From BTS to Blackpink,Korean pop has hit a renaissance. With backing from the Korean government and structured programs towards making sure awareness of Korean culture and arts is out there, the world, now more than ever, knows about the what’s coming out a relatively small country. It’s remarkable considering Korea’s rise from being devastated by war and dictatorships, but Korean entertainmenttruly is having its momentin the current day and age. TheK-dramas, too, have become a staple for many fans all over the world, introducing them to the history, culture, and customs of the region.
Romance dramas tend to top many favorites lists, but there are several different angles to many of thebiggest Korean dramas. Several have tied in the concept of Korean pop idols into the meat of their narrative, whether the main character has a dream of becoming an idol, working with the singers that have captured a nation’s heart, or they fall in love with someone a lot more famous than them. Many different dramas have uniquely tackled this subject and managed to distinguish their characters and plot from each other, making this an underrated trope in the drama world. These 10 Korean dramas do just that.
10Imitation
Released in 2021,Imitationstars Lee Jun-young, Jung Ji-so, Park Ji-yeon, and Jeong Yun-ho — many of this lead cast are actual Korean pop idols, infusing the experiences in the show with another layer. The series is about Lee Man-ha, who tries to make a living impersonating another popular singer for hire. She was a former idol trainee who found her future completely unraveling after an incident involving another member of her group, meaning that she was unable to debut and follow her dreams of becoming an idol.
But when she and her former group members are given another chance as a group called Tea Party, they have to navigate the nuances of idol life yet again. Somewhere along the way, she ends up meeting another idol group member, and they begin a relationship that can potentially ruin both of their careers.
9Top Management
2018’sTop Managementwas one of Cha Eun-woo’s earlier roles, although he is now a well-known idol and actor in the Korean music industry. Seo Eun-soo and Ahn Hyo-seop play the lead roles inTop Management. Seo is Eun-sung, a former trainee who discover she has a peculiar talent: she can see into the future, whether she wants to or not.
When she ends up being placed as the manager of a struggling boy group, her ability comes in handy as she tries to navigate the fallout of scandals involving the group, as well as the ongoing need to make them succeed before everyone here loses their job. The series was originally based on a novel about Korean pop idols and their dreams.
8So I Married the Anti-Fan
A common theme among shows aboutKorean pop idolsis that at least one of the cast members is or was an idol:So I Married the Anti-Fanfollows this formula. Originally based on a novel, which then became a webtoon and a Chinese movie, the series aired in 2021. Choi Soo-young from SNSD portrays Lee Geun-young, a reporter whose life accidentally becomes ruined by a beloved star named Hoo Joon (Choi Tae-joon).
She decides to devote her life towards becoming one of his anti-fans, and when she becomes known as one of his biggest enemies, they’re invited onto a show together. But there’s a twist: they have to live together throughout the course of filming. While this could lead to disaster, it could also spark romance.
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7Idol: The Coup
Idol: The Couptries to take on the story of the thriving Korean pop industry through the other side: a girl group that doesn’t succeed. The series begins with establishing that there is a girl group, Cotton Candy, that isn’t doing well, and the members are worried about the fact they might be disbanding soon. They’ve come to realize their company doesn’t really care for them, especially when they debut a boy group that has become much more successful than them.
After six years, they want to make one more comeback that can potentially save their careers, and the girls decide to take matters into their own hands. Before disbanding, they make an agreement that they’ll score at least one trophy or top spot at a music show, then they can go out with a bang.
6Dream High
One of the most ironic Korean shows of the 2010s,Dream Highis about agroup of high school studentswith big dreams. The 2011 series takes place in a high school where several of the students don’t want to be doctors or lawyers, but instead Korean pop idols. Whether it’s a way to make money to support their families or finding hoards of cheering fans in front of them in each performance, each student has their own reason for wanting to pursue this path and music as a whole.
Some of the biggest idol names starring in the show are Lee Ji-eun (IU), Ok Taec-yeon, Jang Woo-young, and Bae Suzy. The show was so popular that a sequel,Dream High 2, came out with a new generation of idols.
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5One Fine Week
One Fine Weekmay not have received mainstream attention when it first aired domestically in South Korea or landed on streaming, but it definitely plays to the theme of including Korean pop idols in its story. The series is about Da Eun (Seo Ji-soo), who is attending college and is still trying to figure out what exactly she wants to do with her life.
She creates an alter ego of sorts with Byul, a singer who’s gaining prominence in the local music scene. When she starts to hang out with bigger fish in the industry, she realizes there are major cons to this life and what it entails once someone gets higher up in the food chain of entertainment.
4Fly Again
An idol and web drama that consisted of only 10 episodes,Fly Againis perfect for those who want something quick and easy to watch. Low commitment is involved with this television series. Hyungwon, from the idol group Monsta X, stars as Han Yo Han, who is a prodigy in the dance world. He desperately wants to become a celebrity, so he decides he needs to transition his dance skills towards becoming a better idol.
This leads him to transfer schools, and when he gets into an accident, his dreams are completely shattered. Despite the fact he now has to give up on something he wanted for so long, Yo Han finds a new life with the dance club at his school and a top student who should’ve been an idol herself.
3Her Bucket List
A 2021 web release,Her Bucket Listis based on a webtoon of the same name. Kim So-hye is Cha Ra Ri, who is filled with grief when she learns that her beloved boyfriend has passed away. When she decides she wants to die with him, she rediscovers a bucket list she had made with her boyfriend years before.
She decides to hold off on the dying part in order to achieve everything they never got to do, and along the way, she meets an idol trainee (Na In-woo) with some problems to overcome. He has major stage fright, and despite having the potential to be someone big in the industry, he needs to overcome his issues in order to shine. Together with Ra Ri, the two will learn to go beyond any obstacle that comes their way.
2Let Me Be Your Knight
Jung In-sun stars in the 2021-2022 seriesLet Me Be Your Knight, which flew under the radar for many when it first came out that year. The 12-episode series starts with a major problem: a big Korean pop idol (Lee Jun-young) is having trouble sleeping, as he constantly is sleepwalking when he tries to get to bed each night.
Jung’s character, In Yoon-ju, is tasked with being a live-in doctor to go and treat his condition, as no one can know about it because of how popular he is as an idol. As they learn how to cope with the kind of treatment he needs, they learn something about themselves along the way.
1Part-Time Idol
Released in 2017,Part-Time Idoltells the story of a producer who creates several big idols in the industry, then decides to take a hiatus after beginning to question makes someone a star. Years pass, and when he decides to finally return to the company and his work, there are several trainees left that hadn’t debuted yet. He has a grand realization: what if he makes a co-ed idol group?
So begins the trials he puts the trainees through in order to debut in said group, making this series a pretty comedic watch that gives insight into the difficulties idols have to go through in order to debut.
