Ok-dramas are sometimes lumped collectively as one large monolithic style, however they couldn't be farther from the reality. Though they typically share related tropes, character varieties, and sensibilities, essentially the most well-known Ok-dramas span all kinds of genres, like another kind of leisure product in the remainder of the world.
Amongst them, after all, there are fan-favorite genres that the perfect Ok-dramas return to repeatedly. The teenager drama set in highschool is undoubtedly a type of favorites, as there are a lot of of them within the current and previous of South Korea's tv scene. Rightfully so, as a highschool drama is the right setting for a narrative filled with friendships , romances, conflicts of every kind and occasional zombie outbreaks.
10
Boys About Flowers (2009)
Outdated however golden
Boys Over Flowers is a 2009 South Korean tv sequence primarily based on the Japanese manga of the identical title. The present follows Geum Jan-di, a courageous however impoverished woman, who receives a scholarship to attend a prestigious highschool. There, she meets the notorious F4, a gaggle of wealthy and influential youngsters, which ends up in complicated relationships and social conflicts. The sequence stars Koo Hye-sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum and Kim Joon.
- Launch date
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January 5, 2009
- Ultimate 12 months
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November 30, 2008
- Solid
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Kyo Hye-sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, Kim Joon
- Seasons
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1
The Ok-Drama Boys over flowers Not solely was he a cultural phenomenon throughout his residence continent, he was additionally an early pioneer of the Korean Wave that now performs a big function in popular culture around the globe. Based mostly on the manga sequence of the identical title by Yoko Kamio, Boys over flowers follows a gaggle of scholars at an elite highschool—particularly a working-class woman who attends this college due to a scholarship and a gaggle of wealthy folks chaebol heirs who govern the varsity's social hierarchy.
Whereas Boys over flowers is basically a product of its time - and thus a few of its tales could also be thought-about outdated almost twenty years after its first airing - it stays a staple of Ok-Dramas normally and the highschool romance style normally. specific. All of the tropes are right here, completely delivered by a stellar forged led by the now well-known names Koo Hye-sun and Lee Min-ho.
9
For you lovely (2012)
Shakespearean disguise vibes
The 2012 Ok-Drama For the attractive youadditionally primarily based on a Japanese manga – particularly Hanazakari no Kimitachie by Hisaya Nakajo—has a considerably Shakespearean system proper on the heart of its plot, which makes for a really entertaining watch. All of it begins when the drama's principal character, Goo Jae-hee, decides to maneuver from the US to South Korea to review on the similar college because the athlete she idolizes, Kang Tae-joon.
Jae-hee has a substantial impediment in her method, nevertheless, and that's the truth that Tae-joon attends an all-boys college. She decides to chop her hair brief and disguise herself as a boy to get the prospect to fulfill and befriend her idol. After all, shenanigans ensue as Jae-hee will get concerned within the lives of the boys in her new dorm - together with a traditional love triangle and a considerably open ending.
8
Dream Huge (2011)
Chasing goals of fame
For the reason that idol leisure trade is a staple of the Korean Wave, it ought to come as no shock that there are a number of Ok-Dramas centered on it. Dream largeparticularly, it fuses idolatry with the highschool setting specializing in a gaggle of scholars who dream of turning into Ok-Pop idols.
The drama has its fair proportion of singing and dancing scenes as the principle characters practice in anticipation of their way forward for fame and fortune, one thing that makes Dream large fairly a enjoyable watch. As it's on the older aspect, Dream large additionally contains a fairly stacked forged of actors who are actually extremely properly established—together with actual idols like Suzy from Miss A and soloist IU.
7
Love Alarm (2019 - 2022)
Romance with a splash of technological marvel
Love Alarm is a South Korean tv sequence primarily based on Chon Kye-young's standard webtoon. Set in a world the place a cellular app alerts customers when somebody inside 10 meters has romantic emotions for them, the present follows Kim Jo-jo, a highschool pupil who turns into embroiled in an advanced net of relationships and social hierarchies. as she navigates the fallout from the Love Alarm app.
- Launch date
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August 22, 2019
- Ultimate 12 months
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November 30, 2020
- Solid
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Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, Tune Kang, Go Min-si, Lee Jae-eung
- Seasons
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2
The 2 seasons of Love alarm are impressed by the webtoon of the identical title, in addition to a number of Ok-Dramas launched in recent times. The drama is about in a world a bit completely different from ours, the place everybody has an app – the titular Love Alarm – that alerts them if anybody inside 10 meters of them has romantic emotions for them.
The existence of this app is, after all, a improbable plot system to put the story's principal characters in a sequence of awkward or necessary conditions that hit all the same old romance drama story beats. Protagonist Kim Jo-jo, a highschool pupil from a tough background, initially resists getting the app however finally it drops too, one thing that may plunge your head into an emotional love triangle.
6
The Faculty sequence (1999 - ongoing)
Highschool chronicles
THE Faculty sequence is an anthology sequence that has been working for a whilelengthy sufficient for the franchise to be rebooted in 2012 after a ten-year hiatus. Though all reveals inside the Faculty The franchises cope with the identical themes, are all separate and might be watched independently of one another - which makes the prospect of a marathon much less daunting, because the viewers can select what to look at.
Every program focuses on a distinct group of scholars going through typical highschool challenges, highlighting all the issues which might be usually confronted by younger folks in South Korea. Among the many eight Faculty applications, the preferred might be Faculty 2017, which focuses on a category of scholars who cope with the mysterious “Scholar X”, a troublemaker whose id must be found.
