My Favorite Korean Dramas

Best Korean Drama for me. As someone who really dislike weak female leads, I really love this drama. It has a strong female lead, and a strong female nemesis against her. Another supporting female lead is also strong in her own way. There is also a very strong supporting female character.

The characters are unique and unforgettable. Aside from the women, you get these awesome male characters, most of them can be divided between the side of the female lead and the side of the female nemesis. There is a male character who has a unique connection to the female archenemies and it's intriguing to figure out which side is he on (or is he on no one's side).

The politics is very smart. The discussions on government and ruling also makes the viewers more smart. The action scenes are also really great. 

really an unforgettable drama for me. 

With the same writers as Queen Seon Deok, this is bound to be great. I love how the drama is able to depict the story of the founding of Joseon very well and also including some fictional elements while still being true to the important historical parts. Consistent with the writer's other works, 6 flying Dragons is able to show the dynamism of it's many character's from lead to supporting. In fact, the characters are so dynamic and written very good that I'm not really sure who to root for in the end because the characters from fighting for different sides all have their good and bad points. It becomes my top 2 historical drama because the acting by everyone is really, really good. The acting really tops the amazing writing and directing of the show. Plus the swordfighting scenes are really the best and makes everything more interesting. (Queen Seon Deok is above this one because the main characters are female, and I'm really into female centric well written dramas). 

A very unique story. It's a  very good drama based on the lives of two Korean famous painters. The way the paintings are depicted in this drama is very creative. Love is also depicted in many ways in this drama. I love how the love of various characters is somehow connected to the paintings depicted in the drama. You have unconventional potential romances: 1. between an older man and his young student who is actually a woman pretending to be a man, 2. between two women, a gisaeng and a painter (woman pretending to be a man), 3. between foster siblings. You are given enough reasons to love all the unconventional relationships in your own way and the drama doesn't have to force to only love one of the pairings. A king is also here in this drama, and he is really charismatic here. 

Great acting by all actors around. 

Amazing historical drama. Great faction sageuk that creatively depicts the creation of hangul in its unique way without really offending historical facts. Some episodes can actually bring viewers to the edge of their seats. Political discourse on the drama is very well handled and entertaining, yet still somehow makes the viewers more smart and educated. 

Has the best actor in Korea for depicting the king in Han Suk Kyu. Great acting also by his younger version Song Joong Ki

Great story of one of Korea's legendary founder. It is a coming of age story, a romance (depicted by many pairings including one same sex couple), many love triangles, action drama, comedy, war drama, family conflicts, costume galore, all  combined in one drama. 

One of the best historical dramas where there is a focus on romance. Chemistry between both couples are really fantastic and heart-wrenching. Great script by the writers, salute in combining the main fictional love story (that is debated whether it is real or not) and other fictional parts of the drama to the real political events in the drama without really offending historical facts. Salute to the writers in also making a second couple that is as compelling as the first one. Great depiction on the growth and development of the characters. Characters are all acted really well (love the female lead). 

A great drama that really introduced many art forms in Korea. Great storytelling on women artists in Korea and their somehow limited choices in life. Best costumes, fantastic dancing, etc. Ha Ji Won acting in this drama is so good.

An excellent cast in an amazing sageuk. Beautiful sageuk story of how a woman from a humble nation rose to the highest position in one of the biggest empire's in world history. Emotionally driven characters. I love the acting of Ha Ji Won, Ji Chang Wook, Joo Jin Mo and Baek Jin Hee. 

Love this version of King Jeongjo's story. Chemistry between Han Ji Min and Lee Seo Jin are so sweet.  I also love the fact that Yi San was caring to his queen and other concubines even if it's obvious he doesn't love them as much as Song Yeon. Love the depiction of Queen Hyo Eui

The first fusion sageuk. Fantastic chemistry between Ha Ji Won and both her male leads Lee Seo Jin and Kim Min Joon. Drama can be outdated for some modern audiences but I still really love it. What I love about this drama is how well they tell the story of 3 unfortunate characters intertwined by fate and forbidden romances. In fact one of the romances here is really unforbidden even by today's standards (between a brother and a sister who fell in love with each other without knowing each other's identity and still continuing romantically loving each other even after they knew the truth). What's really amazing is despite the uncoventional relationships, viewers who watch this drama will still be touched by their sincere and genuine feelings. 

My first kdrama, though I always consider it one of the best and being a very much favorite of mine due to its excellent story, it wasn't a super favorite given that as much as I love the main character and her romance, I have a particular bias for her friend character more. But having rewatched in 2023 (though the friend is still my most favorite character) I grew to appreciate the story and the female lead's journey more (not that i haven't before but I appreciate her more now) and I even grew more fonder of the female lead's romance. Thus here is Jewel in the Palace at Top 11 but included in my most fave/best kdramas.