The Best Korean Drama of 2012: Revisiting Rooftop Prince

Park Yoo Chun as Lee Gak and Han Ji Min as Park Ha

I originally watched Rooftop Prince while it was airing March 21st through May 24th of last year. Each week I was freaking out while I had to wait for new episodes because I loved it so much. I recall watching the last 5 episodes or so and crying the whole time. As I was watching it, I had already planned on watching it again all together down the road. Sure enough, I was stricken with the unavoidable desire to watch  Rooftop Prince last week, and I am very glad that I did.

***SPOILERS BELOW***

I have watched My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Coffee Prince, and Personal Taste all twice each, so I already knew going into it that I can enjoy a drama when I watch it more than once. I didn't expect I would such an intense reaction like I did to watching Rooftop Prince again, though. One would assume that knowing everything that happens and how it will end before hand may ruin the suspense, but I gained a whole new perspective on the drama this time around. Since I already knew that Prince Lee Gak (Park Yoo Chun) and Park Ha (Han Ji Min) were going to end up loving each other, I started getting emotional from episode one. As soon as I saw the dead corpse floating in the water and I knew it was Boo Yong, I started to feel sad. The drama takes on a whole new meaning when watched from the perspective of knowledge as opposed to ignorance of the plot.

When I started to think about the fact that Lee Gak went back to Joseon where Boo Yong was dead, the princess and her family had tried to kill him, and he wouldn't be able to live with Park Ha, I felt my heart breaking. I think that watching it for a second time also shed light on the significance of the final scene of the show. The scene, which flashes from Yoo Chun as Yong Tae Yong (Lee Gak's reincarnation) with Park Ha to Tae Yong in Joseon garb appearing as Lee Gak, was very confusing but beautiful to me the first time I saw it. Now that I have watched the entire drama twice, I think I have a better idea of what that scene means. Lee Gak/Tae Yong loves Boo Yong/Park Ha and vice versa. It is a very simple answer, but I was thinking of it too literally the first time around and trying to figure out if Lee Gak had come back from Joseon to be with Park Ha. What I believe now, though, is that just as Boo Yong had loved Lee Gak 300 years before and then again as her reincarnation, Park Ha in present time, Tae Yong fell in love with Park Ha via their souls' eternal connection. I really love this story because I can imagine them being reincarnated to infinity and still finding each other.

Choi Woo Sik, Lee Min Ho, and Jung Suk Won

Of course, I cannot fail to mention the prince's posse. Lee Min Ho (1993) as Song Man Bo, Choi Woo Sik as Do Chi San, and Jung Suk Won as Woo Yong Seul are perfect. During my initial viewing I hadn't noticed how quickly they picked up on the ways of the contemporary world. It amuses me that these Joseon men could learn to master smart phones in such a short period of time, but many people who have lived in this time period all of their lives can't figure them out. I understand that these characters are not real, but the portrayal of them becoming technology whizzes was hilarious to me when I relate it to the stupid people I deal while working in tech support.

In essence Rooftop Prince is one of those rare shows/movies that I could watch over and over again without getting tired of it and also pick up new things each time. I am already planning to watch it again in another 8 or 9 months. So, to those who loved Rooftop Prince the first time around, I suggest you watch it another time and experience the ecstasy all over again. Watch it on DramaFever.com.

School 2013 Final Episode 16

Lee Jong Suk as Go Nam Soon

What makes this drama stand out is that it isn't much of an exaggeration from  the real lives of high schoolers. Even considering the constant dramatic events the characters were involved in, it's still believable because high school really is a constantly dramatic community. Whereas in adult life every day blurs together in sameness, most days in high school varied from one another. School 2013 features some of the same characters and themes that many face in their teenage years. There are the kind-hearted teachers, the boring teachers, the bullies, the goodies, the dumb kids, the super-smart kids, the beautiful people, and everyone in between. This drama also reveals the the elation, depression, love, and growth that make this part of life especially emotional.