5
Rejoice! (2015)
Excellence in compelled coexistence
Rejoice! is one other Ok-drama that basically makes use of every little thing that makes highschool tales as beloved as they're. Each trope one would think about can be current in a highschool Ok-Drama is right here, however that solely serves to make Rejoice! humorous and interesting relatively than predictable and boring.
As with every story that options two starkly completely different protagonists compelled to share the identical house, sparks will fly from day one.
The story begins when two extracurricular golf equipment at a Seoul highschool are forcibly joined collectively to type a cheerleading staff. The 2 golf equipment, nevertheless, couldn't be extra completely different. The primary is a road membership that's on the backside of the social meals chain like its chief, Kang Yeon-doo, whereas the second is a membership aimed on the college's elite, led by excellent pupil Kim Yeol. As with every story that options two starkly completely different protagonists compelled to share the identical house, sparks will fly from day one.
Past the fourth wall
Eun Dan-oh, a highschool pupil, makes the stunning discovery that she is a personality in a comic book guide, along with her life and future managed by the invisible creator. Decided to free herself from her deliberate existence, she groups up with Quantity 13, a mysterious classmate who shares her consciousness of their scenario. Collectively, they embark on a mission to rewrite their destinies, difficult the boundaries of their fictional world and confronting the emotional complexities of searching for autonomy in a predetermined actuality.
- Launch date
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October 2, 2019
- Ultimate 12 months
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November 30, 2018
- Solid
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Kim Hye-yoon, Rowoon, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Na-eun, Jung Gun-joo, Kim Younger-dae, Lee Tae-ri
- Seasons
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1
Ok-Dramas have grow to be more and more conscious of their very own tropes in recent times and have began to interact in some metanarratives. An ideal instance of that is Extraordinary youprimarily based on the webcomic July discovered by likelihoodwhich follows a gaggle of characters who truly dwell inside the comedian guide world.
The principle character, Solar Dan-oh, is an unusual pupil at a prestigious academy who quickly realizes that she and everybody round her are nothing greater than characters in a comic book guide titled Secretand that his sad life has already been determined by the almighty Author. Dan-oh, nevertheless, refuses to just accept this and is decided to put in writing her personal story, the place she is the principle character and is destined for greater than what the author has in retailer for her.
3
We Are All Lifeless (2021)
Necessary zombie story
It wouldn't be South Korean leisure and not using a zombie twist. No person does zombie tales like South Korea, and We're all useless brings this beloved horror trope to the highschool setting, creating fairly a phenomenon. The drama was a success upon its launch, and now We're All Lifeless Season 2 is predicted to reach in 2026.
We're all useless begins when a failed experiment by a science trainer on the native highschool within the fictional city of Hyosan causes all the constructing to be the epicenter of a zombie outbreak. The story then follows a gaggle of scholars who're trapped inside the varsity and take a look at their finest to remain alive whereas the Hyosan authorities wrestle to determine what to do to include the outbreak.
2
True Magnificence (2020 - 2021)
Ok-Drama romance at its finest
True Magnificence is a South Korean tv sequence primarily based on the Line Webtoon of the identical title. The present follows highschool pupil Im Ju-kyung, performed by Moon Ga-young, who masters the artwork of make-up to beat her insecurities about her look. Cha Eun-woo and Hwang In-yeop star as his romantic pursuits. The sequence investigates matters of shallowness, magnificence requirements and the affect of exterior look on private id.
- Launch date
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December 8, 2020
- Ultimate 12 months
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November 30, 2020
- Solid
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Moon Ga-young, Cha Eun-woo, Jang Hye-jin, Park Ho-san
- Seasons
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1
An amazing success of latest occasions, True Magnificence relies on the extremely standard webtoon of the identical title. It follows the principle character Lim Ju-kyung, a highschool pupil who has been relentlessly bullied by her friends for her unattractive look virtually her total life.
Ju-kyung decides to alter colleges and grow to be a make-up professional—one thing she learns to take action properly that her social standing at her new college will increase dramatically. After all, his “secret” should be found finally. To finish the image, Ju-kyung is torn between two male protagonists. On the one hand, there's Lee Su-ho, highly regarded however with a chilly angle; on the opposite. There may be Han Search engine optimisation-jun, with a tricky look however an extremely variety coronary heart.
1
Twenty 5 Twenty One (2021)
Romantic and emotional
Twenty-5 Twenty-One is a South Korean tv sequence directed by Jung Ji-hyun. Set within the aftermath of the 1997 Asian monetary disaster, the sequence follows the lives of a fencer and a reporter as they navigate love and ambition. Starring Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk, the sequence delves into themes of resilience and progress because the characters try to attain their goals in a time of uncertainty.
- Launch date
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February 12, 2022
- Ultimate 12 months
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November 30, 2023
- Solid
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Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Ji-yeon, Choi Hyun-wook, Lee Joo-myung
- Seasons
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1
Twenty-five twenty-one is a comparatively latest launch, however it's arguably one of many highest-rated Ok-Dramas within the historical past of Korean cable tv, in addition to a popular culture darling that has a devoted area of interest fan base even now. Extra bittersweet than different highschool dramas, Twenty-five twenty-one additionally covers a wider intervalfollowing its principal characters even after commencement.
On this Ok-dramaall of it begins with Na Dee-do, a proficient fencer who transfers colleges so she will be able to proceed her athletic profession - one thing she does till she turns into a member of the Nationwide Fencing Group. Alongside the way in which, she meets Baek Yi-jin, an aspiring journalist whose household misplaced its social and financial standing following the Worldwide Financial Fund disaster of 1997. Their lives will stream collectively and aside till the current day, when their daughter of Hee-do, Min-chae, finds her mom's diary and reads her story.