brilliant Legacy: An old guilty pleasure for me and my mom.

10. Age of Youth: My soul mate in drama form. ♥

HappilyEverAfter

When I watch a drama, I’m usually in it for the comedic hijinks and heart-fluttering romances, but sometimes I can’t help but factor in other elements like a heart-wrenching bromance or a terrifying villain. Therefore, my list is organized according to “the feels when” (TFW):

1. School 2013: TFW you realize your bro hated you because he loved you.

2. I Hear Your Voice: TFW your drenched puppy is so happy to see you that nothing else matters to him.

3. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju: TFW your boyfriend KNOWS he’s making your heart skip beats.

4. Protect the Boss: TFW “villains” are so hilariously ineffective that it’s endearing by the end.

5. You From Another Star: TFW Chun Song-yi brings out her rap game.

6. Master’s Sun: TFW skinship is the solution to your problems.

7. Descended From the Sun: TFW your boyfriend is a smart-talker but terrible liar.

8. You’re Beautiful: TFW you’re an ex-nun living with cute boys.

9. Sungkyunkwan Scandal: TFW your bro tries to stop you from getting yourself killed.

10. Liar Game: TFW you’re not sure who to trust in this world anymore.

murasakimi

I’m surprised to find a number of new dramas made their way onto my top ten list, but there’s no denying that the level of quality coming out of dramaland in recent years keeps surpassing expectations. For me, it’s about what characters stay in my mind and steal my heart.

1. Misaeng: Chief Oh is my favorite character of all time.

2. My Name is Kim Sam-soon: Oh wait, maybe Sam-soon?

3. Answer Me 1988: Crap, definitely Choi Taek.

4. Signal: Okay, let’s be honest, Lee Jae-han has his own list.

5. My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: But… then what about meat-loving Mi-ho?

6. Oh My Ghostess: Kang Chef would never stand for this kind of indecisiveness!

7. Coffee Prince: Then again, Han-gyul would totally sympathize.

8. Autumn Fairy Tale: Look, Eun-suh had some real dilemmas, you’re being a baby.

9. My Girl: I know, let’s just drink away the confusion like Yoo-rin.

10. Queen Seon-deok: I meant to say, Mishil is the greatest ever… *gulp*

Laica

My favorite dramas have the kind of writing and acting that bring characters to life, so their journeys feel like my own. These shows follow their characters as they grow into their true selves, or fall in love with their perfect other halves—or both—and live on in my imagination to this day.

1. Misaeng: Has there ever been a more insightful, heartbreaking, glorious exploration of the human condition?

2. Signal: It felt like I didn’t breathe for sixteen episodes, and when it was over I wanted to do it again.

3. Coffee Prince: You never forget your first (drama) love—especially if his name is Choi Han-kyul.

4. City Hall: An intelligent, realistic love story between adults that’s also swooningly romantic.

5. Scandal: A Shocking and Wrongful Incident: A brilliant hybrid of revenge thriller and family melodrama.

6. Can You Hear My Heart: This family shattered my heart and put it together again, bursting with even more love.

7. Alone in Love: The various ways people love each other, and how to mend a broken heart.

8. Que Sera, Sera: A twisted, emotional love story that felt almost too real and vulnerable.

9. Shut Up: Flower Boy Band: Best coming-of-age music drama ever. Ever.

10. Tamra the Island: Park Kyu’s epic transformation is forever engraved on my heart.

TeriYaki

Secondary relationships are what make a drama particularly memorable in my book, adding extra layers that give me much to appreciate long after the drama concludes. Great performances from a talented cast are a given, but it’s those special connections that give my favorites a significant edge.

1. You From Another Star: Funny and heartwarming.

2. Pinocchio: The dads hold a special place in my heart.

3. High School King of Savvy: A grandpa and his loving grandson.

4. Answer Me 1988: The veteran actors who played the parents.

5. Page Turner: Short but sweet!

6. I Remember You: Bittersweet bromance.

7. You’re Beautiful: So much angst!

8. Dear My Friends: Deeply talented cast.

9. Sassy Go Go: The sweetest triangle.

10. Scent of a Woman: Love this mother and daughter.

522

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101 bybl

February 11, 2017 at 1:47 AM

My top 10 dramas :
1.Six Flying Dragons
2.Giant
3.Signal
4.Tree with Deep Roots
5.Dear My Friends
6.Misaeng
7.Gaksital
8.History of the Salaryman
9.Queen Seon Duk
10.Punch

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102 sudha

February 11, 2017 at 1:55 AM

i love them all the k drama i can’t answer that, so these are my fav’s (my top 21)
1 personal taste
2 boys over flower
3 heirs
4 secret garden
5 my princess
6 coffee prince
7 emergency couple
8 playful kiss
9 gentleman dignity
10 full house
11 descendants of the sun
12 W
13 beautiful gong shim
14 Cinderella and the four knight
15 goong
16 something about one percentage
17 legend of blue sea
18 exo next door
19 flower boy ramen shop
20 shut up flower boy band
21 moonlight drawn by clouds

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103 likeacamelinthewind

February 11, 2017 at 2:01 AM

Here comes my share of all time favorites. i guess i'm into wacky, outside the box kind of dramas...

1 Coffee Prince
2 Joseon x-files
3 Arang and the magistrate
4 Soulmate
5 Jejungwon
6 History of a salaryman
7 Tree with deep roots
8 Mixed-up Investigation Agency
9 King of Dramas
10 Healer/ City Hunter
(10 B the first 5 episodes of Spy Myeongwol, in my head the rest was failure mission by "the other side" to exterminate the hallyu fever. if i strongly believe that than it will become true)

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104 Dreamland

February 11, 2017 at 2:03 AM

Criteria for selection: 1) watched or wanted to watch more than once 2) Would bring with me if I'm going to be stranded on a deserted island.

Tried to come down to Top 10 but just couldn't leave out some so here's my greedy list (not really in order).

