[@ImLikeTT Blog #41] My Top 5 Korean K-drama's and Movies You Must See!!! A two part series! (1/2)

Hello Steemit!!!

So today, I am going to talk about my top 5 Korean K-drama's and movies. Now there is a little bit of an interesting backstory, as I started watching K-drama before I even knew anything about Korea.

So waaay back in 2006, I was in college, and taking a couple day classes as well as a night class. Well, this left me with a several hour break in-between classes. During this time I would go into the student union building, to the second floor, where there was a huge T.V. Oddly enough, there was never anyone using it, so I had it all to myself. Well, this TV is also right next to the the international student office. One evening I went up to watch some TV in-between my classes, and there were some exchange students watching some TV. I didn't want to interrupt, so I just sat down and started watching whatever it was they were watching. Luckily the channel was an Asian-american network, so it was subtitled in English. I didn't know what language the show was in at the time, but it turns out it was Korean. Anyway, they were watching some drama, so I watched too.

At first I was like, "why the heck are they watching soap opera?" It was very different from an American style show. I was accustomed to Japanese drama, as I was studying Japanese as a major in college, but it was still different; dry. However, the more I watched, the more I started to get sucked in, this began my K-drama addiction. I found out the title of the show, and saw that I got the same station at my house, and that show broadcast in the morning before I went to school. I watched religiously. After that drama ended, I had to have more, and quickly started searching for more dramas! Which leads us to this list.

My #1 Korean Drama of all time is......... STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN! 천국의 계단! (Hanguk ui Gedan).

I LOVE THIS DRAMA! I have watched it multiple times. I hear the music, and remember the scenes in my mind, just thinking about it! This drama revolves around the love and relationship of two friends, who's life paths separated them. They find each other again, only for others characters jealousy and drama to unfold, constantly challenging their relationship. In fact, one of the characters I hated SO MUCH, that every time I see her in a different movie or show, I still hate her! HAHA. I hate you 김태희! HOW DARE YOU! Anyway, I don't want to talk to much about this drama, I get too emotional.

BACKSTORY! So, in 2011, the first month I came to Korea, my co worker asked me if I wanted to go to the beach. I said sure, as I had not been in Korea ever, and also wanted to go to a new place and meet new people.

We rode out to Incheon airport, and then took a bus to this little island, and then ferried across the bay, and then took another bus on the island to the beach... When I arrived on the beach, I couldn't believe what I saw! IT WAS THE PLACE THE FILMED STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN!!! I was freaking out, I was running up and down the beach frantically, and my new co-workers thought I was crazy, as they had never heard of the drama. I quickly informed them of it though, I made sure of that. Here are some pics! (keep in mind, I was dumb and young, and didn't cut my hair or dress fashionably.... I hate myself in this pics ahhaha).

SHE WAS STANDING RIGHT HERE!!!!!! I AM STANDING IN THE SAME SPOT IN THIS PICTURE THAT SHE WAS STANDING! 최지우!

I played the piano!

I ran up the stairway!!

At the house and on the beach.

For anyone who is into dramas especially K-drama, I HIGHLY recommend this drama. In fact, you HAVE to watch it!

Okay now that that's over... we move on to drama number #2.

My second favorite K-drama of all time... ATTIC CAT! 옥탑방 고양이 (oktapbang koyang-ee) aka Rooftop Room Cat aka Rooftop Romance. This is a another love story, what drama isn't a love story, about a young girl who does not have a lot of money, and works really hard to make her own way, as well as studying for college. Unexceptionally, she finds herself roommates with a young playboy who doesn't take anything seriously, even though he is very intelligent. Their clash of characters leads to the best romantic comedy!

As much as I like this drama, it really saddens me, as the main Actress, 정다빈 (Jeong Da-bin) took her own life in 2007. At the time, it was really shocking news in Korea, but it was quickly forgotten, as the spotlight moves so quickly from star to star. I think this is a very dangerous thing, and should be addressed more in Korea. She had a history of self-harm, and she stated that online bullying, and pressure from her agency were some of the factors to her depression. She didn't like the way the industry treated actors, and without any support, she decided to take her own life. I am not trying to point a finger at Korea, as many stars from other countries have committed suicide for similar reasons, but I would just like to see Korea more outspoken, and advocate for awareness for mental health etc.

