Successful story of a bright girl was the first Kdrama I followed all the way through but I think it was My Name is Kim Sam Soon which got me hook, line and sinker.

I started re-arranging my life according to the screening time for MNIKSS, got the DVDs so I can rewatch, and told ALL my friends about it until everyone stop asking 'Hyun Bin who?' and instead, just respond to my fan-girlism with an eye-roll.

MNIKSS convinced me Kdramas can be laugh out loud, insightful and feature not one but TWO drool-worthy guys without fauxcest (Winter Sonata/Autumn in my Heart I'm talking about you) or birth secrets.

05 July 2011- 1st Shop of Coffee Prince, I watched all seventeen episodes over the course of three days. K-dramas have owned me ever since. I loved it and it will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first even if it spoiled me a little bit. My next drama was Boys Before Flowers, I watched its 25 episodes over the course of the next six days after that, and I was like, “Why are they kissing like this? Where did all the passion go?” I have since discovered that Coffee Prince was more the exception and Boys Before Flowers was more the rule when it came to kisses. I know that is just more the audience they are marketed too Boys Before Flowers was a teen show and Coffee Prince was really more for young adults. I digress, the “dark side” has me body, mind and soul. At seven months in I have finished watched 18+ dramas and only like a million more to go.

Goong was my first obsession, though I actually never finished it.

I cannot believe I've been coming here for 5 YEARS! It's insane! Congratulations gaiz! I suddenly remembered reading a Dalja's Spring review first...Gah! The beauty of discovering something new is like being in the honeymoon stage of a relationship and now I feel like I've been married to Kdramas for years! /sniff sniff

*rakes brain for answers*

I guess it was Full House. Lawd! Rain was so cute despite his character being absolutely annoying. It was my first venture into anything Korean. I saw My Sassy Girl first but didn't really get into dramas because I was so busy with school. Then I discovered Old Boy which got me really hooked on Korean films.

So in my search for more to get my fix, I stumbled upon the old site, Javabeans was it? And then my life changed forever as I read one article after the other going "Ooh! This one sounds niiice! She said it was nice! I'm definitely putting this on my list of Kdramas to watch." And my perspective on things changed a lot!

Korean dramas opened me up to Taiwanese and Japanese dramas because I discovered mysoju. It was so hard to find a drama online back then AND subbed hahahaha! I was more open minded, I really got into studying other cultures and I still do, it's been a fun ride since then.

I guess Goong and the Vengeance Trilogy really got me into studying Korean. But Coffee Prince definitely takes home the cake for me. It has solidified my love for Kdramas and k-indie music. It filled the void and erased the cliche and stale acting Full House had left. It was so beautiful :3

Thank goodness you came up with Dramabeans because lawd knows where I'd get my dose of recaps, reviews, insight on Korean terms, phrases and culture. I mean, let's admit it non-Koreans, calling your brother and boyfriend Oppa takes some getting used to.

Oh My!Tree of Heaven Forever!This drama was my First drama love,and will always be my Favorite drama,
I have watch Tree of heaven for like thousands time,
People might dislike it because it's a tragety drama,But I love those kind of dramas,like Stairway of Heaven,Autumn Scent,and those kind.

That Drama, I SWEAR EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH IT!
Lee Wan is an amazing actor *Hands down
He is so talented,!!!!!!!
How he's able to scream,act crazy,cry like crazy in a adorable way,my goodnessss..AMAZING ACTOR

And as for Park Shin Hye,She did well,she was still 16-17 that time,but showed us a more mature actreess,which excites me,and her acting in that drama is the best you'll see her!

The drama had sad moments that litterally gave me nightmares,in a damn GOOD WAY!
I can die right now thinking of Yoonsuh And Hana's love
That drama made me cry,and thinking about it make me cryyy,huhuhu

GO WATCH Tree OF HEAVEN NOWW!!!But don't forget get to buy cleenex!

