Musical K-dramas are a very underrated genre in the K-drama industry despite South Korea dominating the pop industry worldwide. K-dramas that combine captivating storytelling with the joy and magic of musical theater. In this article, we will explore the top 10 musical K-dramas of all time.
1. K-POP - The Ultimate Audition (2012)
K-Pop – The Ultimate Audition is a romantic-comedy drama. It is the story of Ji Seung Yeon, whose dream is to become a K-pop idol. She had a chance to join a band, except it was a boy band, so she had to dress like a boy to fit in. Seung Yeon is dedicated to working and fulfilling her dreams despite any difficulties.
2. The Liar And His Lover (2017)
Kang Han Gyeol, a depressed and quiet music producer for the famous band Crude Play, meets Yoon So Rim, a high school student, while posing as someone else. Han Gyeol keeps returning to Rim because of her fantastic singing and brave honesty, and he starts to fall more and more in love with her. The fact that Han Gyeol is actually K, the creator of Crude Play, is one of the many challenges their love story faces. Han Gyeol and So Rim continue their love for one another despit obstacles.
3. Top Management (2018)
The drama Top Management is based on a novel written by Jang Woo-san about idols who dream of performing on stage. The lead character of the plot is Eun-sung, a former girl idol trainee who possesses the ability to see into the future and who afterward becomes the manager for the aspiring but struggling boy idol group S.O.U.L.
4. Heartstrings (2011)
The drama centers on Lee Shin, the lead singer of The Stupid and a college student majoring in contemporary music. When he meets Lee Kyu Won, a bright and extroverted student majoring in traditional Korean instruments, particularly the gayageum, his life is forever changed. Kyu Won was raised in a wealthy family and is trained exclusively in traditional music. But after meeting Lee Shin at a concert and falling in love with him, their encounter transforms her life. The drama examines the difficulties and development they face as they seek their love of music and growing romance despite having different upbringings and expectations.
5. Trot Lovers (2014)
The protagonists of the drama are Jang Joon Hyun, a well-known musician who detests traditional trot music, and Choi Chun Hee, a hardworking woman who supports her family by working multiple jobs. Choi Chun Hee is determined to achieve her goal of becoming a well-known trot singer, as she has inherited her mother's extraordinary talent for trot singing. Joon Hyun and Chun Hee start dating despite their differences, which forces Joon Hyun to face his views against the traditional music genre. Their relationship undergoes the test as they pursue their goals and overcome obstacles, but it ultimately strengthens, making for a touching and motivational story.
6. You’re Beautiful (2009)
The story of idol group A.N.JELL, whose management company insists that Tae Kyung replace his injured voice with a new lead vocalist. Mi Nam, the selected member,cannot sign the contract because he needs to travel to the United States to fix a botched eye. His agent comes up with the plan to have his twin sister, Mi Nyu, stand in for him and represent him as her brother to not miss the chance. She agrees to adopt her brother's identity so that he can pursue his dream of fame and take advantage of the opportunity to search for their missing mother. The drama follows Mi Nyu as she adjusts to the idol lifestyle, conceals her true identity, and deals with complicated relationships with the other band members.
7. The Musical (2011)
Go Eun-bi, a medical student who loves musicals, desires to pursue a career as a performing artist in the musical theatre. One of Korea's top composers at a certain point, Hong Jae-yi left his native country after his girlfriend, musical theatre diva Bae Kang-hee, left him and married another man. Jae-yi meets Eun-bi by accident when he returns to Korea and eventually decides to support her in following her dream. Their love triangle starts because Jae-yi thinks Eun-bi will do well as an actress than Kang-hee.
8. Do You Like Brahms? (2020)
Song Ah finds her new academic and musical life to be challenging because she is seven years older than her classmates, and she struggles to find strength. She finds comfort when she hears Joon Young playing "Traumerei" one day. Joong Young is a gifted pianist, who began playing at age six and has been playing for many years. Song Ah enrolled in the music program at the same university where she initially majored in business despite the opposition of her family. Joong Young has a close friendship with Jung Kyung, the CEO of the Kyunghoo Group, and he is in love with her. He meets Song Ah after deciding to stay away from Jung Kyung.
9. Beethoven Virus (2008)
Kang Gun-woo is a well-known orchestra conductor who is precise in his work. All of his players fear him, making him a difficult person to work with. By chance, he encounters Du Ru-mi, a violinist, and Kang Gun-woo, a young police officer who has a natural musical talent despite having no formal training. As Kang Mae works to save a local orchestra, the three quickly become involved in a love triangle.
10. Shut Up: Flower Boy Band (2012)
Byung Hee is the leader and vocalist of Eye Candy, a popular underground rock band. Mood-maker Ji Hyuk, stylish Hyun Soo, playboy Ha Jin, quiet Do Il, and baby-faced Kyung Jong are all other members. The school is run by these boys until a redevelopment plan drives it to close. They all have to transfer to Jung Sang High, but they disagree on whether it's worth it to go back to high school. However, Eye Candy decides to enroll at Jung Sang out of despite and take over the school once more due of an external conflict with Strawberry Fields, the current ruling band at Jung Sang.