Anyway, it is a fantastic drama, and one that should not go un-seen!! We miss you 정다빈~!!!!

My #3 K-drama of all time is a historical one! 대장금! (Dae Jang Geum)! Jewel in the Palace.

This drama presents a lot of traditional Korean culture, and takes place during the 14/15 century in Korea. It is a story of a young woman's rise as a poor orphaned kitchen maid, to the kings physician. It is a monumental story, as it's one of the first depictions of a women rising through the ranks, and taking a prominent role in society. It's also based on an actually story, of an actual woman. This drama also stars my favorite Korean actress 이영애! (Lee Young-ae).

If you are interested in a great drama, and seeing/learning more of a traditional Korean story, this drama is fantastic!

Coming in at #4:

Yup! Winter Sonata! This is the drama that got me into K-dramas in my original story at the top of this post. This drama is probably the most "soap opera-ish" of all the drama's in this list, as it is very dry. However, it is the drama that shot K-drama to the forefront globally. As a matter of fact, I also visited to Nami Island in Korea; one of the places where this drama was filmed!

LOVE TRIANGLE!

I didn't realize that Nami island was a couples thing... so when I got there, EVERYONE was a couple! I was the only single TT. I had to do all the things by myself... it was okay though, it was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed riding my bike around the island.

This Drama is a classic, and is a must see. This drama also stars 최지우 who is in the Stairway to Heaven Drama.

It's really hard to narrow it down to five dramas. There are a lot of good K-dramas out there, but for #5 we will be breaking away from the the soap opera style, and going for ACTION!

The final drama on my top five!!!

IRIS! 아이리스

Made famous by the Candy Kiss!! Don't know what the candy kiss is? Then you have to watch this drama!

The reason I chose this as my # 5 drama, is because it adds a little bit more flair. This drama is a love story of course, but it's propelled by the fact that it's more of an action drama, as the characters are secret agents performing dangerous task. This drama also stars 김태희 from Stairway to Heaven. Even though this drama was filmed 5 years later, I still hated her. As soon as I saw her on the screen, I was like NO! IT's that B*tch from Stairway!" haha. Doesn't help that I for me I watched them only 1 year apart.

That concludes my top 5!!

After watching these dramas, hopfully you won't be like me; I have turned into one of those people who have to shout at the TV, and the characters. "NOOOO! WHY ARE YOU WITH HIM!! GO BACK TO HER!" Of course, I then have to pause the drama, and explain the drama to anyone else that is in the room... before I can start playing the drama again. I have become one of those barbershop ajumma's hahha.

A couple things in closing: You might be like "all these dramas are REALLY old!" I know they are, and there is a reason for that. I feel like the more recent dramas are all the same, same story, same character, same directing, bland and boring. Most recent Korean dramas always just involve a plot around money it seems too, which isn't even realistic to actually live in Korea. The son lives in his grandparents house who are super wealthy, the girl is not wealthy, the mean girl is wealthy.... we are suppose to feel sympathy for the spoiled son, even though he is a brat, but hey he ends up with the girl, and the girl gets the money in the end YAY! Booooo~

It is my opinion that the 2000's era dramas were the golden years for k-drama.

Also I would like to include a notable mentions list of dramas that you also might enjoy~

#6 - I'm Sorry I Love You - (미안하다 사랑한다)

#7 - My Girlfriend is a Nine-tailed Fox (내 여자친구는 구미호) - this is the first newer drama I list, but I didn't like it torwards the end for the reasons I stated above. This drama was the turning point...

#8 - Secret Garden (시크릿 가든)

If you liked this post, make sure to check back soon for:

My Top 5 Korean Movies!

In part 2/2 of this series!!!!

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