All my favorites on one page! I’ll keep adding to the list as I think of new categories.
(Psst, I would love to know your favorites as well, so please comment away. Many thanks!)
Updated: August 19, 2011
BEST DRAMA
Shin Don
Eyes of Dawn
Conspiracy in the Court
Ruler of Your Own World
Damo
Jejoongwon
Taereung National Village
Devil
Can You Hear My Heart
White Tower
BEST MOVIE
Duelist
King and the Clown
The Happy Life
My Dear Enemy
Blue Swallow
Radio Star
A Bittersweet Life
Memories of Murder
The Chaser
Crying Fist
FAVORITE ACTOR
Ha Jung-woo
Kang Dong-won
Kim Myung-min
So Ji-sub
Lee Min-ho
Park Hae-il
Oh Man-seok
Chun Jung-myung
Park Yong-woo
Jung Bo-seok
FAVORITE ACTRESS
Jeon Do-yeon
Lee Mi-sook
Na Moon-hee
Yoon Yeo-jung
Jang Jin-young
Gong Hyo-jin
Bae Doo-na
Ha Ji-won
Lee Na-young
Shin Mina
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST (DRAMA)
Eyes of Dawn
Shin Don
Resurrection
Conspiracy in the Court
Sandglass
More Beautiful than a Flower
Evasive Inquiry Agency
Goodbye Solo
The Return of Iljimae
City Hunter
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST (MOVIE)
Memories of Murder
The Host
A Bittersweet Life
Duelist
The Chaser
My Lovely Week
Singles
The Happy Life
Forbidden Quest
The Good, The Bad, The Weird
BEST ACTOR (DRAMA)
Kim Myung-min (White Tower)
Yang Dong-geun (Ruler of Your Own World)
Park Yong-woo (Jejoongwon)
Hwang Jung-min (Accidental Couple)
Lee Cheon-hee (Conspiracy in the Court)
Son Chang-min (Shin Don)
Uhm Tae-woong (Resurrection)
Jang Hyuk (Chuno)
So Ji-sub (I’m Sorry, I Love You)
Park Sang-won (Eyes of Dawn)
BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Son Ye-jin (Alone in Love)
Kim Ha-eun (Conspiracy in the Court)
Ha Ji-won (Damo)
Go Doo-shim (More Beautiful than a Flower)
Chae Si-ra (Eyes of Dawn)
Go Hyun-jung (Queen Seondeok)
Yum Jung-ah (Royal Family)
Moon Geun-young (Painter of the Wind)
Kim Sun-ah (My Name is Kim Sam Soon)
Shim Eun-kyung (Gyeongsuk, Gyeongsuk’s Father)
BEST ACTOR (MOVIE)
Lee Byung-hun (A Bittersweet Life)
Sol Kyung-gu (Oasis)
Ha Jung-woo (The Chaser)
Choi Min-shik (Oldboy)
Song Kang-ho (The Good, The Bad, The Weird)
Hwang Jung-min (You’re My Sunshine)
Kim Ju-hyuk (Blue Swallow)
Ahn Sung-ki (Radio Star)
Lee Beom-soo (Superstar Mr. Gam)
Lee Jung-jae (Last Present)
BEST ACTRESS (MOVIE)
Jang Jin-young (Blue Swallow)
Moon So-ri (Oasis)
Oh Jeong-hae (Sopyonje)
Jeon Do-yeon (My Mother, the Mermaid)
Lee Young-ae (Sympathy for Lady Vengeance)
Bae Doo-na (The Host)
Choi Kang-hee (My Scary Girl)
Gong Hyo-jin (Conduct Zero)
Son Ye-jin (My Wife Got Married)
Im Soo-jung (Happiness)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (DRAMA)
Jung Bo-seok (Can You Hear My Heart)
Hu Joon-ho (Jumong)
Ahn Nae-sang (Conspiracy in the Court)
Lee Dae-yeon (Shin Don)
Kim Gab-soo (Time between Dog and Wolf)
Kim Myung-soo (The Immortal Yi Soon-shin)
Namgoong Min (Can You Hear My Heart)
Lee Jae-ryong (Goodbye Solo)
Lee Jong-hyuk (Chuno)
Kim Sang-joong (City Hunter)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Yoon Yeo-jung (Can You Hear My Heart)
Ye Ji-won (Evasive Inquiry Agency)
Kim Min-hee (Goodbye Solo)
Kim Young-ok (Assorted Gems)
Gong Hyo-jin (Ruler of Your Own World)
Bae Jong-ok (More Beautiful than a Flower)
Na Moon-hee (Did We Really Love?)
