Best and Most Popular Korean Drama of The 2000s Decade (Part I)

Not only that 2019 is coming to an end, but the 2010s decade is ending as well. It’s such a surreal thing to think about, because the me 10 years ago would have imagined welcoming 2020 with flying cars and robot everywhere. But hey, we have Tesla who can drive itself, phone-sized computers where we can carry everywhere, be it for work or to binge-watch Korean drama(s). So you know, all in all, I’d say it’s been a pretty great decade.

On the topic of Korean drama, you girl started watching Kdramas about 3 or 4 years ago, still a newborn noob I know, but heck if I’m not highly highly obsessed with them––the good ones at least. With that said, the trash Korean dramas––no offense––is a dime in a dozen. Finding some good ass Korean dramas to binge-watch is no easy fit.

Which is why, I have donned on my cape made out of sexy oppas’ abs and decided to give you a helpful guide on which Korean dramas are worth your time.

1. Autumn in My Heart (가을동화)

Genre : Romance, Melodrama, Tragedy 

Starring : Song Seung-heon, Song Hye-kyo, Won Bin

Aired : September 18, 2000 –– November 7, 2000

Episodes : 16

BLURB : 

Yoon Joon Suh and Yoon Eun Suh grew up as siblings but Eun Suh was in fact from a different family as there was a mix up at the hospital where she was born. The switch came to light when Eun Suh was involved in a car accident and it was discovered that her blood type was different from her parents. Eun Suh’s life took a complete turn when the 2 girls were returned to their respective families. Soon after, the Yoon family left for the States and Eun Suh was left living in sordid condition with her real family in Korea. Years after, Joon Suh returned to Korea and by chance the two former siblings were reunited.

2. Winter Sonata (겨울연가)

Genre : Romance, Drama, Melodrama 

Starring : Ji-Woo Choi, Yong-jun Bae, Ha Jae-Young

Aired : January 14, 2002 –– March 19, 2002

Episodes : 20

BLURB : 

Joon Sang moves to a new high school in search of his biological father. Yu Jin and Sang Hyuk are close childhood friends, although Sang Hyuk wants to be more than a friend, Yu Jin sees him as a brother. On a trip together with other high school mates, Oh Chelin, Jin Suk and Yong Kuk, Yu Jin is saved after an accident by Joon Sang. They become close and she opens up his cold heart. However, circumstances and fate dictate that their love will never be. He abruptly disappears from their lives.

Ten years later, the old High School buddies gather to celebrate Yu Jin and Sang Hyuk’s soon-to-be wedding. Yu Jin, who was deeply in love with Joon Sang, still has a fire in her heart for him. But at the party, Oh Chelin’s new boyfriend arrives, who appears the same as Joon Sang.

3. All In (올인)

Genre : Crime, Romance, Drama

Starring : Lee Byung-hun, Song Hye-kyo, Ji Sung 

Aired : January 15, 2003 –– April 3, 2003

Episodes : 24

BLURB : 

As a kid, all Kim In Ha ever did was follow his uncle around and help him cheat in gambling. As a high school student, he hung out with his friends at the basement of a theater. As Kim In Ha gets to know Choi Jeong Won, a model student and also the son of a very rich family, In Ha tries to tempt him into doing mischievous deeds. Both Kim In Ha and Choi Jeong Won falls in love with Han Ji-Min and as they try to take revenge for Ji-Min’s father, their life spirals into different directions.

4. Stairway to Heaven (천국의 계단)

Genre : Melodrama, Romance, Tragedy 

Starring : Choi Ji-woo, Kwon Sang-woo, Kim Tae-hee

Aired : December 3, 2003 –– February 5, 2004

Episodes : 20

BLURB : 

The relationship of childhood sweethearts Cha Song Joo and Hang Jung Suh becomes complicated when Jung Suh’s father remarries. Along with a new stepmother, Jung Suh also has a new introverted stepbrother, Han Tae Hwa and a scheming stepsister, Han Yuri. Gradually, Tae Hwa falls in love with kind-hearted Jung Suh and Yuri decides to pursue Song Joo. Nothing can shake the bond between Jung Suh and Song Joo, however, not even Song Joo’s departure to study abroad in America.

On the night of his return, however, Jung Suh is mysteriously hit by a car and believed dead. Having lost her memory in the crash, she is taken in by Tae Hwa, who relocates and gives her another name. Five years later, on the eve of his engagement to Yuri, Song Joo sees someone who looks exactly like his lost love Jung Suh.

5. Full House (풀하우스)

Genre : Comedy, Romance, Drama

Starring : Song Hye-kyo, Rain, Han Eun-jung

Aired : July 14, 2004 –– September 2, 2004

Episodes : 16

BLURB : 

Han Ji Eun, an aspiring scriptwriter, lives in a house called “Full House” built by her late father. One day, her two best friends trick her into believing she has won a free vacation. While she is away, they sell her house. On the plane, she meets a famous actor named Lee Young Jae. Through comedic events, they get acquainted during her vacation and when she returns, she discovers her house has been sold to him.
Though they don’t get along with each other, as she is messy and he has a bad temper and likes cleanliness, they agreed to live with each other.

At first, Ji Eun works as his maid in order to buy her house back, but because of Young Jae’s wish to make the love of his life, Kang Hye Won jealous, they get married. They set up a contract for the marriage to last six months. During that time, complications arise and Ji Eun and Young Jae become attracted to each other.

