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Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Your favourite K-dramas? They started as Chinese and Taiwanese hits
The tropes are unmistakable: the stoic, heartthrob lead, the chaotic yet charming heroine, and the unexpected fantasy twist. These story elements have become staples in many popular K-dramas. However, several of these acclaimed series didn't originate in South Korea. Before their polished Korean remakes captured international attention, many began as beloved Taiwanese or Chinese dramas. While the K-drama versions offer sleeker production and brisker storytelling, they often retain the emotional core of the originals. Here's a closer look at how these cross-cultural adaptations evolved - and what changed as they journeyed from Taipei and Beijing to Seoul. Boys Over Flowers (2009) Adaptation rather than originality propelled this drama to worldwide recognition. The storyline was born in Japan's shōjo manga Hana Yori Dango, but television audiences first encountered it through Taiwan's record‑breaking 2001 drama Meteor Garden, which proved that an F4 romance could dominate ratings. Eight years later South Korea presented its own, far glossier interpretation: Boys Over Flowers (2009). With Lee Min‑ho embodying the imperious chaebol heir and Ku Hye‑sun portraying the steadfast scholarship student, the remake flooded screens with high‑fashion styling, cinematic polish, and brisk pacing. The result launched new stars, ignited campus‑inspired trends, and recast teenage power struggles as an epic melodrama embraced well beyond Asia. Fated to Love You (2014) A chance encounter, an unexpected pregnancy, and a whirlwind of class conflict - this drama delivered all the makings of a classic romantic comedy. Originally a 2008 Taiwanese sensation, the story was reimagined in South Korea with Jang Hyuk and Jang Na-ra leading the cast. While the core premise remained - a timid office worker entangled with a wealthy heir - the Korean adaptation leaned into melodrama, enriching the emotional stakes and scaling back the original's slapstick humour. What emerged was a more heartfelt retelling, elevated by Jang Hyuk's unpredictable energy and Jang Na-ra's quietly powerful performance. A Witch's Love (2014) Drawing inspiration from the 2009 Taiwanese drama My Queen, the Korean remake reimagines the noona romance with sharper pacing and urban flair. Uhm Jung-hwa takes the lead as a high-powered, no-nonsense tabloid reporter in her late thirties, whose reputation as a "witch" precedes her. Her world is upended by Yoon Dong-ha, a free-spirited 25-year-old played by Park Seo-joon, whose easy charm and quiet persistence begin to soften her guarded exterior. Unlike the original's more introspective and melodramatic tone, the Korean version thrives on fast dialogue, contemporary aesthetics, and palpable romantic tension - ultimately refreshing the genre and marking a breakout moment in Park Seo-joon's early career. The Time We Were Not in Love (2015) South Korea's take reimagines the quiet ache of the 2011 Taiwanese original into a more polished and emotionally direct romance. Starring Ha Ji-won and Lee Jin-wook, the remake transforms the slow-burning friendship into a story with clearer romantic momentum and narrative closure. While the original unfolds with understated melancholy and realism, the Korean adaptation opts for tighter pacing, cinematic gloss, and heightened emotional clarity. With just 16 episodes, it delivers a more conventional friends-to-lovers arc - complete with scenic backdrops, playful tension, and the kind of romantic near-misses that K-dramas have made their signature. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016) Inspired by the wildly popular Chinese drama Scarlet Heart, the Korean adaptation Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo repositions the time-slip tale in the Goryeo Dynasty, trading Qing court politics for royal intrigue and emotional turmoil. With IU as the modern-day woman trapped in a bygone era and Lee Joon-gi leading a cast of princely rivals, the series blends sweeping romance with escalating tragedy. While it fell short in domestic viewership, its star power, heartrending love triangle, and unforgettable ending struck a chord with global audiences. And years later, its haunting soundtrack still echoes through K-drama playlists. A Love So Beautiful (2020) Adapted from the 2017 Chinese youth drama, the Korean version retains much of the original's charm while refining its storytelling for a shorter, more focused format. Set against the familiar backdrop of school uniforms and unspoken crushes, the series follows So Ju-yeon as a bright, lovestruck student and Kim Yo-han as the stoic boy next door. Unlike its Chinese counterpart, which unfolded with a slower, more episodic rhythm, the K-drama offers tighter pacing and emotional clarity. Though it flew under the radar, its gentle portrayal of first love continues to resonate with fans drawn to soft, slow-burn romance. Mr Queen (2020-2021) Loosely inspired by the 2015 Chinese web drama Go Princess Go, this K-drama flips historical drama on its head with a time-travel twist and a sharp comedic edge. The story centers on a modern-day man who finds himself trapped in the body of a Joseon queen, played with electric precision by Shin Hye-sun, alongside Kim Jung-hyun's conflicted king. While the original leaned heavily into bawdy humour and outrageous antics, the Korean adaptation refines the chaos into a slick, gender-bending satire. Balancing farce with unexpected emotional depth and political intrigue, Mr. Queen soared in ratings and became one of tvN's most beloved historical comedies - proof that even the most absurd concepts can strike gold with the right balance of heart and wit. A Time Called You (2023) A reimagining of the acclaimed 2019 Taiwanese drama Someday or One Day, the Korean adaptation offers a visually rich, emotionally layered exploration of love across timelines. Starring Ahn Hyo-seop and Jeon Yeo-been, the story follows a grieving woman who, through a mysterious twist of fate, wakes up in 1998 in the body of a teenage girl - and meets someone who looks exactly like her lost love. While the original captivated viewers with its intricate plot and aching melancholy, the Korean version opts for a sleeker production style and tighter narrative rhythm. With nostalgic nods to late '90s culture and a strong emotional core, the series quietly built momentum on Netflix, earning praise for its tender storytelling and striking visuals. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Tatler Asia
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
8 Korean shows remade from Taiwanese and Chinese dramas
2. 'Fated to Love You' (2014) This fizzy rom-com starring Jang Hyuk and Jang Na-ra is based on the 2008 Taiwanese hit of the same name. Both follow a meek office worker who accidentally spends the night with a wealthy, soon-to-be-married chaebol heir, only to find herself pregnant. The Korean version amps the emotion and family drama while toning down some of the sillier elements of the original. The K-version became a beloved reinterpretation with deeper emotional beats thanks to Jang Hyuk's eccentric charm and Jang Na-ra's tearful grit. 3. 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo' (2016) Based on the time-travelling Chinese mega-hit Scarlet Heart , this K-drama had all the makings of a phenomenon: Lee Joon-gi, IU and a parade of flower-boy princes in Goryeo-era power struggles. The Korean version swaps Qing Dynasty for Goryeo and heightens the melodrama with trademark emotional intensity. Despite lacklustre domestic ratings, it gained massive international fandom thanks to its gut-wrenching love triangle and tragic ending. Bonus: the OST still haunts hearts. Don't miss: No swords or spells: 10 highly recommended Chinese dramas that aren't wuxia or xianxia 4. 'Boys Over Flowers' (2009) Though technically adapted from the Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango , it was the 2001 Taiwanese Meteor Garden that first brought the story to Asian screens and served as a blueprint for all adaptations. Arguably, it paved the way for the Korean adaptation. The K-drama took the F4 story global with Lee Min-ho as the curly-haired chaebol heir and Ku Hye-sun as the plucky scholarship student. Shinier and more stylised than its predecessors, it launched careers, started fashion trends and turned high school hierarchy into a soap opera of epic proportions. In case you missed it: 5 K-dramas that aged well (and 5 that didn't) 5. 'Mr Queen' (2020-2021) This time-travelling comedy, starring Shin Hye-sun and Kim Jung-hyun, is loosely based on the 2015 Chinese web drama Go Princess Go . Both follow a modern man who suddenly wakes up in the body of a Joseon-era queen. However, the K-version smooths out the raunchy, slapstick edges of the original. What remains is a bold, gender-bending satire with razor-sharp performances and surprisingly heartfelt politics. Mr Queen became one of tvN's highest-rated comedies, proving that a little cross-cultural absurdity goes a long way. Don't miss: 10 timeless Asian period dramas 6. 'A Time Called You' (2023) This time-bending romance starring Ahn Hyo-seop and Jeon Yeo-been is an elegant Korean take on the Taiwanese Someday or One Day (2019). Both narratives begin with yearning—loss of a love—and crescendo into parallel lives. In this version, the lead travels through time to 1998, inhabiting the body of a young woman, and meets the man who resembles her late boyfriend. While the Taiwanese original leans into mystery and slow-burn emotion, the K-drama adds a more polished cinematography and streamlined pacing, using nostalgia and era-specific details (from Walkmans to Y2K fashion) to heighten the emotional rewind effect. It became a sleeper hit on Netflix, praised for its heartfelt tone and beautiful visuals. 7. 'A Witch's Love' (2014) This Korean rom-com is a direct remake of the hit Taiwanese series My Queen (2009), which starred Ethan Ruan and Cheryl Yang. In the Korean version, Uhm Jung-hwa is a 39-year-old workaholic tabloid reporter known for her fierce demeanour and is nicknamed a 'witch' by her colleagues. Park Seo-joon stars as Yoon Dong-ha, a charming and mysterious 25-year-old who enters her life and slowly chips away at her emotional walls. While the Taiwanese original leaned into melodrama and slower pacing, the Korean adaptation focuses more on zippy dialogue, modern city life and chemistry-forward storytelling. The series helped solidify Park Seo-joon's status as a rising star and offered one of the more refreshing takes on noona romances at the time. In case you missed it: 6 noona romance K-dramas where love blossoms against the odds 8. 'The Time We Were Not in Love' (2015) Adapted from the Taipei hit In Time With You (2011), this Korean version, starring Ha Ji-won and Lee Jin-wook, reframes the original's exploration of friendship and unspoken longing into a more romantically charged and formalised narrative. While the Taiwanese drama unfolds with measured melancholy, the Korean remake streamlines each episode into sharper emotional beats, easier to digest in a 16-episode arc. The result: a glossy, feel‑good take on friends‑to‑lovers with more plot closure. Plus, what Korean shows do that Taiwanese and Chinese dramas don't? More scenic date-avoidance rom-com moments.