Jung Ae-ri (Women in the Sun)
Jung Hye-young (The Return of Iljimae)
Moon Chae-won (Brilliant Legacy)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (MOVIE)
Hwang Jung-min (A Bittersweet Life)
Ahn Sung-ki (Duelist)
Byun Hee-bong (The Host)
Jo Hee-bong (Superstar Mr. Gam)
Lee Jun-ki (The King and the Clown)
Lee Beom-soo (Forbidden Quest)
Park Hae-il (Memories of Murder)
Seong Ji-roo (Paradise Murdered)
Choi Min-shik (The Quiet Family)
Park Joon-gyu (The Fox Family)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (MOVIE)
Go Doo-shim (My Mother, the Mermaid)
Kim Young-ok (Old Miss Diary)
Na Moon-hee (Crying Fist)
Ko Ah-sung (The Host)
Lee Mi-sook (Untold Scandal)
Kim Mi-sook (Marathon)
Gong Hyo-jin (Family Ties)
Kim Soo-mi (Superstar Mr. Gam)
Yeo Woon-hye (Mapado)
Yoon Yeo-jung (Maundy Thursday)
BEST VILLAIN (DRAMA)
Park Geun-hyung (Eyes of Dawn)
Lee Dae-yeon (Shin Don)
Lee Jong-hyuk (Green Rose)
Choi Jae-sung (Time between Dog and Wolf)
Kim Gab-soo (Partner)
Uhm Hyo-sub (H.I.T.)
Go Hyun-jung (Queen Seondeok)
Kim Mi-sook (Brilliant Legacy)
Kim Min-sun (Glass Slippers)
Kim Young-ae (Royal Family)
BEST VILLAIN (MOVIE)
Hwang Jung-min (A Bittersweet Life)
Ha Jung-woo (The Chaser)
Ahn Kil-kang (Heart Is…)
Song Young-chang (Duelist)
Yoo Ji-tae (Oldboy)
Jung Jin-young (The King and the Clown)
Kang Dong-won (Voice of a Murderer)
Moon Seong-keun (Jealousy is My Middle Name)
Son Byeong-ho (Indian Summer)
Kwon Hyeok-ho (3-Iron)
BEST COUPLE (DRAMA)
Kim Jae-won and Hwang Jung-eum (Can You Hear My Heart)
Park Yong-woo and Han Hye-jin (Jejoongwon)
So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung (I’m Sorry I Love You)
Kim Myung-min and Han Go-eun (More Beautiful than a Flower)
Yang Dong-geun and Lee Na-young (Ruler of Your Own World)
Lee Jae-ryong and Kim Min-hee (Goodbye Solo)
Chae Rim and Lee Min-ki (Dal Ja’s Spring)
Jung Il-woo and Yoon Jin-seo (The Return of Iljimae)
Cha Seung-won and Kim Sun-ah (City Hall)
Jung Kyung-ho and Lee Min-jung (Smile, You)
BEST COUPLE (MOVIE)
Ha Jung-woo and Jeon Do-yeon (My Dear Enemy)
Jang Jin-young and Kim Ju-hyeok (Blue Swallow)
Gam Woo-sung and Lee Jun-ki (The King and the Clown)
Kang Dong-won and Ha Ji-won (Duelist)
Jung Jae-young and Lee Na-young (Someone Special)
Park Yong-woo and Choi Kang-hee (My Scary Girl)
Jo In-sung and Shin Mina (Madeleine)
Lee Jung-jae and Jang Jin-young (Over the Rainbow)
Hwang Jung-min and Im Soo-jung (Happiness)
Park Shin-yang and Jeon Do-yeon (A Promise)
BEST UNCONVENTIONAL COUPLE (DRAMA)
Kim Young-ok and Jung Hye-sun (Assorted Gems)
Jung Ji-hoon and Lee Dong-gun (Sang Doo, Let’s Go to School)
Chun Jung-myung and Na Moon-hee (Goodbye Solo)
Oh Hyeon-kyeong and Yoo Jong-geun (Shin Don)
Moon Geun-young and Moon Chae-won (Painter of the Wind)
Yeo Woon-kye and Geum Bo-ra (Bad Family)
Hwang Jung-min and Baek Sung-hyun (Accidental Couple)
Kang Nam-gil and Lee Hyun-woo (The Return of Iljimae)
Shin Goo and Park Joon-mok (Family Honor)
Go Hyun-jung and Kim Nam-gil (Queen Seondeok)
BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (DRAMA)
Ruler of Your Own World
City Hunter
Jejoongwon
The Return of Iljimae
Soulmate
Conspiracy in the Court
Damo
Legend
Time between Dog and Wolf
Devil
BEST CHASE-THE-BLUES-AWAY DRAMA
Can You Hear My Heart
Bad Family
Evasive Inquiry Agency
My Name is Kim Sam Soon
My Girl
Dal Ja’s Spring
Hyena
You’re Beautiful
Assorted Gems
Strongest Chil Woo
BEST RIP-YOUR-HEART-OUT DRAMA
Damo
I’m Sorry I Love You
Eyes of Dawn
Shin Don
Conspiracy in the Court
White Tower
Devil
Glass Slippers
Magic
Did We Really Love?
