My Ultimate K-drama Viewing List Part I (2000-2006)

So I've always wanted to compile a list of K-dramas I've watched just for the fun of it. I know I've started many and never finished them, but I'll also include those in as well.

The list will basically be a timeline (using good 'ol friend Wiki). It's not when I watched them because I don't obviously remember.

I think my list will continue to grow, because there's always that desire to go back and watch old dramas.


Year: 2000

All About Eve
Jang Dong Gun, Chae Rim, Kim So Yeon, Han Jae Suk 

I don't really remember much about this show. Something about the two female leads wanting to be reporters or something?

Autumn Tale
Song Hye Gyo, Song Seung Hoon, Won Bin

Classic melo-drama. I remember crying buckets. Watched 2 times.

Year: 2001

Four Sisters 
Chae Rim, Han Jae Suk

I think this was the time Chae Rim was quite popular...

Hotelier
Bae Yong Jun, Song Hye Gyo, Song Yoon Ah, Kim Seung Woo

Another classic! A popular one, part of the "Hallyu" wave.

Mina
Chae Jung Ahn, Kim Sa Rang

I vaguely remember watching this, but it had to do with the main lead filling in for her twin sister as a singer and the conflict in between.

Year: 2002

My Love Pattzi
Jang Nara, Kim Rae Won, Kim Jae Won (gosh they sound like brothers!)

Another classic that boost Jang Nara to fame!

Winter Sonata
Bae Yong Jun, Choi Ji Woo, Park Yong Ha

This is probably the 'classics of classic'. Two famous names that literally were the definition of Hallyu wave back then.

Year: 2003

All In
Lee Byung Hyun, Song Hye Gyo

I remember enjoying the childhood storyline, but the adult storyline got boring so I don't remember continue watching.

Dae Jang Geum
Lee Young Ae, Ji Jin Hee

I don't think anyone doesn't know this show, haha.

Damo
Ha Ji Won, Kim Min Joon

One of my most favourite dramas! I can't express how much I loved this show and Ha Ji Won and Kim Min Joon. She was so extraordinary back then, so it's no wonder she still is!

Stairway to Heaven
Choi Ji Woo, Kwon Sang Woo

Another classic and tear-jerker.

Year 2004:

Lovers in Paris
Kim Jung Eun, Park Shin Yang, Lee Dong Gun

I never finished this show. But I remember I always wanted Lee Dong Gun to get the female lead. So typical of K-drama second-lead syndrome.

What Happened in Bali
Ha Ji Won, Jo In Sung, So Ji Sub

A lot of people said this drama was really good so I decided to give it a try last summer. Perhaps because this type of plot was new and fresh back then, but after watching countless shows with this poor-girl-rich-guy storyline, I kind of got tired of it.

Year: 2005

Fashion 70's
Lee Yo Won, Jo Jin Moo, Kim Min Jung, Chun Jung Myung

Watched this just last year and it has become one of my favourite Lee Yo Won dramas.

My Name is Kim Sam Soon
Kim Sun Ah, Hyun Bin

A popular drama, I thought was mediocore.

My Girl
Lee Da Hye, Lee Dong Wook,

Quirky and fun, is all I remember.


Year:2006
Goong
Joo Ji Hoon, Yoon Eun Hye

Never finished it, despite how popular it was.

Hwang Jin Yi
Ha Ji Won, Kim Jae Won

Another Ha Ji Won drama I loved! Except for I thought Kim Jae Won did not fit in a saeguk.

Rude Women/ Outrageous Women
Yoo Ho Jung, Lee Ki Woo, Kim Bum

This was actually quite a pleasant watch. I remember first watching it in Hong Kong, dubbed.

Tree of Heaven
Park Shin Hye, Lee Wan

The only drama I liked Park Shin Hye in. I remember this was quite a sad drama though...

Total watched:20

//end of part I

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[Article] Kwon Sang Woo Expresses Frustration Over the K-Drama Production System

In a recent interview with TV Daily, Kwon Sang Woo discussed the ups and downs of the Korean drama filming system.

In an industry that produces two,  sixty-minute dramas per week, the schedule is tight, the work is hard, and the rewards can seem disproportionate to the effort and love put into it by actors, writers, directors, and staff.  With frequent news of car accidents due to an exhausting schedule, last-minute script revisions in response to ratings, and sudden cuts and extensions in the middle of broadcast, the filming environment can appear harsh and unforgiving.

