Hwarang (2016-2017)

Director: Yoon Sung-sik, Kim Yeong-jo
Writer: Park Eun-yeong
Stars: Park Seo-joon, Go A-ra, Park Hyung-sik

Revolves around an elite group of male youth called Hwarang who grow through passion and love in Seorabeol, the capital of the Kingdom of Silla.

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★★★☆

Basically, Hwarang is a group of beautiful men that were supposed to look after Silla’s future. The plots also revolved around ‘half-breed siblings’ rejecting royal siblings.

Why see this drama?

1. There are lots of beautiful men. They really are beautiful I felt insecure whenever they all get together.
2. These beautiful men always bath together.
3. They also love playing in the water–while doing the laundry, other work, and even when just resting by the creek–they tend to want to get wet whenever they are near a body of water.
4. Of course, they have to have a k-pop performance–old Korea style boyband dance.
5. Out of the three dramas I saw so far starring Park Seo-joon, I think this is the one where he performed best.
6. I love the concept of the drama. The vibe/feel is similar with Love in the Moonlight. It’s light, cool, fashionable.

Love in the Moonlight (2016)

Gooreumi Geurin Dalbit (original title)  | Moonlight Drawn by Clouds 

Director: Kim Sung-yoon, Baek Sang-hoon
Writer: Kim Min-jung, Im Ye-jin
Stars: Jung Jinyoung, Park Bo-gum, Kim Yoo-Jeong

A crown prince falls in love with his political eunuch, who is really a woman posing as a man.

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★★★✮☆

My curiosity for this Korean drama was piqued when I learned that this quirky video of men dressed in traditional Korean attire dancing to modern music was in fact a teaser for this series.

I thought if it has this kind of scene, then it must be fun. Also, I’ve been seeing a lot of articles online about Park Bo-bum, who is the lead actor in the series.

Love in the Moonlight is like Coffee Prince set in the Joseon era. You have a male protagonist who is a Joseon prince, and a female protagonist posting as a male to make money. The two male leads fell in love with the girl. The girl causes a lot of ruckus. And many other similarities, which is common among Korean dramas.

However, because it was set in a different period, Love in the Moonlight has a deeper underlying message in its plot. While Coffee Prince tackles more of family problems in the current times, Love in the Moonlight deals with more complex matters such as power struggles among the officials surrounding the royal family, and socialism. But while it deals with a heavy theme, the story is filled with light, cute, and funny quips.

It should also be noted that the acting for this series is excellent. The fashion/hanbok design game is strong as well (I loved the pastel colours they used for the traditional clothes). The cinematography is also lovely.  Lastly, Park Bo-Gum’s kagwapuhan is also nakaka-good vibes.