Staying home and self-isolation can be really stressful sometimes, so it's good to look for a K-drama to help relieve some stress and let out a good laugh. If you're still looking for one, tvN's on-going historical fantasy-comedy drama 'Mr. Queen' starring Shin Hye-Sun and Kim Jung-Hyun would be the best choice for you. 

'Mr.Queen' talks about the male chef for the president in the Blue House, Jang Bong Hwan (starring Choi Jin Hyuk) from the modern-day who accidentally slips from his balcony and falls into a pool. Somehow his soul/spirit winds up and enters the body of Queen Kim So-Young (starring Shin Hye-Sun) in the Joseon era. Kim Jung-hyun, however, plays the King Cheol-Jong who has two faces - gentle and easygoing while maintaining composure. 

Thanks to tvN Asia, we received a list of Q&A where Shin Hye-Sun talked about her character in the drama and message to viewers of 'Mr.Queen'. 

Shin Hye-Sun (SHS): Mr. Queen is a scandalous drama where due to an unfortunate incident the soul of Korea’s representative arrogant man enters the body of a queen and has to deal with a two-faced king. My role is Kim So-yong, the combination of the original body of a queen that lives in the strict Joseon era and the soul of a hot-blooded man Jang Bong-hwan.

Q: What's your first impression of each other (Kim Jung-Hyun)? How's your chemistry with one another when acting?

SHS: My first impression of Jung-hyun is that he is a very warm and kind person, and his image made me think that we will have good chemistry. Needless to say, our chemistry was great and he was someone that I could always trust in and rely on on-set.

Q: If you could switch body with someone in real life, who would you want to switch with and why?

SHS: I don’t want to switch bodies. I feel like I have experienced in switching bodies through this drama and this experience is sufficient for me. Even just thinking of switching bodies sounds complicated and makes my head hurt. As such, I want to live with my soul and my physical body for the rest of my life.

Q: How would you describe your own personality? What are the similarities and differences between yourself and your role in the drama.

SHS: In real life, I enjoy being comfortable and I think I am someone who is very easy-going. I feel like when I am shy, I am similar to So-yong. When I am in uncomfortable situations, I am the quiet type. In comfortable situations, I am similar to Jang Bong-hwan. I don’t like frustrating situations, but I don’t think that I am as adaptable as Bong-hwan.

Q: If you were going back to the Joseon era now, and you could bring 5 things, what would they be?

SHS: Hot pack, toothpaste, mobile phone, ramyeon and chocolate.

Q: Please say something to the viewers who are waiting in anticipation for 'Mr. Queen'.

SHS: I hope that the viewers of 'Mr. Queen' are able to temporarily put down their worries and troubles and watch our drama in a jovial mood. Please take care of your health and I hope that your lives will be filled with happy moments~ Let’s meet through 'Mr. Queen'. Thank you.

According to Nielson Korea, the latest episode of the drama scored an average nationwide rating of 12.8% and a peak of 14.3%, setting a new personal record for the show's highest ratings to date. 'Mr. Queen' also broke its own personal ratings record among the key demographic of viewers ages 20 to 49, with whom it scored an average nationwide rating of 7.9% and a peak of 8.7%. Additionally, the drama successfully continued its streak of taking first place in its time slot across all channels, including public broadcast networks.

Don't forget to tune into tvN Asia (Astro Ch.395 HD), every Sunday and Monday, 9.45PM to watch Mr.Queen that has an intriguing storyline and witty humour. 

image credit to tvN

Webtoons, a type of digital comic, are very popular in Korea. In recent years, dramas being adapted from popular webtoons and web novels have become a lasting trend. It’s a tried and true formula where fun webtoons transform into entertaining shows. Check out some of the most popular webtoon based K-dramas below!

Love Alarm

Also starring Song Kang, as a very different character, is Love Alarm. This series revolves around the Love Alarm mobile app which notifies users if anyone has romantic feelings for them within a 10-meter radius. Kim Jo-jo (Kim So-hyun) struggles with figuring out her feelings while also dealing with a tough situation at home and at school. With everything revealed by the app, Love Alarm showcases a youthful romance and the implications of this type of technology. Can’t wait for the second season!

The Uncanny Counter

The Uncanny Counter is based on webtoon Amazing Rumor and tells the story of high school boy So Mun (Cho Byeong-kyu) who joins a group of demon-hunters called Counters. The Counters search for and fight evil spirits who possess human hosts and encourage them to kill. So Mun ends up battling bloodthirsty demons while discovering the truth behind the car accident that killed his parents. Full of action and heart, these unconventional heroes will move you.

