Tomorrow With You ~ Can a Time Traveler Change the Future?

“Tomorrow With You” is a 2017 drama series, with 16 episodes, and can be categorized as Time Travel, Romance, Comedy (Rom-Com) and Fantasy or Supernatural.

• SUMMARY: Suppose you meet someone on one day and that chance meeting saved your life. Then on another day you see your lifeless body being a carried away and the lifeless body of the woman who saved your life is also being carried away. Since you have the ability to time travel, maybe you can go back and sever the relationship you have with her. That should be fix everything. Right? That might work IF ... the ability to travel through time also gives you the ability to change the future. But if it doesn't ...

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♦ Life is Shorter Than You Think

Yoo So-joon is a handsome, young and wealthy CEO. You could say he has it all. What more could he ask for? Love? Well, that's obvious. But what else? How about the ability to travel through time? That wasn't exactly something that Yoo So-joon had on his wish list. But one day while riding the subway train, he felt a terrible pain in his head. The next thing he knew he was in a different time period. As soon as he got off the train he met another time traveler. The time traveler told him he'll have to get used to going back and forth between past, present, and future. But the most important rule is to never be in the same time period with yourself. He can't be with his present self and his future self at the same time. That's bad!

OK! Important safety tip! But guess what happened? Yoo So-joon saw his dead body being carried away on a stretcher. There was also a woman who had died and her name was Song Ma-Rin. Yoo So-joon wondered if it was possible to change the outcome of this tragic event. He time traveled again and it turns out he and Song Ma-Rin were married. In another time period, he and Song Ma-Rin were both on the same train. They got into an argument with each other and got off the train. While they were still arguing, the train blew up! Yoo So-joon had intended to stay on the train that day. If he had, he would have died.

Somehow the timelines of their lives were intertwined. In one period, she saved his life. In another, they both died together.

Song Ma-Rin is unaware that Yoo So-joon has already seen her future. She is barely managing to live in the present because her past keeps getting in the way. Song Ma-Rin used to be a child star but when she grew up she did not pursue an acting career. The problem is reporters keep writing articles about how she has not accomplished anything since her fame as a child actress and this gets in the way of her moving forward. When she met Yoo So-Joon he gave her this advice: "Life is shorter than you think. You shouldn't be hung up on the past.” He could say that, since Yoo So-joon already knew her future.

Yoo So-joon decided to traveled back in time to see if he could break their connection. If he could somehow sever their relationship, they wouldn't be together, they wouldn't fall in love and get married, and they probably would not die in a terrible accident. But does having the ability to time-travel also give you the ability to change your future?

Main Characters:

• Song Ma-Rin (played by Shin Min-A**)

• Yoo So-Joon (played by Lee Je-Hoon, “Chief Inspector 1958”, “Taxi Driver 1 and 2”, “Move to Heaven”, “My Paparotti”, “Time to Hunt”)

** Shin Min-A is a Korean actress who popped up on my radar in “Arang and the Magistrate ”. She stars in several Korean dramas that are still on my watch list: “Diva”, “Chief of Staff 1 and 2”, “Oh My Venus” (award-winning), and “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”. Have you watched any of these?

• Where to Watch: The Roku Channel and Tubi TV

Viewership and Ratings:

• IMDb Rating: 7.4 out of 10 stars

• My Drama List: 8 out of 10 stars

• Dramabeans: 8.3 out of 10 stars

• Letterboxd: 3.6 out of 5 stars

• Google users public rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is the same as My Drama List.

This Kdrama series had mixed reviews. Some did not give high marks for the acting or the script. Others said it was underrated and thought the chemistry between the couple was great.

I am always interested in how a scriptwriter will spin a time travel fantasy / love story. In “Tomorrow With You”:

• The female lead had a difficult time trying to get away from her past, so that she could live productively in the present.

• The male lead was trying to get away from his grim future that had her in it.

He felt should she could easily fix her problem if she just wasn't hung up on her past. Whereas the best way to fix his problem was to get her out of his life, because she is the problem!

I had to see how this was going to work out.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Tomorrow With You | Korean Drama Review (“A beautiful, languidly romantic time traveling story,...”)