Kim Woo Bin as Park Heung Soo and Lee Jong Suk as Go Nam Soon

Of course, the main romance of the show produced many more feels than any that I witnessed in high school. You all know that I'm talking about Go Nam Soon (Lee Jung Suk) and Park Heung Soo's (Kim Woo Bin) bromance. It started a few episodes into the drama and began as hatred with no explanations. As more information is brought to light, though, it is apparent that these two guys cared deeply about each other before their falling out. Since Nam Soon was partially responsible for injury Heung Soo leg which caused him to lose his chance at a successful soccer career, their friendship was severed for years. The animosity slowly subsided throughout the show with the help of teachers Kang Se Chan (Daniel Choi) and Jung In Jae (Jang Na Ra) as the guys sorted out their issues and made amends. Nam Soon and Heung Soo have the kind of loving friendship that everyone wants, it's a pure mutual connection between two people who experienced life together and care about each other. In this last episode at the very end, they looked at each other and asked what they will do in the future. Neither of them had a strong reply to the question, but it seems that they plan to look forward to it together.

Kwak Jung Wook as Oh Jung Ho

Another underlying plot line throughout the course of School 2013 was Oh Jung Ho's (Kwak Jung Wook) struggle. If you are one of the viewers who was annoyed by/ hated Jung Ho then just know that you and I will not agree on anything in life. Oh Jung Ho turned out to be my favorite character. He acted like a real high school boy would in many ways, he was cold, didn't want to reveal any emotions, did want to apologize or act thankful, and he struggled with life and relationships inside and out of school. His friends loved him fiercely despite his prickly nature, and even Nam Soo and Heung Soo whom he was constantly bickering with tried to help him remain in school. If the hard efforts of the teachers and his friends don't prove he is worthy of affection then I don't think anything will change the haters' minds. In the last episode he was beaten badly by his father, nearly expelled for accidentally hurting Ha Kyung's leg (on top of all the other trouble he caused), and decided not to complete school in the end. His harrowing transition from school bully to wounded young man was really apparent to me when he left Nam Soon's house and shed a tear as he made the decision to quit school in order to get a job to support his father. I'm not sure in the final moments of the episode if they were alluding to him showing up at the last minute or not, but I hope that he did. Teacher Jung worked so hard and gave so much love to Jung Ho that I cried when I thought he wasn't going to finish 2nd year.

Daniel Choi as Kang Se Chan and Jang Na Ra as Jung In Jae

I can't write about this drama without including a shout out to the teachers also. Jung In Jae and Kang Se Chan. They were played beautifully by the couple from Baby Faced Beauty. Jang Na Ra as Teacher Jung gave students and parents something to think about which is: what does an educator go through every day while trying to teach, watch over, and earn their living? Along with Daniel Choi as Kang Se Chan, they showed what the best of education can look like. Different teaching styles and ways of approaching conflict are important to attack each issue from all angles. I think I learned a lot from these teachers also while watching this drama. Caring about other people and doing the right thing may seem cheesy, but it will make you a better person regardless of wealth, power, or intellect.

Now, I cannot claim that my high school experience was as eventful as class 2's, but I think any one who went to high school can relate to certain experiences and feelings. After watching this show it made me miss the days of spending time with friends laughing in the lunchroom, making fun of the teachers, hanging out in front of lockers, and dreaming about getting out of that place and becoming adults. I don't really want to go through the whole experience again, but I will at least flip through my yearbooks now and reminisce about the good memories because those are the only ones that matter now that everything is said and done.

