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Tatler Asia
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
5 K-dramas that aged well (and 5 that didn't)
Way ahead of its time, Coffee Prince tackled gender identity and same-sex attraction (with a bit of 2000s K-drama chaos, of course). Gong Yoo plays a wealthy café owner who falls for his new hire, unaware she's a woman pretending to be a man to land the job. The story navigates his confusion and heartbreak with surprising tenderness. Modern viewer bonus: Gong Yoo's emotional vulnerability, Yoon Eun-hye's charisma and a soundtrack that holds up beautifully. There's also the coffee shop aesthetic that every indie café tries to copy. A nostalgic ode to family, friendship and the analogue days of dial-up and cassette mixtapes. Set in a small Seoul neighbourhood, this slice-of-life gem focuses on the messy, mundane and heart-melting parts of growing up. The parents are as beloved as the teens, and that's no small feat. Honestly, the ensemble cast's chemistry is pure gold (always high value, no matter what decade). Plus, you'll cry over things like a dad buying a new fridge. Bleak, beautiful and brimming with empathy. IU plays a debt-ridden temp worker and Lee Sun-kyun a weary engineer—two wounded souls who slowly find solace in each other, without a hint of romance. My Mister is a masterclass in quiet storytelling and moral nuance. There's no flashy romance (which deviates from your usual K-drama formula), just a devastatingly honest portrayal of adult loneliness and resilience. 4. 'Misaeng: Incomplete Life' (2014) Speaking of K-dramas that aged well, Misaeng: Incomplete Life is the most accurate depiction of South Korean office life ever committed to screen. Im Si-wan plays a former baduk player navigating corporate hell with wide-eyed realism. It's not flashy, but it's honest—and in an era of hustle fatigue, that's what hits hardest. Plus, watching people survive toxic bosses with dignity never gets old. 5. 'It's Okay to Not Be Okay' (2020) It's a fairytale for adults that tackles mental health, trauma and the healing power of chosen family. Visually stunning, emotionally layered and anchored by standout performances, it's the rare modern K-drama that feels both poetic and precise . It's Okay to Not Be Okay puts a lot of emphasis on fashion, but that gothic styling and children's book metaphors will never go out of style. See more: Dressed to dominate: 6 ways K-drama heroines used fashion to showcase their power K-dramas that didn't age so well 1. 'Boys Over Flowers' (2009) It will always be a classic, but it's definitely not one of those K-dramas that aged well. Boys Over Flowers may be an iconic entry point for many K-drama fans, but it's also a masterclass in toxic masculinity. In 2025, it's hard to watch a heroine endure so much verbal abuse and casual humiliation and still call it romance. The male lead's behaviour borders on toxic, and the show's cartoonish treatment of class issues feels jarring now. We love a good makeover montage, but Boys Over Flowers is best left in your high school diary. In short, Lee Min-ho's Jun-pyo bullies the poor female lead into loving him, as the rich-kid fantasy glosses over violence, entitlement and too many perms. This is somehow both boring and problematic. Our heroine is ditzy, desperate and consistently demeaned by a genius male lead with the emotional range of a damp sock. The romantic message? Endure humiliation long enough, and he might marry you. The modern viewer cringe? It's the K-drama equivalent of 'he pulls your pigtails because he likes you'. 3. 'Secret Garden' (2010) There's body swap hilarity, but also a chaebol CEO (Hyun Bin) who stalks, gaslights and belittles a stuntwoman (Ha Ji-won) in the name of 'love'. It tries to be quirky, but lands in murky emotional territory. Hyun Bin's sparkly tracksuit became iconic, and the chemistry between the leads was magnetic. But the show's gender politics? Less so. Watching it again, the controlling male lead trope feels less romantic and more red flag. The whole premise hinges on problematic power dynamics, and while the fantasy setup is charming, its treatment of gender roles can be eyebrow-raising in retrospect. You'll also realise that the infamous sit-up scene is more awkward than endearing today. Also read: 8 unforgettable body swap K-dramas 4. 'You're Beautiful' (2009) A nun joins a boy band disguised as her twin brother. Hijinks ensue, but the gender jokes and campy slapstick don't quite hold up under modern scrutiny. You're Beautiful is still fun in a 'watch with wine and friends' way, but it's very much a product of its time. Every time you cringe, remember, it was 2009. Once the crown jewel of early Hallyu, Full House was every K-drama fan's gateway drug: slapstick comedy, enemies-to-lovers trope and a gorgeous house filled with absurd contract-marriage tension. Han Ji-eun (Song Hye-kyo) is a plucky aspiring writer who ends up living with superstar Lee Young-jae (Rain) after being tricked out of her house. Cue forced cohabitation, endless bickering and emotional tension. While undeniably nostalgic, Full Hous e now plays like a relic of a different era. Similar to Boys Over Flowers , it's not one of those K-dramas that aged well. Emotional manipulation served as romance, and women were treated more like plot devices than protagonists. The fashion is pure time capsule (low-rise jeans and cropped shrugs), and the storyline leans on tropes that today feel a touch regressive.