Twelve (12) of the Best Time Travel K Dramas And Where To Watch Them | TODAY

Lee Je Hoon: An Actor Review | Drama Homebody

Tomorrow With You ~ Can a Time Traveler Change the Future? https://t.co/qMhn9txwm3 #kdramas #Koreandrama #allthingshallyu #entertainment #popcornworthy #fantasy

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) August 10, 2024

WATCH TRAILER:

Ani-Hongo. “TOMORROW, with YOU (2017) - TRAILER.” YouTube Video. YouTube, March 28, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=824cd8uXz8Y.

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Angel's Last Mission: Love (2019); An Award-Winning Korean Drama

"Angel’s Last Mission: Love"

Kim Dan is an angel who knows the rules of the heavenly realm. He must never touch a human. If he does, he'll disappear, as in “cease to exist”. He doesn't want that. He wants to go to heaven. But even though he knew the rules, the female was badly injured and pleading for someone to save her. Lee Seul-hwa was blind but she could hear that someone was there at the accident and they were close enough to help her. She used to be a prima ballerina, but while performing on stage one night there was a terrible accident which resulted in her losing her eyesight. People are afraid to be around her because she is an angry, bitter, cold-hearted former ballet dancer who takes out her frustration on everyone else, as if it's their fault. What is even worse is that the Fantasia Ballet Company that her parents built for her to inherit has almost been stolen from her by greedy relatives.

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So many times Lee Seul-hwa had wanted to die. But now that she might actually die, she's begging to live. Her pitiful pleas were too much for Kim Dan and he yielded to temptation. He broke the rules and touched a human to save her life. When Lee Seul-hwa woke up in the hospital she could see! Meanwhile Kim Dan was getting ready to receive his punishment. But wait! He didn't disappear! Why does he still exist? It's true, he does exist, but no longer as an angel. Now he is a human who is being given a chance to re-earn his wings. This will be his last mission. If he fails he can forget about a heavenly reward. What's the mission? LOVE. He must find true love for Lee Seul-hwa. Even though she is no longer blind, she is still disgruntled, angry and a terrifying person to be in the same room with.

Lee Seul-hwa has so many emotional scars. She is afraid to love because all of the people she loved have died. Loving someone is too painful so she avoids becoming vulnerable. Kim Dan starts trying to play matchmaker, but starts to develop genuine feelings for her and unintentionally creates a love triangle. This wasn't supposed to happen. Aren't angels only supposed to love God? Will he be punished for loving Lee Seul-hwa?

Genre: Romance and Fantasy or Supernatural

IMDb Rating: 7.7 out of 10 stars

My Drama List: 8.4 out of 10 stars

Viki viewers rated this series 9.5 out of 10 stars

AWARDS: This delightful Korean drama won several awards at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards ceremony. Shin Hae-Sun won Top Excellence Award, Actress. Kim Myung-Soo won Best New Actor and K-Drama Hallyu Star. Together they won Best Couple Award.

Main Characters:

• Lee Yeon-Seo (played by Shin Hae-Sun, “Welcome to Samdal-ri”, “See You in My 19th Life”, “Mr. Queen”, “Don't Buy the Seller”)

• Kim Dan (played by Kim Myung-Soo, “Dare to Love Me”, “Numbers”, “Royal Secret Agent”)

LINKS OF INTEREST:

4 Heart-Fluttering Fantasy K-Dramas To Enjoy During The Fall | Soompi

9 Entertaining K-Dramas That Involve Multiple Worlds |Soompit

Winners Of 2019 KBS Drama Awards | Soompi

WATCH TRAILER:

Viu Singapore. “Angel’s Last Mission: Love 단, 하나의 사랑 TRAILER | INFINITE’S L, SHIN HYE SUN.” YouTube Video. YouTube, May 23, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TSA7zVmmx0.

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"Angel’s Last Mission: Love" ~ Finding Love for the Unlovable https://t.co/VzPlpPb7an #kdramas #Koreandrama #allthingshallyu #entertainment #popcornworthy #fantasy

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) August 10, 2024

Ten (10) Korean Drama TV Series That are Binge-Worthy

Watching Korean dramas is my guilty pleasure. I especially like the historical period dramas, during the Joseon period. I have been contributing detailed reviews on PopGeeks.com since 2023.  But I share K-drama love everywhere I can. 

• If you have not watched these, you should add them to your watch list.

• If you have watched them, let me know if enjoyed them too!

(1) Tamra the Island (2009)

The main character is a feisty little innocent girl who is fiercely loyal to her family and friends, but has the courage, inner strength and determination to break with tradition, and find her own way in a cruel world that is not a very nice place for a low-born; especially not a low-born young girl.