Watch School 2013 final episode 16 with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Yoon Eun Hye is a Goddess

Yoon Eun Hye
source: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/korean-actors-and-actresses/images/32733918/title/yoon-eun-hye-cute-pout-photo

Name: 윤은혜 / Yoon Eun Hye (Yun Eun Hye)

Birthdate: 1984-Oct-03

Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea

TV Shows

I Miss You (MBC, 2012)

Lie to Me (SBS, 2011)

Personal Preference (MBC, 2010) cameo

Take Care of the Young Lady (KBS2, 2009)

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (MBC, 2007)

The Vineyard Man (KBS2, 2006)

Goong (MBC, 2006)

Rainbow Romance (MBC, 2005)

Movies

My Black Mini Dress (2011)

The Legend of Seven Cutter / Escaping from Charisma (2006)

After finishing I Miss You last week, I have seen all of the dramas that Yoon Eun Hye has been in except her small role in Rainbow Romance. Even if I didn't think the drama was the best, I still loved YEH in it. She always looks radiant, makes me laugh, and she performs every role with such an earnest conviction that I can't help but root for her. She has a unique beauty and she has a warm glow that people can't resist. She has certainly matured and grown from a cute girl into a breathtaking woman throughout her acting career. It is exciting to watch a transformation like that for an actress, or a person in general.

Yoon Eun Hye and Oh Man Suk in The Vineyard Man

Of the above listed shows, The Vineyard Man is my favorite Yoon Eun Hye drama. I am a sucker for dramas set in the country, and this one offers a great mix of comedy and romance. As for YEH's other dramas, I would expect that most people list Coffee Prince as their favorite YEH drama, if not their favorite Kdrama. Coffee Prince is a classic, and it features one of the most romantic kissing scenes that I've ever seen (when Gong Yoo's character Choi Han Gyul confesses his love to YEH as Go Eun Chan despite believing that she is a man). Goong  and Lie to Me are worth watching as well. Her appearance in Personal Preference is very brief as Lee Min Ho's old love Eun Soo for only one episode, but that is a great drama that I recommend. Take Care of the Young Lady and I Miss You, on the other hand, I would only recommend to true YEH fans or people who are fans of the other actors in those dramas since neither of them offer satisfying plots.But, I look forward to more from YEH because I will watch any drama that she is, no matter how boring or mindless it is.

Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo in Coffee Prince

I Miss You (Missing You) Final Episode 21

Park Yoo Chun as Han Jung Woo

Park Yoo Chun as Han Jung Woo

So, I Miss You has come to an end. It wasn't a great drama, but it wasn't bad either. I think that, despite a dreary and frustrating script, the actors were able to bring some light to this drama. Park Yoo Chun was the center of all comedic scenes, and I think he carried them well. As for Yoon Eun Hye, I love her, but I didn't see her usual glow in this drama. I understand that actors should have range and play different types of characters, but YEH is at her best when she is allowed to be playful and have fun. There were a few glimpses throughout the show of YEH's cuteness when she had sweet scenes opposite Yoo Chun, though. I think their chemistry is what kept me watching.

Yoo Eun Hye as Lee Soo Yeon

The acting that stood out to me in a big way was Yoo Seung Ho as Kang Hyung Joon. I found myself hating him and then pitying him and then hating him all over again. When he cried, I felt his anguish, and when he glared evilly at Jung Woo or Han Tae Joon, I felt his hatred. Even though Seung Ho was trapped in the overly melodramatic world of I Miss You, his acting wasn't over the top. I hope to see Yoo Seung Ho in more leading roles in the future; he has skills.

Yoo Seung Ho as Kang Hyung Joon

The final episode brought most things to a conclusion. Jung Woo's dad ended up in prison, Hyung Joon went crazy like his mom, Jung Woo remained as a detective, and Soo Yeon, Jung Woo, and family lived happily ever after together. Mostly what I got from this show is the same thing that I get from every Korean melo, wasting your life seeking revenge is a waste of time, and it ruins things for everyone else. I don't often come across people in my day-to-day life who are actively seeking revenge, but if I do meet someone like that I will surely tell them to give it up and just live their life.

