ThoughK-dramasfrom the 1990s aren’t as popular as those released in recent years, the decade is still quite significant in the history of South Korean TV.During the ’90s,the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, began, which saw the rise in popularity of Korean culture in other parts of the world. Though K-dramas had been released decades before, the ’90s is when these series began gaining traction around all of Asia, before eventually expanding to other parts of the world.
The popular K-dramasaudiences are familiar with today came as a result of social media andstreaming services releasing and creating Korean serieson their platforms. International shows are a great way for audiences across the world to get a better understanding of life in a particular country, from notable social movements to what fashion trends are going around. K-dramas released during the ’90s do just that,from the poignant drama seriesSandglassto the lightheartedJealousy.
Did We Really Love?
Cast
Did We Really Love? is a South Korean drama series that aired in 1999 on MBC. Featuring Bae Yong Joon, the series explores themes of love and happiness against the backdrop of a relentless quest for material success.
The title of this 1999 K-drama is a question audiences and characters within the series ask themselves at the end. Bae Yong-joon leads the series as Kang Jae-ho, who, along with his sister, was abandoned by his mother at a young age. As a result,Jae-ho is convinced true love does not existand lives the rest of his life working hard and earning money, as he believes wealth is what’s most important in life.
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However, life proves to be a bit more difficult than he had anticipated, and Jae-ho learns the hard way that love is in fact an important part of life.Did We Really Love?is full of heartache and frustrating moments as Jae-ho continuously makes bad decisions.Did We Really Love?isn’t the saddest K-drama in existence, butthe series does make it a point to bring audiences to tears, and it succeeds in its mission frequently throughout its 44 episodes.
The Last Match
The Last Match, released in 1994, centers on the intense rivalry between Lee Dong Min and Yoon Chul Joon, once close friends, as they face off while playing for opposing university basketball teams.
Compared to the romance, revenge, and horror genres,there aren’t as many popular K-dramas revolving around sports. However, one of the few isThe Last Match, which premiered in the late ’90s and ran for 16 episodes.The Last Matchsees two former friends, Yoon Chul-joon (Jang Dong-gun) and Lee Dong-min (Son Ji-chang), turn into rivals competing in a university basketball game.
Though the series' pacing can be uneven at times, the on-screen bond between the basketball players is charming and keeps audiences interested in the show.
Though the series' pacing can be uneven at times,the on-screen bond between the basketball playersis charming and keeps audiences interested in the show. The rivalry between the teams, if not predictable, is easy to understand and be entertained by. The action of the basketball games is lively and tense at times, but much of the entertainment value inThe Last Matchcomes from watching how the character’s relationships are challenged.
Mr. Q
Mr. Q is a 1998 TV series focusing on a group of underdogs at Lala fashion. Transferred to the development department, Kang-to and Hae-won, along with their colleagues, navigate adversities and strive to showcase their hidden talents under the influence of Ju-ri and Mr. Hwang’s schemes.
Airing around the time of the 1997 Asian financial crisis,Mr. Qisa slice-of-life K-dramathat felt relatable and inspiring to audiences. The series follows newcomers at a fashion company,Han Hye-won (Kim Hee-sun) and Lee Kang-to (Kim Min-jong), who are mistreated and cast aside at work. Having been seen as outcasts their entire lives, Hye-won and Kang-to decide they have had enough, taking those who doubt them by surprise.
Mr. Q’s antagonists are a bit predictable and one-dimensional, but their actions provide just enough tension for the series' protagonists to work through. Compared to other K-dramas released around the same time,Mr. Qis somewhat short, withonly 18 episodes. The shorter number of episodes provides just the right amount of time to spend on the show’s simple premise.Mr. Qisn’t as flashy or suspenseful as other K-dramas, but it has a pleasant message that’s held up well over the years.
Happy Together
Happy Together is a 1999 South Korean television series featuring Lee Byung-hun and Song Seung-heon. The drama explores the lives of five siblings who are separated after their parents' death and later reunite as adults, navigating love, conflict, and reconciliation across 16 episodes on SBS.