(2) Dong Yi (2010)

This series is 60 episodes, with an extraordinary cast, and based on a true story. It is a real life love story between a king and a woman he took to be his concubine: Dong Yi (played by Han Hyo-joo) and King Sukjong (played by Ji Jin-hee).

(3) Chuno (Slave Hunter; 2010)

Plot Summary: Two men really love a woman and there's a cute royal baby that gets thrown in the mix.

There is a lot of stuff going on.

- The typical love triangle story and more love stories.

- Freedom fighters: Slaves who dare to fight to be free.

- Super seriously evil wicked government officials.

- The Chinese were the good guys. (Huh? That's a switch.)

- Ordinary people just trying to live ordinary lives.

- Intense fighting scenes. Loved the action!

- Awesome soundtrack!

(4) Gunman in Joseon (2014)

It's a love story with a bold and daring hero who is not only an expert swordsman but also knows how to handle a pistol and a rifle. His love interest is an intelligent woman whose father is a scholar and allowed her to learn (although she had to dress up like a man to attend school). They both dream of their country, Joseon, as a land that will one day be populated with free people. His enemies thought they had killed him, but he was saved and taken to another country. He returned to Joseon with a new identity and was determined to settle old scores. The first time his beloved sees him again, she faints. He may be wearing different clothes and using a different name, but he still looked to her like the man she loved. She thought she had seen a ghost.

(5) The Flower in Prison (2016)

A baby who was born in a prison turns out to be a princess. But before she learned her true identity, she was taught by a martial arts master and first learned how to kick butt!! It's a handy skill to have if you're going after the bad guys who caused your mother's death. The main character is Ok Nyeo played by Jin Se Yeon, who is on my list for favorite Korean actresses.

(6) 100 Days My Prince (2018)

A young prince witnesses horrific bloodshed and commands that it be stopped. Since he is a small child, his command is disregarded and he is returned to his father; only to learn that it was his father who ordered the bloodshed. To add insult to injury, his mother is “accidentally” killed (really she was murdered). From that day forward, he not only hates his father, HE HATES EVERYBODY! Everybody except his close friend. He was forced into a marriage of convenience. His wife, the princess, becomes pregnant by another man. In an effort to cover this up, the father-in-law (the father of the princess) attempts to kill the prince. The attempt fails. Trying to escape his assassins, the prince falls down a slope and hits his head. A poor man finds him, takes care of him as best he can while he is unconscious. When he regains his consciousness, he does not remember who he is. The poor man tells him that he is his daughter's husband-to-be and that they must marry immediately or his daughter will be flogged.

For 100 days, he lives the simple life of a commoner and falls in love. He is found by his father-in-law and brought back to the palace. His memory has not returned. But slowly bits and pieces of incidents from his past, like puzzle pieces, begin to come together. His story begins … AGAIN! He realizes who he is and what he needs to do. He also knows what he wants to do. He wants to marry the woman he fell in love with as a commoner, who is also the little girl he met when he was a child and had promised he would marry someday.

(7)♦ Queen: Love and War (2019)

A young prince meets and makes friends with a nobleman's daughter when they were children. An accident happens on a boat, and the girl he met is tossed overboard. Her father believes that she drowned. Her sister grows up, and the prince, now king, chooses her to be his bride; not realizing that she is the twin sister and NOT the girl he met when he was younger. Corrupt officials arrange to have both King Lee Kyung and his queen, Kang Eun Bo, assassinated on their wedding day. They succeed in killing the sister but the king miraculously comes back to life. The people are terrified of him. How can he possibly come back from the dead? The twin sister realizes that her sister has been murdered. She takes her sister's body and secretly buries it. Then she returns to the palace AS IF she has also risen from the dead, just like the king. The king not knowing that she is the young girl he had met as a child, also believes his wife has come back to life. However, the twin sister's main purpose for returning to the palace is to discover who murdered her sister. For all she knew, even the king may have been involved. But she eventually realizes his innocence and falls in love with him. The problem is that she has already deceived him into believing that she is the one who died. This makes their personal relationship very complicated. As if life in the palace wasn't already complicated with all of the scheming, conniving, ruthless, greedy politicking that was going on. Oh! Did I mention the prophecy?

►(8) Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019)

Goo Hae-ryung is a female historian. Prince Dowon (or Yi Rim) is a young prince who has been sheltered from the outside world. These two main characters are adorably cute! But they have had some tragedy in their young lives. They both lost their fathers through violence. Of course, the adults around them try to hide the truth. But the two of them trying to uncover the truth makes for a good plot.

►(9) My Country: The New Age (2019)

The time is during the transitional period between the end of the Goryeo dynasty and the beginning of the Joseon dynasty, which is why it is “The New Age”. A king, princes, military leaders, all engaged in a power struggle to build a new country. Seo Hwi and Nam Seon-ho are two childhood friends have the power of their friendship “tested”. Things happen to them, they get separated, and become enemies due to a misunderstanding about "my country." One of them decides his country is “the country of the abandoned”.

(10)♦ Bossam ~ Steal the Fate (2021)

I learned a new word and a new custom.

“'Bossam' in the Korean title refers to a customary remarriage procedure that took place during the Joseon period. At that time, a widow could not remarry. A single man or widower would kidnap the widow and marry her. Some of the kidnappings were agreed upon in advance and others were by force.” (Quote Source: https://asianwiki.com/Bossam:_Steal_the_Fate)

Here's the story. Two friends earn their living by kidnapping widows. It's a steady-paying job because … evidently, a lot of widows want to be kidnapped and remarried. However, there is one widow who does not have this on her mind. She just happened to be sitting outside, and the kidnapper happened to go to the wrong house and … uh oh! … she is accidentally kidnapped. You think this problem is easy to solve. The guy made a mistake, so all he needs to do is take her back home. Right? WRONG! The lady who was kidnapped turns out to be a princess. Her father, the king, wants to see her. Since her father-in-law did not know how or why she disappeared or where she was, HE LIED! He told the king his daughter had committed suicide, having died from the grief of being a widow. The king finds out that his daughter is alive and wants to use this fact to trap the father-in-law and get rid of him for treason. The father-in-law also finds out she is alive and the entire series is him trying to have her killed so that he doesn't get caught in his LIE!

► = Netflix Original Series.

♦ = Search for more Viki TV Original Series.

So that's my 10 K-dramas that are binge-worthy. 

INTERESTING FACTS:

Chosŏn means “The Land of the Morning Calm.”

Interested in knowing something about the real history, as opposed to historical fiction? Learn more: "The Role of the Joseon Dynasty in Korean History | ThoughtCo'".

Original source 

Rakuten Viki - Free TV Drama & #Movies #Asiancinema #Koreandrama #Tvseries #subtitles for multiple languages ~ https://t.co/LitmnR8PwO ~ #Apps #giftshopping pic.twitter.com/aOnyJacXhb

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 24, 2021

Neo-Noir Korean Drama {Review]: Decision to Leave (2022)

Neo-noir is a modern take on classic film noir, which thrived in the 1940s–1950s. South Korea began embracing neo-noir elements in cinema during the late 1990s and early 2000s, with films like Oldboy (2003) and Memories of Murder (2003) setting the tone.

Neo-noir K-dramas are highly popular among international audiences, especially fans of psychological thrillers and crime dramas. Their appeal lies in:

• Complex antiheroes and morally gray characters

• Stylized visuals with moody lighting and urban landscapes

• Themes of revenge, corruption, and existential dread

Directors like Park Chan-wook (“Decision to Leave”) helped elevate the genre globally.

• Me, Mashable. “‘A Bittersweet Life’, ‘The Handmaiden’, and More: Top South Korean Neo-Noir Movies That Will Keep You Hooked.” Mashable ME, 26 July 2023, .

• Shinnosuke_Lee. “Guide To Korean Action & Noir Dramas (45 Shows).” MyDramaList, 24 Mar. 2025.

Decision to Leave is actually a South Korean neo-noir romantic mystery film, not a K-Drama. It was directed by Park Chan-wook, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jeong Seo-kyeong. Here’s what you need to know:

• Based on OR Inspired by? The film is an original story, not based on any existing work.

• Release Date: Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2022, and was released theatrically in South Korea on June 29, 2022.

• Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Drama.

• Filming Locations: Primarily filmed in South Korea, including Busan.

• Where to Watch: Available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.

• Main Characters:

  • Tang Wei as Song Seo-rae

  • Park Hae-il as Detective Jang Hae-jun

  • Lee Jung-hyun as Jung-an

  • Go Kyung-pyo as Soo-wan.

