Like Hollywood or Bollywood nowadays, the Korean industry is achieving huge success internationally. Here we have listed the top 10 inspirational and motivational Korean dramas which have achieved immense fame and recognition through its unique storyline and character.
1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo
The drama revolves around a group of young college going athletes, craving for their dream. The story is inspired by Jang Mi Ran, real life Olympic weightlifting champion. The leading couple Nam Joo Hyuk and Lee Sung-Kyung are like eye candy to watch. This is one of the most inspiring rom-com K dramas in 2016.
2. It's Okay To Not Be Okay
The drama revolves around an employee in a psychiatric hospital and a children's book author, experiencing an emotional rollercoaster and depressing childhood. It stars Seo Yea-ji and Kim Soo-hyun. The drama was released in 2020 and inspires people to follow processes of healing from trauma.
3. What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?
The drama revolves around a narcissistic executive and a professional secretary involved in a romantic feeling. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? Is a 2018 Korean drama starring Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young and the story is all about family importance and how we should appreciate ourselves.
4. Boys Over Flowers
The drama revolves around a poor yet brave middle class girl Jan-Di and a narcissistic rich, fearless heir Jun-pyo Koo. Jan-Di encounter with f4 (flower 4), Goo Jun-Pyo, Geum Jan-Di, Yun Ji-Hu and So Lee-Jeong Song Woo-Bin changed her life forever. Boys Over Flowers was released in 2009 starring Lee Min-Ho, Ku Hye-Seon, Kim Hyun-Joong, Kim Beom and Kim Jun in lead characters. The story involves day-to-day life struggle, the difference between society and how one can change its fate.
5. When The Camellia Blooms
The story revolves around a single mom, Oh Dong-baek, an orphan and a police officer, Yongsik. Oh Dong-baek faces many struggles while raising her child and running the bar-restaurant Camellia. When the Camellia Blooms was released in 2019 starring Gong Hyo-jin, Kang Ha-neul, Kim Ji-seok, Son Dam-bi and Kim Kang-hoon. The story inspires us to defy the social stigmas surrounding us.
6. School 2013
The drama revolves around a young school going boy Go Nam Soon, bullied by a group in his class. The show contains an emotional rollercoaster and beautiful friendship between Go Nam Soon and Park Heung-Soo. The drama was released in 2012 starring Jang Nara, Choi Daniel, Lee Jong-suk, Kim Woo-bin and Park Se-young. The drama is all about student suicides, school violence, teenagers' issues, feelings and bullying.
7. Start-Up
The drama revolves around Seo Dal Mi, a young entrepreneur aspirant dreams of becoming Korea's own Steve Jobs. The drama was released in 2020 starring Bae Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho and Kang Han-na. Start Up tells the story between ultimate success and abject failure.
8. The Heirs
The drama revolves around a brave middle class girl Cha Eun Sang who falls in love with heir to the Empire Group, Kim Tan. The story narrates the struggle of super-elite class heirs bearing the burden of a crown on their head despite only being in high school. The drama was released in 2013 starring Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye and Kim Woo-bin. The drama also deals with day-to-day life struggles, bullying, school violence, differences between society, teenagers' issues and feelings.
9. Record Of Youth
The drama revolves around three young fashionistas who dream of ruling the Korean world of modelling. The story inspires people to achieve their dream. The drama was released in 2020 starring Park Bo-gum, Park So-dam, Byeon Woo-seok and Kwon Soo-hyun.
10. Descendants Of The Sun
Descendants of the Sun is one of the most successful Korean dramas internationally. The drama revolves around the relationship of Si-jin, a soldier belonging to the South Korean Special Forces and Mo-yeon, a surgeon. The drama was released in 2016 starring Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won. The drama also deals with the day-to-day struggles people face in their professional life and how it affects their personal life.