1. School 2013 - my only real life ship.
2. Moon Embraces the Sun - beautiful romance. Epic score.
3. 49 Days - cried through half of the drama
4. W - Two Worlds - the sin of W: the story should have been completed before live shoot. Nevertheless, its brilliance should never be underrated.
5. I Hear Your Voice - rom-com done so well.
6. Winter Sonata - the love story and that piano piece.
7. Signal - marathoned. Immediate comment after: "gotta watch it again!"
8. Goblin - Like the gentle spring breeze even though it was set in autumn and winter.
9. Answer Me 19xx - haven't decided which one I prefer.
10. Queen In-Hyun's Man - so romantic plus time travel.
11. Iljimae - my favourite LJK drama. Can we have him with HHJ again?
12. Nine - Nine Times Travel - so good, even though I'm not impressed with the cast.
13. Shut Up Flower Boy Band - marathoned within 3 days, and worth a second watch.
14. Autumn's Fairy Tale - the one that started Hallyu

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105 Martin J Simwaba

February 11, 2017 at 2:07 AM

I agree with "SailorJumun". MY GIRLFRIEND IS A GUMIHO will never be replaced from first place. Ever! Seconded by MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER STAR: THESE two shows are like scars branded in the heart. They are like a Man's first love to me.
But i'd never forget UGLY ALERT; There's something about this one that i love but can't explain or point out what it is, but the main couple, ooh, so cute.
The rest i already listed during the first syndrome

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106 agoodheart

February 11, 2017 at 2:08 AM

It's actually not too hard for me to include only 10 :D

- Goong
- Coffee Prince
- Dae Jang Geum
- I'm Sorry I Love You
- Dream High
- A Gentleman's Dignity
- Nice Guy
- Healer
- Misaeng
- Reply 1988

I also remember liking First Love, Feelings, Wedding Dress, Tomato, Stock Flower, Autumn in My Heart, Winter Sonata,... but they may simply have added nostalgic value in my memory.

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107 aimi

February 11, 2017 at 2:15 AM

My take... in no particular order. My list based on countless repeat viewing I had over these dramas
1- School 2013
2- Pinocchio
3- Winter Sonata
4- You are beautiful
5-Goblin
6- You from the star
7- Stairway to heaven
8-W
9- I hear your voice
10- gentlemen dignity

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108 PakalanaPikake

February 11, 2017 at 2:19 AM

The daily drama THE KING'S DAUGHTER, SU BAEK-HYANG will probably never show up on a top-ten list because of its length (108 episodes), but for me, it's my benchmark sageuk, and one of my all-time favorite Kdramas, bar none. My introduction to Seo hyun-Jin and Jo Hyun-Jae... and a solid ensemble cast of accomplished actors (with a couple of exceptions).

If I had a Top Ten List, SIGNAL would also be on it, along with HYANGDAN, and many of the following. Making decisions is not one of my strong suits. ;-)

I was glad to see mention of some older dramas that were new to me when I watched them:

CHUNO -- My introduction to Jang Hyuk and Kim Ji-Suk, plus a passel of fine veteran actors, and epic swordfights. And that soundtrack with MC Sniper.

SOUL MATE -- My introduction to Shin Dong-Wook, with terrific music. What more could I ask for?

ALONE IN LOVE -- Kam Woo-Sung and Son Ye-Jin in perhaps the most realistic depiction of ebb and flow in a relationship in a drama.

FLOWER BOY RAMEN SHOP -- Lee Ki-Woo gave me my second bad case of Second Lead Syndrome (after Choi Si-Won in SHE WAS PRETTY).

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH WITH TWO OUTS -- A nice friends-to-lovers slow burn.

ARANG AND THE MAGISTRATE -- My introduction to Lee Joon-Gi (and Shin Min-Ah), with a terrific supporting cast cavorting in a wondrous dramaverse.

RETURN OF ILJIMAE / MOON RIVER -- The female lead drove me batty, but Jung Il-Woo floated my boat just fine, and Park Chul-Min delivered the goods as the spy from the Bureau of Funny Walks. The righteous magistrate's (Kim Min-Jong) story arc was memorably touching. A huge cast with many fine veteran actors.

TWO WEEKS -- Lee Joon-Gi as anti-hero in a tautly-suspenseful contemporary drama.

QUE SERA, SERA -- I simply had to check out this drama and DISCOVERY OF ROMANCE after Eric Mun's performance in OH HAE-YOUNG AGAIN -- and I'm glad I did on both counts.

COFFEE PRINCE -- My introduction to Gong Yoo and his equally stunning co-star, Yoon Eun-Hye. In addition to the memorable human cast, the music deserves an acting credit of its own.

SIX FLYING DRAGONS -- Just finished watching it, and it deserves every plaudit it has received. Simply daebak from start to finish! Great OST.

QUEEN IN-HYUN'S MAN -- Who would have guessed that a time-traveling Joseon scholar could be such a badass guitarist in real life? Ji Hyun-Woo, I'm looking at you -- and the first convincing Kdrama kiss I ever saw.

FAITH -- My introduction to Lee Min-Hot and Yoon Kyun-Sang. The cracktastic OST kept me hooked even as the plot gyrations drove me bonkers.

CAN YOU HEAR MY HEART? -- I'm normally allergic to melodrama, but it was worth it for the bromance between Kim Jae-Won and Namgoong Min -- and the touching performance by Jung Bo-Suk.

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wonhwa

February 11, 2017 at 6:04 PM

Alone in Love did have a fantastic cast, although I found it really bleak.

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PakalanaPikake

February 12, 2017 at 1:58 AM

Yes, ALONE IN LOVE is bleak, and low-key like ordinary life. That's what made the circumstances of the breakup realistic to me. But when the reveal finally arrived, it was worth the wait. I could buy into the resolution, too.

It is not an easy drama to watch. But in my book, it was so much better than the usual run of simple-minded melodramas that suddenly abandon all logic and veer off into rainbows and unicorns. ALONE IN LOVE is really a character study of a couple navigating existential despair who split up when the past finally becomes too much to bear for one of them. The charm of the drama lies in how they come full circle, and the other characters they meet along the way.

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109 canxi

February 11, 2017 at 2:23 AM

Wow, top 10. I feel like I would have two different lists because I have dramas I have watched over and then there are dramas that I still think about that I have NOT watched over (or at least not yet) but really have fond memories about, lol. Would their be ten on either though? In no particular order:

Watched Over:
1.Que Sera Sera
2.Marriage Not Dating
3.Pasta
4.Queen In Hyun's Man
5.White Christmas
6.Ex-Girlfriend Club
7.Scent of a Woman
8.Shut Up Flower Boy Band
9.Gloria
10. ??

