Friday, October 14, 2016

Must watch Korean Drama (last quarter of 2016)

Thinking of the perfect way to end this year? For the K-drama fans out there, I probably know the answer! Here are eight(8) must-watch Korean dramas for the last quarter of 2016.

 1. Love in the Moonlight

 Airing Date: August 22,2016-October 18, 2016
No. of Episode: 18 episodes + 2 specials
Day Slot/Channel: Monday-Tuesday (KBS)
Genre: Historical, Coming of age, Romance, Comedy

Lead Casts

 Park Bo-Gum as Lee Yeong
Kim Yoo-Jung as Hong Ra-on

Park Bo-Gum (23 y.o) is well known for his lead role appearance in drama "Reply 1988". He also hosted Music Bank and became a cast member of "Youth Over Flowers: Africa"

 Kim Yoo-Jung (17 y.o) is one of the best known child actresses in Korea. She starred in dramas: Moon Embracing the Sun, May Queen, Angry Mom. "Love in the Moonlight" is her first adult leading role.

 Jinyoung as Kim Yoon-sung
Chae soo-bin as Jo Ha-Yeon
Kwak Dong-yeon as Kim Byung-yeon
Plot:
A coming-of-age story about 19-year old Crown Price Lee Young's growth from a boy to revered monarch and his unlikely relationship with 18-year old eunuch Hong Ra-on.

Notes:
Due to high audience ratings, KBS negotiated for the production to extend the original 18 episodes to 20. Chief producer Kang Byung-taek declined saying that the framework of the story had already been laid out and it would only yield complications with the cast and crew's respective schedules. 

So far their highest rating is 22.4%. The chemistry of this two lead actors is undeniably great. Park Bo-gum also sang one of the drama's Ost, entitled "My Person"

Trailer:

 


2. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

 Airing Date: August 29, 2016-October 31,2016
No. of Episodes: 20 episodes
Day Slot/Channel: Monday-Tuesday (SBS)
Genre: Historical Drama, Romance, Fantasy

Lead Casts

 Lee Joon-Gi as Wang So(4th price)
IU as Hae Soo/ Go Ha-jin 

Lee Joon-gi (34 y.o) is well known for his lead role appearances in dramas: Time Between Dog and Wolf, Iljimae, Arang and the Magistrate and many more.

IU(23 y.o) is well known for her lead role appearances in dramas: You're the Best: Lee Soon Shin, Bel Ami and The Producers.
   Kang Ha-neul as Wang Wook (8th prince)
Hong Jong-hyun as Wang Yo (3rd prince)
Nam Joo-hyuk as Baek ha (13th prince)
Yoon Sun-woo as Wang Won (9th prince)
Byun Baek-hyun as Wang Eun (10th prince)
Ji-soo as Wang Ju (14th prince) 

Plot:
 During a total eclipse of the sun, a 25-year-old 21st century woman, Ko Ha-jin (IU), drowns and is transported back in time to Goryeo Dynasty Korea. She wakes up in the body of 16-year-old Hae Soo and there, she encounters the many royal princes of the ruling family. She falls in love with the gentle and warm 8th Prince Wang Wook (Kang Ha-neul), and later Wang So (Lee Joon-gi), the fearsome 4th Prince who hides his face behind a mask and is given the derogatory label "wolf dog" by the others. Meanwhile, rivalry and politics ensue among the princes, in a fight for the throne.

Notes:
Currently it is also airing in other foreign countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, US, China, Hongkong, Indonesia, Vietnam) 

Trailer:


3. Jealousy Incarnate

 Airing date: August 24,2016-November 10,2016
No. of Episodes: 24 episodes
Day Slot/Channel: Wednesday-Thursday (SBS)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Workplace, Family, Drama

Lead Casts 

 Gong Hyo-jin as Pyo Na-ri
Jo Jung-suk as Lee Hwa- shin

Gong Hyo-jin (36 y.o) is well known for her lead role appearances in dramas: Pasta, The Greatest Love, Master's Sun, It's okay, it's love and The Producers.
Jo Jung-suk (35 y.o) is well known for his lead role appearances in dramas: You're the Best Lee soon-shin (with IU - Scarlet Heart Ryeo's lead actress) and Oh my Ghostess. He's also the real-life boyfriend of Gummy.

