Classic K-Dramas That Started First Generation Hallyu Wave

Hit K-dramas before the arrival of Boys Over Flowers.

Tae Ho Mar 18, 2020
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27 Voters Report
  • Coffee Prince

    1. Coffee Prince

    Korean Drama - 2007, 17 episodes
    8.3
    1,488 points by 15 voters
    Choi Han Gyul is the grandson of chairwoman Bang of Dong-in Foods, a company that has a thriving coffee business. He has never had a job and does not care for responsibility. ...more
  • My Girl

    2. My Girl

    Korean Drama - 2005, 16 episodes
    7.8
    1,276 points by 13 voters
    When Gong Chan meets the lively and beautiful Yoo Rin, he finds out that she has connections to his missing cousin, whom his grandfather has been searching for. He asks Yoo Rin ...more
  • Goong

    3. Goong

    Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes
    7.8
    1,264 points by 13 voters
    Feisty, bubbly, and no-nonsense, Chae Gyeong is an ordinary high school student. Until one day when she receives some unexpected news. Because of her grandfather's will, she must marry the unendurable Crown ...more
  • Full House

    4. Full House

    Korean Drama - 2004, 16 episodes
    7.7
    976 points by 10 voters
    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 ...more
  • My Lovely Sam Soon

    5. My Lovely Sam Soon

    Korean Drama - 2005, 16 episodes
    7.9
    871 points by 9 voters
    Kim Sam Sun is a baker who has a talent for making pastries and cakes. On Christmas Eve, she catches her boyfriend, Min Hyeon U, cheating on her and breaks up. On ...more
  • Delightful Girl, Choon Hyang

    6. Delightful Girl, Choon Hyang

    Korean Drama - 2005, 17 episodes
    7.5
    591 points by 6 voters
    The story begins when Lee Mong Ryong is transferred from Seoul to a high school in Namwon, North Jeolla Province. Choon Hyang does her best to help Mong Ryong, her first love ...more
  • 1% of Anything

    7. 1% of Anything

    Korean Drama - 2003, 26 episodes
    6.9
    569 points by 6 voters
    Kim Jung Hwa is a young and sincere middle school teacher, who has little interest in money. She is also extremely warm-hearted and loves to help other people. When she helps carry ...more
  • Jewel in the Palace

    8. Jewel in the Palace

    Korean Drama - 2003, 54 episodes
    8.7
    479 points by 5 voters
    About 500 years ago during the time of Chosun Dynasty, Korea boasted a rigidly hierarchical and male dominated social structure. Based on a true story about a legendary girl, Jang Geum, who ...more
  • Lovers in Paris

    9. Lovers in Paris

    Korean Drama - 2004, 20 episodes
    7.3
    389 points by 4 voters
    Tae Young lives in Paris and is working on a screenplay, she meets Gi Ju while working at a friend's stall and Soo Hyuk, when her bicycle breaks down. Soo Hyuk and ...more
  • Winter Sonata

    10. Winter Sonata

    Korean Drama - 2002, 20 episodes
    7.7
    386 points by 4 voters
    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 ...more
  • Spring Waltz

    11. Spring Waltz

    Korean Drama - 2006, 20 episodes
    7.4
    384 points by 4 voters
    To escape debt, Lee Su Ho's father fled to a remote island where he met a friend with a young daughter, Eun Young, the same age as Su Ho. After being abandoned ...more
  • Stairway to Heaven

    12. Stairway to Heaven

    Korean Drama - 2003, 20 episodes
    7.9
    381 points by 4 voters
    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, ...more
  • Love Story in Harvard

    13. Love Story in Harvard

    Korean Drama - 2004, 16 episodes
    7.2
    380 points by 4 voters
    It portrays the dream and love pursued by foreign students studying at Harvard. It demonstrates bright, hard-working, and romantic characters and storylines. A young love story set at the famed Ivy League ...more
  • Save the Last Dance for Me

    14. Save the Last Dance for Me

    Korean Drama - 2004, 20 episodes
    7.7
    375 points by 4 voters
    Eun Soo is a pure but unsophisticated woman who runs a small resort inn with her father. Eun Soo is just an ordinary girl, but her life changes when she meets a ...more
  • Time Between Dog and Wolf

    15. Time Between Dog and Wolf

    Korean Drama - 2007, 16 episodes
    8.1
    293 points by 3 voters
    After his mother is brutally murdered in front of him by the Thai criminal syndicate Cheongbang, Lee Soo Hyun is adopted into NIS agent Kang Jung Ho's family. Together with Kang Min ...more
  • Autumn Tale

    16. Autumn Tale

    Korean Drama - 2000, 16 episodes
    7.7
    292 points by 3 voters
    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 ...more
  • What Happened in Bali

    17. What Happened in Bali

    Korean Drama - 2004, 20 episodes
    7.4
    283 points by 3 voters
    Lee Soo Jung is a travel agent who is seeking her good luck in Bali after a harsh and unforgiving childhood. She meets Jae Min, Kang In Wook, and Young Joo in ...more
  • Which Star Are You From?