The Star
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
South Korean actress Yoon Eun-hye recreates 'Princess Hours' look
South Korean actress Yoon Eun-hye uploaded photos of the completed look to Instagram. Photos: Yoon Eun-hye/Instagram Remember the hit K-drama Princess Hours (2006), also known as Goong ? Its leading lady, 40-year-old South Korean actress Yoon Eun-hye, certainly does. In the romance series set in a fictional monarchy, she played Shin Chae-kyeong, a high school student who finds out she is betrothed to the crown prince of South Korea. Almost 20 years later, Yoon recreated her character's high school look from the show on her YouTube channel. A 15-minute video uploaded on April 21 shows her putting on makeup as she reminisced about filming Princess Hours . She also uploaded photos of the completed look to Instagram. In the video, she said she did not often use foundation back then, as her skin was so good. She added that the series was filmed over seven months, and she grew very comfortable with the cast and crew. After her makeup was done, she changed into the uniform from the series, complete with the track pants the character often wore under her plaid skirt. At one point, she put on a furry hair accessory similar to the one Chae-kyeong used to wear, and took out a flip phone common in the 2000s. She also put on red-rimmed glasses. Yoon even recited some lines from the show. There was a scene in which she threw a shoe at the crown prince Shin (Ju Ji-hoon) and yelled at him: 'I'm not your maid. In my house, I'm a princess too.' She said: 'Now I understand why people are so nostalgic. As the actress, I feel shy too, so I can't confidently bring the series up. But seeing fans reminisce, it's strange and so surreal, I feel like I've unlocked a forgotten memory.' She then switched up her hairstyle, from a side up-do bun to double plaits – both sported in the show – and took photos in the get-up. The cast of hit K-drama 'Princess Hours' (from left) Yoon Eun-hye, Kim Jeong-hoon, Song Ji-hyo and Ju Ji-hoon. Photo: Handout Yoon got her start as an idol as part of the girl group Baby Vox, which she left in 2005. The group reunited for the first time in 14 years with a performance on the South Korean music programme KBS Song Festival in December 2024. She made a successful pivot to acting with Princess Hours , and went on to star in series such as Coffee Prince (2007) and Lie To Me (2011). Ju played Yoon's love interest in Goong , and actress Song Ji-hyo played a ballerina fighting for Shin's affections. Ju was recently in the popular Netflix medical series The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call (2025), while Song is a regular cast member of the long-running South Korean variety series Running Man (2010 to present). Kim Jeong-hoon, who played another prince and cousin of Shin, has not been active as an actor in recent years. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network View this post on Instagram A post shared by 윤은혜 (@y1003_grace)
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yoon Eun-hye channels "Princess Hours" character at 40
23 Apr - Yoon Eun-hye sparked the envy of many with her youthful look when she decided to share photos of her looking not a day over 20 in a high school uniform resembling her "Princess Hours" character. The 40-year-old actress recently shared several snaps of her wearing a school uniform, complete with the tartan skirt on Instagram, and posted, "Shin Chae-Kyung has been summoned!!! Complete!" Fans couldn't help but praise the actress for still maintaining her youthful beauty, with one writing, "It looks as if it was posted in 2006." Meanwhile, others are expressing hope that there will be season two of the hit 2006 drama series. The series, which also starred Ju Ji-hoon, Song Ji-hyo and Kim Jeong-hoon, is set in an alternate 21st century Korea where the monarchy is still intact, and focuses on the lives of Crown Prince Lee Shin and his new bride Chae-Kyung. In the drama, Yoon plays the role of the new bride, a normal high school girl who gradually falls in love with her betrothed despite initially annoyed by their forced engagement. (Photo Source: Yoon Eun-hye IG, UDN)
Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
South Korean actress Yoon Eun-hye recreates Princess Hours look
South Korean actress Yoon Eun-hye uploaded photos of the completed look to Instagram. PHOTOS: Y1003_GRACE/INSTAGRAM Remember the hit South Korean drama Princess Hours (2006), also known as Goong? Its leading lady, 40-year-old actress Yoon Eun-hye, certainly does. In the romance drama set in a fictional monarchy, she played Shin Chae-kyeong, a h igh school student who finds out she is betrothed to the crown prince of South Korea. Almost 20 years later, Yoon recreated her high school look in the series on her YouTube channel. A 15-minute video uploaded on April 21 shows her putting on make-up as she reminisced about filming the show. She also uploaded photos of the completed look to Instagram. In the video, she said she did not often use foundation back then, as her skin was so go od. She added that the series was filmed over around seven months, and she grew very comfortable with the cast and crew. After her make-up was done, she changed into the uniform from the series, complete with the track pants the character often wore under her plai d skirt. At one point, she put on a furry hair accessory similar to the one Chae-kyeong used to wear, and took out a flip phone common in the 2000s. She also put on red-rimmed glasses. Yoon even recited some lines from the show. There was a scene in which she threw a shoe at the crown prince Shin (Ju Ji-hoon) and yelled at him: 'I'm not your maid. In my house, I'm a princess too.' She said: 'Now I understand why people are so nostalgic. As the actress, I feel shy too, so I can't confidently bring the series up. But seeing fans reminisce, it's strange. So surreal, I feel like I've unlocked a forgotten memory.' She then switched up her hairstyle, from a side up-do bun to double plaits – both sported in the show – and took photos in the get-up. Yoon got her start as an idol as part of the girl group Baby Vox, which she left in 2005. The group reunited for the first time in 14 years with a performance at the South Korean music programme KBS Song Festival in December 2024. She made a successful pivot to acting with Princess Hours, and went on to star in series such as Coffee Prince (2007) and Lie To Me (2011). The cast of hit K-drama Princess Hours (from left) Yoon Eun-hye, Kim Jeong-hoon, Song Ji-hyo and Ju Ji-hoon. PHOTO: MBC Ju played Yoon's love interest in Goong, and actress Song Ji-hyo played a ballerina fighting for Shin's affections. Ju was recently in the popular Netflix medical series The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call (2025), while Song is a regular cast member of the long-running South Korean variety series Running Man (2010 to present). Ki m Jeong-hoon, who played another prince and cousin of Shin, has not been active as an actor in recent years. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
