My Top Korean Drama List

I love K -Drama or Korean dramas to be exact!  I think most people  had watched a  Korean drama especially during this pandemic when most people are in a stay home mode.    

In the Philippines,  TV stations like ABS-CBN, GMA-7 and TV5 started airing TV Korean  dramas in 2003 due to huge demands from the Filipino tele viewers. The very first Korean drama aired   by GMA Television was  "Bright Girl";  while ABS-CBN was  "Meteor Garden"- a Taiwanese Drama, which was quite so popular that the cast came to the Philippines. 

My journey in watching Korean dramas started in 2005.   I bought a Korean CDs entitled  "Saved the Last Dance" which  contained 20 Compact Discs.  During that time,  digital video recording was stored in a DVD format.   It might be difficult to imagine that  online streaming wasn't even a thing then.  "Save the Last Dance For Me" leading cast are  Eugene, Ji Sung, Ryu Soo-young and Lee Bo-young. The drama is about two lovers who did not  let amnesia get in the way of their love and live happily ever after. 

Then  it was followed by  "The Princess Hours Goong" which has 24 episodes.   It is based on Korean manhwa "Goong" meaning Palace by Park So-Hee. We enjoyed  watching  this K drama as there is so  many delightful and funny scenes between  the characters named Chae-gyeon, an ordinary art high school  student and  Ju Ji-hoon who played  the  Crown Prince Lee Shin.    It is the  story about young love in face of tradition, politics, and intrigue in an Imperial Household or Palace setting. 

Then with the power of internet, live streaming started:  online streaming,  video streaming become popular.   Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and Apple TV+ are among the few online streaming platforms that are popular nowadays.   Watching Korean dramas are made easy with the online streaming.  Gone are the days that you have to buy compact discs and used a DVD recorder to watch  a Korean dramas.  You can now watch K Drama  24/7  anytime and anywhere as long as you have an internet and a streaming apps available in your mobile.  

The historical Korean dramas are my favorite genres in the beginning.  The stories set during the Joseon eras about the Kingdom, dynasty, royalty families etc.  quite interests  me.   Among my  top favorite historical K dramas are  Moon Embracing the Sun,  Six Flying Dragons, The Deep Rooted Tree, Rooftop Prince and Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung. 

As time goes by, my genres broaden to mystery, sci-fi and contemporary stories.  The story  about the South and North Korean is also  an interesting plot which I enjoyed watching  dramas entitled  " Crash Landing On You"  and "Doctor Strangers".

Romantic comedy is  also  the most popular genre of K-drama. There are so many common stories and had watched many of them like "The Heirs, She is Pretty, Romance is A Bonus Book,  My Love from the Star, Coffee Prince, Healer, My Secret Terrius,  are among my favorite romantic  Korean dramas.

What is so interesting in  Korean Drama that  it has so  many  followers ? What are the reasons people are  drawn  to  watching inspite of the language barrier.   I have listed  several reasons which I believe are what  attract people to K-dramas: 

1. Their storyline is unique and interesting.  

K drama stories are creative; the brilliant twists in their stories are amazing and the element of surprise is one of  the captivating attributes of their stories.  It is not the stereotype or the usual plots; somehow there is always  something new, an  unexpected twist  in their storylines and plotlines which  keeps you engage, enthrall  and compel to watch. The mystery that  each stories  present   is always interesting. It is quite obvious that the team of the shows  have  really made  an incredible effort in their selection from the scriptwriters, the leading stars and the supporting roles ,to the music,  the outfits and even the location of the scenes.  

2. The leading stars are beautiful and handsome.  

Quite true as most of the  Korean   stars- may it be male or female-  are  all beautiful creatures in physical form.  Koreans are famous  for their  beautiful,   flawless skins and slim bodies.  That is also the reason why Korean cosmetics products  are  selling like hot cakes in the Philippines and even in other countries. It is  because of their pore less, chiseled-to-perfection faces which are simply too hard to resist and fall in love too.  Some of these movie stars become real  life partners, their  on-screen romances blossom into real romance and for some, enter into a   lifetime commitment.   