    18. Which Star Are You From?

    Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes
    7.4
    281 points by 3 voters
    Seung Hui, after losing his girlfriend in a tragic accident, left for 3 years. When he came back, he sought to make a film in a rural area. Someone caught his eye ...more
  • Couple or Trouble

    19. Couple or Trouble

    Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes
    7.5
    275 points by 3 voters
    Anna Jo is a rude, feisty, and audacious American-bred heiress who can never be satisfied. She returns to Korea only to continue being a controlling wife to her already cowardly husband, Billy ...more
  • Sweet 18

    20. Sweet 18

    Korean Drama - 2004, 16 episodes
    7.4
    267 points by 3 voters
    Grandfather Kwon, the head of the traditional Kwon family agrees to an arranged marriage between his grandson Kwon Hyuk Joon and Yoon Jung Sook when Jung Sook is born. Jung Sook’s family ...more
  • All About Eve

    21. All About Eve

    Korean Drama - 2000, 20 episodes
    7.6
    200 points by 2 voters
    This drama is about two girls, Jin Sun Mi and Heo Young Mi. Sun Mi had a nice childhood and grew up with lots of love from her father. Young Mi's mother ...more
  • Successful Story of a Bright Girl

    22. Successful Story of a Bright Girl

    Korean Drama - 2002, 16 episodes
    7.1
    191 points by 2 voters
    Cha Yang Soon is a cute and innocent country girl who often daydreams of rescuing her prince. One day, she meets Han Ki Tae, who accidentally falls into her bathtub while she ...more
  • Jumong

    23. Jumong

    Korean Drama - 2006, 81 episodes
    8.3
    176 points by 2 voters
    Jumong was the founder of Goguryeo in 37 BC. He was the son of General Hae Mo Su and Lady Yoo Hwa and was raised by King Geum Wa, who took him ...more
  • Unstoppable High Kick

    24. Unstoppable High Kick

    Korean Drama - 2006, 167 episodes
    8.2
    172 points by 2 voters
    Lee Yoon Ho, a motorcycle maniac who engages in many fights at school and is known for his high kick, and Lee Min Ho, who enjoys spending time on scale models and ...more
  • Wild Romance

    25. Wild Romance

    Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
    7.4
    98 points by 1 voters
    Everything starts on the birthday of Eun Jae's dad. When she was drunk, Eun Jae ran into Park Moo Yul, who is the 2nd baseman of the "Red Dreamers". Eun Jae, who ...more
  • April Kiss

    26. April Kiss

    Korean Drama - 2004, 24 episodes
    6.7
    90 points by 1 voters
    Chae Won is a charming woman, who is also talented in arts. She majored in sculpture in college, and currently teaches at her private art school. One of the things that she ...more
  • Witch Yoo Hee

    27. Witch Yoo Hee

    Korean Drama - 2007, 16 episodes
    6.8
    89 points by 1 voters
    As the director of her father's advertising company, Ma Yoo Hee is known as a witch for her ruthless, no-nonsense character. After a string of failed attempts to hire a housekeeper, she ...more
  • Please Come Back, Soon Ae

    28. Please Come Back, Soon Ae

    Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes
    6.7
    88 points by 1 voters
    Soon Ae, a 40-something lady in her 10th year of marriage, suddenly finds Cho Eun, a pretty stewardess in her 20's, stride into her life to announce that "I am going out ...more
  • Prince's First Love

    29. Prince's First Love

    Korean Drama - 2004, 18 episodes
    6.7
    87 points by 1 voters
    Gun Hee, the Prince of a Hotel chain, lives an irresponsible jet setting existence. That is cut short when he meets Yu Bin. She ends up getting him in trouble with his ...more
  • A Love to Kill

    30. A Love to Kill

    Korean Drama - 2005, 16 episodes
    7.3
    85 points by 1 voters
    Kang Bok Gu, a tough K-1 fighter with a tragic past, falls in love with Cha Eun Seok, a TV talent and actress. His love is forbidden because of a misunderstanding that ...more
  • Summer Scent

    31. Summer Scent

    Korean Drama - 2003, 20 episodes
    7.3
    84 points by 1 voters
    Three year's previously Min Woo lost his first love in a tragic accident. As he struggles on with life he meets Hye Won who reminds him of his lost love but is ...more
  • Romance

    32. Romance

    Korean Drama - 2002, 16 episodes
    7.2
    83 points by 1 voters
    Fatal love strikes us out of a sudden and helplessly takes us deep down into the sea of fervor, giving us no choice but to yield. This drama beautifully unfolds the forbidden ...more
  • Hwang Jin Yi

    33. Hwang Jin Yi

    Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes
    7.9
    81 points by 1 voters
    This story is about the life of Joseon dancer, musician and poet, Hwang Jin Yi, who seeks perfection in her art relentlessly and the hardship facing women due to their lowly social ...more
  • Sweet Spy

    34. Sweet Spy

    Korean Drama - 2005, 20 episodes
    7.1
    79 points by 1 voters
    Nam Sang-mi plays widowed police officer Lee Sun-ae who finds herself suddenly immersed into international espionage by Han Yoo-il (Dennis Oh), an undercover agent. Lee Joo-hyun plays Kang-Jun, who's recently transferred to ...more
  • On Air

    35. On Air

    Korean Drama - 2008, 21 episodes
    7.4
    77 points by 1 voters
    This drama is about behind the scene in TV drama productions. It also portrays how the whole production team and performers complete a project on a tight schedule as well as how ...more
  • Temptation of Wife

    36. Temptation of Wife

    Korean Drama - 2008, 129 episodes
    7.6
    76 points by 1 voters
    Dreaming of studying in France, Goo Eun, who majored in make-up at university, is taken advantage of one night while drunk. Discovering that she was pregnant, she marries her assailant Jung Gyo ...more
  • Bodyguard

    37. Bodyguard

    Korean Drama - 2003, 22 episodes
    6.8
    74 points by 1 voters
    Since Kyung Tak was forced to retire from his military services due to the fault of his superior, he is jobless and tries to make a living helping out at his parent's ...more

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