The Best Korean Dramas of 2013

Annyeong! It has been a hot minute since I've posted last, but here I am sharing my year's Korean drama-watching work. This year there was a good assortment of dramas to suit viewers' varying taste buds. This year also featured some of the most hyped Kdramas ever (Gu Family Book and The Heirs). Even though I found some great dramas to watch in 2013, not every drama was watchable. So, look forward to my "The Worst Korean Dramas of 2013" list in a few days. But, let's get back to positivity and celebration for now. Here's to an even better year for dramas in 2014!

5. That Winter, the Wind Blows

Jo In Sung and Song Hye Kyo

That Winter, the Wind Blows was the first, what I consider, "blockbuster" drama of the year. It features Jo In Sung, Song Hye Kyo, Jung Eun Ji, and Kim Bum. The music was divine (download the OST here), the aesthetic was soft and breathtaking, and this drama, while not the best of the year, was never dull. Read my full review here.

4. Good Doctor

Joo Won and Moon Chae Won

Good Doctor fills the void of feel good medical drama better than any I've seen before. The chemistry between Joo Won and Moon Chae Won made the fact that Park Shi Won (Joo Won) was autistic seem like just another obstacle that any couple faces. I am pretty sure that I cried at least once during each of the 20 episodes of this sweet drama.

3. The Heirs

Lee Min Ho as Kim Tan and Park Shin Hye as Cha Eun Sung

When I first started watching The Heirs/ The Inheritors, I was in disbelief. I had a hard time accepting that Lee Min Ho was still playing a high school kid (he's 26 now!). I was also put off by the strange scenes that they filmed in California. I decided to let my skepticism go, though, and allow the story to wash over me. This drama is a blatant combination of all things that viewers want to see, rich kids, love triangles, birth secrets, Cinderella story, coming-of-age, I could go on for pages. What I think makes this drama great, though, is that the actors managed to shine through the achingly cliche plot lines and dialogue to show us genuine feeling and the pain that comes with transitioning from childhood to adulthood no matter how rich or poor you are. Also, the sheer volume of popular Korean actors is enough to make my list, The Heirs had Lee Min Ho, Park Shin Hye, Kim Woo Bin, Kang Min Hyuk, Krystal Jung, Choi Jin Hyuk, Lim Ju Eun, Kim Ji Won, and Kang Ha Neul... MIND BLOWN.

2. Heartless City

Jung Kyung Ho and Nam Gyu Ri

Heartless City/ Cruel City was the drama that I looked forward to watching the most every week while it aired. It was the most exciting and sexiest drama of the year, in my opinion. It wasn't, though, an epic romance drama. There was a strong connection between the two leads Jung Kyung Ho and Nam Gyu Ri, but it seemed more like a plot-driving relationship than an a heart-wrenching love like the one from my number 1 drama of the year. Read my full review of Heartless City here.

1. Secret

Hwang Jung Eum and Ji Sung

Ahhh yes, Secret Love, what year of drama isn't complete without a high-intensity melodrama? My year certainly wouldn't have felt complete without Secret. Hwang Jung Eum pulled off her best performance yet as the wronged Kang Yoo Jung who lost years of her life in prison, her son, and her bright-eyed optimism. Yet, she was able to love again and make the best decision for herself and her child. I just loved this drama and it's fast moving action and romance.

What were your favorites?

Shark (Don't Look Back: The Legend of Orpheus) Final Episode 20 Review

Son Ye Jin as Jo Hae Woo and Kim Nam Gil as Han Yi Soo

Watch Shark (Don't Look Back: The Legend of Orpheus) final episode 20 free and subtitled on DramaFever

**********************************SPOILERS BELOW*********************************

Heartless City (Cruel City) Final Episode 20 Review

Nam Gyu Ri as Han Soo Min and Jung Kyung Ho as Jung Shi Hyun

I'm going to call this as the best Korean drama of 2013 so far. I was getting a bit worried because there were no dramas that were jumping out at me as REALLY great this year. Some were good, some were OK, and others were lame. Heartless City (Cruel City) changed the scene. It had a dirty side to it that is missing from many melodramatic Korean dramas. Sometimes when they try to be dark, it just comes off as boring or, worse yet, cheesy. Watch Heartless City free and subtitles on DramaFever