Plot Summary:

Detective Jang Hae-jun, a dedicated investigator suffering from insomnia, is assigned to a case involving the mysterious death of a retired immigration officer, Ki Do-soo, found at the base of a mountain he frequently climbed. As Hae-jun delves into the case, he meets Song Seo-rae, the deceased’s enigmatic widow. Though Seo-rae’s lack of grief and suspicious injuries make her a prime suspect, Hae-jun finds himself drawn to her in ways that compromise his judgment.

As the investigation unfolds, Hae-jun becomes obsessed with Seo-rae, watching her from afar and engaging in intimate conversations that blur the lines between detective and suspect. His growing infatuation leads him to cover up evidence, despite realizing that Seo-rae may have orchestrated her husband's death. Their relationship is a delicate dance of trust, deception, and longing, culminating in a tragic separation.

A year later, Hae-jun, now struggling with depression, encounters Seo-rae again—this time married to a wealthy businessman. When her new husband is found dead, Hae-jun is once again drawn into her orbit, suspecting her involvement. As he pieces together the truth, Seo-rae makes a final, haunting decision, leaving Hae-jun devastated and forever searching for answers.

♦♦

(NOTE: The content above is AI-Generated.)

Check out my Kdrama review – original content published via PopGeeks.com: Decision to Leave ~ Am I Attracted to a Murderer?

The Crowned Clown (2019) ~ A remake of 2012 movie "Masquerade" into a KDrama series.

Masquerade (2012) is a Korean version of Mark Twain's "The Prince & The Pauper", only set in the Joseon Era. It WON Best Film-Movie of the Year. No surprise it a made into a series.  The Crowned Clown (2019) has also enjoyed immense popularity worldwide.

Where to Watch

STORYLINE for Masquerade (2012)

King Gwanghae swears that “somebody” or maybe “everybody” is out to get him! He's convinced that a member of the royal court is trying to poison him. Isn't that how they always get rid of members of the royal family? The king comes up with a plan. Find a LOOK ALIKE! Substitute the look-alike on the throne while he goes off to hide somewhere. That way, the doppelganger who looks like him can get murdered instead.

As impossible as the task seems, the king's councilor finds a “twin”. Initially, Ha-Sun tries to imitate the King Gwanghae speaks. It works … for a while, although Queen Heo Gyun immediately suspects. After all, she is a wife, and the man who has entered the bed chamber does not behave like her husband. There's no way he's the king, i.e., the man she married. But??? … Who is he, and what is he doing in the palace? (O.o)

The best-laid plans often go awry. While King Gwanghae is hiding, he becomes gravely ill. That means Ha-Sun has to continue pretending to be King. He finds it too difficult pretending to be someone that he's not, and his true personality emerges. He is nothing like King Gwanghae, and everybody notices the difference. Even so, the king's enemies still want to get rid of him.

Will Ha-Sun end up dying in the king's place anyway?

♦

STORYLINE: The Crowned Clown (2019)

This is the same story as the movie “Masquerade” with a few more details. It tells the story Ha-Sun's childhood and how he became an entertainer. He worked with a group of clowns and they chose him to play the King during their performances because he looked so much like the real king. He was spotted by the king's councilor during a performance and that was the day his life changed FOREVER! One of the best things that happened to him was meeting and falling in love with the queen.

Main Characters:

• Ha Sun / Lee Hun (played by Yeo Jin-Goo)

• Yoo So-Woon (played by Lee Se-Young)

TRAILER/TEASER: Viki Global TV. “THE CROWNED CLOWN - OFFICIAL TRAILER.” YouTube, 22 Aug. 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l2X2dn8wgM. 

♦ Original source

Need a Quick List of Korean Dramas ONLY ON VIKI? Here Are 25 KDramas

When it comes to keeping Korean drama addicts happy, Netflix and Viki continue to duke it out. In my humble opinion, Viki is the GO-TO streaming platform for all the Hallyu-ites and K-drama newbies. To be fair, that's only because Rakuten Viki markets its platform as “The Heart of Asian Entertainment”. Whereas Netflix has lots of other content from all around the world. It's kind of like comparing apples to oranges. 