3. There outfits  and sense of fashion is catchy and trendy .

Koreans are also   trend setters from the clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories they wear and promote.  There’s something about the way Koreans dress  that looks like doll or  mannequin straight  from a  fashion magazine  or a runway show.  Both men and women carry their outfits  with such  aplomb and style. They are influencers, their glossy, designer clothes and the  accessories are  simply divine and a favorites. Especially if the theme of the story  is about  a rich and famous lifestyle.    You will surely see  the grand,  lavish displays from the OOTDs,  the house,  the settings, as "luxurious  lifestyles" is showcase  and highlighted in the drama.   

4. The food are delicious  and looks tasteful.  

Korean dishes are a" feast"  as they have abundant side dishes  which is  part of their  meals . You will also crave with their food such dishes as  Korean barbecues, Kimchi, Tteokboki or simply Chicken.  And not to miss that green colored bottled wine name" Soju "  which is  a perfect  partner with a pork belly barbecue  and  a favorite among Koreans and even the Filipinos now.  

  

5. The romantic moments are tastefully done, and it is wholesome . 

Korean Dramas are wholesome. They use the kissing scene  as a very important spice  in their dramas  hence it is use sparingly, so the viewers have something to look forward to as the story progresses. The creative teams behind the shows made the kissing scenes worth the wait, and give them the spotlight they do deserve.  Another thing  that is good with the Korean dramas, the  kissing scenes don’t lead into a bed scenes which is admirable as it is not exploited to get more viewership's.  Most of the  dramas are decent and the viewership can be categorized as "general patronage". And if  they do, it is done with a classy approach which can be watched  and the it  is  done as part of the romantic excitement.    The family-friendly themes are applied well and with a taste, that's why family-related stories never fail to tug and touch our hearts. 

 
6. Their love teams are  chosen  well and pairings are blended like a perfect match.  

The pairings of the lead stars for every show always change depending on the script and characters of the stories. What’s great about this is viewers are always treated to a different kind of chemistry. And as such it is done so well, that most partners ended becoming  real partner off the screen. I think that it is quite natural as they internalize their characters well and it become  part of them and the romance is continued after the drama is completed. 

7. The cinematography and the music. 

These two are important part of any K dramas and  it  is added as the perfect ingredient to complete the story. The music chosen are  selected and done carefully. The song must express the mood and complement the  structure of the story as a finishing touch.  There are songs  originally compose and  became a soundtrack of the TV dramas. The song played in the "The Heirs"  entitled "Love is the Moment" which was played every 5 minutes created a connection  that even until now you still remember the song and the story. The Crash Landing On You is one of the most popular dramas in the Year  2020 and  it is because of the original soundtrack and  having  famous  singers like  Yoon Mi-Rae, Baek Ye-Rin, and IU, and because of that, it contributes to the  success of this  drama.

Here are My Top 30 Korean Dramas listed  below:

1. The Moon Embracing the Sun
2. Crash Landing On You  
3. Descendants of the Sun 
4. The World of the Married 
5. Goblin  
6. Pinocchio 
7. Memories of Alhambra
8. 100 days my Prince
9. The Penthouse
10. Start Up
11. The Rookie Historian 
12. 49 Days
13. Secret Garden 
14. The Vagabond 
15. The Baker King 
16. While you Were Sleeping 
17. Iljimae
18. The Great Queen Seondeok 
19. The Empress Ki 
20. Mr. Sunshine 
21. Dong Yi 
22. Moon Lovers : Scarlet Heart Ryeo 
23. Faith 
24. Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
25. Hwarang
26. Jewel in the Palace
27. My Sassy Girl
28. Oh My Venus 
29. Suspicious Partners  and  
30. The Girl Who See Scents"

K-dramas  become a  part of my leisure and entertainment life . It is supposed to be a weekend treat  but admittedly I  became hooked on watching that even in the evening it occupies my time and space.  It is a temporary situation since I am a freelancer, I  can manage my time once I am  finish with  my  blogging and Social Media posting.  On the positive note, watching Korean dramas veers me away from the negative news  and worries  happening around us  because of the pandemic.   I always look forward for any new K drama series in the Netflix.

So what about you?  What are your top and favorite K-dramas ?  What are your most unforgettable K dramas that you have watched and have not forgotten till today?  What are the most popular K Dramas that touch your heart and make you  watch them again and again and  from time to time? 

Hope you will share your thoughts here.  Thank You for reading . Stay safe and stay HEALTHY. 