Many of the well-known K-drama actors working today got their start during the Korean Wave, including much ofHappy Together’s ensemble cast. Song Seung-heon, Cha Tae-hyun, Jun Ji-hyun, and Lee Byung-hun are just a few notable names that make up the siblings and supporting characters in the family drama series.
Happy Togetherfollows five siblings who are separatedafter their parents' sudden and heartbreaking death. The K-drama sees the Seo siblings reunite years later when they’re adults. However, the reunion doesn’t go as Seo Tae-poong (Lee) hoped, as his siblings appear to be more divided than ever.
Happy Togetherhas all the traits audiences expect from a drama series, including sibling conflict, heartbreak, and a side plot involving romance.The performances ofHappy Together’s cast are admirable, with their on-screen chemistry being believable enough for audiences to become invested and hopeful in their reconciliation.
Star in My Heart
Star in My Heart is a 1997 Korean drama series broadcast on MBC, and one of the pioneering series of the Korean Wave.
Considered one of the first major dramas to air outside of Korea during the Korean Wave,Star in My Heartisa series reminiscent of the classic Cinderella folk tale. Choi Jin-sil leads the series as Lee Yun-hee, the Cinderella-esque character who gets adopted into a bitter family. However, Yun-hee’s life gets intertwined with notable businessmen—the up-and-coming singer Kang Min-hee (Ahn Jae-wook) and fashion designer Lee Joon-hee (Cha In-pyo)—as a result of her hidden artistic talent.
Many of the mostcommon tropes seen in K-dramastoday go back to the ‘90swith several of them being present throughoutStar in My Heart. Such tropes include a romance with a famous singer, disapproving parents, and the overall Cinderella-inspired premise of the TV show. As is the case with most ’90s K-dramas, the wider release ofStar in My Heartmeant its cast received a greater boost in fame thanks to its success.
Eyes of Dawn
Eyes of Dawn is a historical drama series exploring the impact of Japanese occupation on Korean society during World War II. It depicts the exploitation of Korean women as military prostitutes and the conscription of Korean men into the Japanese armed forces in their conflict with the United States.
Released at the start of the decade,Eyes of Dawnis aK-drama set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, detailing events from World War II, Korea’s liberation, and the Korean War. The historical backdrop makes for a K-drama that isn’t recommended to binge, as audiences are likely to better appreciate the moving narrative by avoiding speeding through the series quickly.
Eyes of Dawnfollows three young Koreans (Chae Shi-ra, Park Sang-won, and Choi Jae-sung) whose lives become entangled during the country’s bitter moment in history.Eyes of Dawndoesn’t shy away from depicting the divided society and the mistreatment of Korean citizens, especially women, during the time.
Though such elements result in a tough watch at times,the K-drama is still impressive and has been widely celebrated throughout the years. At the time of its release, the K-drama had one of the biggest productions and largest budgets. The series’ high viewership earnedEyes of Dawna spot among the highest-rated K-dramas of all time.
First Love
In the 1996 South Korean drama “First Love,” brothers Sung Chan-woo and Sung Chan-hyuk both fall for Lee Hyo-kyung, leading to a complex love triangle. Family opposition and personal tragedies, including Chan-hyuk’s paralysis, intensify their struggles, intertwining themes of love, revenge, and familial loyalty.
To this day,First Loveis one of the highest-rated K-dramas of all time, continuing to captivate audiences with its compelling blend of romance and revenge.First Lovefollows the Sung siblings, who come from the countryside and work with their father as farmers. The two brothers, Chan-woo (Bae Yong-joon) and Chan-hyuk (Choi Soo-jong) fall in love with Lee Hyo-kyung (Lee Seung-yeon), though Hyo-kyung’s father forbids his daughter from dating either of them due to their poor background.
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As soon asthe K-drama’s revenge plotkicks off,it’s near-impossible not to become invested in Chan-woo’s missionto take down Hyo-kyung’s violent and dominating family. With 66 episodes to its name, the conflict and obstacles withinFirst Lovecan become a bit repetitive and drawn out. Still, the series' cast delivers strong performances that motivate audiences to push through until the end.