What's Wrong With Secretary Kim

What's Wrong With Secretary Kim is based on a novel that became a webtoon of the same name. The story begins with vainglorious executive Lee Yeong-jun (Park Seo-jun) being surprised by his highly capable secretary Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young)’s plans to resign. As he tries his best to prevent her from quitting, their relationship begins to change. Full of laughs and swoon-worthy moments, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim is a feel-good rom-com that also incorporates some touching and healing turns for the leads. 

Itaewon Class

Her Private Life

Likewise, fellow What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim lead Park Min-young followed up with Her Private Life. This rom-com is adapted from the web novel Noona Fan Dot Com which was turned into a webtoon as well. In the drama, Sung Duk-mi is a talented art curator who is also secretly a die-hard K-pop fan. She tries to keep her private life separate from her work life, but gets entangled with the new director Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook). The pair pretend to date to ward off rumors, but sparks begin to fly. 

My ID Is Gangnam Beauty

My ID Is Gangnam Beauty centers around college student Kang Mi-rae and her decision to get cosmetic surgery after being bullied for her looks. However, she faces new challenges in college because of her cosmetic surgery. Dealing with superficial beauty standards and discrimination based on physical appearance, the series shows Mi-rae’s journey in recovering her self-esteem as she gets to know her classmate Do Kyeong-seok (Cha Eun-woo). 

Strangers From Hell

Strangers From Hell is a thriller about aspiring writer Yoon Jong-u (Yim Si-wan) and the unpleasant events that occur after he moves into a cheap apartment building. His abnormal neighbors are unsettling and he begins to fear them as mysterious occurrences take place. While his dentist neighbor Seo Mun-jo (Lee Dong-wook) appears friendly and normal at first, Jong-u realizes that everyone is not as they seem. He struggles to survive while trying to find a way out of the hellish building. Extraordinary You

Extraordinary You

Extraordinary You is adapted from the webtoon July Found by Chance and focuses on high school student Eun Dan-o (Kim Hye-yoon). One day she discovers that she and everyone else are characters in a comic book. After becoming aware that she’s a side character in a made-up world, Dan-o decides to choose her own destiny. She meets a nameless student (Rowoon) and they work together to change the story’s plot as well as their destinies. 

Mystic Pop-up Bar

Mystic Pop-up Bar is adapted from the webtoon Twin Tops Bar. The series is about a mysterious pop-up bar run by hot-tempered Weol-ju (Hwang Jung-eum), former afterlife detective Guibanjang (Choi Won-young), and part-time employee Kang-bae (Yook Sung-jae). They help customers resolve their problems by entering their dreams. While helping out customers, they also work on getting rid of Kang-bae’s unique ability of making people confess the truth when he makes physical contact with them. 

The Tale of Nokdu 

Cheese in the Trap 

Webtoons can often run on for many years and are not always completed when a drama adaptation is created. This was the case for Cheese in the Trap which was filmed before the webtoon ended. The series shows the lives and relationships of a group of university students including main character Hong Seol (Kim Go-eun). She starts to realize that popular upperclassman You Jeong (Park Hae-jin) has a secret dark side to his personality. In spite of this, they begin to fall for each other. 

Love in the Moonlight

Love in the Moonlight is adapted from the web novel Moonlight Drawn by Clouds. It tells the coming-of-age story about Crown Prince Lee Yeong (Park Bo-gum) who is transitioning from boyhood to becoming a monarch. He comes across Hong Sam-nom (Kim You-jung) who has lived her whole life as a man. She ends up becoming a eunuch at the palace despite her plans otherwise. The crown prince, believing her to be a man, becomes confused about his feelings for Sam-nom. Amidst the romance, the characters must deal with political unrest and dangers. 

The Scholar Who Walks the Night

The Scholar Who Walks the Night is based on a manhwa set in an alternate Joseon dynasty where vampires exist. Scholar Lee Sung-yeol (Lee Joon-gi) is a guardian vampire who maintains order amongst vampires. He works with Jo Yang-sun (Lee Yu-bi) in search of a document that provides the key to killing Gwi (Lee Soo-hyuk), a powerful vampire who controls the royal court. The series mixes historical and supernatural genres resulting in a unique vampire K-drama. 

Rugal

Rugal centers on police detective Kang Gi-beom (Choi Jin-hyuk) who attempts to take down a criminal organization called Argos. Unfortunately, Argos kills his wife and child while blinding and framing Gi-beom for the murders. Gi-beom later joins a special task force called Rugal and gains special abilities through biotechnology. Equipped with special artificial eyes, Gi-beom seeks to clear his name and get justice. 