#top30koreandramalist

#koreandramas

#kdramas

 

My New Loves

During  the pandemic times, I discovered a new skill and that is Acrylic Painting. Truth is, I had been trying for the longest time  to doodle,  sketch  and paint,  found it difficult,  ended up feeling frustrated, failed with the attempt numerous times, hence  the desire was set aside and  forgotten, for a long time.  Until I watched a DIY video about Acrylic Painting easy-to-do  in Facebook, in July  last year. 

I was thinking that time indeed  could be a factor  for the  delay.  Yes, there is  a maturity that you have to reach,  in my experience,  right  timing too   plus the heart's  desire to make your  creative pursuit become a reality.

I remember when I was a child, I greatly admired   famous artists   like Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh,  Leonardo Da Vinci who painted the famous painting  "Mona Lisa".  These  famous  painters are considered geniuses of their generation  and  great contributors even until now. 

During the lockdown mode, I learnt that these creative pursuits are not limited to a few only. In the old times, only the talented and gifted individuals knows how to paint. Learning  painting  are  now available and  within our grasp.  All you need is an internet,  a social media account,  the desire to learn, the  right attitude, the commitment  to a goal and consistent attitude.  

After watching that  DIY video, that began my journey in Acrylic Painting.  My grandfather was a painter too,  must be the reason why I am intrigued and interested in painting since child,  and cannot give it up because we  have it in our  blood.  And the good thing, I was not alone in this endeavor, my sister too.  

Together, we bought the materials in   a nearby shop.   As a beginners, we bought our painting materials  at a very cheap price:  Dhs 12.00 only and it is a set: there are paintbrushes in it,  12 kinds of paint colors,  each color is in a 10ml  tube   and 1 small canvas. 

Once we started painting, we  learnt  that   there are a lot of free tutorials in You Tube and even in the Facebook.  We started with a simple designs like clouds, mountains, trees and seas.  My  sisters love to paint  flowers and nature.  While,  I prefer to paint  landscape designs like sceneries, beach-inspired, mountains, and Mother Nature.  Little by little,  we started with a simple and easy design. After we completed a few works, we are now   "artist" and it feels good to finally achieve a goal, and a dream. 

To learn more, we  spend time watching  free tutorial  in  You tube everyday. Many creative artist shared these  knowledge  for "free" and that is enough to start building your know-how and knowledge. To thank them, and their efforts, just click and  like  their videos, subscribed  if you want to receive an update from them. 

Learning Acrylic Painting  awoken a creative enthusiast within me. Although at times, I felt frustrated when I can't get it right at first,   I have to redo the works again the way the artist did it , re-start all over again if  the painting is not exactly as per the picture I was painting. These are all  part of my  experiences and my journey into the  world of creative arts.

Later on, I realized  that it does not have to be that perfect or exactly  the way the artists does. Each of us have their own unique  and special way to express their  talents. It is just up to us how we do it,  choose  the best ways to  transform  these creative ideas  into the  canvas. 

I am thankful to all the  artists in You Tube who shared their talents  for free. These free tutorials really help people like me who are beginners and has zero knowledge in acrylic paintings. 

Below are the photos of  the paint works I have done and completed. Some of these paintings are inspired from creative artists I watched in You Tube and social media, few of them are my own original ideas like the paintworks in the Happy Outlander Day , the horses,  and the sea creatures. too.

I still have a lot to learn and  I do set a goal to paint one painting  per week as much as I could.  It is also my goal to try   other mediums  like oil painting, watercolor, sketching and even digital print too.  

As an overseas worker, miles and miles away from my family, learning acrylic painting  was very helpful to me during the pandemic times.  It has  kept me  occupied, inspired  and feeling  positive when there is a lot of doubts and uncertainties in the  world  then.  

Right now, acrylic painting  is a hobby that I enjoy doing during my free time and it is my stress-reliever, too.   Painting is  my diversion, my cup of joy,  that  makes me happy .  I  hope that someday I could convert these hobby into a rewarding,  and profitable skills  like others do.  

Acrylic Paintings is in my heart and  my newfound happiness.  My new loves   is  Acrylic Painting.  

What about you,  what have you discovered during the pandemic times? What is that something  that inspired you, or awaken your  passion within and makes your heart sing? 

Whatever it is, Good luck and Happy Painting!