Yoon Eun Hye as Soo Yeon and Park Yoo Chun Jung Woo

Yoon Eun Hye as Soo Yeon and Park Yoo Chun as Jung Woo

Watch I Miss You (Missing You) with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Flower Boy Next Door episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4

Yoon Shi Yoon as Enrique Geum and Park Shin Hye as Go Dok Mi ahjumma 

First impressions of Flower Boy Next Door based upon these episodes? It's cute, funny, and a bit weird. At first I was confused by the premise, and there seemed to be a lot of different story lines and characters popping up. And, as with the other tvN's Oh! Boy dramas (Flower Boy Ramyun Shop and Shut Up Flower Boy Band), the episodes are only 45 minutes long so there is quite a bit of information and action packed into each one. In the beginning we met Enrique, the adorable and chatty creative director from Spain, Go Dok Mi, the sad and beautiful girl who doesn't leave her apartment, Han Tae Joon is (Lee Jong Hyuk) the flower boy that Dok Mi spies on from her window, Oh Jin Rak (Kim Ji Hoon) who lives in the apartment next to Dok Mi and has liked her for 3 years, and a laundry list of other strange, but funny characters that live or revolve around the apartment buildings.

I look forward to seeing how Enrique will use his extreme extroversion to counter act Dok Mi's just as extreme introversion. Clearly Dok Mi tries hard to tell herself that she is perfectly happy living without human contact in the confinement of her apartment while using insane ways to save on utility costs (by never flushing her toilet and hugging water bottles to stay warm... sure whatever you say crazy ahjumma), but based upon her flashbacks of being tortured by the other kids as a school girl, she is in need of some affection. If my senses are correct, I imagine these two will end up together. That is my early guess. But, as us drama addicts know, dramas can start great with certain relationships forming then take a turn for the stupid. I hope this drama continues on its cute and funny path.

I also want to point out the obvious for a moment. Yoon Shi Yoon is so freaking adorable! I want to believe that he is as charismatic as Enrique in reality. Plus, I personally think that he rivals Song Joong Ki in facial cuteness. Joong Ki and Shi Yoon offer different types of charm, yes, but they both have perfect faces.

Yoon Shi Yoon source: http://www.vingle.net/posts/98413-Flower-Boy-Next-door

Watch it on DramaFever.com

 

The King of Dramas Final Episode 18

Kim Myung Min as the BAMF Anthony Kim

The King of Dramas episode 18 marked the end of a great drama, and I am sad that it is over. The final episode was OK. I feel that everything was resolved, and I don't feel the conclusion cheated the viewers out of anything. was it a perfect ending? No. The episode had a rushed feeling to it that is reminiscent to the way things were wrapped up in Innocent Man. The drama within the drama aired with great success, but we see very little of this aspect of the show. Gyeongsong's Morning seemed to play a smaller and smaller role in the later episodes of the drama, but it was the main back bone that supported all of the relationships. The focus in these last episodes turned away from Gyeongsong and was placed on Anthony and Go Eun's romance which wasn't significant in the beginning. I wasn't even sure if they would be a couple when I first stared watching, and I found that refreshing.

Oh Ji Eun as Min Ah and Choi Si Won as Hyun Min

Back Hug

As for the other Gyeongsong's Morning couple, I am happy to report that Hyun Min and Min Ah ended up together. They make an attracitve couple, and they have a great balance of sophistication and goofiness. They are definitely as pretty (f not more pretty than Brangelina, the celebrity couple to which they compared themselves). In the final part of the episode we are fast forwarded one year into the future where we see Min Min working together on a CF and looking perfect. And of course, Jung Ryu Won as Lee Go Eun and Kim Myung Min as Anthony Kim, has a happy end through all the tribulations as well.