Actor Kwon Sang Woo recently expressed frustration over this kind of environment when he wrote on his fan café, “I think Ha Ryu really became ha ryu. Acting and many other things are stressing me out. I can only wish for the script to come out well.” Kwon Sang Woo seemed to be playing with words as his character name in the drama “Queen of Ambition”, Ha Ryu, can also mean in Korean “downhill.” At that point, there were about six episodes left in the drama and viewers were noticing a slow-down in plot pace and a decreasing relevance of the Ha Ryu character.

When the TV Daily reporter asked Kwon Sang Woo, “Before ‘Queen of Ambition,’ you said you thought you were forgotten by the public. What are your thoughts now?”

Kwon Sang Woo replied, “I don’t know where I have reached as an actor. I don’t think there will be a lot of dramas this year that will reach the ratings of ‘Queen of Ambition.’ But I don’t think the viewers like me as much as they like the drama. Since actors are people too, they have to be able to like the last-minute script, but I kept on pushing away the script from my heart. I would only read it once.”

The reporter then asked, “Do you have a problem with the production system?”

Kwon Sang Woo answered, “I don’t have a problem. If I did, I shouldn’t be acting in this type of environment. Korean dramas might be popular internationally because we film this way. It’s not good for an actor to be filming a long time in a high-tension environment either. It’s equally exhausting to be filming a mini-series for half a year. But if actors can act knowing the ending or the script, it would be good. It’s not that I have a problem with the drama itself. I am just saddened that the assessment [of the drama] does not correlate to the ratings.”

“Queen of Ambition” finished high in ratings, recording 25%, but reportedly, scripts came out page by page until the very end with none of the actors knowing how the drama will finish.

Source:Soompi

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He contradicted himself when he said he didn't have a "problem" and then carried on to say that the acting environment sucks. Which, I don't get when it's clear he wants to get the message across. Is he being apprehensive or fearful that he'll get some backlash so he 'toned' it down a bit? If he was making a point, it would've been better if he straight out just lashed the production environment. He's also in the position to do so because he's quite popular enough.

Anyways, the problem he brings out is something that is not new and has been reiterated many times now. For one, I think it mainly has to do with 1) the company and industry itself 2) viewer/society expectations 3) aiming for 'the best', pleasing viewers real-time.

And why no pre-produced series? There have been many examples of pre-produced productions which don't get much attention because many of them aren't that successful! The only 'successful' one I can think of is "That Winter, The Wind Blows" and that was only 'semi-pre-produced'. I know in Hong Kong, although shows are pre-produced it's still the same case where they might receive last minute script changes and only get a few hours of sleep because they have to finish within a 3 month period. Which is stupid...because what's the point of 'pre-production' then when you barely have time for quality?  The 'new' TV station (that has yet to open) is taking a new turn on things and letting their artists work for only 8 hours and have finished scripts beforehand. But, who knows when we'll see the day of light for their shows to actually air. 

I've digressed, but anyways I personally don't see a change in the system in the near future. Unless one day the company says "okay, writers have to have finished most of the script beforehand and who cares about what viewers think, we'll just do it as planned".

Although, I think cable dramas seem to be doing a better job at that (or so it seems, I'm not sure...).

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Giving Up

Eating back on my words now about sticking with the Great Seer, but I've come to the decision to let go of it. It was too tiresome to keep on watching it. In fact, I've gotten bored of it. The premise was great, but the follow-through (I blame the writers and the whole production fiasco) was not well implemented.

Such a waste of a great cast. I was looking forward to Kim So Yeon, but they wasted her! I hope she can pick up a better project in the future. The same goes to the other actors.

Sorry, Great Seer, I couldn't pull through for you in the end.

Also letting go of "Faith". I've upheld that for too long. Again, the premise was great, but I think they might've cast the wrong male lead. Lee Min Ho was mediocre to say the least. I just couldn't feel any 'great general' feel to him. It didn't help when I was watching the Great Seer and the Choi Young depicted there gave me even worse impressions. Overall, Faith was an okay drama up till the episode I stopped. Some pretty intense scenes, great evil guys, but in the end I failed to finish it.

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The Great Seer Ep.25

To be honest, I don't know how much longer I can stick with this show. I might as well finish it since I've come so far TT_TT. Must persevere...

