Architects of Korean shows: 11 K-drama screenwriters whose works never miss

Tatler Asia

28-04-2025

2. Park Ji-eun
If you've laughed (and cried) through a chaebol comedy or swooned over a high-concept romance, chances are Park Ji-eun was behind it. Her credits include the iconic My Love from the Star , The Legend of the Blue Sea and Crash Landing on You . Known for her razor-sharp wit and crowd-pleasing storytelling, Park pens addictive dramas that marry escapism with emotional payoff. She's a ratings queen, and her dramas often spark global K-drama trends.
Don't miss: 10 K-dramas that will never (and should never) be remade 3. Song Jae-jung
The time-twisting brainiac of K-dramaland, Song Jae-jung is known for her genre-bending narratives that challenge logic while tugging at your heart. Her works include Nine: Nine Time Travels , W: Two Worlds and Memories of the Alhambra . She seamlessly puts together sci-fi, fantasy and romance, keeping viewers on their toes from start to finish. Her inventive plots and emotional arcs have made her a cult favourite among fans who crave something cleverer than your average love story. 4. Lee Woo-jung
If K-dramas had a neighbourhood watch for emotionally grounded, slice-of-life excellence, Lee Woo-jung would be the beloved captain. A longtime collaborator with director Shin Won-ho, she is the pen behind the Reply series ( Reply 1997 , Reply 1994 , Reply 1988 ) and Hospital Playlist . If you need a reminder, these shows quietly became cultural landmarks. Her writing is celebrated for turning the everyday into the unforgettable, often weaving in nostalgia, subtle laughs and deeply human characters whose stories feel personal no matter where you're watching from.
Though her dramas lack flashy antagonists or melodramatic twists, Lee's magic lies in developing character dynamics that resonate. Her stories are a masterclass in warmth, making her a go-to writer for those who want their heartstrings pulled in the most realistic but charming way possible.
See more: 8 slice-of-life K-dramas with no villains—just love, growth and healing 5. Yoon Nan-joong
Yoon Nan-joong has a knack for turning nostalgic slice-of-life stories into cultural touchstones. Best known for co-writing Reply 1994 and Reply 1997 , she captures the ache of youth and the comfort of family with wit and tenderness. Her characters feel like old friends, and her writing taps into the shared memories of a generation. She's part of the powerhouse behind the Reply series, which helped redefine the coming-of-age genre in K-drama.
Don't miss: 10 K-drama friendships that define ultimate loyalty and unbreakable bonds 6. Park Hae-young
Minimalist but deeply affecting, Park Hae-young's writing is all about subtlety and depth. With hits like Another Miss Oh , My Mister and My Liberation Notes , she weaves emotionally rich dramas whose effect lingers long after the final scene. Her stories explore loneliness, healing and the quiet strength of ordinary people. Her work is widely acclaimed for its poetic sensibility and psychological insight, earning her critical and fan devotion alike.
Also read: Here's why healing K-dramas resonate worldwide 7. Kim Eun-sook
You know her dramas even if you don't know her name— Goblin , Descendants of the Sun, The King: Eternal Monarch and Mr Sunshine are all part of her glittering resume. She alone has more hits than other K-drama screenwriters combined.
Kim Eun-sook is the go-to for sweeping romances, memorable one-liners and blockbuster-level production. Her scripts are often the launchpad for megastar pairings and cultural phenomena. Love her or roll your eyes at her flair for cheesiness, she's undeniably the most commercially successful of all K-drama screenwriters. 8. Hong Sisters (Hong Mi-ran and Hong Jeong-eun)
Beautiful writing must be genetic because these K-drama screenwriters always churn out hits. The queens of rom-com, the Hong Sisters have given audiences genre-defining hits like You're Beautiful , My Girlfriend is a Gumiho , The Master's Sun and Hotel del Luna . Their flair for fantasy, humour and sizzling chemistry has made them favourites among viewers and stars. They're not afraid to get weird or whimsical, and their ability to balance zany with heartfelt keeps their dramas irresistibly bingeable. 9. Lim Sang-choon
Five words: When Life Gives You Tangerines . Lim Sang-choon is one of the industry's rising K-drama screenwriters. She's known for balancing social critique with emotional uplift, evident in successes like Fight for My Way and When the Camellia Blooms . She presents stories that spotlight underdogs and everyday heroes, often with a touch of comedy and a lot of heart. Her characters resonate because they feel lived-in, flawed and full of hope. Lim is praised for bringing warmth to gritty realities, and her work has won ratings and accolades, including a Grand Prize (Daesang) at the KBS Drama Awards.
See more: 14 scene-stealing cameos in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' 10. Kim Eun-hee
If you've ever been emotionally wrecked by Signal or binge-watched Kingdom like your life depended on it, you've encountered the genre-defying brilliance of Kim Eun-hee. As Korea's queen of crime thrillers and supernatural suspense, her writing combines airtight plotting with morally complex characters. Signal (2016) remains one of the most acclaimed K-dramas ever made, capturing the suspense of cold cases, time travel and ethical dilemmas.
Kim's strength lies in her ability to humanise the genre. For example, her historical zombie epic Kingdom (2019) is more a sharp critique of power, class and survival disguised as a thriller. Of all the K-drama screenwriters out there, she's the only one who can successfully make brains, blood and brilliance coexist, all thanks to her clinical sense of tension and tempo.
Don't miss: 12 intense K-drama thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat 11. Jeong Yoon-jung
Jeong Yoon-jung doesn't write dramas. She builds worlds. From the soul-crushing cubicles of Misaeng (2014) to the myth-laden continent of Arthdal Chronicles (2019), her range is cerebral but still wildly imaginative. In Misaeng , adapted from a webtoon, she turned office politics into an emotional battlefield, exploring ambition, burnout and quiet victories with devastating precision.
On the other side of the spectrum, Arthdal Chronicles revealed her penchant for high fantasy and deep lore, taking viewers to a prehistoric world filled with tribal alliances and existential stakes. Jeong's signature? An unflinching look at systems, whether corporate or mythological, and the people caught within them.
Also read: Love thy neighbour: 10 K-dramas where love was found living right next door