Oh My!Tree of Heaven Forever!This drama was my First drama love,and will always be my Favorite drama,
I have watch Tree of heaven for like thousands time,
People might dislike it because it’s a tragety drama,But I love those kind of dramas,like Stairway of Heaven,Autumn Scent,and those kind.

That Drama, I SWEAR EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH IT!
Lee Wan is an amazing actor *Hands down
He is so talented,!!!!!!!
How he’s able to scream,act crazy,cry like crazy in a adorable way,my goodnessss..AMAZING ACTOR

And as for Park Shin Hye,She did well,she was still 16-17 that time,but showed us a more mature actreess,which excites me,and her acting in that drama is the best you’ll see her!

The drama had sad moments that litterally gave me nightmares,in a damn GOOD WAY!
I can die right now thinking of Yoonsuh And Hana’s love
That drama made me cry,and thinking about it make me cryyy,huhuhu

GO WATCH Tree OF HEAVEN NOWW!!!But don’t forget get to buy cleenex!

P.S If I do win the first thing I will buy in YESASIA is Tree of heaven engsub DVD!YEAH!!I've been looking at that DVD for years now,,:(

Springtime (1999) starring Jang Dong Gun and Kim Hyun Joo.

Initial impressions: Jang Dong Gun is gorgeous and Korean dramas don't usually end with happily ever after but characters are real, stories are simple, great to watch. Addictive... and since then never been cured!

oh man, mine was hana yori dango all the way back in 2007. what's not to love? i mean you've got the dorky, rage-y, hilarious domyouji, the alarmingly perfect rui, the adorable, smart, and feisty makino, and an amazing story...it's still one of my favorite dramas :D i rewatch it from time to time since it's that good, but i can't believe it's already been years since i first saw it!

anyway, congrats on your 5th anniversary! here's to another 5 (or many) more years!

Congrats dramabeans! Here's to 5 more years!

My first drama love would have to be My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho. I remember that I started the drama 6 episodes late and I sat on my couch and watched all the episodes until I was caught up to the most recent one. I loved it so much and because of it I became a Hong Sisters fan and ultimately a kdrama addict. I've seen drama's old and new and it all started with that one. It's still one of my favorites and I catch myself sometimes going back to watch episodes.

The first drama I watched was Pasta, but I quickly followed it with Coffee Prince and that's what really got me hooked.

The very first Kdrama I watched was Doctor Brothers (1997) by MBC, featuring Kang Dong Gun and Son Chang Min. I was instantly hooked by the story and the characters, everything about it felt so refreshing. Of course, back then I hadn't watched any movies or dramas that involves cancer or incurable diseases.

The first drama that brought me over to the dark side was coincidentally "You're Beautiful".Originally I only started watching it because my favourite singer from FT Island,Lee Hong Gi was in it but it eventually developed more and I couldn't let it go,I still remember the long wait & excitement I've gone through just to wait for it to release new episodes so that I can watch it online.My love for You're Beautiful spread and there was about ten of us among my friends who had watched.We used to sing songs from the OSTs together,discuss about the storyline and what we like the most from each character.I was 16 at that time.It is because of K-dramas,I somehow indirectly felt in love with kpop as well. :)

it was way back then but the first drama that i watched and loved is... (dugeun dugeun) Autumn in My Heart or Autumn Tale. It was aired in my country and dubbed but i immediately fell in love with it. The funny thing about that is I was in first grade and I was watching a story like that. I got affected at a very young age. :) good times

Hmmm...

That would have to be Winter Sonata...

When I was younger I didn't really like to watch Korean dramas. Heck, I didn't even know they exist. It started out with me and my brother browsing dramas and suddenly clicked on K-drama section. We first saw 'Glass Slippers' and some pictures.

Our first response: <>

Lol, how unexpected that someone lent my parents the whole set so they started watching and I only got a glimpse every now and then.

I don't remember much how I stumbled upon Winter Sonata but I think it was due to the music. Hmm, I don't know either but the story really dragged me into it.

I was growing up so I guess it was a sort of new feeling - sort of sad and sentimental - so before I knew it it became a love, love, love!