Netflix original series Sweet Home is enjoying unprecedented global popularity as it enraptures with its intriguing story about humans transforming into savage monsters. The show boasts a solid cast lineup in addition to the interesting premise, but the younger rising stars are receiving special attention. Learn more about these talented actors whose careers are taking off below!

Song Kang

After making his acting debut in 2017, Song Kang had a breakout role through Love Alarm. The romance series was especially popular amongst young audiences, earning the actor scores of young fans worldwide. Those familiar with his model character from Love Alarm might have been skeptical about him being able to act as a dark introvert in Sweet Home, but the actor successfully pulled off the duality of his reclusive character. Exposed to a wider audience through Sweet Home, Song Kang has risen to another level of stardom. You can look forward to seeing more of him in the second season of Love Alarm as well as an upcoming drama where he portrays a ballet dancer.

Lee Do-Hyun

Lee Do-hyun also made his acting debut in 2017, through Prison Playbook. Following supporting roles in Still 17 and Clean with Passion for Now, the actor gained popularity through his beloved character in Hotel Del Luna. He also impressed viewers with his acting in 18 Again, which was his first lead role. In Sweet Home, Lee Do-hyun portrays a cold and rational character, quite a transformation from his previous roles. Lee Do-hyun’s the real deal and he is continuing to blossom as a skilled actor. While acting as Ko Min-si’s caring older brother in Sweet Home, the co-stars will be reuniting as lovers in the upcoming romance series Youth of May. 

Ko Min-si

Ko Min-si started acting in 2016, and made appearances in various dramas such as Welcome to Waikiki and Live. She received more attention through her character in Love Alarm. While her Love Alarm character had one-sided feelings for Song Kang’s character, their relationship in Sweet Home is quite different. Following Love Alarm, she won a Best New Actress award from the 2019 SBS Drama Awards for her acting in Secret Boutique. Receiving a lot of love through Sweet Home, 2021 is also looking very bright for Ko Min-si. In addition to Youth of May, she’ll be acting in Jirisan. 

Park Kyu-young

Park Kyu-young is known for being very smart and talented, having recently graduated from the prestigious Yonsei University. She also has great range as evidenced by her very different characters from her last five dramas: Sweet Home, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, The Nokdu Flower, Romance Is a Bonus Book, and The Third Charm. Her bass player character Yoon Ji-su and her relationship with her neighbor Jung Jae-heon (Kim Nam-hee) in Sweet Home are nice characterizations that stand out amidst the monster mayhem. Can’t wait to see what’s next from Park Kyu-young!

Go Youn-jung

Born in 1996, Go Youn-jung is the youngest actor on this list. She started out as a model before making her acting debut through He Is Psychometric. Her character dealt with social stigma after getting pregnant in high school. Go Youn-jung also made a brief appearance in The School Nurse Files as a high school student. Despite having a smaller role in Sweet Home, her character makes an impact and the actress is receiving a lot of love. While she still needs to rack up more acting experience, it’s clear that she’s already a star

Kim Sung-cheol

Kim Sung-cheol made his debut as a musical actor in 2014. He then made his TV debut through Prison Playbook and received a lot of love for his fun character. He has since acted in various musicals, films, and dramas such as The Wind Blows and Arthdal Chronicles. While his character makes a later appearance in Sweet Home, his cameo impressed many viewers and left them curious about the actor. Having such a diverse portfolio, it’s clear Kim Sung-cheol is quite talented. Of course, he also has a great singing voice!

1. Hot Rising Talent

2. Loveable Characters

The drama begins in 2006 when the main characters are high school students. So Joo-yeon’s character Shin Sol-i is bubbly and very vocal about her feelings for Kim Yo-han’s character Cha Heon. So Joo-yeon shared, “My friend’s cousin actually really wanted me to do this role and said I would be well-suited for it.” The actress embodies the character’s earnestness and adorableness as she professes her love for her long-time crush. While Cha Heon is a bit cold and aloof, Kim Yo-han revealed he’s the opposite of Cha Heon. However, a bit of Kim Yo-han’s real personality comes out when Cha Heon shows his warmer side. Yeo Hoi-hyun’s character Woo Dae-sung is very optimistic and warm despite having his own pain. 

3. Remake of Hit Drama

A Love So Beautiful is a remake of the popular Chinese drama of the same name. There will be some fun differences between the original series though. Director Seo Minjeong revealed that she wanted to focus on relatability and added epilogues that show more insight into the characters’ feelings. There’s an idol trainee character who sings often, so you’ll also hear some familiar songs from the past. The director also said, “Dae-sung is such a cool character with pure-hearted love in the original drama, so I wanted to provide a gift for his character at the end. Please watch until the end to see his gift.” While the familiar story will strike a chord with viewers, there will be some entertaining differences to look forward to.

