Step into the captivating world of July’s K-drama, ‘Boys Over Flowers.’ We will delve into a tangled web of romance, friendship, and personal growth in this iconic drama.
Breaking Down The Cultural Knowledge
If you have been following our K-Drama series, feel free to skip this section to get straight into the drama.
When you watch a K-drama while living in Korea or planning to live in Korea, you may want to go deeper than just the show. In order to fully understand the context of entertainment and the world around you, plan on looking at not only experiencing the movie plot, but also at learning about the actors, music, and cultural conversation. Let’s dig into July’s K-drama, “Boys Over Flowers.”
About “Boys Over Flowers”
“Boys Over Flowers” is a popular Korean drama based on the Japanese manga Yoko Kamio. It originally aired from January 5 to March 31, 2009, on the Korean broadcasting network KBS2.
This is the story of a strong-willed, lower-middle-class girl named Geum Jan-di. She receives a scholarship to a prestigious high school attended by mostly wealthy students. In this high school, she encounters the F4, a group of boys who bully and control the student body. However, Jan-di stands up against them and ultimately finds herself in a complicated love triangle with two members of the F4.
Ultimately, this drama unfolds with a mix of romance, drama, and comedy. Therefore, viewers are provided an entertaining and emotional journey through the lives of the F4 and Geum Jan-di.
About the Drama’s Success
“Boys Over Flowers” consistently achieved high ratings throughout its run. The show often exceeded 30% viewership in South Korea. This drama captivated audiences with its entertaining storyline, captivating characters, and romantic elements. In addition, the series gained widespread popularity beyond South Korea, particularly in Asian countries. Cast members from this drama also found immense popularity from their roles in this drama.
Even years after its initial release, “Boys Over Flowers” continues to have a large fan base worldwide. Also, this drama is a gateway show for many new viewers exploring Korean dramas. In 2009, the drama was nominated for and won many awards from the Baeksang Arts Awards, Asian Television Awards, Seoul International Drama Awards, KBS Drama Awards, and several others.
About the Drama’s Themes
“Boys Over Flowers” explores several themes throughout its storyline. Some of the more prominent themes are economic inequality, bullying, love and friendship, personal growth, and second chances. These themes contribute to the emotional depth of “Boys Over Flowers” with thought-provoking reflections on societal issues, personal relationships, and self-discovery.
The main theme of “Boys Over Flowers” revolves around how the power of love can exceed social barriers. The focus of how love can bridge the gap between different economic classes, challenge societal norms, and encourage personal growth in individuals. Therefore, the theme of love is interwoven with other themes such as socioeconomic divide, friendship, and self-discovery. Altogether, these themes create a compelling narrative capturing the hearts of the viewers.
The Music of “Boys Over Flowers”
Whenever a new, popular K-drama hits the screen you hear the music everywhere. Take the time to become familiar with the tracklist and maybe even memorize one for the norae-bang. In addition, this will make you an absolute superstar at social gatherings. Below is a YouTube video with the Original Soundtrack from “Boys Over Flowers”
Additionally, being able to sing the chorus when you hear the songs in the streets or be able to casually say to a new friend, “Oh, isn’t this the theme song for Boys Over Flowers?” creates a wonderful feeling of connectedness to the world around you.
Behind-The-Scenes Footage Of “Boys Over Flowers”
After watching the K-drama and becoming familiar with the songs, it’s time to learn more about the cast. Watching the cast in behind-the-scenes footage or interviews can help you recognize the actors and actresses in new dramas or advertisements nationwide. Therefore, knowing about the cast enables you to create a language for understanding the visual world around you. Also, it is fun to watch behind-the-scenes footage and interviews where you can see glimpses of the creation of the drama and the interactions of the actors/actresses on set.
The Food Of “Boys Over Flowers”
“Boys Over Flowers” incorporates a mix of Korean street food, traditional dishes, and popular favorites. Some of the more notable food items featured were jjajangmyeon, ramyeon, bibimbap, fried chicken, barbecue, and tteokbokki.
Check out our series A Year to Learn Korean Cooking if you want to recreate the dishes you see on the screen at home. You may find some great tips to help you learn more about Korean foods.
2023 K-Drama 101 Recommendations
You can find more popular K-Drama recommendations on the K-Drama 101 recommendations list for 2023. Each month in 2023, we will dig into each of our K-Drama recommendations to give you in-depth information about the series.
2023 K-Drama Reviews
Did you like this drama review? Catch up on the other South of Seoul Dramas reviewed and recommend in 2023.
Additional Drama Related Blogs
If you find yourself falling in love with dramas like so many before you, you may also enjoy these other South of Seoul Blogs:
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