The King and Queen

After getting into an accident while racing to deliver the tape for the last episode of their drama, Anthony nearly died. He had given up his chance at the possibility to keep his sight via a special treatment in Florida in order to attend to a crisis on the set. I need to stop here for a moment to mention a few strange things. I don't feel like doing the research, but doesn't a flight from Korea directly to "Florida" seem odd? Also, who refers to flying to Florida? Wouldn't you say that you are flying to a certain city or airport? I just thought the whole thing was a bit strange, but I don't really know anything about International flight so I will stop here. Anyway, Anthony almost died, but Go Eun believed in him like he did her, so he was able to muster the strength to wake up. In the end Anthony was presenting the idea that radio dramas like War of the Worlds could become the next big thing. I love that Anthony is such smooth talker. Even with his disability Anthony was still working it and trying to create a "daebak" product. Go Eun and Anthony are the king and queen of dramas. As Go Eun said, "Even though he is just a third-rate producer now, he is still the king of dramas in my mind."

Watch The King of Dramas episode 18 with English subtitles Viki.com

I Miss You (Missing You) episodes 16 & 17

Park Yoo Chun as Han Jung Woo and Yoon Eun Hye as Lee Soo Yeon

Episodes 16 and 17 of I Miss You are the beginning of the end of this drama. All of the crazy interconnecting relationships, wrongdoings, and crimes are colliding and there has been an explosion. Soo Yeon now knows that Hyung Joon is seeking revenge against Jung Woo's father, Tae Joon, so she decided to conclude her relations with Hyung Joon and return home with Jung Woo. Jung Woo still doesn't know about his family's connection to Hyung Joon, though he does know now that Harry is Hyung Joon. Hyung Joon's mother didn't recognize him so now that Soo Yeon left him, he has no one and has gone off the deep end. Phew... are you keeping up with all this? I certainly am.

Yoo Seung Ho as Kang Hyung Joon

On a lighter note, episode 17 featured one of the cutest and funniest scenes in the drama so far. Jung Woo and Soo Yeon were laying next to each other in her childhood home when they kissed. After the kiss, Jung Woo made an akward attempt to kiss her again but failed. He then became frustrated and rolled over so that he was on top of her and they were face to face. Of course they both looked into each other's eyes innocently (because in Kdrama world, sex is extremely embarrassing for two 30-year-olds to discuss), and he quickly rolled away in anguish. I was mortified for him, but I laughed out loud also. As tends to happen, things took a darker turn as the episode ended. Hyung Joon has framed Soo Yeon for his serial murders, and now Jung Woo will do anything to protect her. I am not sure how this drama will conclude, but I hope that Jung Woo doesn't go completely bat-shit crazy.

Oh hell no! Yoon Eun Hye and Park Yoo Chun

Watch Episodes 16 and 17 of I Miss You with English subtitles http://www.dramacrazy.net/korean-drama/missing-you-episode-17/278407

The King of Dramas episode 17

Choi Si Won as Kang Hyun Min

The King of Dramas is nearing its end, and I am dying to know what is going to happen next. Episode 17 had me laughing (at Hyun Min's over zealous attempts at being a serious actor) and crying (about Anthony Kim's impending blindness). The drama within the drama, Gyeongsong's Morning, has been extended by 4 episodes so the World Production crew is racing to adjust according. Unfortunately, Anthony is unsure if his vision will even last until the end of filming. I really do love this show (I think it's one of the best dramas of 2012, see my The Best Korean Dramas of 2012 post), but I think the theme of characters going blind is becoming too commonly used. Just a few weeks ago Full House Take 2's Kang Hwi (played by Park Ki Woong) was threatened with the same tragedy. In the case of Anthony Kim, though, the illness does make more thematic sense than in Full House Take 2. Anthony spent much of his childhood resenting his mother's blindness even to the point of teasing her for it. He was a man who would stop at nothing to create high-rated dramas, but now that he has fallen and began to rise again, he is learning to appreciate life, people, and his mother.