Even so, Netflix jumped in on the game, so it's kind of fair to make comparisons.  That being said, below is a quick list of Korean dramas that can be found ONLY ON VIKI. Many of them, but not ALL of them, are Viki Originals. ALL of them have been reviewed right here on PopGeeks. To make it easy for reference, the list is in alphabetical order.

1. Bad Memory Eraser

2. Bitter Sweet Hell

3. Brewing Love

4. Check in Hanyang

5. Cinderella at 2AM

6. Dear Hyeri

7. DNA Lover

8. Face Me

9. Good Partner

10. Love Scout

11. Love Your Enemy

12. Motel California

13. My Dearest Nemesis

14. My Military Valentine

15. My Sweet Mobster

16. Namib

17. Perfect Family

18. Serendipity's Embrace

19. Social Savvy Class 101

20. Study Group

21. The Queen Who Crowns

22. The Witch

23. What Comes After Love

24. Your Honor

25. Yumi's Cells: The Movie

♦ 

MY Top 5 Picks From The List?

Good Partner

A top divorce lawyer needed a truly excellent divorce lawyer because she was getting a divorce, and she and her husband both wanted the same thing: custody of their child.

Perfect Family

A perfect family that is nowhere near perfect! Not even a little bit. The mother came straight out of the Stepford Wives movie.

Study Group

I just liked the male lead because he was one of the mage in “Alchemy of Souls”. (The mages are people with special powers who can control the energy of heaven and earth, and are the protectors of country. That was my first time seeing the male lead and I've liked him ever since.)

The Queen Who Crowns

This K-drama shows that even men who are kings have an inflated ego and can still be JERK! The queen was a kingmaker. She did everything within her power to make her husband king and how did he show his thanks? By being a KING-SIZED JERK!

The Witch

OK. Admittedly it is strange that every boy who likes you or tries to be nice to you ends up getting in a tragic accident. That could make guys want to steer clear of you. But the whole town labeling you a witch? That's taking it too far. At least there was one guy who didn't believe it!

If you have watched any of these, do you have favorites?

♦

Featured Image Credit: Top 5 K-Dramas On Viki In February 2025 | Soompi

Rakuten Group. “Rakuten Viki Celebrates K-Drama Fandom Across the Globe.” YouTube, 30 Jan. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cNHpT4LDTY.

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Original source

Koreanovelas are Just Another Sweet Layer Added to the Hallyu Cake

Hallyu is a global phenomenon. Think of it like a wonderfully delicious cake with multiple layers and each layer tastes better and better.

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Have you ever heard the term "Koreanovela"? It's a portmanteau (newly invented word or phrase) that combines "Korean" and "telenovela”.

• A telenovela is a Latin American soap opera.  Growing up in Miami, Florida, which has a large Cuban population, the Spanish-speaking channel often aired these TV shows. They are just like American soap operas, i.e. loaded with a bunch of catty people, unfaithful spouses, and unnecessary life drama, but the storyline is very addictive.
• It turns out that "Koreanovela" is used for K-dramas that have gained popularity in Latin America and in the Philippines (Yes, this country is part of the part of the Asian continent). Having just recently discovered this word, it made me wonder if I had watched and reviewed any Koreanovelas. The answer is: Yes.

• FUN TRIVIA: The Koreanovela that most K-drama addicts know about is “Boys Over Flowers”. No surprise. There are versions, remakes, or adaptations in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Thailand ~ movies and series.

Below are five (5) Koreanovelas reviewed on PopGeeks. NO, they do not have 100+ episodes. YES, they are available on either Viki or Netflix.

♦

(1) Good Manager (2017)

STORYLINE: Kim Sung-Ryong ((played by Namkoong Min) used to receive awards for being a math genius when he was a little boy. But when he became a man, he lost his way and ended up for gangsters managing money. In an attempt to find his way back onto the right path, he started siphoning money from the accounts of his gangsta boss. He got caught! He was a given choice. Get a job at a legitimate company, continue working for his gangsta boss, cook the books to make his boss look like an honest businessman OR … ??? DIE! 

• TRAILER/TEASER:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMf7VY8La5REbtt-vN_dbJQGpZTKSe7VJ. 

♦

(2) My Name (2021)

STORYLINE: Yoon Ji-Woo (played by Han So-Hee) never knew her father. But like a typical young adult she thinks her father is never there for her. Everyone and everything else in his life is more important to him than her. But on the one night he did show up, he was killed right outside the door of their apartment. She heard the gunshots, and tried to look through the keyhole, but couldn't see the killer. Someone told her that her father had been killed by a dirty cop. Yoon Ji-Woo changed her name to Oh Hye-Jin and got a job work undercover in law enforcement, hoping to find out who the killer was, and GET REVENGE. 