’BEST’ WHO-THE-HELL-WROTE-THIS-CRAP DRAMA
Auction House
Again My Love
A Love to Kill
Stairway to Heaven
Thousand Years of Love
Strike Love
Phoenix
Lovers
Winter Sonata
Mary Stayed Out All Night
thundie
ockoala
Serendipity
Michael
Softy
Laica
momosan
leonardswench
supah
I think your knowledge of Korean dramas and movies are more in-depth than most casual watchers in Korea.. you continue to amaze me. Is the next list Best Villain in movies? Number 1 in that list should go to Kim Yun-seok in Tazza. He was the most attractive and fascinating villain in Korean movies I’ve seen. And I would expect Ha Jung-woo would make that list with his role in Chaser hehe. Jung Ae-ri was really good in Conspiracy in the Court too.. didn’t watch Women in the Sun so I can’t tell in which drama she was better.
Hi nabi!
First, you’re too kind, lol.
I’m a casual watcher, trust me! I space out, I fall asleep, I don’t take notes, I drool… (when it’s Ha Jung-woo!) I just want to be entertained like any other viewer.
Alas, I’ve not watched Tazza and can’t include Kim Yun-seok in the Best Villains (Movie) list. HJW’s a shoo-in, of course.
To be honest I had a hard time coming up with ten names for this category. No problems with the first five, but the next five were kinda iffy.
Jung Ae-ri was chilling in Women in the Sun. Not a true villainess in that she wasn’t exactly evil, but she was so cold-hearted toward her adopted daughter. She really was the catalyst for the female lead’s downward spiral into hell.
Hello Thundie^^^
I just wanna ask about your top 10 best dramas list change..Saw the other list long time ago, but cant seem to remember which drama you replaced with The return of Iljimae?
Best villain in a movie..yes, The Chaser is a given LOL
Heard HJW wants to act in a 50 eps drama, I miss his drama acting since HIT.
Searching for Immortal Lee Sun Shin 33 eps version online, but haven’t managed to find it. *sigh* 101 eps. make me scared. (Couldn’t find More Beautiful Than A Flower sub version either..)
Don’t plan to watch Eyes of Dawn, cause it’s too old for me. Also have doubts about Hyena, whether I like the sexuality dominant story..
Thundie, may I request your list for best couples please? *wave*
Hi lovekorea
The Return of Iljimae (which I’m completely besotted with at the moment; rewatching it very slowly) replaced either More Beautiful than a Flower or The Count of Myeongdong. Both MBTAF and COM are rated 10, the same as ROI.
I have both the long and condensed versions of Immortal Yi Soon Shin. The condensed 33-episode version lops off way too much (for example, the childhood years). If you’re a Kim Myung-min fan, you should watch the long version (all 101 episodes!).
Both Eyes of Dawn and Hyena are awesome. EOD is MisterX’s next subbing project and Hyena is already fully subbed (incidentally I’m uploading the Hyena raws to MU and will post the links on the blog when I’m done; it’s taking a loooong time, aigoo). The theme of homosexuality is only one of several themes explored in Hyena and it’s done sensitively and poignantly. The focus isn’t really on the homosexual relationship; rather it’s about being loved regardless of (and in spite of) one’s sexual choices. It’s a drama about friendship.
