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[ASKKPOP] Throwback Thursday: 8 K-Drama oldies you need to watch

Although all K-Drama lovers have watched the popular, lighthearted rom-com classics, such as 'Full House,' 'My Name is Kim Sam Soon,' and 'Goong (Princess Hours),' they're seriously missing out on a ton of other goodies from the past decades that many Koreans absolutely adored but was lost on international fans who didn't have as easy access to these back in the days before video-sharing websites.


As a Thursday Throwback and a good dose of nostalgia to those who have watched some if not all of these in the past, check out this list of old dramas that were successful hits at the time but got lost in bigger names as time passed by.  If you have nothing good to watch right now and are able to find these classic dramas, then jump aboard the K-Drama marathon train now!


(Note: The first five I personally watched and enjoyed while the last three are bonus famous Korean classics that I'm as unfamiliar with as you might be but I promise they were huge hits at the time!)




1 - Sweet 18


'Sweet 18' was a huge hit in South Korea that launchedHan Ji Hyeinto fame and helped further boost an already popularLee Dong Gun.  The story centers on Han Ji Hye who has a fated run-in with Lee Dong Gun in traditional garb and falls completely head over heels despite the age gap of 10 years.  The two then realize that they were fated to be, that they had been matched in an arranged marriage by their family since they were babies, so they wed and hilarity ensues thanks to the ever young and naive Han Ji Hye, who is only 18 years old, as she fights for her husband's attention (as he, of course, doesn't really care much about her).  Who can't help but fall in love with her character, who is freaking ridiculous but lovable?  There's an almost 'Playful Kiss' vibe with this classic tale, so if you liked that drama, you will definitely like this!


2 - 18 vs. 29


'18 vs. 29' targeted an older audience as one main theme includes a nostalgia for the past, for the vibrant youth, but I still greatly enjoyed it when I was a kid.  This is a greatly comedic yet also deeply poignant drama about a 29-year-old woman played byPark Sun Youngwho married her high school sweetheart, the cold, smart, and vastly popular It-Boy at school played byRyu Soo Young.  However, as he's now an immensely popular actor and she's a bored housewife, she feels dissatisfied and their relationship seems to lack the warmth it used to have when they were younger.  As fate would have it, she gets into an accident and she reverts to her 18-year-old self--mentally anyway!  Of course, hilarity ensues, but there are also some sweet flashbacks with the younger male character played by the ever handsomeSuper Junior'sSiwon.


3 - My Girl


Probably one of my favorite dramas ever, 'My Girl' was the drama that put newcomerLee Da Haein the spotlight for playing the quirky and hilarious conwoman who is as lovable as she's harmlessly cunning.  She is discovered by the aloof and gentlemanlyLee Dong Wook, who hires her to pretend to be his long lost cousin for his ailing grandfather. There are a ton of laugh-out-loud moments in this drama and her acting, the scenarios, everything is pure gold--written by the famousHongsisters.


4 - Lovers in Paris


You know that famous scene where the man puts the woman's hand on his heart and goes,"You are in here."Yeah, it originated from this drama, which also gave birth to a lot of other famous lines like,"Why can't you say anything?  Why can't you tell him you're my woman?"This classic tale has everything you'd like in a drama, including the cheesy makeover scene. A rich man finds himself in need of a fiancee, so he hires a not-so-well-off woman to play the part, but he realizes his feelings for her while competing with his nephew for her affections. Of course, a big part of this takes place in Paris.  In case you couldn't tell from the title.


5 - Iljimae


This was an incredibly popular historical drama that setLee Jun Ki's reputation for being the go-to guy for the action-historical genre.  This is the tale of a Korean Robin Hood who stole from the rich to give to the poor, but with an interesting twist suitable for a serious drama. Lee Jun Ki pretends to be a useless troublemaker and street thug when in actuality, he is the son of a noble house that had fallen and is seeking revenge. The means?  Going into other noble homes under the pretense of robbery while actually searching for clues as to who murdered his family. Lots of intensity and action and a rather useless female heroine played byHan Hyo Joo(I prefer the secondary female lead played byLee Young Ah--she's adorable).


6 - All In


'All In' starred two of the biggest Hallyu actors at the moment,Song Hye KyoandLee Byung Hun.  The drama was incredibly popular in South Korea at the time and revolved around casinos and gambling.  The two actors play orphaned childhood friends who separate as they grow up, but fatefully meet once again later on with Lee Byung Hun playing an experienced gambler and Song Hye Kyo the beautiful dealer.


7 - Sandglass


BeforeGo Hyun Jungwas the pee-in-your-pants-scary Mishil, she played the heroine of a tragic drama that many of you may have seenGo AraandJung Woowatching in 'Reply 1994.'  This drama broke records in viewer ratings, surpassing 50% for the dramatic love triangle amidst government issues, political affairs, student demonstrations, and more from the 70's to 90's in Korea. This just proves that any complex drama with Go Hyun Jung will pass 50% in viewer ratings.


8 - Delightful Girl, Choon Hyang


This was the Hong sisters' first drama, a lighthearted rom-com that the Korean public fell in love with for its quirky and entertaining nature.  The drama launchedHan Chae Younginto fame as she andJae Heefound themselves forced into a marriage despite their hatred for each other when they "fall asleep" together (literally that is all they do, sleep), this gets broadcasted through the school, and they need to marry to save their families' honor.  It's loosely based on old Korean folklore about a girl named Choon Hyang.





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