 Go Kyung-po as Go Jung-won

Go Kyung-po is well known for his appearances in dramas/shows: Cantabile Tomorrow, Youth Over Flowers: Africa and Reply 1988, where he worked with Park Bo-gum (Love in the Moonlight's lead actor).
Plot:
Weather caster Pyo Na-ri (Gong Hyo-jin) and news anchor Lee Hwa-shin (Jo Jung-suk) are long-time colleagues at SBC broadcasting station. Na-ri has had a crush on Hwa-shin three years ago but things change when she meets the perfect man Go Jung-won (Go Kyung-pyo), a chaebol heir and close friend of Hwa-shin.
Meanwhile, Sung-sook (Lee Mi-sook) and Ja-young (Park Ji-young), who are rivals in both love and career, gets entangled with Kim Rak (Lee Sung-jae), a restaurant owner and landlord of the building where Nari lives.

Notes:
So far their highest rating is 14.8%. For Jo Jung-suk fans here, this one is a must watch. You'll see him dance and sing on this series. 

Trailer:

 
 4.K2

 Airing Date: September 23,2016-November 12,2016
No. of Episodes: 16 episodes
Day Slot/Channel: Friday-Saturday (tvN)
Genre: Thriller, Political Drama, Romance, Action

Lead Casts 
 Ji Chang-wook as Kim Je-ha(K2)
Im Yoona as Go An-na 

Ji Chang-wook(29 y.o) is well known for his lead role appearances in dramas: Smile Again, Empress Ki and Healer

Im Yoona(26 y.o) is well known for her lead role appearances in dramas: Cinderella Man, Love Rain and Prime Minister and I.

 Song Yun-ah as Choi Yoo-jin
Jo Sung-ha as Jang Se-joon 

Plot:
 Kim Je-ha is a former mercenary soldier for the PMC Blackstone, who gets framed for the murder of his lover. As a result, he runs away and has to live hidden for a period of time. One day in Spain, he helps Go An-na, a hidden daughter of a Korea's presidential candidate, Jang Se-joon. After arriving in Korea, he saves the life of Choi Yoo-jin, the wife of Jang Se-joon, who then hires him to be a member of JSS Special Forces, a private company responsible for guarding the family. Je-ha agrees to works as their bodyguard in return for the resources he needs to get his revenge on Park Gwan-soo, another presidential candidate, who previously ordered the killing of his lover.

Notes:
  The male lead Ji Chang-wook, due to his casting, became the highest-paid actor for a tvN drama. He had special training and will be performing the action stunts in the drama by himself, without a body double. At the press conference, director Kwak expressed "On top of Ji's splendid action, the drama will tell the story of insatiable desire and political fights between people holding secrets of their own."

Trailer:

5. The Man Living in Our House

 Airing date: October 24,2016-December 13,2016
No. of Episodes: 16 episodes
Day Slot/Channel: Monday-Tuesday (KBS)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Family

Lead Casts

 Soo Ae as Hong Na-ri
Kim Young-Kwang as Go Nan-gil

Soo Ae(37 y.o) is well known for her lead role appearances in dramas: Athena:Goddess of War, A thousand day's promise, Queen of Ambition and Mask.

Kim Young-Kwak(29 y.o) is well known for his appearances in dramas: Love Rain, Pinnochio and D-day.

 Lee Soo-hyuk as Kwuk Duk-bong
Jo Bo-ah as Do Yeo-joo

Plot:
This story tells the cohabitation romance between a flight attendant returning to her deceased mother's house and the husband of her dead mom.

Notes:
It will take over the time slot of "Love in the Moonlight. Yoo Seung-ho was first offered the male lead role, but he declined. 
Trailer:

 6. Legend of the Blue Sea

Airing Date: November 16,2016-January 12,2017
No. of Episodes: 20 episodes
Day Slot/Channel: Wednesday-Thursday (SBS)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy

Lead Casts

Jun ji-hyun as Shim Chung
Lee Min-ho as Hoo Joon-jae/Dam-lim

 Jun Ji-hyun or Gianna Jun(34 y.o) is well known for her lead role appearance in award-winning dramas: My Sassy Girl and My Love from the Star (which is her comeback in small screen after 14 years). She is said to be the highest paid Korean actress in Korea today.

