Celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Month this May with our special collection featuring iconic and beloved Asian stories that bring us together!

Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

JTBC

Growing up an ordinary country blacksmith, Lee Soo (Seo Ji Hoon) had no idea he would ever rule all of Joseon; but, at the age of twenty-three, that’s exactly what happened. Now as king, Lee Soo is finding it hard to adapt to the restrictions of palace life, especially where matters of the heart are concerned.

Having loved Gae Ddong (Gong Seung Yeon) for as long as he can remember, he always thought she would be the one he would someday marry; but now, as king, that dream has become nothing short of impossible. As a commoner, Lee Soo has no chance of making Gae Ddong his bride but that doesn’t stop him from trying.

Hiring the best matchmaking agency in Joseon, Lee Soo asks the talented Flower Crew to transform his first love into a noblewoman. Accepting the king’s request, Ma Hoon (Kim Min Jae), Do Joon (Byun Woo Suk), and Go Young Soo (Park Ji Hoon) take Gae Ddong into their care. There’s just one problem, transformations like this aren’t easy and there’s a lot of work to do!

Risking their lives to help the king, can the Flower Crew help Gae Ddong blossom into a beautiful noble flower or will this job prove to be impossible?

Based on the novel by Kim Yi Rang, “Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency” is a 2019 Viki Original historical romantic comedy drama directed by Kim Ga Ram.

Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency

My Fair Lady Team

Tencent TV

Fan Xian (Zhang Ruo Yun) is a man who has strange memories of life in the 21st Century – even though he was raised by his grandmother in a rural town in the Ancient Southern Qing Empire, ruled by the despotic Emperor (Chen Dao Ming). As a child, Fan Xian was taught martial arts and made incredible discoveries about the deadly power of poison. But questions about his true identity and his mother’s death haunt him. When someone tries to kill him, he decides to head to the capital in search of answers.

Soon after he arrives, Fan Xian meets the chancellor’s daughter Lin Wan Er (Li Qin). The two quickly form a tight bond, and she becomes his closest ally. However, despite his intentions to live a carefree life, he begins to suspect that his past is somehow entwined with that of the Emperor. It is not long before he becomes drawn into schemes involving the Emperor and two Royal Princes. A mysterious security agency named the Overwatch Department also seems to be taking an interest in him. Can he learn the truth about his identity – and learn just why his head is filled with bizarre “memories” of a distant future?

This drama was based on the internet novel “Qing Yu Nian,” which was written by the Chinese author Maoni.

“Joy of Life” is a 2019 Chinese drama series that was produced by Chen Ying Jie.

Joy of Life

Mnet

In 2020, 23 male contestants battled it out for the opportunity to join ENHYPEN, a new K-pop group produced by the musical masterminds behind BTS. Now, four years later, it’s the ladies’ turn! K-pop supremo Teddy, the ace behind chart-topping acts like BLACKPINK, will produce the group that emerges from this highly competitive audition showdown! With K-pop veteran Taeyang hosting alongside production and choreography gurus 24, VVN, PROWDMON’s Monika, and YGX’s Lee Jung, brand new K-pop stars will be born. But which of the talented contestants will make the grade? This 2024 South Korean variety TV show was directed by Lee Chang Kyu.

I-LAND 2

👑​I-LANDEARS 2 TEAM🎤

After being involved in an accident, Yuri Motomiya (Fumi Nikaido) is shocked to discover that she can now hear other people’s thoughts, anytime she makes eye contact. To spare herself, she stays isolated from others until she happens to meet Yoon Tae Oh (Chae Jong Hyeop), a Korean student whose thoughts are a mystery to her. Could Tae Oh be Yuri's chance at true love that she believed to be unattainable?&nbsp;

An endearing love story with a fantasy twist, this is a 2024 Japanese romantic comedy drama directed by Fukuda Ryosuke, Okamoto Shingo, and Kato Akiko.

Eye Love You

"Love lost in translation" 

KBS2

Born a princess and raised a soldier, Pyeong Gang (Kim So Hyun) is a woman with big dreams and limitless ambition. Determined to become the first Empress of Goguryeo, Pyeong Gang will stop at nothing to make her dream come true. Clever and level headed, Pyeong Gang is well aware of the obstacles that stand in her way and she’s more than capable of taking them on. With meticulous planning, she sets out to make her dream come true. But things take an unexpected turn, the day she meets On Dal (Na In Woo).&nbsp;&nbsp;

A peace-loving man, whose only goal in life is to live in harmony with those around him, On Dal is the exact opposite of the ambitious princess. A peaceful calm amidst the turbulent storms of Pyeong Gang’s life, the warrior princess soon finds herself falling for gentle On Dal. Equally in love with the princess whose heart he now possesses, On Dal finds himself forsaking his principles in order to keep her safe. An endeavor that proves increasingly difficult, as players from all sides converge in a lethal battle for the throne.

Forced to match both wits and strength against some of the most powerful men and women in Goguryeo, Pyeong Gang’s vie for power could very well cost her everything. Does she have what it takes to make her dreams come true or will the price she realizes she must pay prove to be too much?

Based on the novel “Princess Pyeonggang” by Choi Sagyu, “River Where the Moon Rises” is a 2021 historical romance drama directed by Yoon Sang Ho.

River Where the Moon Rises

Shin Yun Bok (Kim Myung Soo) dreams of becoming a webtoon writer, but he comes from a village community that is effectively stuck in time. The community strictly abides by the conservative, Confucian values of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In desperation, he decides to leave the confines of the village. On his foray into the world outside, he meets the frustrated art teacher Kim Hong Do (Lee Yoo Young). Could this meeting inspire them both to greater things – and possibly even spark a lasting love? This drama was based on the webtoon “Treat Me Carelessly” by Sun Woo and was directed by Jang Yang Ho.

Dare to Love Me

🪭The Lovely Daring Team💞

36 young men gather from around the world to compete for the chance to make their K-pop idol debut. These “Mates” must rely on each other as they face different challenges, but how far will their camaraderie go when everything is on the line? Who has what it takes to impress an all-star panel of celebrity judges including Solar, Onestar, Kim Sung Eun, Hanhae, Vata, and Ingyoo? Find out in this 2024 South Korean reality K-pop competition series hosted by EXO’s Xiumin, and directed by Hwang Min Gyu, Park Ho Sin, and Jang In Hye.

MAKEMATE1

✨ Let Me Shine ✨

Prince Yi San (Lee Junho) vows to become a benevolent monarch despite his cruel grandfather's reign. He falls for Sung Deok Im (Lee Se Young), an intelligent and spirited palace maid. Yi San aims to make her his concubine but Deok Im knows becoming a royal consort would restrict her freedom and rob her of joy. Undeterred by Deok Im’s misgivings, Yi San’s pure love slowly wins her over. Will their hard-earned love be able to withstand the turmoils of palace life? Based on the novel of the same name by Kang Mi Kang, this 2021 South Korean historical series was directed by Jung Ji In and Song Yeon Hwa.

The Red Sleeve

💞Love Finds A Way 🛣

Ye Jia Yao is a young, modern celebrity cook who loves Chinese food. She dreams of becoming the most famous chef in the land. But while she is experimenting with a recipe, something goes terribly wrong and she is catapulted back in time to Imperial China. She finds she has woken up in the body of a magistrate’s daughter and that her name is now Ye Jin Xuan. Mere moments after she has come to terms with this, bandits descend on her village and kidnap her.

She comes face to face with the dashing Xia Chun Yu, the Marquis of the Jing An. Although he appears to be another bandit, he actually has a secret identity. A plot has been hatched to overthrow the Emperor and Xia Chun Yu appears keen to investigate. Ye Jin Xuan begins to form an uneasy alliance with Xia Chun Yu, as she starts to dream of heading to a big city to become a big-name chef. Will her dreams come true?

This animation is an adaptation of a hit Chinese web novel of the same name by Zi Yi. The novel also spawned a hit 2018 drama series named “Cinderella Chef.”

“Cinderella Chef Season 1” is a 2018-2019 Chinese animation series that was directed by Ni Jia Fei.

Cinderella Chef

🥢Cooking with Love💞 Team

When Crown Prince Yi Gun (Suho) is kidnapped by Choi Myung Yoon (Hong Ye Ji), all of Joseon is thrown into panic. Caught in a kingdom full of secrets and peril, Myung Yoon and her captive have no choice but to flee for their lives. Though their relationship has a rocky beginning, the time they spend together on the run begins to soften the tension between them. When an unexpected romance begins to blossom between them, the Prince is forced to wonder: Could the woman daring enough to kidnap a prince be the woman fated to become his wife?

A spin-off of "Bossam - Steal the Fate,” this hilarious 2024 South Korean historical romantic comedy is penned by the same writers Kim Ji Soo and Park Chul.

Missing Crown Prince

Abducted by love Team 💕

Pure love blooms in the sin-filled city of He Yang, between the universally despised female morgue laborer Yang Cai Wei (Ju Jing Yi) and a much-loved young man named Pan Yue (Liu Xue Yi). But tragedy strikes on their wedding night when Yang Cai Wei is killed – and suspicion falls on Pan Yue. However, Yang Cai Wei returns from the dead under the guise of the nefarious Shang Guan Zhi, hellbent on revenge. But she is soon sucked into crime-busting instead, with Pan Yue helping her crack cases. Will their newfound collaboration lead them to love once again – and will they learn the secret truth behind her previous death? This 2024 Chinese drama series was directed by Zhong Qing.

In Blossom

True Face of Love 🌸

Ayaka Haneda (Kanna Hashimoto)’s family is battling financial difficulties. When she takes a job at a wedding planning firm, the firm’s CEO Togo Nitta (Ryosuke Yamada) makes her a bold proposal: he will help solve her family’s problems if she agrees to marry him and help revive the firm. Faced with a choice between integrity and a loveless marriage of convenience, which will she choose? And if she says “I do,” might love unexpectedly blossom? This 2023 Japanese romantic comedy drama was based on a manga by Shiho Watanabe and was directed by Toshio Tsuboi and Masahide Izumi.

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