They’re classic, they’re beloved, and, yeah, they’re cliché. After all, clichés become such because they were successful! These series might be oldies, but they’re goodies! Today we’re featuring some series that got many of us into K-dramas once upon a time. All the series below were hugely popular, and remained so even after they aired, so we feel they certainly still deserve some love.
Full House
This 2004 rom-com was based on a manhwa by the same name and was considered a pioneer of the genre at the time. Starring Rain (<3) and Song Hye-Kyo this drama is a marvellous mix of fun and frustration, as any classic romantic comedy ought to.
The plot revolves around a house – the titular ‘Full House‘. It was designed by a renowned architect, who left it to his daughter, Han Ji-Eun (Song Hye-Kyo). Ji-Eun aspires to be a screenwriter and has the worst “friends” on the planet. They trick her into leaving on a ‘free holiday’, and sell her damn house when she’s gone. Yup, couple of keepers right there.
While on aforementioned holiday, she meets a famous actor named Lee Young-Jae (Rain), who, of course, just happens to be the dude that bought her house. For some publicity reason, and so that Ji-Eun can keep her house, they get ‘fake married’. They bicker, they bicker, and then, naturally, they fall in love. There’s the mandatory misunderstandings and rivalry, exaggerated antics, and off-timing.
Is it obvious and unoriginal? Sure, but you know, it wasn’t yet considered that cliché in 2004. Plus, there’s something to be said about the comfort and familiarity of such tropes. This series is worth it just for the Rain overload, but then again I realise you don’t all necessarily share my passion (which, you guessed it, started right here). It’s lighthearted and cute, and if you’re craving some throwback rom-com vibes, look no further.
Coffee Prince
Where to even start with this one? ‘Coffee Prince‘ came out in 2007, and was the first K-drama I ever watched. More than just nostalgia value, this drama is truly excellent -and way ahead of its time, might I add.
The basic plot is simple; Go Eun-chan (Yoon Eun-hye) is an ultra hard-working youth – she’s got no time or interest to dress up. So when she gets mistaken for a boy, she can’t really be bothered to correct anyone. But when, in need of money, she takes a job at flower-boy coffee shop ‘Coffee Prince’, she has to actively lie and hide her gender. Things get complicated when her boss, Choi Han-kyul (Gong Yoo) starts to catch feelings for Eun-Chan, and vice-versa.
And this is why the drama was revolutionary. Yes, gender benders are pretty cliché, but the boy always knows the girl is a girl when they inevitably catch feelings. Not ‘Coffee Prince’. Han-Kyul straight up questions and rethinks his sexuality because of his attraction to Eun-Chan. That was a Korean drama in 2007, guys – we did not see that coming. It’s maybe the only *convincing* gender bender, and it leaned more towards drama than it did comedy. Classic and beloved aside, this is a landmark drama that I’d recommend to anyone.
Secret Garden
Ah, Hyun Bin in his sparkly blue tracksuit. Priceless. ‘Secret Garden‘ aired in 2010 and it’s remained a fan-favourite classic ever since. A Cinderella story with a gender-bending twist, this one sees our protagonists switching bodies through magic.
Ha Ji Won stars as Gil Ra-Im, a poor stuntwoman, and Hyun Bin is Kim Joo-won, a fancy-pants ultra-rich CEO. Boy meets girl, boy is stunned by how cool and awesome girl is, boy and girl fall for each other. Alas, ultra-snob rich mom doesn’t approve of the pair, and tries to get rid of Ra-Im. Some standard mother-in-law from hell antics here. Things only get more complex when they magically start switching bodies.
It’s one cliché on top of another this one, but it’s still so uniquely done that the show still shines. After all, it’s not pure chance that we remember this one but forget the multitudes who share the same tropes. If you want more Hyun Bin in your life, or simply want to see him star in a rather lighthearted drama for a change, this is your chance. For the average rom-com fan, I expect you’ve seen this already anyway.
Classic or Cliché?
Honourable mention to 2005’s ‘My Girl‘, another very successful rom-com by the Hong Sisters. Not my personal favourite, so it didn’t make the list, but certainly another worthwhile oldie.
As I mentioned previously, I firmly believe clichés become clichés for a reason. Cinderella stories have been told throughout time, and yet we still enjoy them. Gender benders may not be relatable, but evil mothers-in-law are – as are working hard to succeed and falling in love. What makes these dramas classic, is that they stand out. It’s not the material, it’s what you make of it after all.