Lee Min-ho(29 y.o) is well known for his lead role appearance in dramas: Boys Over Flowers, Personal Taste, City Hunter, Faith and The Heirs (where he worked with Park Shin Hye and Kim Woo-bin)



Plot:
Inspired by a classic Joseon legend from Korea's first collection of unofficial historical tales, about a fisherman who captures and releases a mermaid, this drama tells the love story between the son of a noble family in Joseon era named Dam-lim (Lee Min-ho) and a mermaid named Shim Chung (Jun ji-hyun).

Notes:
 Filming began on August 19 in Goesan, Chungbok, South Korea. In late August, the production team flew to Palau to film underwater scenes. The cast and crew flew to Spain in September 11 to film some pivotal scenes of the drama. Some of the scenes were filmed in Girona and in Coruña, Spain.

It will take over the time slot of Jealousy Incarnate.

This drama series is going to be Lee Min-ho's last acting role before he enters into the military for approximately 2 years. Currently he is dating Bae Suzy (Uncontrollably Fond's lead actress)

 This is also going to be Jun Ji-hyun's first acting role after giving birth to her first child.

Trailer:
 

7. Goblin
 
 Airing Date: December 2, 2016
No. of Episodes: 16 episodes
Day Slot/Channel: Friday-Saturday(tvN)
Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Lead Casts

Gong Yoo as Kim Shin
Kim Go-eun as Ji Eun-tak

Gong Yoo (37 y.o) is well known for his lead role appearances in dramas/movies: Coffee Prince, Big and the phenomenal "Train to Busan".

 Kim Go-eun (25 y.o) is well known for her lead role appearances in dramas/movies: Cheese in the trap, A muse and Coin Locker girl(where she worked with Park Bo-gum and Go Kyung-po)

Lee Dong-wook as Wang Yeo
Yo In-na as Kim Sum

Lee Dong-wook (34 y.o) is well known for his lead role appearances in dramas: My Girl, Scent of a Woman and Hotel King.

Yo In-na (34 y.o) is well known for her appearances in dramas: Secret Garden, Queen In-hyun's man, You're the Best Lee soon-shin, My Love from Another Star and My Secret Hotel.

Plot:
 Dokkaebi (Gong Yoo) needs a human bride to end his immortal life. Meanwhile, the Angel of Death has amnesia. Somehow these two meet and live together. They see off those who have passed away and are now leaving this world.

Notes:
This drama series' PD and writer is the former PD and writer of "Descendants of the Sun". It will take over K2's time slot.

Trailer: 


8. Hwarang: The Beginning

 Airing date: December 19, 2016
No. of Episodes: 20 episodes
Day Slot/Channel: Monday-Tuesday(KBS)
Genre: Period Drama, Romance, Fushion

Lead Casts

 Park Seo-joon (27 y.o) as Moo-myung/Sun Woo-rang
Go Ara (26 y.o) as Ah-ro
Park Hyung-sik (24 y.o) as Summaekjong 

Choi Min-ho as Soo-ho
Do Ji-han as Ban-ryu
Jo Yoon-wo as Yeo-wol
V as Han-sung
Plot:
 This drama series depicts the story of Hwarang (literally "Flowering Knights") - an elite group of male youth in during the Kingdom of Silla.

Notes:
 It will take over "The Man Living in our House's" timeslot.

Trailer: 


"What Korean drama excites you the most? Which do you think will stand-out as 'Korean drama of 2016'? For comments, suggestions and questions just comment down below. Also, don't forget to hit the 'Join this site' button on the upper right part of the blog, below the Profile Section. Thank you!"

Credits to the following:
wikipedia.com
asianwiki.com
youtube.com

Related articles:
 

8 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing. My sister will definitely love this, she is a KDrama fan herself, me, not so much, I wish I have time for korean films :(

    anyways, thanks again!

    Myxilog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you! Korean films is definitely worth to watch :)

      Delete
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