Ha Jung-woo played a small role in The Age of Warriors, a super long drama a long time ago. I will die of happiness if he’s cast as the lead in a 50-episode drama!
Hi doozy
You read my mind, lol. I was going to put up the Best Couples list next. (Psst, it’s done!)
I’m really enjoying this. Brings back so many memories!
Thundie, yes heard The Age Of Warriors. I intended for watching it for the sake of Park Yong Woo some time ago, and eventually go back on it hehe..
And yes, I’m a KMM fan!
Really? Should wait for X’s awesome subs and your Hyena links..Maybe I’d change my thoughts by then. Right now, I’m starting to watch City Hall. Don’t really like popular dramas and have prejudices about them, I’ll only watch it because need some romance hehe..
Btw. missed Lee Jae-ryong and Kim Min-hee couple<3 Best unconventional couple would be POTW LOL
How about Que Sera Sera ost? It’s my favorite drama ost… I’m surprised My Fair Lady didn’t make the “’BEST’ WHO-THE-HELL-WROTE-THIS-CRAP DRAMA” list
I’m glad Super Rookie made the feel-good list. That one was harmless fun.
Oh yeah, thanks for putting up your best couple lists. The unconventional list was a nice addition!
thundie, if you feel like it, how about favorite female/male characters from dramas and movies?
Yup, doozy..I was about to ask the same question!
Hi doozy and lovekorea
Thanks for the cool suggestion! I’ve been pretty busy with Chuno subs (and an upcoming recap), but I will add those categories as soon as I find the time.
Hi nabi
I like the Que Sera Sera OST a lot, but not as much as the ones in my top ten. As for My Fair Lady, I was planning to NEVER touch it, but since I love Jung Il-woo in Return of Iljimae, I MAY pick it up one day. Keke…
Thundie, what about best story development?
It’s similar to best drama category though..
Hello Thundie,
I’m extremely grateful for your recap of Brilliant Legacy. I just got my hand on this set recently, and enjoy it tremendously. However, reading your recap gave me an equivalent thrill, if not more. But I can’t seem to find any recap after episode 23. Where are the rest, from 24-28, please? Did you write it, or not? If you did, would you mind point me to where they are, please? Watching the drama now without your supplemental recap does not seem complete anymore…
I was wondering what was missing from your Top Ten drama OST list and it just struck me -Coffee Prince!:-)Wonder if you’d ever find the time to finish it though, with so many new dramas coming out hehe:-)Such an awesome collection of songs.The drama clued me into bands like The Melody and Adultchild for which I am ever so grateful:-)
Laughed out loud when I saw your ’BEST’ WHO-THE-HELL-WROTE-THIS-CRAP DRAMA category. Laughed even harder when I saw “A Love to Kill” and “Full House” on the list. I’ve seen both of those shows at least twice getting mildly annoyed at 1 thing or another. And yet like I said, I’ve seen them at least twice. All I can say in defense is that Rain certainly has strange powers over me.
Hi Thundie,
I just started reading your site, being introduced by Ockoala’s recap/reviews.
I love your lists! I watched Eyes of Dawn and it was one of the hardest to watch, but it was one of the most heart wrenching, whole box of tissue dramas I’ve ever watched and also one of my top dramas all time.
Now, since I’ve seen your lists and you list Shin Don, I’ll have to watch this. I started to on Dramafever but wasn’t able to get into it. I think this means that I have to past the first couple of episodes since I liked all the rest you mentioned very much including the movies!
Thanks thundie for taking this page into consideration.
I love this page and how it presented.
Love reading your insights as usual.:)
Thank you so much for recaps on BL!XD I love the dramas Jumong, Princess Hours, Save your last dance for me and many more!
Wow. been reading the good review of white tower. will definitely buy DVD once i’m back to KL!!