Jung Ryu Won as Go Eun and Kim Myung Min as Anthony

In this episode Go Eun puts the clues together and realizes that Anthony is going blind. Things started to get very emotional when Go Eun confronted Anthony about his loss of vision because it was clear that Go Eun is willing to stay by Anthony no matter what. Since Anthony had been trying to protect Go Eun from becoming involved in his problem and is opposing her attempts at getting closer to him, the tension is high in this final scene. I can't imagine many people watching this episode didn't at least get a bit teary-eyed. I will tell you the exact moment when I lost my shit, it happened when Anthony said, "I won't be able to see your face and where you are standing and whether you are smiling or crying. I won't be able to see." It made me think about how important sight is in human relationships. Not knowing what expression someone has or their body language would make it difficult to read their true emotions. I am hopeful, though, that the "gotony" ship (I just made that up) will stay afloat and survive this storm.

Watch The King of Dramas episode 17 with English subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/9887-king-of-drama/videos/84725

The Best Korean Dramas of 2012

Wow, I can't believe it's 2013. I've been watching Korean Dramas for nearly a year now, but I feel like I have only begun to scratch the surface of this crazy Kdrama world. I tried to watch as many of the Kdramas that aired in 2012 as I could. See my "2012 Korean Dramas" post for information about the dramas that I watched. Now, I will list the best dramas that I watched from this year. This is similar to my "The Best Kdramas of 2012 (preliminary)" list, but I did make a few adjustments


1. Rooftop Prince

I genuinely love this drama. Mickey Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min make a beautiful couple. I find it to be a hilarious comedy and an emotional romance all rolled in to one. I am a sucker for the ever-funny scenes that take place when a person from the past is thrust into the modern world and bombarded with the substantial advancements of technology since their time. I think Rooftop Prince is by far the best of the time travel dramas that I have seen (Faith, Queen In Hyun's Man, and 3 episodes of Time Slip Dr. Jin).

Park Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min

Watch Rooftop Prince with English subs DramaFever.com

2. The Innocent Man (Nice Guy)

The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) become a big part of my life for a while (as sad as that sounds). I originally had planned to watch it when it completed airing, but I started this blog on October 20th and decided I need to write about this show because it is daebak. I watched the first 14 episodes over the course of 2 or 3 days (it's all a blur now) and began my screen cap/ blog writing fury. Now that it is over, I feel an emptiness. I am not loyal enough to say that I won't be able to fill the emptiness left by The Innocent Man (Nice Guy), but it might take some time to be replaced in my heart. Song Joong Ki is amazing as Kang Ma Roo because he has an angelic baby face, but does some very bad ass things in the show. Also, I fell in love with Moon Chae Won while watching this drama. She is gorgeous, and I love when she gets to act strong-willed and ferocious.

Song Joong Ki and Moon Chae Won

Watch The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) with English subs DramaFever.com


3. Arang and the Magistrate

Arang and the Magistrate is one of the first dramas I wrote about. Watching Korean Dramas to write about them is a very different experience than just watching them, I believe. While I am much more efficient with my time when I watch a drama without worrying about what to write about it, I feel that I get a better insight into the drama when I stop and think about it. With Arang, I was able draw out many beautiful ideas and lessons from this drama during my writing process. It really makes me think about the power of desire and will and how considering other people can be the most rewarding way to live.

Lee Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah

Watch Arang and the Magistrate with English subs DramaFever.com


4. Queen In Hyun's Man

Queen In Hyun's Man is one of the best love stories I have seen in a Korean drama. Maybe not everyone will agree with me on that, but that's okay. I think that the love between Kim Bong Do (Ji Hyun Woo) and Choi Hee Jin (Yoo In Na) is pure and sweet. Unlike some Kdramas where the main couple starts off with
a relationship of hate and hostility, they were never tarnished by that dirty feeling of "are these people masochists or what?" that I get from some couples. As a time travel drama, it is almost (but not quite) as amazing as Rooftop Prince. I don't really like to compare these two dramas too much, though, because I think that they each have their own individual spirits. Queen In Hyun's Man is a must-see drama for any Korean drama lover.

Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo In Na

Watch Queen In Hyun's Man with English subs DramaFever.com

5. Reply 1997

Reply 1997 (Answer Me 1997) is a treat. Sung Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji) is such a spunky, relatable female character that it is impossible (for people with warm blood) not to love her. She lives in the world of super fandom and worships her kpop idol with an extreme (almost dangerous) passion. This drama features an array of interesting and well-developed characters that interact flawlessly with each other in their realistic environment spanning from the late 1990's up to present day. The ending has a sweet twist that is both funny, and romantic (clearly, I love that combination), and there is really nothing but joy, youth, and fun (with some tears too) to be had.

Seo In Guk and Jung Eun Ji

Watch Reply 1997 with English subs DramaFever.com

6. The King of Dramas

The King of Dramas is not finished airing yet, but it is a great show and I wanted to it to my list. I was skeptical about watching it at first because he premise sounded boring and cliche to me, but I was very wrong in that assumption. This drama is exciting, hilarious, and has a subtle, sweet romantic side to it. There are only a few episodes left, and, as we all know, the ending could ruin the show (i.e. Big). I am adding this drama to the list, though, for the episodes of it that aired during 2012, and hopefully the final episodes will prove to be just as awesome.

Kim Myung Min and Jung Ryu Won

Watch The King of Dramas with English subtitles Viki.com

What were your favorite dramas of 2012?

2012 Korean Dramas

Happy New Year! It's 2013 now so get ready for a 2012 Kdrama bonanza! I tried to watch quite a few Korean dramas that aired this year, so I hope I have amassed enough information to be helpful to the netizens. I am going to list the 2012 dramas that I watched in chronological order by start of airing date. I will be listing the drama's title, air date, number of episodes, prominent cast members, my own special Korean Drama genres, a description of the drama using a few key words, and whether I think people should watch it or not.

The Moon Embracing the Sun

Air Dates: January 4th - March 15

Episodes: 20

Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Jung Il Woo

Genres: historical, romance, supernatural, memory loss

Key Words: magical, romantic, epic

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Wild Romace

Air Dates: January 4th - February 23rd

Episodes: 16

Cast: Lee Dong Wook, Lee Si Young, Jessica

Genres: romantic comedy, sports

Key Words: cute, funny

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Notes: I tie this drama with Arang and the Magistrate for best ending. This drama ended perfectly.

Shut Up Flower Boy Band

Air Dates: January 30th - March 20th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Sung Joon, Kim Myung Soo, Lee Hyun Jae

Genres: music, high school, romantic comedy, friendship

Key Words: fun, cool, fresh

Watch it? Yes
DramaFever.com

Kpop The Ultimate Audition

March 19th - May 1st

Episodes: 14

Cast: Park Yoo Hwan, Go Eun Ah

Genres: music, romantic comedy, girl pretending to be a boy

Key Words: fun, silly, sweet

Watch it? Yes

Notes: The ending was shortened, but it's still a good drama. Plus, Yoo Chun's brother Yoo Hwan is cute!
Watch it on Hulu

Rooftop Prince

Air Dates: March 21st - May 24th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Park Yoo Chun, Han Ji Min

Genres: time travel, supernatural, romantic comedy

Key Words: funny, romantic, awesome

Watch it? ABSOLUTELY

Notes: My favorite drama of 2012
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

King 2 Hearts

Air Dates: March 21st - May 24th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Lee Seung Gi, Han Ji Won

Genres: romance, political

Key Words: epic, dark

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles
DramaFever.com

Love Rain

Air Dates: March 26th - May 29th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Jang Geun Suk, Yoona

Genres: melodrama, romantic comedy, melodrama again

Key Words: slow, colorful

Watch it? No

Notes: Geun Suk and Yoona look great together, but this drama is slow-moving and often depressing for no good reason.
with English subtitles
DramaFever.com