Asphalt Man
In the mid-1990s South Korean drama “Asphalt Man,” Kang Dong-joon, a passionate car designer, dreams of establishing his own automobile company in Korea. Facing family financial struggles, his brother, Dong-seok, moves to the United States to pursue a career in car racing, while their sister, Dong-hee, also relocates to the U.S. after conceiving a child with an American soldier.
Squid Gameactor Lee Byung-hun, known additionally for his roles inMr. SunshineandI Saw the Devil, got his acting start in the ’90s. One of Lee’s first series wasAsphalt Man,a K-drama based on a 1991 comic by manhwa artist Huh Young-man. In the series, Lee stars as Kang Dong-joon, a car designer who hopes to open up a car company in Korea.
The plot ofAsphalt Man’s 16 episodes is heavily centered around cars, with a few storylines dedicated to a complicated love story and drama in the United States. Dong-joon works with his father and finds himself up against a rival company.
The entertaining drama that unfolds issupported by strong performancesby Lee and his castmates, including Lee Young-ae and Jung Woo-sung. Each episode ofAsphalt Manhad a budget of approximately 1 billion won and scenes taking place in the U.S. were filmed in Utah and California, which was rare for a K-drama during the ’90s.
Jealousy
Longtime friends Ha-kyung and Young-ho navigate the blurred lines between friendship and love. As Young-ho becomes infatuated with another woman, Ha-kyung confronts her own feelings, leading to a complex web of emotions and misunderstandings.
Based on Yoon Myung-hye’s novel,Long Shadow of My Love,Jealousyis a compelling romance series. TheK-drama features the friends-to-lovers trope, anda bit of a love triangle, as two best friends, Yoo Ha-kyung (Choi Jin-sil) and Lee Young-ho (Choi Soo-jong), learn to navigate their relationship as they grow up and fall in love with other people, and secretly one another as well.
FollowingJealousy’s release, several series sought to imitate the relatable banter and conflict between the K-drama’s main characters.
Jealousy’s centering around the lighthearted lives of young characters was influential in South Korean media. FollowingJealousy’s release,several series sought to imitate the relatable banter and conflictbetween the K-drama’s main characters. Choi Jin-sil was also sought out by other K-drama creators as her performance was quite popular with audiences.
Viewers who were around the same age as Ha-kyung felt seen by her complicated relationship with her best friend. Following her continued success in other popular ’90s K-dramas likeSeason of StormsandStar in My Heart, Choi became a beloved actress.
Sandglass
Sandglass is a South Korean television series that aired in 1995, portraying the turbulent political and social climate of South Korea during the 1970s and 1980s. The series follows the intertwined lives of three characters — a lawyer, a gangster, and a casino mogul — as they navigate personal and political upheavals. Directed by Kim Jong-hak and written by Song Ji-na, Sandglass is noted for its realistic depiction of historical events.
LikeEyes of Dawn,Sandglassis a K-drama that tackles significant times in Korea’s political history.Sandglassfollows two close friends, Park Tae-soo (Choi Min-soo) and Kang Woo-suk (Park Sang-won), as they set out on different paths in life during one of Korea’s politically intense times during the 1970s and 1980s.
Thepolitical tension displayed in the serieswas relatively fresh at the time ofSandglass' release, making its themes and depiction of strained relationships all the more emotional. In addition toSandglass' references to Korea’s history, the series also incorporates archival footage of real-life events, including the Gwangju Uprising.
Sandglasshas a rating of 8.3 onIMDB.
Taking place in 1980, the student-led demonstration against martial law resulted in the death of hundreds of civilians.Sandglasswas extremely well-received at the time of its releaseand catapulted its lead actors into stardom.Sandglass' effective use of real-life events affecting its fictional relationships resulted in numerous wins at the 31st Baeksang Arts Awards and the 3rd SBS Drama Awards.
