OMG I can’t believe it’s finally time to do another August Dramas video! While I’ve been doing Hallyu Back unofficially for over a year now, the first video I really made by myself that was successful and helped me see that this could really be something was my Top 5 New Korean Dramas of August 2012 video – and now I’m making the Top 5 New Korean Dramas of August 2013!

So much has happened and changed in this past year that it quite boggles my mind. I think in some ways I kept myself so busy with

To be honest, looking at the list for this August, I’m a bit disappointed. I think July’s line-up and the one’s they’re talking about releasing later in fall look pretty spectacular (I’ll save that for future vlogs). The Korean entertainment industry decided to go on a ghost and medical kick for August – which could be really interesting if you like medical and ghost dramas but I personally prefer a rom-com anyday. There are some bright spots on the horizon though.

For Who Are You, there’s definitely some appeal to having both Taecyeon and Kim Jae Wook in a drama together. Taecyeon showed his chops in Cinderella’s Sister and Dream High, though really I think it helped for Dream High that he’s a member of 2PM. And Jae Wook – mmm! While some may think he’s a bit glacial in his acting (I blame it on the sharp cheekbones), his mysterious waffle maker in Coffee Prince and his role in Mary Stayed Out All Night (which actually was a good opposite for Jang Geun Seok) are making me glad that he’s out of the military and back into dramaland. That he’s a ghost – well I know some pretty smexy actors who’ve played supernatural characters and I think he’s got just the right amount of romantic edge to do it. Also in the ghost world, So Ji Sub and Kong Hyo Jin paired up in The Master’s Sun? To me, that’s about as exciting as the pairing of Song Hye Gyo and Jo In Sung earlier this year. These two are phenomenal actors and though I’m not into ghost stories.. I may just have to give these ones a chance.

What I’m not as sure about this fall are the doctor’s dramas. My biggest problems with Two Weeks are the heartbreaking moment when I’ll see Lee Joon Gi play a dad, and why only two weeks? Does he have two weeks before he goes to jail to cure his daughter’s leukemia, or is the leukemia just that far along that he’s got two weeks to save her. So many unanswered questions… The biggest hit-or-miss though is going to be Good Doctor. I don’t know whether to applaud Korean entertainment’s decision to finally talk about the issue of autism and mental health or to be absolutely terrified that they’re going to make a mockery of the character like they have of mental health in other dramas such as Bridal Mask (another Joo Won drama). In my experience, parents in Korea want their children to appear to be just like everyone else or better than anyone else. This often causes problems, as maybe some students don’t get the treatment that they need. Having known many people with Asperger’s (now classified as an autism spectrum disorder) as well as worked with kids with autism, I would be mortified if they don’t portray this character properly. The first clue that this may be the case – the summaries are saying he has the mental age of a 10 year old. Please Korea and Joo Won don’t screw this one up! There’s too many kids (and adults) that need this to be a great drama!

The list from the video:

5. Who Are You 후아유

4. Good Doctor 굿닥터

3. Two Weeks 투윅스

2. The Master’s Sun 주군의 태양

1. Her Myth 그녀의 신화

the blooper reel: