HIGH SCHOOL DRAMAS - DRAMAS THAT BEGIN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND /OR THE LOVE STORYS THAT STICK LIKE BUBBLE GUM

BUBBLE GUM!

Aspiring nun Go Mi Nyeo (Park Shin Hye) never expected to receive this mission: stand in as her twin brother Mi Nam in the idol band A.N.Jell while he tries to get a botched plastic surgery revised. Suddenly thrust into the glamorous and cutthroat world of K-pop, Mi Nyeo must navigate the challenges of living as a man while keeping her true identity a secret from the band's demanding leader, Hwang Tae Kyung (Jang Geun Suk), the kind-hearted Kang Shin Woo (Jung Yong Hwa), and the cheerful Jeremy (Lee Hong Ki). As she struggles to maintain her disguise amidst hilarious mishaps and close calls, Mi Nyeo finds herself entangled in a complicated web of friendship, rivalry, and unexpected romance, all while trying to achieve her brother's dream.

You're Beautiful

The A.N.JELL Team

Oh Ha Ni (Jung So Min) is head-over-heels for Baek Seung Jo (Kim Hyun Joong), the school's most popular boy, but there's just one problem: he doesn't even know she exists! Determined to win his heart, Ha Ni concocts countless schemes to get his attention, but nothing seems to work. But when all hope seems lost, fate steps in when an earthquake destroys Ha Ni’s house, forcing her and her father to move in with a family friend – who just happens to be Seung Jo’s father! Now living under the same roof, Ha Ni’s dreams of catching Seung Jo’s eye seem closer than ever. Will she finally melt his icy exterior, or is she doomed to be stuck in the friend zone forever ? This 2010 South Korean drama, directed by Hwang In Roe and Kim Do Hyung, was adapted from Kaoru Tada’s manga of the same name.

Playful Kiss

the PKer team

Tencent TV

Seventeen-year-old high school friends and neighbors Chen Xiao Xi (Shen Yue) and Jiang Chen (Hu Yi Tian) have grown up together. Although they share a close bond, they’re very different: Xiao Xi is easygoing and doesn’t like to study much, while Jiang Chen is known as an A student and is well-liked because of his good looks. Despite their differences, Xiao Xi has a secret crush on her childhood friend, and Jiang Chen pretends he doesn’t notice or care, but his feelings for his neighbor aren’t entirely platonic either. As they begin the transition into adulthood, will they finally have the courage to take their relationship out of the friendzone? This 2017 Chinese drama series was based on the novel “To Our Pure Little Beauty” by Zhao Gang An and was directed by Yang Long.

A Love So Beautiful

Pure Love Team

Lee Shin (Jung Yong Hwa), a rock band vocalist, and Lee Gyoo Won (Park Shin Hye), a traditional gayageum player, meet at a performing arts college where their contrasting musical worlds collide. Shin, initially interested in dance professor Jung Yoon Soo (So Yi Hyun), becomes intrigued by the feisty Gyoo Won, who comes from a prestigious traditional music background. Both passionate about their distinct musical styles, they struggle to find common ground. As they navigate their differences, they begin to explore the potential harmony between rock and traditional Korean folk music. This is a 2011 South Korean romantic music drama directed by Pyo Min Soo.

Heartstrings

Fuji TV TWO

Kotoko Aihara (Yahagi Honoka), an average girl with poor grades, falls head-over-heels for Naoki Irie (Yuki Furukawa), the smartest and most handsome boy in school. For three years, she admires him from afar, but fate intervenes when a meteorite destroys her home, forcing her family to stay with Naoki’s. Living under one roof, Kotoko seizes her chance to win Naoki’s heart. Can she convince him to see her as someone he truly cares for, or will her dreams of love remain unfulfilled? This 2013 Japanese drama, directed by Koto Nagata, Koji Kawano, and Masakazu Abe, is the fifth TV adaptation of Kaoru Tada’s manga series Itazura Na Kiss.

Mischievous Kiss: Love in TOKYO

Mischievous Kisser Team

Fuji TV

Back in high school, a meteorite crashed into Kotoko (Honoka Yahagi)'s home, leaving her with no choice but to move in with classmate Naoki (Yuki Furukawa). For Kotoko, this was a dream come true, as she’d had a longstanding crush on Naoki. Despite his initial disdain for her, Naoki eventually fell for Kotoko, and they ended up getting married. However, married life may not be the sweet fantasy they’d dreamed it would be. Kotoko has decided to become a nurse, but her studies aren’t going well. Plus, having a charming, good-looking husband has its drawbacks – as Naoki seems to have no shortage of female admirers! Can they overcome these hurdles and ensure their love survives the test of time? This 2014 Japanese drama, based on the hit manga of the same name by Kaoru Tada, follows 2013’s Mischievous Kiss: Love in TOKYO. It was directed by Kazuya Konaka and Takashi Ninomiya.

Mischievous Kiss 2: Love in TOKYO

Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho)’s wealthy parents have been grooming him to take over the lucrative family business, the Empire Group, since he was just a young boy. His jealous older half-brother Kim Won (Choi Jin Hyuk) – already a successful executive at the firm – is a constant thorn in Tan’s side. Tan, meanwhile, is engaged to an heiress, Rachel Ryu (Kim Ji Won), the scion of a powerful, hotel-owning family. But while he is studying in the United States, Tan meets and falls for Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye), unaware that she is the daughter of his family’s housekeeper. As super-rich families hatch plans for their children’s future, could love put an end to their ambitious schemes? This 2013 South Korean drama series was directed by Kang Shin Hyo and Boo Sung Chul.

Heirs

The Heirs Team

KBS2

Working-class highschooler Jan Di (Ku Hye Sun) secures a scholarship at the prestigious Shin Hwa High School. Shin Hwa is attended by elites, most infamously the F4 — the four richest boys in school. Not one to stir up trouble, Jan Di keeps to herself... until her best friend accidentally drops ice cream on F4 leader Goo Joon Pyo (Lee Min Ho). After Jan Di stands up for her friend, her anonymity goes out the window and the F4 won't leave her alone. However, as Jan Di learns more about the F4, she realizes that there's more than meets the eye... and it seems Joon Pyo feels the same way. Will this unlikely duo find romance? Released in 2009 and based on the Japanese manga of the same name, this drama is a worldwide phenomenon and a fan-favorite classic. It was directed by the late Jeon Ki Sang and Lee Min Woo.

Boys Over Flowers

🌸The Fabulous Four Team🌸

In the 1970s, Seo In Ha (Jang Geun Suk) falls deeply in love with Kim Yoon Hee (Yoona), but destiny cruelly separates them. Forty years later, In Ha's son Seo Joon (also played by Jang Geun Suk) and Yoon Hee's daughter Ha Na (also played by Im Yoona), accidentally meet and begin to develop feelings for each other. As they navigate their unexpected connection, they unknowingly unravel the unfinished love story of their parents. Their relationship becomes a chance to heal old wounds and potentially complete the romantic journey that was interrupted decades earlier. This is a 2012 South Korean romantic drama directed by Yoon Seok Ho.

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