Have Not Watched Over:
1.Padam Padam
2.Miss Korea
3.High Kick 3
4.Can We Get Married?
5.Yoona's Street
6.Signal
7.Vampire Prosecutor
8.What's Up?
9.Ugly Alert
10.Weight-Lifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

Honorable Mentions (I still think about these too! <3): Wild Romance, Age of Youth, Coffee Prince, Valid Love, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Shining Inheritance, Baby-Faced Beauty, Reply 1994, Pride and Prejudice (up until ep.18), Bad Guy (my first drama crack lol), Falling for Innocence

It's so hard but I love all these for one reason or another lol

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drawde2000

February 11, 2017 at 2:50 AM

Finally, I found one person who mentioned Padam Padam. Yehey!!! Five slices of cake for you. ?????

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canxi

February 11, 2017 at 7:00 AM

Yes!!! I laughed, I cried. There was romance, and bromance, and strong characters, and it was just a solid fantasy drama. I always think about it. But I almost have to prep for that second half, lol.

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110 Leslie

February 11, 2017 at 2:29 AM

I would like to share my top 10 as well (in no particular order):

1. The Princess's Man
2. Reply 1988
3. My Lovely Kim Sam Soon
4. Another Oh Hae Young
5. Coffee Prince
6. Secret
7. Iljimae
8. Gaksital
9. Heartless City
10. The Producers

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111 Jennifer Dang

February 11, 2017 at 2:45 AM

I'm all about the chemistry between the two leads!!! And a storyline that isn't all over the place.

Sweet Buns (the only drama I've ever loved Choi Kang Hee in. She and the male lead have a great love-hate relationship and the setting is everyday relatable.)

Legend of Hyang Dan - Funny and snappy! Great twist to the original legend. Choi Si Won was great here.

My Name is Kim Sam Soon - The one drama on everyone's list. Sam Soon is the original Bok Joo.

Save the Last Dance for Me - The feels in this one. Eugene and Ji Sung made you believe in fated passionate love.

Shut Up Flower Boy Band - well woven plot of awesome angst driven bromance. Great characters.

Princess' Man - the one romance to rule them all. The chemistry is so palpable you can slice it with a knife. Also a heroine that is loyal to her morals wins all the hearts.

Answer Me 1997 - Shi won is a girl after my own heart. And so are love-hate romances where the boy falls in love first.)

Sweet 18 - Surprised this made no one's list! One of the more solid older rom coms starring a romance that is cute and zippy.

1st Shop Coffee Prince - Praying that Yoon Eun Hye didn't peak too early. Also Han Gyul's adoration for the girl pretty much set the bar impossibly high for all guys around the world.

I Hear Your Voice - Heroine is relatable in her imperfections. Hero's puppy love and loyalty made you root for him all the way home.

----- HONORABLE MENTIONS
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo - hard to believe that such a guy like Joonhung exists but the earnestness between the two leads make it an addicting watch. Too bad the first half focuses so much on Bok Joo's infatuation with the doctor brother which is why I didn't quite believe it when Joonhyung realized he fell in love with her. Still their amicable relationship is something you wish happened to you in real life.

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PakalanaPikake

February 12, 2017 at 3:00 AM

@Jennifer Dang,

Pleased to meet another fan of LEGEND OF HYANG DAN. I love it to bits, and laughed my butt off at Choi Si-won's antics. It set me off on a spree of watching variations on the Chunhyang theme, including the film from around 2000, which is exquisite. And it prompted me to watch Si-won in SHE WAS PRETTY -- even though I'm more of a sageuk fan. Jackson!

The music is phenomenal. In my book, The Kim Triplets (a.k.a. Infinity of Sound) are the Fairport Convention [progenitors of electrified British folk-rock] of Korean traditional music. Their Greek chorus interludes are a blast. Their vocals are every bit as excellent as their rocking out on the gayageum, geomungo, and hageum. If I recall correctly, they also appeared in RETURN OF ILJIMAE / MOON RIVER and ANTIQUE.

Although I watched it after ARANG AND THE MAGISTRATE, I could see how it set the stage for that drama. HYANG DAN was also my introduction to the story of Shim Chung -- which came in mighty handy while watching LEGEND OF THE BLUE SEA.

COFFEE PRINCE would be on my Top Ten list (if I could ever limit myself to 10!). One of the first non-sageuks I watched, it set the bar in the stratosphere for grabbing my heart. The OST and use of background music were top notch. The cast was terrific, and I became a Gong Yoo fangirl for life. Yoon Eun-hye's performance was nothing short of marvelous.

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112 drawde2000

February 11, 2017 at 2:47 AM

This is fun. So, I'll chime in.

My top 10 list is the drama that blew me away as I was watching them. I prefer dramas that sends a message after watching them. I also prefer quality over fluff.

Here they are.
Answer Me 1997 -- echoing girlfriday "my era. my youth. my story."

Misaeng --- I learned more about Korean society in this drama than in any other combined. Work ethics. Politics. Alcoholism. Discrimination. Education.

Secret Love Affair -- the drama that got me to masturbate. Three times. Within a span of 24 hours. And that's even before the episode where YAI's character wet his pants.

Six Flying Dragons --- Thrilling. Epic. Best acting in town. Best long dialogues in town. Best six months of my drama watching life.

Answer Me 1988 --- Family. Family. Family. I ugly cried on every episode of this drama.

Age of Youth --- How to do a drama about women. Simple, subtle, yet powerful.

Padam Padam --- the best and satisfying ending of them all. Beautiful cinematography as well.

Healer --- i want him to be my boyfriend. Clingy. Jealous. And will protect me. Ji Chang Wook baby.

Missing Noir M --- I can never love Signal as much because of thiis. Best drama about injustice.

Oh wait, this only top 9. I'm still waiting for one more. Off to watch another drama to see if it will blow me away.

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113 hibeautiful

February 11, 2017 at 2:47 AM

Thanks for this great post! I like interpreting the result lol. definitely need to check those dramas you all mentioned above!

Here's my top 10 (not in particular order)
1) Reply 1988
2) Reply 1997
3) It's Okay It's Love
4) Six Flying Dragons
5) Queen In Hyun's Man
6) Signal
7) The King 2 Hearts
8) Jealousy Incarnate
9) Marriage not Dating
10) Jewel in the Palace / The Good Wife / Goong S (sorry I can't only pick 10)

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114 anabear

February 11, 2017 at 3:00 AM

AWL! one of the most profound kdramas ever made. the others, which mostly appealed to our middle-class fantasies, pale in comparison.

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115 Nanda

February 11, 2017 at 3:04 AM

1. Unstoppable Wedding (sitcom, not the movie)
2. My husband got a family
3. You who came from the star
4. Coffee Prince
5. Age of Youth
6. Sassy Go Go
7. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
8. Another Miss Oh
9. She Was Pretty
10. Romantic Dr. Kim

Special mention : Goong, Signal, Memory, Oh my Geumbi, Misaeng, Drinking Solo, Secret, Autumn tale, Sungkyunkwan Scandal and Brain

Aahhh Kdrama is hard to choose.

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116 kanz

February 11, 2017 at 3:05 AM

This is so much fun because we all have different taste and different dramas to love but our love is united by Dramabeans. All hail Dramabeans!

Here's my top 10 favorite dramas (it's actually pretty hard because I only have a handful that I truly savor and love deeply despite their flaws):
1. Painter of The Wind -> gender bender in a heart-wrenching way.. I've never been so obsessed with a character (Shin Yun Bok) and his(?) paintings up until this one.
2. 49 Days -> well I love tragedies with some dark humor.. It's actually quite light, despite the premise, and this one is right up my alley.
3. Empress Ki -> I wonder if I actually love to torture myself.. 51 eps and only stayed because of Ta Hwan and his Nyangie.
4. I Hear Your Voice -> I love Jang Hye Sung&Park Soo Ha!!
5. King of Dramas -> What would Anthony do? Catchprase of the century.
6. Mask -> Despite some very stupid and questionable decisions, the chemistry of the main couple and 2nd couple/villains save the drama.
7. You From Another Star -> Star-crossed couple done right
8. Answer Me 1997 -> Despite grew up in slightly different era, I definitely could relate more to AM1997 than the other 2 franchises.
9. That Winter The Wind Blows -> Love is blind
10. Bachelor's Vegetable Store -> My favorite Ji Chang Wook's character

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117 kimkim

February 11, 2017 at 3:41 AM

Comment was deleted

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118 pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉

February 11, 2017 at 3:54 AM

I love this post! My personal top 10 (more like 9 and then a while bunch of dramas duking it out for the tenth spot)

1. Misaeng
2. Answer Me 1997
3. Arang & the Magistrate
4. Sassy Go Go (OT3 <3333)
5. Heard It Through the Grapevine (cutting, cynical, merciless, but slyly hilarious and BRILLIANT)
6. School 2013
7. Age of Youth
8. Splish Splash Love
9. What's With This Family
10. Goong/Shut Up Flower Boy Band/Producer/MiSa/Giant

and if Rebel keeps on being awesome, I think it could level up to an all-time fave (fingers crossed)

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Kiara

February 11, 2017 at 6:37 AM

I have a feeling Rebel is going to be up there on my favorites too.

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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉

February 11, 2017 at 7:09 AM

I'm getting a sense that the team behind Rebel has a clear vision of what they want to do, and that MBC is willing to give them the freedom and backing to do it - both are very promising signs. (see also: unusual episode count, newbie leads - not exactly a sign of playing it safe)

Now I just hope the adult portion lives up to the promise of the childhood part.

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Kiara

February 11, 2017 at 7:56 AM

They are going to be more than fine. I'm rooting for them!

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WishfulToki

February 11, 2017 at 9:54 AM

Rebel could claim a spot in my list as well. Fingers crossed!

wonhwa

February 11, 2017 at 6:07 PM

Oooh, I need to start Rebel!

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119 t13ndoank

February 11, 2017 at 4:08 AM

Here is mine

1.Answer Me 1988, I Remember You, Moonlight Drawn By Clouds - erm, ... maybe because Park Bogum

2.Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Misaeng, Weighlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, Liar Games - they valued education, gender equality, and how underdogs rise and shine

3.Rooftop Prince, Healer, Coffee Prince, My Girl, Sassy Girl Chun Hyang, Full House (My FIRST K-DRAMAA!!!!), Princess Hours, Contract Marriage, Splish Splash Love, My Love from Another Star - Funny, lovely Romanceu

4.Dong Yi, Jewel In the Palace, The Princess' Man - My fav Sageuk

5.You've Fallen for Me, You're Beautiful, Secret Garden, Answer Me 1997 - m.. youths?

6.Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Dul Ho

7.W - Two Worlds, Doctors, Goblin

8.Signal

9.You're The Best Lee Soon Shin

10.King of Baking Kim Tak Goo, Cinderella's Sister - Because of Kyuhyun and Yesung SUJU singing the ost

OOOPS!!!! Saaaawry!! Nobody told me it's ONE drama per ranking.

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120 blessingwind

February 11, 2017 at 4:14 AM

My top 10
1. Secret Garden : The most perfect ending i ever saw in a Korean Drama. Fantasy+ Melo+Romance , the best i have seen.

2. Signal : Still makes my heart beat. We need the trio back again.

3. Sassy Go Go : One of the perfect high school dramas i ever watched. Romance+ Bromance

4. School 2013 : Makes me go back to the days i was in high school. Nothing can beat this drama's Bromance.

5. I hear your voice : I was never fan of Noona- Young guy romance, But this drama just created benchmark for such themes. Loved the drama.Dark, Thrilling, exciting and just cute and sweet at the same time.

6.. Goong : This is the 2nd drama i watched of any korean shows, and first one was the obvious BOF which really was bad, but Goong made me fall in love with the korean dramas. This would be considered as my favourite fairy tale drama ever.

7. Liar Game : The unique villain, the smart hero with real brains ,the games and all sum it up to one of the bestest remakes of any japanese drama. I loved it more than original, which i never would actually.

8. Answer me 1997: I never knew watching a drama based on the 90's would be this nice. Since i am 90's kid, it did make me feel connected. I kept guessing who was the husband, and i swear i never felt that much happy knowing the guy i wanted to be the husband,turned out to be her husband. A very sweet drama.

9. Two weeks : I have watched many shows where the father will do anything to save his child, but this one takes the cake. Lee Jun ki's best work for me is this. I cried buckets watching this drama.

10. City Hunter : My all time favourite Lee Minho drama. A girl who can kick ass and really strange birth secrets and above all, the fine way to take revenge.

