K-dramas cover a wide range of topics, which is probably why many people are drawn to them. There are series about lawyers, about what goes on in a hospital, or even about what life is like in rural South Korea. There’s probably one Korean show out there that is written with you and your story in mind. That’s one of the reasons why I love K-dramas so much.
Of course, K-dramaland has also written stories that are closer to home. Over the past couple of years, stories about the people behind the scenes in the South Korean entertainment industry have also taken center stage. That’s what we’re listing down today.
Here are 6 K-dramas about the entertainment industry that you should add to your to-watch list:
This is the story of what happens when an alien meets South Korea’s biggest Hallyu star. Do Min Joon (Kim Soo Hyun) is the alien in question, who has been inhabiting Earth for the last 400 years. One day, A-list actress Cheon Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun) moves next door to him and thus begins Min Joon’s entanglement into Song Yi’s crazy celebrity life. From neighbor to manager, Min Joon uses both his special powers and 400-years worth of experience on earth to save Song Yi from precarious situations. And when Song Yi’s career is on the brink of collapse and her life becomes endangered, Min Joon does all it takes to ensure Song Yi’s safety—even if it means exposing who he is and losing his last chance to return to his home planet.
2. Hit The Top (2017)
Yoo Hyun Jae (Yoon Shi Yoon) is—was—a popular idol back in the ‘90s who mysteriously traveled through time and is transported 24 years into the future, to the present year 2017. Here he meets Lee Ji Hoon (Kim Min Jae), who is an aspiring singer and songwriter but his parents want him to take the civil service exam together with his childhood friend, Choi Woo Seung (Lee Se Young). Hit The Top follows the story of two individuals, from rather different worlds, who share the same dream and passion. We take a look at the struggles of idol life and the preparations it takes to finally make that much-awaited debut.
3. The Producers (2015)
The story follows Baek Seung Chan (Kim Soo Hyun) leaving his career behind as a prosecutor as he starts working at KBS because of his secret crush. As a rookie PD, he gets a first-hand view of what it’s like to make a variety/entertainment show. There he meets Ra Joon Mo (Cha Tae Hyun), a seasoned PD with 10 years of experience but no masterpiece to his name. He also meets Tak Ye Jin (Gong Hyo Jin), who is the evil genius PD behind the success of Music Bank. Seung Chan also gets to see the real Cindy (IU) underneath the top celebrity veneer she expertly projects. Its cast alone makes it a definite must-watch, but the show leaves insightful learnings about friendship, fame, failures, and successes in the broadcasting industry.
4. Be Melodramatic (2019)
Lim Jin Joo (Chun Woo Hee), Lee Eun Jung (Jeon Yeo Been), and Hwang Han Joo (Han Ji Eun) are three BFFs who are all working in the entertainment industry. Jin Joo is a drama screenwriter. Eun Jung is a documentary director with her own production company. Han Joo is the head of the Marketing department at a drama production company. One is trying to balance work and raising a kid as a single mother. One is trying to make ends meet and saving up for her dream luxury bag. One seemingly has it all but his boyfriend passed away and her grief is just too much to bear. Three friends, three different stories, and one show that talks about the ups and downs of the kind of adult life that begins at the age of 30.
5. Imitation (2021)
Aside from resembling top star La Ri Ma (Park Ji Yeon), Lee Ma Ha (Jung Ji So) is one tenacious and persevering idol trainee who finally debuts into the girl group, Tea Party. Despite their efforts, success seems to be elusive to the trio, so they take part in a reality program that involves other popular idol groups. Here they come across super boyband Shax whose leader, Kwon Ryeok (Lee Jun Young) despises Ma Ha. Imitation takes us through the journey of four different idol groups, each at varying stages of success. We see the pressures involved in being a trainee, a debutante, and an established idol that drive them to succeed in the cut-throat competition of South Korea’s entertainment industry.
6. Shooting Stars (2022)
Oh Han Byul (Lee Sung Kyung) is the head of the Public Relations (PR) Team at Starforce Entertainment. She is excellent at her job, especially in terms of crisis management. The company’s number one priority, including Han Byul’s, is to make sure that their top star Gong Tae Sung (Kim Young Dae) gets all the good publicity and the best projects he can get. Shooting Stars takes us through the ins and outs of working in the PR industry. It also takes us into the crazy Tom and Jerry nature of Han Byul and Tae Sung’s relationship and sees where this constant state of bickering will eventually lead to.
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