We all know that when we watch Korean Dramas, we’ll often find certain tropes used over and over again. You know what I am talking about! For example, the cold chaebol who has a traumatic past but is really actually sensitive falls in love with poverty stricken, multiple job working, happy, but not so smart Candy? For formulas that have generated much success in the past, of course it’s going to be recycled again and again! The same goes for entire dramas! Once one drama has generated a following and experiences sky high ratings, you can be sure there will be 2-3 dramas following it in the same category! Let’s take a look throughout the drama years of 2009-2014!
2009
F4 Style – Male Harem
- Boys Over Flowers
- You’re Beautiful
- Sungkyunkwan Scandal
2010
This is Not My House, But I’m Gonna Live Here Anyways
- Cinderella’s Sister
- Personal Preference
- Mischievous Kiss
- Creating Destiny
- Stars Falling From the Sky
- Oh! My Lady
- My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
2011
Let’s Pretend to be Something I’m Not
- Baby Faced Beauty
- Myung-wol The Spy
- Miss Ripley
- My Princess
I’m a MAN, Not Really, Just a Kidlet. Here Me Roar..I Mean Squeak
- Greatest Love
- Protect the Boss
- Secret Garden
- Flower Boy Ramyun Shop
2012
Time To go to High School!
- Dream High 2
- School 2013
- To the Beautiful You
- Shut Up Flower Boy Band
- Reply 1997
I Am Not Who I Say I Am…Shhh
- The Equator Man
- Bridal Mask
- I Miss You
- Ghost
- Shark
Let’s Go Back in Time..or No, You Come Forward…Wait?
- Faith
- Rooftop Prince
- Queen Inhyun’s Man
2013
Genius Doctors, I Can Save You With My Bare Hands and a Toothpick
- Good Doctor
- Medical Top Team
- Doctor Stranger
Use me, Use me, I Ain’t Your Average Groupie! Power-hungry Femme Fatales
- Innocent Man
- Yawang
- Jang Ok Jung, Living in Love
I Hear All Kinds of Voices
- I Hear Your Voice
- Master’s Sun
- You Who Came From the Stars
- Who Are You?
- It’s Okay, That’s Love
2014
On My Honor as a Reporter, Honestly…Hiccup!
- Healer
- Pinnochio
It’s Makeover Time….I Am Actually a Hottie!
- Miss Korea
- Cunning Single Lady
- Birth of a Beauty
The King and I, no The President and I, no no, The Prime Minister and I
- Prime Minister & I
- The Empress
- 3 Days
Too Many Serial Killers Running Afoot
- Gap Dong
- Dr. Frost
- Bad Guys
He is Guilty, I Tell You! Prosecution Team Has Spoken
- Punch
- Pride and Prejudice
I Really Really Love You…HATE, I Mean HATE. Freudian Slips
- Emergency Couple
- Marriage, Not Dating
- Discovery of Love
The Scarlet Letters!
- One Warm Word
- Temptation
- Secret Love Affair
-phoenix
picadrama 
i am curious about myung-wol the spy, is it worth to watch?? hmmm… its always worth for eric, but if the storyline is too trashy.. i don’t know how long its gonna takes for me to finish it. btw.. i really like this post 😀 instead of watching the drama by checking the ‘theme’, i usually watch dramas by following the scriptwriters; hong sisters (master sun), hong sisters 2 (king2heart), scriptwriter who wrote ‘i need romance’ series, reply series team, writer who wrote ‘gentlemen dignity’. usually their works are not disappointing. 🙂
Hmm I admit the beginning of myungwol was pretty good, and eric always is a joy to watch. however, the fresh and snappy feeling of the drama definitely died down after episode 10.
I tend to watch a variety of different types of dramas. sometimes i worry though if i have high expectations of a certain writer(s) and if they will meet it. (phoenix)
i gotta agree with you. big was a very BIG disappointment to me… i can’t believe it was written by hongsisters..