:)

You're Beautiful 2 years ago. Now I wouldn't call it one of the best shows I've seen, but it still is a sentimental favourite of mine. ^^ I've already seen like 30 shows since then!

coffee prince.

가을동화 was my official first, but coffee prince was the one that got me HOOKED. & it led me to soompi... & to dramabeans!

My first love: The Successful Story Of A Bright Girl (명랑 소녀 성공기)... 2002 - Already 10 years ago wow! It's pretty sweet to see Jang Nara and Jang Hyuk still going strong in their respective careers... YEA KDRAMA!

I really had to think hard about this question because there have been SO MANY! I had watched a few dramas before, like My Name is Kim Sam Soon and Full House but I didn't really like any of those, I just watched a few episodes here and there. The drama that REALLY drew me into dramas was definitely Boys Over Flowers, as cliche as that may sound, it's the truth! I remember feeling so overwhelmed by Korean pop culture since I had always been watching Japanese dramas up until then. I distinctly remember thinking "wow, this is so weird, why am I watching? WHY CAN'T I STOP WATCHING?" And then the rest is history!

p.s. Lee Min Ho did partially contribute in my conversion to the darkside with his adorable pretentious attitude.

Coffee Prince for me. My first and still my favorite.

Happy 5th anniversary!! Oh, how time flies so fast! I came across this website 2 years ago and I do not noe what I would be doing if I didn't have you guys!

My first love drama... Boys Over Flowers! Also my first drama! I was reading a story online based after Boys Over Flowers and so I checked it out, and was amazed at how much I became addicted to it!!! It was not like any other movie or show I ever watched because it was my first time watched an asian drama!

Because of BOF I fell in love with Kim Hyun Joong as well and am now his crazed fan! Also I loved Lee Min Ho, he was sooo cute! Though Goo Hye Sun is a great actress, I don't love the character Jan Di that much. Though when I first watched the show, I become CRAZY OBSESSED! But then I started watching more dramas and realized that it wasn't that great but it still brings back old memories so I love it.

Yes, because of Boys Over Flower, I was brought over to the dark side and I couldn't be more happier!!

I'm sort of embarrassed to admit it... but it would have to be Playful Kiss! It's the first one I ever saw, because they uploaded it to hulu.com... I was just curious, then I got hooked! Don't worry... I've turned to infinitely better ones now... I'm even studying abroad in S. Korea, so I can learn the language! Not just for dramas... that would be sort of crazy...

I don't remember my first K-drama (Shame on me! haha :P ) But the thing I remember is that It's after watching and waiting Boys Over Flowers each week that I've becomed addicted to Dramaland and that I joined the Drak Side!! haha =D <3

"Drama"...What will I do without you ~~~~ ^^

Happy Anniversary!

Full House started my K-drama addiction. Fell in love with it and been obsessed with Korean Dramas since then. I can't believe it's been 7 years.

I had always watched Korean dramas along with my parents growing up, but the first one I really fell in love with was 대장금 / Jewel in the Palace. I was 13 years old at the time, and watched it with my family on rented VHS tapes. Years later into the age of streaming videos, I rediscovered it on dramafever! Both times the drama was simply amazing. For a time I started wishing I could call my future boyfriend "나으리" instead of "오빠" thanks to Ji Jinhee hehehehe.

All About Eve was the first drama that left me with late night panda eyes and got me hooked into korean dramas.
Whats not to love? Jang Dong Gun has the handsome prince (swoon), hair pulling and tear jearking story line (ahh the memories). Overall thats pretty much sums up my life: korean dramas!!!
*cross my finger and hope i winnnn ^__^ heehee

Beautiful Days -- Lee Byung Hun's cool yet passionate and unpredictable Minchul is my favorite all time drama hero. When you watch a drama mutiple times, and keep coming back, you know you're hooked.

1st Shop Coffee Prince. Cried like a baby and I've been hooked ever since.

My very first drama was Sassy girl Choon-hyang...while I don't really remember anything, the first drama I really fell in love was my girl. I became so addicted I couldn't stop watching :)

The first drama I fell in love with was You're Beautiful. I loved all the actors, and it was a really funny show. C:

My very first drama has to be either Autumn Love or Full House. I think I watched them around the same time, even though I don't think they came out at the same time. I watched them dubbed in Hmong and so I came to love, love Kdramas. I finally grew out of the dubbed ones and moved along to the real korean speaking ones and oh boy were they even better than the dubbed ones!! But this obsession took hold strongly during my college years. oh how i remember those late nights of watching korean dramas. But my very,very all-time favorite drama is Coffee Prince. No drama so far has ever had a special place like that in my heart. LOL

A trip to L.A. in 2009 with my 5 yr old started my kdrama addiction. He'd be in bed by 9 & I'd turn on the hotel t.v. as I got him settled & the room in order for the night. The t.v. always started on channel 3 which happened to be an Asian channel. I noticed a kdrama showing (but I mistakenly called it a soap opera at that time). The first night I looked at it for about 2 minutes & turned. The second night I watched half of it. The third night I watched it all & by the 4th night I was dreading going back to Florida the next day. When I got home it took me a while to find the "soap opera" online, but i eventually found it on youtube. The drama was Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy. Looking for that drama introduced me to the world of korean dramas. It was like this whole other universe that I never heard of, never dreamed existed, but suddenly couldn't imagine living without. I decided to watch SI/BL from the beginning instead of around episode 15 where it was in L.A. At the end, I liked it but didn't love it. However, I was very intrigued by the whole kdrama thing. It was so different from American t.v. that I decided to delve a little further (big mistake!) After very careful research I decided to watch Coffee Prince as my next drama and I fell hook . . . line . . . and sinker! I watched it twice in a row, pulled an all nighter during the first go-round and even called in sick to work to finish it (and I'm an attorney who had a court date that day, hehehe). After that it was Goong (because by the end of CP I absolutely LOVED Eun Hye) and I totally embraced my newfound addiction without shame. I even got Rosetta Stone Korean b/c I dream of watching the dramas w/o the subtitles (pipe dream but it can't hurt). I can't believe it's been two years already but my love has not waned yet. Your site certainly helps!

Hmm... It would have to be Coffee Prince. I was really into watching Japanese dramas before that because I was under the impression that they were shorter and had a breezier pace. (Basically, I'm fueled by my very short attention span and patience haha). I started numerous other Kdramas before, but none held my attention long enough for me to make it through the last stretch of episodes. Then Coffee Prince came around and it had me hooked completely. I was amazed at myself for making it through all 16 episodes. It was cute, and though it had some moments of lulling, I somehow found myself making through it. I had recognized both leads, Gong Yoo from a few films before that and Yoon Eun Hye from Goong (which I finally finished recently by skimming through the last few episodes lol). And also, thanks to Coffee Prince, I also found Dramabeans and I've been faithfully following this site since. :)

Not too sure where to leave the email address, so I'll put it here just in case:
[email protected]

javabeans~ i think we must be @ the same age because i resonant with your first loves...Jil-Too (Jealousy- Choi Jin Shil) followed by Nuh-Ghim (Feelings) back in the 90s. Growing up in an all-white community and feeling very little connection to my motherland...these dramas drew me back to Korea as if i had finally been rescued by the mother ship. The dramas made me realize that i had a dream where the main characters looked like me and i felt as if my inner stirrings were coming to life. Since then i have been touched by all the classics mentioned by others...there is something magical about korean dramas...it is as if we all have the same heart song and the writers have the musical instruments to play it. Ah~ to first loves!

favorite drama of all time that got me hooked was witch yoo hee. not really the first drama i'd seen but i loved the pairing together. i've got to admit that what i love the most about k-dramas are the interior spaces, costume design, and pretty boys and sassy heroines are definitely big perks :D

I felt totally in love with "Que Sera Sera" drama...no villains no victims, but it was all about choices, meaning you are the one making your destiny! And i was happy that they could realize these mistakes and tried to choose the rite paths following their hearts....anyway cant forget that scene Tae joo got drunk hitting his head!..and the soundtrack i still listen! My fave drama of all! Like everybody here, it got me dark circles and puff eyes all mornings!