Episode 25

Really, the highlight of this episode has to be given to the heart-wrenching and touching moment between Lee In Im and Young Ji. I always felt that Lee In Im loved Young Ji so much but because he couldn't have her he acted otherwise. The moment he confesses that the reason he was so power hungry was because he could't have her and maybe if he became King he could finally do so, was too much.

She finally understands him and raises her hand to caress the side of his aged and tired face. The first time she probably has done so since the many years they were 'married.'

*insert fist in mouth and cry*

 

I see Ji Sang has also seen that blatantly obvious piece of bloodied cloth on the floor. I knew he had the decency to hide it and use that as a ways to 'turn' the situation around.

Tissues, please. I actually feel sorry for this man. And I kind of wish Young ji would have said "I'll accompany with you to your exile and live with you!" But, no. That would never happen...

He can finally hug her without being pushed aside *tears*

 The evil trio that's left, determined to get Lee In Im back and do more evil things! Unite!

 Say for example, putting a wedge in between Lee Sung Gye and the King's relationship by planting a fake slab that points to treason for Lee Sung Gye? Wonderful, Jung Geun. You're absolutely brilliant. *evil laugh* It's funny how they're trying to create a rift in between them but they're only starting that small flame that will ignite into an overthrow of a dynasty.

The Ming envoy daintily hops over for a visit and is all pleasant words at first. All the better for Jung Geun's crew to use this situation to create more misunderstandings between him and the crown.

But he drops a bomb on them and relays the message that the Ming intend to take over a part of the northern tip of Goryeo.

And to make matters even worse, after he says that he invites himself over for tea at Lee Sung Gye's place!

Face palm.

Lee Sung Gye's just like "No, you idiot, you're complicating the problem! Shut up!"

In his mind, I bet.

And now it's the E.P's turn to 'guide' the King into a hole by  making him ask Lee Sung Gye to claim Yo Dong and either show his allegiance or betrayal. Useless King with no mind of his own get's military advice from a Priestess,psh.

Oh wait, never mind, you're the son of that other useless King. No wonder.

And Choi Young agrees to the plan.

The guy who said he let Lee In Im handle things because he didn't want to get his hands bloody. Gosh, I hate this guy more and more. Luckily he's going to die soon.

Lee Sung Gye's going to die either way in the hands of Goryeo or Ming, what shall he do?

Ji Sang has the answer. He always does.

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SA-GEUK- 사극 + Why Wiki Isn't Always the Best Source of Information

I've just recently found out I've always used the wrong romanization for the korean term "historical drama". I used "Sae-guk" instead of the correct "Sa-geuk". In fact, I don't even know what "Sae" Guk is.

Whew. I'm not like a major expert in Korean. I've only briefly learnt the alphabet, know a couple of common phrases, so I guess it's normal for me to assume things.

Now that I think of it, Sa Geuk (or guk?) is closely related (or pratically is) to the Chinese term for historical drama which is "史劇". It sounds much closer to the Cantonese interpretation than the Mandarin one though.Wow, all makes sense now.

So, "Sa Geuk/Guk/" it is!

Which brings me to say "Guam Heo Jun" the long-anticipated popular remake is a "sa geuk" that is airing next Monday!

Lovely Wikipedia

Everyone knows ANYONE can edit Wikipedia.

Everyone knows Wikipedia can be bias.

And everyone knows, it shouldn't always be trusted.

So whilst searching for the correct Korean spelling for historical drama I was led to a wikipedia link on "Korean drama".

It must've been written up pretty recently because the examples of dramas they give don't include other popular hits or notable names from earlier years. Of course, I couldn't care less about it (and some of their sentences made absolutely no sense) but when I scrolled to the real bottom where they had the heading "Notable actors"... I scoffed as I scanned through their so called 'list'. 

Er.... *please note all the names with brackets*coughcough*

Sure, maybe they have included some people that should be recognized... but what's with all these IDOL mentions?

Obviously the person who wrote/edit this might've been a bit too bias in their selection of 'notable' actors? Maybe in 'their' perspective' these idol-actors who have been active for the least 1 freakin' year are quite 'notable' to them?

So yes, maybe you can go on wikipedia to search for say...the structure of glutathione !  (if you so wanted to) and be assured of correct information, but search for what Korean drama is and you might more or less get just an 'opinion' from some bias fan.

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