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blessingwind

February 11, 2017 at 4:32 AM

Special Mentions
Since there many dramas i liked, it was difficult to put it up in the top 10, but these dramas are really nice too and some i forgot to put in top 10 along with the ones i uploaded

1. Vampire Prosecutor: I never liked vampires, but this show really made me fall in love with them. It is on same as Signal for me

2. Missing Noir M: The cases are so unique, and left me flabbergasted many times. Some cases i remember it so vividly in my memory. This one also is at par with Signal.

3. Dong Yi : My all time favourite Saeguk drama.

4. Sungkyuwan Scandal and Moonlight Drawn by clouds: Both of these dramas are on par with each other and i just get the same happy gushy feeling when watching these two dramas.

5. Queen Inhyun's Man : Time traveling concept which really dealt nicely of how a man from the past travels to the future/modern dry. The romance of this drama, is on just another level.

6. Mini dramas : Splash Splash Love and The Universe Star.
There are times when you want more of that drama, and to never end, and the most saddest reality is that the episodes are only around 1-6 and that is heartbreaking. For me, these two mini dramas really were the best and i wanted more and more.

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121 merry

February 11, 2017 at 4:16 AM

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of my kdrama watch, i will put in my top 10 favourite dramas. the only criteria being dramas that pulled me to keep rewatching; even without sound, in the depths of isolated rural communities on visits. When i drew up the list, i knew that there are newer ones that are creeping up to be in the list, but i will keep to 10. I can feel the end of an era. Who knows, the next 10 years, some may still be in list, and i hope i can feel for the newer ones the urge for rewatch, so i can put them in my next 10 list a decade from now, Inshallah.

Jumong
Legend of the 4 Gods
Only You
Goong
Kim Sam Soon
Coffee Prince
Full House
My Girl
Healer
Misaeng

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122 Lucifermeo

February 11, 2017 at 4:26 AM

My list includes all of my Kdrama firsts. They said you can't forget your first:

1. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (I cried and laughed and then cried some more. The execution errors were nothing next to the emotional resonance)

2. IRIS (I love action and this, by far, is still the best action drama Korea has produced for me)

3. Cinderella Sister (Flawed heroine that you just want to root for. The first and likely the only melodrama I love)

4. Goong (I went to search for the manhwa and I don't even like Korean manhwa style compared to the Japanese)

5. Two Weeks (the plot was executed perfectly - no makjang, no miracle, no awesome escape on building roofs. Just your normal nobody in a crisis of his life)

6. Six Flying Dragons (perfectly epic and it was an impressive number of episodes. Only 30+ eps Kdrama I have ever watched til the end without FF - others are Cdrama "Nirvana in Fire" and "The Disguiser")

7. Coffee Prince (best romcom I ever watched)

8. Iljimae (I rooted for everyone. EVERY SINGLE PERSON. And the first time I wanted the second female lead to get the guy!)

9. I remember you (I want the serial killer to have his happy ending - and I don't mean in jail. None of PBG's other performance has surpassed his mature and nuanced one in THIS)

10. Warrior Baek Dong Soo (Best Choreographed Swordfights I ever seen. Truly breathtaking, especially coupled with the Instrumentals)

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123 mmmmm

February 11, 2017 at 4:34 AM

Haven't watched a lot of Kdramas but this list consists of some dramas I do really like. (The list might be less than 10 and the dramas are not listed in order)

- Healer
(the character of the leading actor, the chemistry between the two leads and the osts)

- I hear your voice
(Not really invested in the relationship between the leads but somehow the drama left an impression until now)

- DOTS
(The one which made me start watching Kdramas in recent years)

- Ojakgyo Brothers
(Warm relationships between family members, and the chemistry between JW and UEE was out of the world)

- Yong Pal
(Personally invested in the second half of the story, understood KTH's feelings of being betrayed by someone she dearly loved pretty well + JW's admirable acting as always)

- Remember - Son's War
(The plot is good thought I wasn't invested much in the feelings between the two leads, superb acting of everyone involved except (sorry, personally feeling) the leading actor)

- Goong
(My gate-opening to the Kdramas world a long time ago - a classic piece)

Would love to add Romantic Teacher Doctor Kim to the list but somehow, plot during the final eps are not convincing enough for me. Love the messages (to viewers) which were put in the drama. But just a tiny bit of my disappointment during the last eps, cannot put it in the list for now (PS> Love you YYS and SYJ couple + SYJ's acting is superb).

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mmmmm

February 15, 2017 at 6:56 AM

As I have just finished Misaeng (as a result of reading many comments in this thread), Misaeng definitely deserves to be in this list.. if not at the top spot.

CHEERS to MISAENG!

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124 alert

February 11, 2017 at 4:49 AM

How do you choose your top 10. I chose mine based on few criteria:

1. Dramas still make me swoon/gasp/smile fondly just by reading the title
2. My guilty pleasure (which I've watched countless times)
3. Snippets of the show that I always put on repeat

So here's my top ten, in no particular order:

Queen in hyun's man
Dream High
My name is Kim Sam Soon
Liar Game
Sungkyunkwan Scandal
Weightlifting Fairy
Success Story of Bright Girl
My Girl
Full House
Kill Me Heal Me

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125 pickledplumtree

February 11, 2017 at 4:52 AM

Hooray Javabeans and Awcoconuts bc Shut Up Flower Boy Band was my favorite forever until I watched Answer me 1988 last summer and now that's my #1!

The incredible friendships are what make these my favs!

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126 Sganarel

February 11, 2017 at 4:54 AM

My top 10 favourite dramas of all time:

1. That Winter, the Wind Blows;
2. Hwang Jin Yi;
3. Harvest Villa;
4. Worlds Within...;
5. I Hear Your Voice;
6. Maids;
7. Sign;
8. Full House;
9. Punch;
10. Damo.

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salt N pepper

February 12, 2017 at 5:30 PM

Worlds Within <3

Not a lot of people seem to like (or even know) this drama so I'm so happy someone else mentioned it here!

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127 noernov

February 11, 2017 at 5:11 AM

My 10 Favorite ALL TIME DRAMA

1. AUTUMN TALE : my first crush Won bin Oppa, saranghae *finger heart shooting*
2. REPLY 1988 : JUNGHWAN TEAM FOREVER
3.BBF :Gu Joon Pyo, i'm lost in LEE MIN HO curly hair
4.Sungkyungwan scandal :Sageuk crossdresser, i'm in love with Geol Oh *hick up*
5.School 2013 :I'm all in for jongsuk n woobin bromance
6. Heartless city :underworld is so awesome, paksanimmmmmmnn
7.Page Turner :Uri Chang sikkie
8.the greatest love : KEP PONG
9.Six Flying Dragon :makes me read about korean hystory, lee bang won rocks
10. MISAENG :jang geu rae n his avenger team are JJANG

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128 MyGirl2016

February 11, 2017 at 5:31 AM

(Furiously taking down notes..)
So many dramas to check out, so little time!

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WishfulToki

February 11, 2017 at 9:56 AM

I hear you. My list of dramas to watch is getting longer...

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129 jomo143

February 11, 2017 at 5:33 AM

WoW ! I know the pain it must have taken to pair down ALL the dramas into such a short list. Thanks for taking it for the team, Team!

I am way too fickle to make a forever list. I fall in love easily.

But for right now, here is the list of dramas that I enjoyed, that changed me in some way, that changed the way I look at the world in some way, and whose characters have become a part of me.

No particular order
* Queen In-hyun's Man - the perfect man, Boong-do
* My Name is Kim Sam Soon - Can't help falling in love
* What's Up, Fox? - rewatched so many times for Pie
* Secret Love Affair - YAI plays the piano and me
* Kill Me, Heal Me - loved every messy moment
* Story of a Man - seriously just perfect
* Sandglass - shredded me
* Misaeng - Realistic, painful, hopeful, lovely
* Tree with Deep Roots - Those were actors, not real people?
* Coffee Prince - the beach, the alien, the kiss

I find it interesting that while I liked and loved most of the ones above, some are shows that I couldn't stand or couldn't finish: Princess Man, Gatiskal, Shut Up Flower Boy Band (had me most of the way through, I have to admit) but for the most part I liked all the other dramas up there.

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bbstl 🧹

February 11, 2017 at 2:51 PM

Oh jomo, I dearly love your criteria. I think kdrama has helped me change a lot and I will give this a lot of thought. The one thing I know for sure, for me all good things start with Kim Sam Soon ❤

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jomo143

February 11, 2017 at 4:14 PM

Yes! on KSS!

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130 sharreb

February 11, 2017 at 5:35 AM

Lollypip/Saya/Mary 's list is closest to my list.

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131 annnsow

February 11, 2017 at 5:36 AM

Soulmate, White Christmas, I Need Romance, Four Gold Chasers, Heartless City, Age Of Youth, Misaeng, Witch's Romance, Story Of A Man, Secret.

I can't rank them, all of them marked me in different ways. But if I had to make a top three...

#1 White Christmas : Everything is in the writing and the directing. The cast was carefully and admirably chosen. This is the kind of dramas that leaves me with a headache because it makes me think deeply for days about unanswered questions.

#2 Soulmate : There is something directors deeply understand about cinematography when they give their work a particular perfume, a particular sound, and a timeless feeling.

#3 I Need Romance. I love good rom-coms. This one really made me appreciate the genre regardless of who is the main actor/actress. I always think that actors who are amazing at rom-coms can be amazing at anything else. Thanks to this drama I discovered the charm of Cho Yeo Jeong. Also, it was to me, the best of this whole serie.

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annnsow

February 11, 2017 at 5:39 AM

I totally forgot about Special Affairs Team TEN!
I would put this one in #4.

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132 news

February 11, 2017 at 5:43 AM

My favorites in no particular order:

Long Vacation
Age of Youth
This Week, My Wife Will Have an Affair
Page Turner, Because It's The First Time
Signal
Misaeng
Hanzawa Naoko
Punch
Queen Seonduk
Damo

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jomo143

February 11, 2017 at 10:08 AM

Oh boy, if I had thought of doing Japanese, I would have added Long Vacation, too. LOVED IT.

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news

February 11, 2017 at 1:34 PM

I loved it so much, it would make it to my top 3 favorite dramas of all time.

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jomo143

February 11, 2017 at 4:16 PM

Throw in a Taiwanese - My Queen. Love those Noona romances, and love Ethan Ruan.

And for China BBJX all the way.

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133 hazelsh17

February 11, 2017 at 5:44 AM

I'm surprised at how few of these I've seen (and a little excited at the list of dramas I'll now binge watch to see what the fuss is about). I think Lollypip's list is most similar to what mine would be (4/10). A saw a lot of somber, melancholy dramas in the top 10's that - while I liked them - I'd never love enough to rank them since I'm an ultimately simple person who just enjoys happy dramas the best.

My List:
1. Coffee Prince
2. Master's Sun
3. Healer
4. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo
5. Shopping King Louie
6. The King 2 Hearts
7. Rooftop Prince
8. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
9. Oh Hae-Young Again
10. Pinocchio

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134 musicnmelody

February 11, 2017 at 5:44 AM

Rom com and noona romance are my crack, and I just noticed, even if the characters are not noona dongsaeng, the lead actress are usually older than the lead actor lol. but in real life i usually for guys much older though haha

1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
2. I Hear Your Voice
3. I Remember You
4. High Kick Through the Roof
5. My Lovely Kim Sam Soon
6. Witch Romance
7. Scent of A Woman
8. Jealousy Incarnate
9. Queen of Reversals
10. Falling for Innocence

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135 Makoto

February 11, 2017 at 6:12 AM

Mine is:
- Queen Inhyun's Man. This is just perfect.
- Six Flying Dragons. Love it to bits, especially the women. It seems they need to have their own spin off in different drama: Boon Yi, Yeon Hee, Lady Min, Cho Young. They are the kind of heroines that I rarely see in dramaland.
- Misaeng. Things that remind me of the days when I was a rookie myself. Except I never met a senior like Chief Oh. Hiks.
- Reply 1997.
- My Daughter, Seoyoung.
- Bad Guys.
- Age of Youth.
- My Girlfriend is a Gumiho.
- Arang and the Magistrate.
- Friends. It's a Japanese - Korean drama actually, but it was the first drama that drag me into kdrama addict until now.

... and can I sneak Monstar, I Hear Your Voice, School 2013, Page Turner, Moonlight Drawn by the Clouds, King of Drama, Oh My Lady, the childhood part of Spring Waltz, the childhood part of The Moon That Embraces the Sun, 49 Days, Signal, Sirius, Nine?