6. Coffee Prince (커피프린스 1호점)

Genre : Comedy, Romance, Drama

Starring : Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun-kyun

Aired : July 2, 2007 –– August 28, 2007

Episodes : 17

BLURB : 

A tomboy is mistaken for a young man, but maintains the deception for the sake of employment. The situation becomes complicated when her male boss begins to develop feelings for this “boy” and vice versa.

7. Boys Over Flowers (꽃보다 남자)

Genre : Comedy, Romance, Youth, Drama

Starring : Ku Hye-sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong

Aired : January 5, 2009 –– March 31, 2009

Episodes : 25

BLURB : 

Jan Di, the Heroine, is the poor but bright girl who has a strong sense of justice and full of vitality. She transfers to an exclusive high school where only the rich go. In there, she encounters with the four rich and quirky boys and experiences love and friendship.

8. Iris (아이리스)

Genre : Action, Suspense, Thriller, Mystery 

Starring : Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee, Jung Joon-ho

Aired : October 14, 2009 –– December 17, 2019

Episodes : 20

BLURB : 

Kim Hyun Joon and Jin Sa Woo are best friends who were brought into a top secret organization known as NSS by analyst Choi Seung Hee and Park Sang Hyun. Hyun Joon and Sa Woo both fall in love with Seung Hee when she first profiles them. Their lives are changed forever when Hyun Joon is given a solo mission in Hungary. Hyun Joon later tries to find out who set him up and to figure out what IRIS is and wants.

9. My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (내 여자친구는 구미호)

Genre : Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural 

Starring : Lee Seung-gi, Shin Min-ah, No Min-woo

Aired : August 11, 2010 –– September 30, 2010

Episodes : 16

BLURB : 

One day after Cha Dae Woong runs away from his grandfather, he accidentally frees a nine-tailed fox who was trapped in a painting for about 500 years. He didn’t realize what he has done until the Gumiho (nine-tailed fox), who took the form of a beautiful woman, appeared in front of him. Dae Woong was so frightened that he ran away from her and became severely injured. The Gumiho saved him by giving him her most precious bead to share with him the mystic fox strength, as she owed him her freedom. The Gumiho then asked him to help her become human and teach her how to act like one. As time goes by, their mutual relationship grew deeper as they start to fall for each other.

10. Oh, My Lady (오! 마이 레이디)

Genre : Comedy, Romance

Starring : Chae Rim, Choi Siwon, Lee Hyun-woo

Aired : March 22, 2010 –– May 11, 2010

Episodes : 16

BLURB : 

A spunky 35-year-old housewife, Yoon Gae Hwa, takes on the job of manager to prickly top star Sung Min Woo in order to earn enough money to regain custody of her child from her ex-husband. Romantic hijinks and hilarity ensues when they find themselves in an awkward living situation as Min Woo pays Gae Hwa to take care of his daughter, Ye Eun.

11. Pasta (파스타)

Genre : Comedy, Romance, Food

Starring : Gong Hyo-jin, Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nui

Aired : January 4, 2010 –– March 9, 2010

Episodes : 20

BLURB : 

Seo Yoo Kyung endured the gruelling job of kitchen assistant at high-class restaurant La Sfera for two years in hopes of being promoted to chef. Things are looking up as she meets a handsome stranger on the street who ends up being the restaurant’s new head chef. His first day on the job, however, he fires all the female cooks, including Yoo Kyung. Yoo Kyung, too stubborn to let go of her dream, she is willing to do whatever it takes to get her job back. Yoo Kyung struggles as she butts heads with the new chef while trying to learn everything she can from him at the same time, and sparks begin to fly.

Things are complicated by the presence of Kim San, a charming customer with an eye for Yoo Kyung who seems to have mysterious ties to the restaurant, and Oh Sae Young, a famous TV Chef and former love of Hyun Wook, not to mention the kitchen politics that get in the way of their budding romance.

12. Personal Taste (개인의 취향)

Genre : Comedy, Romance

Starring : Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-ho, Kim Ji-seok

Aired : March 31, 2010 –– May 20, 2010

Episodes : 16

BLURB : 

Jeon Jin Ho is a straight guy who is mistaken as gay when he applies to become Park Gae In’s roommate. His hobbies include organization and ironing, and he’s known for his stoic poker face. He’s a stickler for cleanliness, but he also has a talent for figuring out a women’s feelings. Gae In is very trusting even though she has a habit of being betrayed. However, that doesn’t stop her from giving people the benefit of doubt and Jin Ho is no different. How will Gae In react when she finds out that her gay roommate is not actually gay at all and that he has fallen for her?

13. Secret Garden (시크릿 가든)

Genre : Comedy, Romance, Supernatural 

Starring : Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Yoon Sang-hyun

Aired : November 13, 2010 –– January 16 , 2011

Episodes : 20

BLURB : 

The drama tells the story of Kim Joo Won, an arrogant and eccentric CEO who maintains the image of seeming perfection, and Gil Ra Im, a poor and humble stuntwoman whose beauty and body are the object of envy amongst top actresses. Their accidental meeting, when Joo Won mistakes Ra Im for actress Park Chae Rin, marks the beginning of a tense, bickering relationship, through which Joo Won tries to hide agrowing attraction to Ra Im that both confuses and disturbs him. To complicate matters further, a strange sequence of events results in them swapping bodies.

Other posts :

• The Casts of Boys Over Flowers : Where Are They Today?
• Korean Drama Review : Vagabond –– Is It Worth All The Hype?