Personal Favorites: Dramas That Captured My Heart

If I had to choose a drama to rewatch again and again, this would be the one.

From the poetic dialogue to the stirring OST to the splendid cinematography, every aspect of the drama captured my attention and stirred my emotions.

Most of all, it is the story that moved me completely. A story of courage to do the right thing, to help others, to take responsibility, to face the worst in oneself yet persevere to be the best one can be.

A sitcom about a family pretending to be rich while running a manhwa room in Cheongdam-dong, its episodes were filled with laughter. But what moved me the most is how the drama used poetry to bring all of its characters together. From the matriarch of the family discovering her love for poetry and transforming into a poet to the daughter discovering how poetry moves the soul. There was something simply magical as a viewer when one feels one's own heart stirring in tandem with the character on the screen as both are moved by a poem.

Without a doubt my favorite sageuk of all time.

Electrifying performances from an amazing extended cast that brought their characters to life paired with stunning action and cinematography. I hated, I loved, I cheered, and most importantly, I wondered--how different people can be and yet at the same time so similar.

I have never shied away from political intrigue in dramas but I particularly loved the politics in this drama, it was interesting and complex. 

Overall, probably one of the best sageuks that have ever been created.

A drama that explores what it means to be family in moments big and small.

This drama has a bit of everything: action, comedy, romance, and tragedy.

What makes this drama memorable for me is its exploration of individual choices--and the consequences of one's choices.

This drama has one of my all-time favorite villains.

An ode of love to Jirisan and mountains showing the inexplicable and complicated link that people have with the mountains.

命 -- all of its definitions and associations captured into one drama.

This drama shows the importance and beauty of a life well-lived.

A brutally honest look at life, this drama came to me at a time when I needed a reminder that sometimes despite the best of intentions, our actions will hurt others.

Is it worth it? What kind of person do I really want to be?

These two questions ensnare the FL in a slow, thoughtful, psychological battle as she reevaluates the life she leads.

Excellent, incisive writing bolstered by masterful cinematography and impactful acting resulting in an art masterpiece.

A mellow slice of life drama about friendship and love, I loved the simplicity of the story and the complexity of human emotions the story portrayed.

Youth captured in its best moments and it lowest moments. A great tale of friendship, love, and family. A drama that did indeed cheer me up so very much!

A thoughtful exploration on the idea of 'opportune timing' in moments big and small that result in life-changing events.

A stark reminder that legal justice can be both powerless and powerful.

A body-swap drama that utilizes the premise fully to show what it is like to walk in another's shoes.

Showcasing how relationships between people are often the hardest things in life -- but also the most valuable and necessary.

A great lesson in what it means to be a family and how different people love differently.

A drama about 정 (jeong) in all the moments of life, big and small. A drama about ordinary people living their ordinary life and just how special that can be.

Thoughtful take on what love makes one do. A journey of self-discovery for the two female leads.

A philosophical treatise about love, life, and death wearing romcom-clothing and hiding behind puns, this is a drama I savored for its dialogue time and time again.

A reminder that laws and the legal system are created by people for people -- and that depending on who is using it and how, it can be for all people or just some people.

One of my favorite legal dramas.

Here for a simple reason: I loved the romance and chemistry between the two leads. 

Fluffy and funny -- and full of heart -- its heavier moments only serve to highlight the happiest and brightest parts.