Because 10 is not enough.

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136 BearBear

February 11, 2017 at 6:14 AM

1. All about Eve (after all these years, it's still #1 fav)
2. Queen In-hyun’s Man
3. Master's Sun
4. Splish Splash Love
5. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
6. You from Another Star
7. My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho

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137 light

February 11, 2017 at 6:46 AM

Love that I Hear Your Voice made into many of reviewers' list. I have rewatched this drama close to 5 times. Probably more. Great main story and mini stories, chemistry, humour, heart-breaking, and my entry into noona romance. He was way too young but he was so charming that he I was sold. Lee Bo young cemented my love for her in this role. I was such fan watching hee in my Daughter SeYoung (another gem. Glad it made into a list). Today's slick productions are all great, but an old-fashioned kdrama like this one is a gem. I would recommend this to a beginner (who doesn't mind a noona romance) in a bat of an eyelid.

Recent dramas Signal, Dear My Friends, Age of Youth, Splish Splash Love, Punch (yet to finish!), Miss Temper all receive vigorous nods from me.

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light

February 11, 2017 at 6:54 AM

The typos! Haiz.

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138 Zah

February 11, 2017 at 6:51 AM

Comment was deleted

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139 leocapri

February 11, 2017 at 6:57 AM

Since I've only watched K Dramas since 2007, I think I deserve to list more than 10. LOL

1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
2. Six Flying Dragons
3. Rooftop Prince
4. Sungkyunkwan Scandal
5. Kim Sam Soon
6. Coffee Prince
7. Master's Sun
8. King 2 Heart
9. Goong
10. Attic Cat
11. Boys Over Flowers
12. Jealousy Incarnate
13. Secret Garden
14. The Greatest Love
15. You're Beautiful

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140 mk

February 11, 2017 at 6:58 AM

Not in any particular order:

1. White Christmas - a dark, thrilling miniseries.

2. Rebirth/Resurrection - a gorgeously tragic look into revenge, identity, loss, and hope. Featuring Uhm Tae Woong in one of his best roles.

3. Queen In Hyun's Man - I am not into romances but this is the most charming, delightful romance I've seen with a wonderful couple and intriguing mysteries.

4. Heartless City - dark, cold, and yet so hot.

5. What's Up With My Family? - a really sweet family drama about a trio of siblings who have to relearn the hard way how precious their elderly father is.

6. Six Flying Dragons - epic and full of great characters, especially the ones you hate but can't stop watching.

7. The Chaser - a cool, slick thriller with amazing characters and dialogue where you find even the villains have hearts.

8. OBGYN - quiet and thoughtful (and tearjerking), this drama follows a prickly doctor and her interactions with various patients and the new head of pediatrics.

9. Nine: Nine Times Travel - time travel is painful.

10. Age of Youth - charmingly funny and realistic, the rare drama that treats young women like real young women.

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141 Cleo Soron

February 11, 2017 at 6:58 AM

Alphabetically

City Hall
The Greatest Love (I'd add this was massively helped by the brilliant recaps on here explaining the hilarious and touching meta wordplay).
Harvest Villa
History of the Salaryman
Joseon X Files
The Lucifer
Mixed Up Investigation Agency
My Name is Kim Sam-Soon
Tree with Deep Roots
White Christmas

Shows I'm fond of that wouldn't be in the top 10 - Fermentation Family was kind of lovely and such amazingly good food porn! (spent ages trying Korean recipes thanks to this) and I'm quite fond of When It's At Night - sure the 2nd male lead couldn't act, but some of the side characters were a delight (Kim Byung Ok was fantastic) and the leads had amazing chemistry).

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wonhwa

February 11, 2017 at 6:44 PM

Someone else who loves The Devil/Lucifer! Fermentation Family also made me very hungry.

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Cleo Soron

February 12, 2017 at 3:21 AM

It's a good job FF was a weekend show - it let you head straight to the kitchen after :)

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142 Amanda

February 11, 2017 at 7:10 AM

Huwaaaa ~~ fav drama all time, this

1. Innocent man = Kang maru sshi ㅠㅠ eunggi waseo
2. Dream high 1 = my twinny ~~ ?
3. I need romance 2 : oppa, ah anniya ~ ahjussi is gooooodd kisssseerr ???
4. Secret : omaya uri ji sung ahjussi ?
5. Answer me 1997 : Jung eun ji daebakk *re: I'm fans of suju (bb) ifeel u si won ah
6. 49 days : friendship, the tears
7. Man from another star : yeaaay na ireumeun cheon songyi, uri eonni MA songyi, uri dongsaeng Baek songyi *songyis raff mode on xD
8. Signal : no comments, ineed part 2!
9. My wife having an affair this week : full of tears, i can't handle, poor uri adeul ㅠㅠ *understand each other n kids is no one priority
10. Last but not least is ihear ur voice : what? Park boyoung is jisungs gf, i love all team, noona dongsaeng, law, nappeun ahjussi

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143 bubbles

February 11, 2017 at 7:23 AM

1. Signal
2. Dear my friends
3. Age of youth
4. White Christmas
5. Mood of the day <- movie
6. Cheer up!
7. Jealousy Incarnate
8. Master's Sun
9. April Fools <- movie
10. Spell bound <- movie
honestly....I included movies cause I have no idea how to order the rest of the dramas I like...at all.... actually the only relative secure places are 1 and 2, the rest...well the further down you get the more uncertain I am with my placing.
I like also:
Another Miss Oh, Oh my Venus, Weightlifting Fairy Kim bok joo, Marriage not dating, Healer, Bring it on Ghost, Queen In Hyun's man, Splash splash love, Come back mister and then some..the order in which I named those has nothing to do with how much I liked each single one.
White Christmas would have been a definite number 3 if it wasn't for the last 20 minutes of the show.

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144 Kay

February 11, 2017 at 7:29 AM

Phew, I can actually shortlist this down to 10.
This not just a favourite list, it's a list of dramas I can watch again and again and still find them pretty near to perfection, from acting, directing, storyline, pacing, every minute is totally enjoyable.