Gu Family Book Final Episode 24 Review

Bae Soo Ji (Suzy) as Dam Yeo Wool and Lee Seung Gi as Choi Kang Chi

So, before this drama began airing, I was thinking Lee Seung Gi + Gumiho = LOVE because my all time favorite drama is My girlfriend is a Gumiho which he stars in as the male lead. After watching the first 5 episodes of Gu Family Book, I wasn't convinced of Suzy and Seung Gi as a couple, and I was getting bored of this show. Overall, I am glad I got encouragement from my tumblr followers and finished this drama because it was damn good entertainment. It's not the best supernatural infused drama out there, but it has some redeeming qualities.

Upcoming 2013 Korean Dramas

Well, we are almost halfway through the year, and it is basically summertime. A new batch of Korean dramas just started, including: Shark, I Hear Your Voice, Nail Shop Paris, Dating Agency: Cyrano, Monstar, and Hearltess City. In this post, though, I want to mention a few upcoming Kdramas that I am looking forward to. As we all know, everything must come to an end, but in the Korean drama world the end of one means the start of a possibly amazing new drama.

Kyung Soo Jin
source: koreandrama.org

Eun Hee

Links: AsianWiki, Han Cinema
Cast: Kyung Soo Jin (Shark) and Lee Jun (The Slave Hunters)
Begins: June 24th, 2013
Thoughts: It basically sounds like hundreds of other Korean dramas involving birth secrets, a jealous girl, and a love triangle. I liked Kyung Soo Jin's acting as the young Hae Woo in Shark, so I am considering watching this drama, but I am not 100% sold just based upon the information I found so far.

Moon Gun Young
source: viki.com

Jung Yi, the Goddess of Fire

Links: AsianWiki, Han Cinema, Couch Kimchi
Cast: Moon Gun Young (Cheongdamdong Alice, Mary Stayed Out All Night) and Lee Sang Yoon (Life is Beautiful)
Begins: July 2013
Thoughts: This is a sageuk about the first woman who worked with ceramic in the Joseon era. It sounds like it could either be incredibly boring or epic and interesting.

Kim Jae Won
source: soompi.com

Scandal

Links: AsianWiki, Han Cinema
Cast: Kim Jae Won (Can You Hear My Heart, May Queen) and Jo Yoon Hee (Nine, Lie to Me)
Begins: July 2013
Thoughts: It could be interesting. The plot is set around Jae Won as a detective who finds out his father kidnapped him. I will try it because I like Jae Won, hopefully it's better than the last drama he was in, May Queen.

Lee Jun Ki
source: photucket

Two Weeks

Links: AsianWiki, Han Cinema
Cast: Lee Jun Ki (Arang and the Magistrate, My Girl) and Kim So Yeon (IRIS 2, The Great Seer)
Begins: August 2013
Thoughts: It sounds right up my alley. It's going to be about a man who is framed for murder and finds out he has a daughter with leukemia, and he spends two weeks trying to save her. I think Lee Jun Ki will be great in a role like this. I am looking forward to it!

Sung Dong Il and Lee Il Hwa
source: facebook.com

Answer Me 1994

Links: Drama Beans, AsianWiki, Han Cinema, The Drama Corner
Cast: so far Sung Dong Il and Lee Il Hwa (the parents from Answer Me 1997)
Begins: Fall 2013
Thoughts: Answer Me 1997 was one of the best dramas of 2012, so I think many drama fans are excited about what the sequel will be. So far there is no definite information, but it looks like it may start airing this fall.

Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye
source: vingle.net

The Heirs 

Links: AsianWiki, Han Cinema, DramaFever Blog
Cast: Lee Min Ho (Boys Over Flowers, Faith), Park Shin Hye (You're Beautiful, Flower Boy Next Door) Choi Jin Hyuk (Gu Family Book, Panda and Hedgehog)
Begins: Fall 2013
Thoughts: I need more Lee Min Ho in my life. I have been listening to his album My Everything, but I need some visuals too. One thing I'm skeptical about is that this drama may be about rich high school students. Lee Min Ho is older than me, and I don't think he looks old, but he can't pull off acting as a high school student anymore. We'll see...

Please comment here or contact me via email in the side bar and let me know about any other upcoming Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, etc. dramas that you are excited to watch.