4. Main Cast Chemistry

So Joo-yeon and Yeo Hoi-hyun have actually acted together previously through the series I Hate Going to Work. As for A Love So Beautiful, Yeo Hoi-hyun shared, “So Joo-yeon always made an effort for us to talk whenever we met.” He also praised her leadership skills in leading the group. The actors also mentioned Jeong Jin-hwan and Jo Hye-joo who round out the group of 5 friends in the drama. So Joo-yeon talked about how the best scenes are when the five characters are together as they have a lot of scenes together and there are many fun moments between the friends. We’ll be able to see how the friends grow as they exit high school and enter adulthood. You’ll definitely be reminded of some friends from your own squad!

5. Pure and Sweet Love Story

A Love So Beautiful features youthful and pure love stories between the characters which will make us reminisce about our first loves and our younger school years. Yeo Hoi-hyun shared that he was reminded of when he experienced “one-side love for three years as a student.” If you can’t relate to the love stories, you’ll still be transported back in time when you hung out with friends at school. So Joo-yeon said she remembered “spending time with my friends and liking idols like BIGBANG” and more. As Yeo Hoi-hyun said, “Please watch and experience some healing as you look back on your past memories.”

Hot Stove League

Crash Landing on You 

Dr. Romantic

Itaewon Class

Hyena

Hospital Playlist

Kingdom S2

The World of the Married

The King: Eternal Monarch

The King: Eternal Monarch marked the grand return of popular actor Lee Min-ho who stars as Emperor Lee Gon of the Kingdom of Corea. Featuring a love story that crosses parallel worlds, this show provided a welcome escape from our real world. Lee Gon seeks to prevent havoc from occuring in the parallel worlds and confronts his sinister uncle. With dreamy cinematography and interesting dual characters, The King: Eternal Monarch was an entertaining watch enjoyed by many fans.

Extracurricular

Extracurricular made an impactful premiere with its dark yet unusual tale of a high school student running an illegal business. Forget all of the high school dramas you have seen thus far, Extracurricular tackles taboo topics and touches upon various social issues. Main characters including Oh Ji-soo (Kim Dong-hee) and Park Gyu-ri (Park Ju-hyun) choose a path of crime and face the harsh consequences. While breaking free of typical high school drama expectations, the show captivates and leaves you with many thoughts.

It's Okay to Not Be Okay

It's Okay to Not Be Okay is the only other K-drama to make The New York Times’ Best TV Shows of 2020 list (in addition to Kingdom). This series expertly crafted a moving romance while addressing mental health in a beautiful dark fairy tale-esque journey. Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, and Oh Jung-se each portray their magnetizing characters dealing with deep-rooted trauma and growing from it. While relaying the message that it’s really okay to not be okay, the show gives us fun and romance to enjoy as well.

Stranger S2

Stranger S2 brought back righteous duo Prosecutor Hwang Si-mok (Cho Seung-woo) and Senior Police Inspector Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doo-na). This time around, the pair deal with some changes and find themselves at opposite ends as the prosecution and the police butt heads. Despite the fight over investigative authority, our main characters continue to confront injustice and corruption. Stranger S2 successfully weaves a complex storyline that is well-written and well-acted. 

The School Nurse Files

The School Nurse Files is a delightfully quirky series about school nurse Ahn Eun-young (Jung Yu-mi) and the curious world of jellies she is privy to. She’s joined by teacher Hong In-pyo (Nam Joo-hyuk) as they try to protect students from harmful jellies. Ahn Eun-young is an eccentric and reluctant hero who fights jellies with unconventional tools, but the coming-of-age story is familiarly heartwarming. Definitely, a creative show that will show you something you’ve never seen before and leave you with a smile on your face. 

Record of Youth 

Record of Youth depicted the lives of model turned actors Sa Hye-jun (Park Bo-gum), Won Hae-hyo (Byeon Woo-seok), and makeup artist An Jeong-ha (Park So-dam). They’re young, hopeful, and go through many trials as they pursue love and their dreams. It offers a relatable look at what youths struggle with today from family conflict to mistreatment at the workplace. Record of Youth feels homey and delivers heartwarming messages that comfort. 

Start-Up 

Start-Up centres on Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy) and Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) who are young entrepreneurs trying to make their dreams into reality while surviving in the cut-throat tech industry. In addition to the swoon-worthy romances and funny moments, the show offers an interesting view of the world of tech companies. The rom-com presented one of the best love triangles of the year resulting in viewers being torn between Nam Do-san and Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho). Familiar yet fresh, you’ll find yourself getting invested and firmly rooting for one of the potential suitors.

Catch all of these amazing K-dramas and more, on Netflix!

Image Courtesy of Netflix