[email protected]

My Girl <3

Mine was Stairway to Heaven. Happened to catch the 1st episode on my main broadcast channel and was so intrigued that I finished it online.

Almost cried countless times at the sad parts. Teared up when Kwon Sang Woo cried...fell in love with the OST... had a major CRUSH on KSW..wondered who the evil pretty sister was (Kim Tae Hee)...noticed the young Park Shin Hye then who acted as the young Han Jung Suh, and was left in a state of 'floating light-headedness' after I finished.

This show was my first opium to the Hallyu. Made sure I visited Lotte World to take a pic when I went for my Korea trip; and still keep a lookout for KSW, Choi Ji Woo and Kim Tae Hee news these days even though I've loved many other k-dramas since then. :D

My first drama was Sassy Girl Chun-hyang! I loved Jae hee and his dad's craziness! But most of all I got hooked because of the modern retelling of the tale~~ Such a cute drama.

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!! My life wouldn't be as bright without this site. Thanks for all that you do! As for the drama that won me over to the dark side, I'm almost certain that it was Full House. At the time I thought it was brilliant until I watched 20 other dramas with the same premise ;)

My first drama was Haru to Natsu (Japan) I watched in Tv and i fell in love with the purity and photography. Totally different from the Brazilian dramas.

So I researched. I chose to watch 1Litre of Teras. (that i though beautiful)and after a few more Japanese dramas i found BOF that I sincerely don't like soo much but one more chance and I finally found
You're Beautiful that makes me addicted.
And now i just watched korean dramas. ^^
kisses from Brasil!

Full House!!!

... and I'm still waiting for Full House 2... I wonder when that's going to come out...

A long time ago, I was bored with anime & then I remembered that there was a live action version of Gokusen. That led me to Hana Yori Dango & I loved it from the first episode.

My first drama love was Personal Taste. A year and a half ago. Lee Min Ho was my entry into the dramaworld, and he was the one who showed me the light!

I loved the uniqueness of the drama, and fell in love with the language instantly. Turns out, there was a whole other world out there that I'd yet to discover.

That is the story of my drama first love, and how I was called over to the dark side.

WOW! Ever since Javabeans Started this blog, I've been here for awesome guides and can't believe how many years since this still as awesome blog of hers is up and running! I'm really happy that you made this blog!

Anyway, I've been into KPOP when Shinhwa and g.o.d. were shown in cable when KPOP wasn't that much global unlike now. I forgot actually some of the titles of the dramas that I use to watch before. But I remember some of the movies. That was like late 90s. I was still a kid back then lolz.

The only one drama/sitcom that I instantly got hooked was Nonstop Series! Since it's much more modern back then. I also like Full House, Goong S and Goong.

BOYS OVER FLOWERS!!

Wow....it's really not that long n yet....I'm relatively new to k-dramas...not even one year...started July '11. I'm Indian and though there's an overabundance of dramas here (imagine dramas and reality shows in >15 langs ) ..but i'm not a big fan.more the movie kind...Past july in coll, a friend gave me BOF...and I've never been the same since . I finished it in 3 days(nights) straight, and went on straight to Coffee Prince,Brilliant Legacy,Playful Kiss,Goong,City Hunter,Full House,My Girl,You're Beautiful.

BOF- well, how much ever i deny it...n though replaced by YB, it was my 1st love, and the F4 were the reason..it made me watch k-pop too.. :D !!

Dramabeans for me...i found it in my lab class ;) :) ...(they usu block facebook/other networking sites..and vids not allowed), and this is what i did when i was supposed to be codin ;) ..and i think there hasn't been a day without dramabeans since then. Sometimes the recaps are better than the episodes and i jus read them...JB and GF u make my lil world brighter !!!

P.S.The best part is the Comments section :D...lovin all the tales.