• TRAILER/TEASER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOl7iOrD31Q.  

♦

(3) Unlocked (2023)

STORYLINE: Lee Na-Mi (played by Chun Woo-hee) is intelligent, talented, hard-working, has excellent marketing skills, and holds down more than one job. She's smart but did something that was not smart. Got stupid drunk and lost her smartphone. A serial killer found it. When the serial killer wasn't killing people he had a regular job fixing phones. He contacted her and returned her phone AFTER installing spyware. That psycho trapped both Lee Na-Mi and her father in his murderous hellish nightmare. The End Game was MURDER. But he wanted to have fun before that.

• TRAILER/TEASER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8qGElYoAoU. 

♦

(4) Lovely Runner (2024)

STORYLINE: Im Sol (played by Kim Hye-Yoon) is a young girl involved in a tragic accident and must now use a wheelchair. Ryu Sun-Jae (played by Byeon Woo-Seok) is a top K-pop star and she is a huge fan. The K-pop members are being interviewed on a radio show making calls and talking to listeners. Fan or not, she would rather die than be in a cripple! While she was contemplating suicide, she received a phone call. 

Im Sol answers the phone and releases all of her rage on the caller. Rather than hang up, Ryu Sun-Jae started talking to her and ultimately convinced her to live. But later she heard that Ryu Sun-Jae had committed suicide. WHAT? That's so unfair! He was in pain too? She lived. Why didn't he live? Now there's no way to bring him back. Or is there? As if it was an answer to a prayer, Im Sol miraculously traveled back in time. She wasn't in a wheelchair, and Ryu Sun-Jae wasn't a K-Pop member. He was a top athlete in high school and they both attended the same school. He was ALIVE! Could she prevent his suicide? 

• TRAILER/TEASER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kk0dYa8Ccc. 

♦

(5) Queen of Tears (2024)

STORYLINE: Baek Hyun-Woo (played by Kim Soo-Hyun) fell in love with Hong Hae-In (played by Kim Ji-Won), but he didn't know she was a chaebol heiress. No matter because she agreed to get married and promised she would never leave him alone and would never make him cry. But he did make him cry. He became so miserable he decided to divorce her. On the night he planned to ask for a divorce, she told him she was dying. Whoa! Divorce? Death? He decided not to ask for a divorce. If only his wife's illness was the only thing he had to concern himself with. He didn't care about his wife's money. But other people did! 

• TRAILER/TEASER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg2D8zrzlOA.  

♦

Did you like the cake analogy?
Thanks for reading.

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Best Romantic Historical Korean Dramas (Pt 2 of 2)

Hope you were pleased with the recommendation in Part 1.  Here's the second half of the list.  Enjoy!

Healing Crystal Natural Rose Stone Heart

(6) Mr. Queen (2020)
A chef from modern-day Seoul falls off a hotel balcony and into a pool. When he comes out of the water, he is in the body of a queen during the Joseon Era. It seems that at that moment a few hundred years ago, she had jumped into a lake because she was trying to commit suicide. Somehow his soul entered her body. He was in shock when he looked in the mirror and in even more shock when he realized he had to sleep with the king! His first thought was how to avoid the king's bed until he noticed the king didn't seem to be interested in him … uuuhh? … her. So then he turned his focus on how to get back to his time period and back in his own body.

Meanwhile … he had to learn to live as the queen, which meant he was drawn into all of the palace scheming, conniving, corruption, and treachery. He had to learn the queen's friends and her enemies, and how to get along with her father. The fun part of this time-travel/body-swap misadventure was using his chef skills to prepare dishes and win over the king’s enemies. Even though the chef's identity and personality remain in her body, the queen’s identity and personality gradually become dominant.

The chef's memories get replaced with the queen's memories and the reason she tried to commit suicide became clear. But by that time, the romance between the king and the queen develops because the king also understands her reason. The king was mistaken about her true intention and her love for him. He believed she was part of her family's corrupt plan for power. The queen learned the tragic story of the king's childhood and that her father had knowledge of how his family died. They became closer to each other and fell in love. Their love story is beautiful and triumphant. Best time travel romantic comedy ever!! [Where to Watch]

TRAILER: Global, CJ ENM. “Mr. Queen.” YouTube, Video, 12 Dec. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1vplUsGDoI.

