Title: 꽃보다 남자 | Kkotboda Namja | Boys Before Flowers | Boys Over Flowers
Genre: Romance | Comedy
Episodes: 25
Broadcast Network: KBS2
Broadcast Period: January 5 to March 31, 2009
Synopsis:
The story started at the prestigious school of Shin Hwa High School where all kids are privilege and entitled. The students were grouped according to their status in the society and each tries to stay in the classes where they belong. The top echelon of the classes and most popular is the F4 comprised of Goo Joon Pyo, as the leader of the group, So Yi Jung,Song Woo Bin and Yoon Ji Hoo. They rule the school and what they say goes until an ordinary but optimistic, pretty, and kind Geum Jan Di got into their school, who is totally way below their league but, surprisingly affected each one of them in different ways including Goo Joon Pyo.
Characters:
- Koo Hye Sun as Geum Jan Di
- Lee Min Ho as Goo Joon Py
- Jung Chan Woo as Young Joon Pyo
- Kang Han Byul as Child Joon Pyo
- Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo
- Kang San as Younger Ji Hoo
- Nam Da Reum as Child Ji Hoo
- Kim Bum as So Yi Jung
- Jung Tae Ho as Child Yi Jung
- Kim Joon as Song Woo Bin
- Kim So Eun as Chu Ga Eul
- Kim Hyun Joo as Goo Joon Hee
- Lee Hye Young as Kang Hee Soo
- Ahn Suk Hwan as Geum Il Bong
- Im Ye Jin as Na Gong Joo
- Park Ji Bin as Geum Kang San
- Han Chae Young as Min Seo Hyun
- Lee Min Jung as Ha Jae Kyung
- Lee Jung Gil as Yoon Seok Young
- Jung Ho Bin as Jung Sang Rok
- Lee Si Young as Oh Min Ji
- Lee Joon Hee as Child Min Ji
- Gook Ji Yun as Choi Jin Hee | Ginger
- Jang Ja Yun as Park Sun Ja | Sunny
- Min Young Won as Lee Mi Sook | Miranda
- Kim Ki Bang as Bom Chun Sik
- Song Suk Ho as Butler Lee
- Kim Young Ok as Head Maid
- Im Ju Hwan as So Yi Hyun
- Park Soo Jin as Cha Eun Jae
- Kim Jong Jin as So Hyun Sub
- Kim Min Ji as Jang Yoo Mi
- Jung Ui Chul as Lee Min Ha | Min Jae Ha
- Kim Hyung Joon as Himself on Episode 4
- Kim Kyu Jong as Himself on Episode 4
- Heo Young Saeng as Himself on Episode 4
- Lee Hae Woo as Host Q on Episode 4
- Lee Jung Joon as Gong Soo Pyo on Episode 9-10
- Heo Kyung Hwan as Cell Phone Event MC on Episode 10
- Lee Jung Sung as Radiologist on Episode 13
- Hai Ming as Ming on Episode 14-15
- Lee Suk Goo as Shinhwa’s High School Principal
- Jo Soo Bin as Announcer
- Jang Se Hyun as Tied-Up Student
- ?? as Goo Bon Hyung
- Jung Da Sol
- Song Seung Yong
- Won Jong Rye
- Ji Seung Hyun
My Review:
I didn’t get to watch this k-drama until much, much later after it was shown on TV. In fact, I was hearing so much about it but, I wasn’t really into it yet because at that time I took a break on watching korean dramas and didn’t really get at first what the hype was all about. Guess, I was at that age that watching the angsts of young generations are not my cup of tea anymore. However, at a later date, I got curious because after a time I’ve already seen some of the k-dramas of Lee Min Ho that I do like. He maybe one of the very few k-actors that is considered a hallyu star that don’t really make me swoon but he is a good actor and I like watching his k-dramas, thus, sojourn back to Boys Over Flowers. And, honestly, I didn’t regret I did.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) As I’ve mentioned, Lee Min Ho as good looking as he is doesn’t really ring my bell as a woman. However, as I’ve said as well, he is a good actor and sometimes even great. In this k-drama, I am not totally surprised that girls swoon over him and this became that start of his career as he really did well considering his character is sometimes I didn’t like much at the beginning. Spoiled rich brats who are entitled is something I don’t really like in people whether when I was young nor now.
(2) I get why this became so popular. What’s not to like in watching 4 gorgeous young men? I got to admit I am partial to Kim Bum when it comes to looks.
(3) It has presented the social ills of the society and made it entertaining. If you go beyond the shallowness of appreciating their fashion, richness and good looks, there’s something to be said on how people even kids can be cruel to others just because you are different or from what they considered from the lower class.
(4) It reminds me some times the days when I was young and impressionable, when I still look at the world with optimism and hope. Thus, watching this kind of k-dramas help one not only be entertained but be reminded of what can still be no matter how cynical one can be.
(5) I was surprised that I didn’t cringe and got bored. The delivery of the story is quite entertaining and it helps that I can also enjoy watching the fashion and listening to a good OST.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
For a youth oriented k-drama genre, I believe it has done well. This is one of the few k-dramas who are popular and high in ratings that I actually like. There are some k-dramas that are over-hype but don’t deliver, luckily, this one does. So, on the entertainment value alone, I have nothing to complain on this k-drama and in fact, I can recommend if you want to just hang out and let lose.
Would I recommend this K-Drama? Yes
My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars
OST:
01. Starlight Tears – Kim Yoo Kyung
Play Me:
02. A Little – Seo Jin Young
Play Me:
03. Do You Know? – Someday
Play Me:
04. Stand By Me – SHINee
05. Lucky – Ashily
06. Paradise – T-MAX
07. My Head is Bad – SS501
08. One More Time – Tree Bicycle
09. I Know – Lee Jung Shik & Green Cacao
10. Dance With Me – Green Cacao
11. Blue Flower – Green Cacao
12. So Sad – Green Cacao
13. Opening Title (Paradise Intro) – T-MAX & Green Cacao
14. Say Yes – T-MAX
15. Wish Ur My Love – T-MAX ft J
16. Yearning Heart – A’ST1, The Style
17. Making a Lover – SS501
18. What Should I Do? – Ji Sun (지선) of Loveholic
19. Love is Fire – KARA
20. Love U – HowL
21. Something Like Love – Brand New Day
22. With Tears – Lee Sang Gon of Noel
23. Cellogic – Various Artists
24. 다가가다 – Dong Yo (동요)
25. Be Strange – Green Cacao
26. For the Sake of Love – Green Cacao
28. Emptiness – Kim Joon ft Kim Jo Han
29. I’m Going To Meet Her Now – Kim Bum
30. Fight The Bad Feeling – T-MAX
31. A Heart Cannot Be Hidden – Lee Ji Hye
32. A Thing Called Happiness – Kim Hyun Joong
33. Something Happened To My Heart – A’ST1, The Style & T-MAX
34. Fight The Bad Feeling (Ballad Version) – T-MAX
35. Fight The Bad Feeling (Dance Version) – T-MAX
36. Bang Bang Boom – T-MAX
For Lyrics in English, Romanization and Hangul, CLICK HERE