Queen In Hyun's Man

Air Dates: April 18th - June 7th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Ji Hyun Woo, Yoo In Na

Genres: time travel, romantic comedy

Key Words: funny, lovable

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

A Gentleman's Dignity
Airing Dates: May 26th - August 12th
Episodes: 20
Cast: Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ha Neul
Genres: romantic comedy, friendship
Key Words: funny, endearing
Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

I Love Lee Tae Ri

Air Dates: May 28th - July 17th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Kim Ki Bum, Park Ye Jin, JUB

Genres: body swapping, romantic comedy

Key Words: weird, sweet, fun

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles Viki.com

I Do, I Do

Air Dates: May 30th - July 19th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Kim Sun Ah, Lee Jang Woo

Genres: romantic comedy, fashion

Key Words: playful, colorful, fresh

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Notes: You'll love this drama, trust me.

Bridal Mask

Air Dates: May 30th - September 6th

Episodes: 28

Cast: Joo Won, Park Ki Woong

Genres: historical, political, action, romance

Key Words: epic, bloody, dark

Watch it? Yes

with English subtitles Bridal Mask

Notes: This drama is long and boring at times, but worth the effort.

Big

Air Dates: June 4th - July 24th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Gong Yoo, Lee Min Jung, Suzy

Genres: body swapping, romantic comedy

Key Words: silly, emotional, magical

Watch it? Yes

with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Notes: The ending did not satisfy, but the drama was enjoyable for the most part.

I Need Romance 2012

Air Dates: June 20th - August 9th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Jung Yu Mi, Lee Jin Wook

Genres: romantic comedy, friendship

Key Words: playful, quick

Watch it? Maybe

Notes: My least favorite drama of 2012.
DramaFever.com

Answer Me 1997

Air Dates: July 24th - September 18th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Jung Eun Ji, Seo In Guk

Genres: high school, romantic comedy, friendship

Key Words: hilarious, fresh, awesome

Watch it? ABSOLUTELY
DramaFever.com

Haeundae Lovers

Air Dates: August 6th - September 25th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Kim Kang Woo, Jo Yeo Jeong

Genres: romantic comedy, memory loss

Key Words: funny, cute

Watch it? Yes
DramaFever.com

Faith

Air Dates: August 13th - October 30th

Episodes: 24

Cast: Lee Min Ho, Kim Hee Sun

Genres: time travel, romance, supernatural, historical

Key Words: epic, emotional

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

To the Beautiful You

Air Dates: August 15th - October 4th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Choi Min Ho, Sulli

Genres: high school, romantic comedy, girl pretending to be a boy

Key Words: young, enjoyable, light

Watch it? Maybe
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Notes: I recommend this for people who like light, fluffy romcoms, it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Arang and the Magistrate

Air Dates: August 15th - October 18th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Shin Min Ah, Lee Jun Ki

Genres: historical, supernatural, romantic comedy

Key Words: funny, scary, awesome

Watch it? ABSOLUTELY
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Panda and Hedgehog

Air Dates: August 18th - October 7th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Lee Dong Hae, Yoon Seung Ah

Genres: romantic comedy, baking

Key Words: sweet, funny

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

The Innocent Man/ Nice Guy

Air Dates: September 12th - November 15th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Song Joong Ki, Moon Chae Won

Genres: melodrama, revenge

Key Words: amazing, emotional, dark

Watch it? ABSOLUTELY
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Full House Take 2
Air Dates: October 22nd - December 13th
Episodes: 16 (2 parts each)
Cast: No Min Woo, Park Ki Woong
Genres: romantic comedy, music
Key Words: cheesy, silly, light
Watch it? Maybe
Notes: This drama is so wrong that it's enjoyable to watch.
DramaFever.com

I am also watching May Queen (aired August 18th - December23rd), I Miss You (started November 7th), and Cheongdamdong Alice (stared December 1st).