(7) Lovers of the Red Sky (2021)

Hong Cheong-Gi is the main female character and also the name of a real historical figure who was the only female painter accepted into the Korean Royal Academy of Painting during the Joseon era. The leading male character is Ha Ram. She is the divine painter and he is a divine astrologer. They first meet as children; she is born blind and he is a child with special power. The children get separated because Ha Ram is chosen to participate in a rain ritual. On the day he performs the ritual, he loses his eyesight and is possessed by a demon. At the same exact time, the blind girl gains her eyesight. When they grow up, they meet again, and their bond of friendship is renewed and matures into romantic love. However, their love and lives are endangered because they are caught up in two webs: the political power games in the human world AND the eternal power struggle of good versus evil in the spirit world. This Viki Original series is a delightful historical fantasy romance. [Where to Watch]

(8) Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist (2022)
A royal physician who works in the palace and is called upon to treat members of the royal family has such extraordinary medical skills, he is given the title “Divine Acupuncturist”. But others hatched a plan to murder the king and frame him. He is not aware that performing acupuncture would cause the king's death. Consequently, he is accused of murder and thrown into prison. The murderers hoped he would receive the death penalty and their crime would be hidden. But the crown prince set him free because he believed he was innocent and that he was also the only one who could prove who had murdered the king.

He went from working as a royal physician to working in a village hospital. But he was so traumatized that he could no longer perform acupuncture. He met a young woman and trained her to be an acupuncturist. When she first saw him she had to talk him out of committing suicide. When he met her again, she a trying to commit suicide. Not only did he have to treat her “heart”, he uncovered that she was a victim. Her mother-in-law was trying to convince her to commit suicide so her family would receive the Virtuous Widow Honor.

The royal physician who was no longer able to perform acupuncture started a new life and developed a new skill. The physician changed the way he treated patients by diagnosing both their physical sickness and determining how to heal their troubled minds. He became a “heart doctor” and he also fell in love. This K-drama has 2 seasons. [Where to Watch]

TRAILER: Global, CJ ENM. “Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist.” CJ ENM - YouTube, 18 Aug. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc2Nr-1AYBc.

(9) The Secret Romantic Guesthouse (2023)

The daughter of a nobleman owns a guesthouse left to her by her father. In addition to being a guesthouse, there are also secrets and romance. There are three flower scholars are her guests.

• One is already paying for a room before the other two guests arrive. He hopes to win the heart of the owner.

• The second guest came to town to take the civil service exam for martial arts and hopes to become a member of the king's royal guard.

• The third guest has no money but he did try to help a damsel in distress. Since the damsel is the owner of the guesthouse, he arrives there and tells her she should repay the debt by allowing him to stay there.

Two of the scholars have a secret identity and are on a secret mission. The owner also has a secret and tells all of the guests they are not allowed to go near the guestroom located at the back. It's haunted.

When the owner was a young girl, she protected a young boy who ran into her yard and hid in the dog house. That boy was the crown prince but he did not tell her his true identity. Thirteen years passed and one of the guests is that prince and he' gong to fall in love with him. This is a Viki Original series. [Where to Watch]

(10) Missing Crown Prince (2024)

A royal physician was told that if his daughter married the crown prince, he would die young and she would become a widow. His plan is for his daughter to become the future crown princess so he kidnaps the crown prince. They are both drugged and spend the night together, lying side by side, technically making them a married couple. He further plans to eliminate that crown prince and replace him with another crown prince and get him to marry his daughter.

Before he was kidnapped the crown prince was investigating her father. He had information that proved he was having a secret affair with the Queen Dowager and might be responsible for the death of a court maid assigned to the queen dowager's palace.

The best laid plan usually doesn't work out. The daughter wakes up and helps the prince escape not knowing who he is. He also does not know that she is the daughter of the royal physician he was investigating. The other prince the father had hoped his daughter would marry was very close to the crown prince. They grew up together and had a strong bond. But that strong bond might be broken because both of them fell in love with the royal physician's daughter. This K-drama series is a spin-off of “Bossam: Steal the Fate”, another Viki Original which was released in 2021. This is a Viki Original series. [Where to Watch]

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