) my Lee Seon Gyun is in it hehehehe..that’s enough reason for me to look for the DVD 
i mean it’s on your list, so i’m gonna watch it. i’m like your loyal followers, will watch anything that you (and dahee) said good unni
Hi thundie! I have great respect for you guys who rant and rave and feed kdrama fanatics like me.. your writings along w/ javabeans, girlfriday, ockoala are so intuitive, insightful, funny and at most times giddy like a schoolgirl who had been kissed by her crush a la Oh Ha Ni. ;p
With your top ten drama listing, which I dare say I am not familiar with..my taste would be so amateurish since 4 of my all time favorite kdrama are in your who the hell wrote this crap!! hahaha (hint: the first two stars my favorite Korean doll-Choi Ji Woo and the other two stars Bi aka Rain- who I have great admiration for not bc of his great bod and dancing skills but his rags-to-riches story; I once saw an interview of him regarding the sacrifices of his mom and I sobbed like mad.. no wonder he has this drive to succeed).
Anyway, at least I fared better w/ your top ten movies bc I also loved the Chaser and A Bittersweet Life. My favorites also include Too Beautiful to Lie, A Moment to Remember, The Good the Bad and the Weird, Marathon, Jeonwoochi, Taegukki, M and Attack the Gas Station.
With Park Yong Woo on my left and Lee Jun Ki on my right , I wish you , dear Thundie a happy year of the rabbit !
Hi Thundie!
I’m so pleased to see “Full House” in ’BEST’ WHO-THE-HELL-WROTE-THIS-CRAP DRAMA.
I may be a non Korean speaking K-drama fan but it doesn’t take rocket science to tell me that the Rainy guy was paid not for his acting (or lack of ) but for screaming and shouting at his female lead for 16 (or 20?) episodes. It is a crime to be compensated for just shifting his body around the set in a drama that apparently launched his acting career. And apparently that helped launched his wax body in Madame Tussaud’s in London too.
All because he he had the guts to preen himself in one of your ’BEST’ WHO-THE-HELL-WROTE-THIS-CRAP DRAMA.
Kudos to the discerning you.
But I’m feeling sorry for myself that my all time favourite SungkyungKwan Scandal (SKKS) voted best drama in 2010 by some reporters in Korea didn’t make your list as BEST DRAMA.
Er… are you allergic to sageuk? I had thought “SKKS” was simply the modern all time favourite “Boys before Flowers” edited with a funny language. And with big irritating hats that get in the way of amorous intentions and costumes big enough to cover your 8 seater dining table.
Care to include SKKS as an after thought?
best movie: THE CLASSIC
A MOMENT TO REMEMBER
ART OF SEDUCTION
am curious why my best movie is not in your list??
is it obvious that I am a Son Ye Jin fan? hehe
Best ‘Who-the-hell-wrote-this-crap’ Drama
For the record, I second Winter Sonata and Stairway to Heaven. Lasted one episode with the former, 10 minutes with the latter. Even my 12 year-old cousin was like, “Why is that woman (Choi Ji-Woo) crying all the time?” Urrrggh.
Okie I’m sharing some of my fav as well:
Drama – I’m tempted to say Tamra after my 2nd rewatch
Movie – My Sassy Girl, 3 Iron, Too Beautiful to Lie
Actor – Kang Dong Won, Yoon Kye Sang, Kim Soo Hyun, Jae Hee, Cha Tae Hyun
Actress – Moon Geun Young, Im Soo Jung, Kim Ha Neul, Yoon Eun Hye
Ensemble Cast – SKKS despite my misgivings about the ending, Dream High, Bad Family
Best Couple – LDH & LDW (My Girl), CJW & BYJ (Winter Sonata), HHJ & SDY (Spring Waltz), LBY & JHJ (Seo Dong Yo), LMJ & JKH (Smile You), UEE & JW (Ojakgyo), SamMi (Dream High), SW & PD and SW & IJH (Tamra), YEH & GY (Coffee Prince), JYM & Eric (Que Sera Sera) <– dysfunctional but gdamm the chemistry
Best unconventional couple – MGY & MCW (Painter in the Wind), SJK & YAI (SKKS)
OST – Tamra, Soulmate, Winter Sonata
Chased the blues away drama – My Girl, Sweet 18
Who the hell wrote this crap – MSOAN (I'd love to say Full House and Stairway to Heaven but they were crack when I first saw them so I can't) I also have an aversion to Creating Destiny's xenophobic message but I guess the plot wasn't as failing.
BEST male lead character – Park Kyu from Tamra, Kwon Hyuk Jun from Sweet 18