Liar Game
King Of Dramas
Answer Me 1988
Age Of Youth
Kill Me Heal Me
Nine Times Travel
Healer
It's Okay It's Love
Master's Sun
Tamra The Island

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Kay

February 11, 2017 at 8:08 AM

Some comments on why I love these dramas

Liar Game : Loved all the smart mind games in each episodes, swooned over Lee Sang Yoon, appreciated the strong ensemble cast, never a dull moment

King Of Dramas : Anthony is absolutely mesmerising in this character, loved the satirical poke at the drama industry, I will forever appreciate how challenging it is to produce a Kdrama

Answer Me 1988 : I love every single characters in this drama (except maybe Bora), from the ahjushis, ahjummas, clueless brother to cute Jin Joo.

Age Of Youth : I can't decide which girl I like the most, each of them different yet bonding together as true BFF

Kill Me Heal Me : Ji sung at his best here, my favourite is Perry, his farewell truly bring tears to my eyes, Yona deserves a shoutout for being such a hoot

Nine Times Travel : It is absolutely mind twisting to keep the timelines straight , the epic romance drives the time travelling plot effectively

Healer : Classic hero in disguise story, always love a story where the heroine choose the underdog instead of hero, even if they are the same person

It’s Okay It’s Love : Awesome performance by Jo In Sung, the awesome revelation that he has schizophrenia, this drama totally nails it with the perfect mix of light moments with the heavy subject of psychological problems

Master’s Sun : Love the episodic ghost of the day stories, coupled with the awesome couple falling in love

Tamra The Island : This is an adventure island drama done right, with the just the right dash of romance and adventure for our heroine

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145 dopefish

February 11, 2017 at 7:57 AM

Here are some of my top 10.

1. Ruler of Your Own World
2. Resurrection
3. More Beautiful Than a Flower
4. Friend, Our Legend
5. Alone in Love
6. White Tower
7. Mixed-up Investigative Agency
8. Joseon X-Files
9. Conspiracy in the Court
10. Snowman, Ireland, Flowers for My Life, The Devil, Que Sera Sera, Comrades (Can't decide)

This list is subject to change as there are still a huge number of dramas that I need to watch. There are shows that I liked that objectively isn't flawless at all like: Flower Boy Next Door. Gave me a soft spot for Park Shin-hye and Kim Ji-hoon.

There are also shows that I know is good, but couldn't watch all of due to a lack of time: Eyes of Dawn, Sandglass, Shin Don, Cruel Palace, Count of Myeongdong, Giant, First Love, Yoona's Street, Golden Apple.

My first K-drama was Winter Sonata because my mom was a Bae Yong-joon fan and made the entire family watch it when it first aired because it was so popular.

There are also some that I watched so long ago that I would need to rewatch them again to decide: Comrades, The Immortal Lee Soon Shin.

There are also dramas that I couldn't watch due to a lack of subs for which I am not all confident in watching without, at least for these dramas: Tears of the Dragon, Wonderful Days.

I have a lot of dramas that I still need to watch but a lack of time and real life prevents me.

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Kiara

February 11, 2017 at 10:36 AM

Only reason why I didn't put Tears of the Dragon, The Last Empress, Im Kkeok-jeong (missing episodes), Eyes of Dawn, Heo Joon (1999), etc on my list is because of the incomplete subs or the lack of it.
Still hoping someone would sub them or have them available for dl. I guess that's what I get for not watching it when WITH S2 was still up and running.

I used to have the patience to watch long sageuks, even 200+ eps but I can't anymore. I can handle 50 and that's about it.

I watched old dramas more than the new ones just to catch up.

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dopefish

February 11, 2017 at 2:51 PM

Is Eyes of Dawn missing subtitles? The copy I have has the subtitles for every episode except the special. I got it on the WITHS2 website, but it is also on Subscene. Although, I only watched the first two episodes, so I don't know if the subtitles are working or not for the rest of the series.

I saw someone subbing Tears of the Dragon on Youtube, but they haven't gotten very far at all, only the first 2 episodes and half of episode 3, and they haven't updated in months. It seems it is a one person project so they have to segment and translate everything alone. Having done some subtitling myself, segmenting is very time consuming. Since the drama is 159 episodes, I doubt it will be finished anytime soon.

I normally wait until newer dramas are finished to binge so I use that time by watching older dramas or movies to cross off my list.

It's too bad that a lot of the Korean TV stations keep their older dramas unavailable or hidden away for people to watch. I know that SBS has a lot of their older dramas for viewing on their website, but there are no subs and you need to navigate through it in Korean. That's where I found "Wonderful Days," a 2001 Noh Hee-kyung drama with Ji Sung, Gong Hyo-jin and Ryu Seung-bum. For the most part though, a lot of the older pre-2004 dramas are straight up obscure and unavailable for people to sub or watch.

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sunnyl

February 12, 2017 at 7:52 AM

I like your list. Even though they are not my most favorites, I enjoyed them all. More Beautiful Than a Flower- I still remember to read that staff were discouraged about low ratings, but top people in the station gave them thumbs up which made them hanging on.

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146 no name #6

February 11, 2017 at 7:58 AM

Just want to say how happy it makes me that Story of a Man shows up on some lists :)

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147 CQB

February 11, 2017 at 8:21 AM

Have I gone back and watched it on a rainy day is pretty much my criteria.

In no particular order:

Coffee Prince (My first K-drama)
Answer Me 1997
Healer
Kill Me, Heal Me
Greatest Love
Shut up: Flower Boy Band
High School King of Savvy
Pinocchio
Master's Sun
Fated to Love You

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148 Cleo Soron

February 11, 2017 at 8:25 AM

These lists are lethal. If someone has got one with about 6-7 shows you love and you've not seen the others you immediately want to. This could write off the next year!

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149 pisangoreng

February 11, 2017 at 8:30 AM

Personal top 10 (in no particular order)

1. Nice Guy
2. Punch
3. The Princess Man
4. Secret Garden
5. Signal
6. Marriage Not Dating
7. Misaeng
8. 38 Task Force
9. Dong Yi
10. Tree With Deep Roots

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150 하데스

February 11, 2017 at 8:35 AM

I'm happy with this post for a few reasons: you didn't do a master list but had everybody contribute their own which resulted in a decent amount of diversity; didn't expect to see some dramas appear which speaks for subjectivity; awesome to see Coffee Prince and WFKBJ appear as often as they did, especially the latter given how new it is; lists like these help new viewers to the genre find shows they may like or what the fan base has gravitated to which is invaluable.

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