IU has served us with one of the absolute best kdramas in the world. When this beautiful girl is not busy breaking records and winning every award in the kpop industry, she makes kdramas that will blow your mind. Furthermore, she debuted in 2011 with the still popular series Dream High and has brought her A-game to every kdrama that she has done ever since. Her acting skills are so good that the talented screenwriter duo Hong Jung Eun and Hong Mi Ran (My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho, A Korean Odyssey) refused to make Hotel Del Luna if IU had not accepted the role.
Not just fans but also critics of the cinema world have spoken extensively of IU’s fantastic versatility as an actress. Furthermore, IU’s real name is Lee Ji Eun. She skyrocketed to fame after the success of her evergreen albums Last Fantasy and Real+ in 2011. IU single handily has the entire nation whipped for her. ”Nation’s Sweetheart” and ”Nation’s Little Sister” are just a few of the sweet nicknames that she has been given. At the age of 28, IU is winning both in the Kpop and Kdrama worlds. Here is a list of eight IU Kdramas that prove she is a talented queen.
8. Dream High
This high school romantic comedy was IU’s first step into the Kdrama world. Coincidentally, it is also one of the best dramas of IU. Additionally, Dream High is not just any other Korean drama, starring actors like Bae Suzy (While You Were Sleeping), Kim Soo Hyun (It’s Okay To Not Be Okay), Ok Taec Yeon ( Vincenzo), Ham Eun Jung (I Hate You, Juliet), Jang Woo Young ( BOSS 2), and our queen IU. Even ten years later and this is still fresh in fans’ minds. This high school romantic comedy personifies every Kdrama fan’s dreams by bringing all these dazzling stars on one screen.
Not only does this drama boast a spectacular cast, but the screenplay was written by none other than Park Hye Ryun (While You Were Sleeping, I Hear Your Voice). Moreover, Dream High was co-directed by Lee Eung Bok ( Jirisan, Sweet Home) and Kim Seong Yoon (Love In The Moonlight). This extraordinary kdrama aired on KBS2 from January 3 to February 28 in 2011.
The plot of the drama is set up at Kirin Art High School. It focuses on the lives of six students with contrasting personalities but the same goals. They all want to become successful artists in the Kpop industry. This drama will take us through their struggles, friendships, and betrayals throughout sixteen episodes. The main character of this drama is Go Hye Mi. Although she is excellent at Classical Music, she gives up her dream to help her father. The competition and the desire to win are intense, and you will be at the tip of your toes, wondering who will betray who next. A perfect compilation of innocent love, running after your dreams, and most importantly, friendships. You can watch this IU kdrama on Rakuten Viki and Netflix.
7. Bel Ami
IU’s character in Bel Ami is one of the funniest kdrama female leads. This is one of the kdramas of IU that will make you laugh hard. This Kdrama adaptation of the Mahnwa series, Yebbeun Namja (Beautiful Guy), will have you rolling with laughter. The intriguing storyline of this drama is written by the talented Yoo Young Ah (Kim Ji Young: Born 1982, My Annoying Brother). This series is co-directed by not one but three gifted directors, Lee Jae Sang (I Believe In Love), Jung Jung Hwa (My Absolute Boyfriend), and Shin Yong Hwi (Hide And Seek).
With the talented crew with stars like Jang Geun Suk (A Korean Odyssey), IU, Han Chae Young ( A Pledge To God), and Lee Jang Woo (Graceful Family); you will have Bel Ami, a perfect romantic comedy. Additionally, Bel Ami was broadcast on KBS2 from November 20 to January 9.
IU plays the optimistic and bubbly character of Kim Bo Tong in this drama. Although she is poor and lacking, Kim Bo Tong confidently expresses her feeling for Dokgo Ma. However, Dokgo Ma is the ”beautiful man” mentioned in the kdrama’s title. His only goal is to earn a fortune with his good looks, and that he does. However, after meeting Kim Bo Tong, Dokgo Ma, and seeing the sincerity of her love, he decides to change. You will be at the edge of your seats, waiting to see what trick Kim Bo Tong pulls up next to impress Dokgo Ma. You can watch this romantic comedy on Rakuten Viki.
6. You Are The Best
Yet another beautiful kdrama that IU has blessed us with. You Are The Best is a beautiful love story that showcases how love can change your insight into life. This drama has been masterfully written by Jung Yoo Kyung (Please Marry Me, In Soon is Pretty). Yoon Sung Shik, who is known for his work in Hwarang, Tower Of Babel, and The King’s Face, is the director of this drama. Both the creators have paid so much attention to detail that You Are The Best is considered to be one of the best romance kdramas with IU in it.
Furthermore, the main cast of this series includes IU, Jo Jung Suk (The Nokdu Flower, Hospital Playlist), Go Doo Shim ( The One and Only), and Lee Mi Sook (Let Me Introduce Her, Work Of Love). You Are The Best premiered on KBS2 on March 9 and went on to air till August 25. This drama consists of a total of fifty episodes, so strap yourselves in for a plenty long romantic journey.
The story revolves around two polar opposite people, Lee Soon Shin and Shin Joon Ho. One is blessed with a wealthy family but has no talents and on the other, Shin Joon Ho, worked to his bones to get where he is. After losing her father, Lee Soo Shin has a rocky relationship with her mother but tries to remain optimistic. When she meets the arrogant director Shin Joon Ho, the two of them start developing an unbreakable bond. Moreover, this drama does not solely revolve around two lovers. It focuses on how the decisions you make affect your family significantly. If you want to watch this emotionally packed drama on Rakuten Viki.
5. The Producers
Another great IU Kdrama that gives us an insight into how the world of television actually works. The Producers took a unique approach for everything from the storyline to the filming style. Furthermore, Park Ji Eun, who has given us some of the most incredible kdramas, such as Crash Landing On You and My Love From The Star, is the screenwriter of this drama. Pyo Min Soo (Ho Goo’s Love), Yoon Sung Ho (Women At A Game Company), and Seo Soo-Min ( So Handsome Man) joined hands to direct this masterpiece of a kdrama.
For twelve episodes, the kdrama takes us through the hectic and competitive lives of the KBS’s variety of department workers. The main cast of this drama includes talented actors like Cha Tae Hyun (Police University), Gong Hyo Jin (When The Camelia Blooms), Kim Soo Hyun ( It’s Okay To Not Be Okay), and last but not least, our talented queen IU.
For once, we saw the lives of the people that work behind the scenes on the big screen. In this South Korean drama, IU plays the role of an idol who has been working hard ever since the tender age of thirteen. But due to the countless number of betrayals that she has faced, Cindy has shut herself away from the world. She makes sure never to let a hint of her genuine emotions be seen. However, her ice-cold facade slowly starts to melt away when she meets the aspiring prosecutor and junior PD, Baek Seung Chan. The magic that these two talented actors brought to the screen still remains unmatched. If you like watching kdramas that have a very realistic slice of life trope-filled with countless emotions like this. You can watch this excellent IU kdrama on Rakuten Viki.
4. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
This IU kdrama has a cult following thanks to the excellent chemistry displayed by IU and Lee Joon Gi. Moreover, this was IU’s first venture as the main character in a historical kdrama. Inspired by the Chinese novel Bu Bu Jing, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, IU has given us one of the most magnificent historical kdramas. Jo Yoon Young brilliantly wrote this beautiful historical romance kdrama (Save The Last Dance For Me). Kim Kyu Tae (It’s Okay That’s Love) is responsible for the fantastic direction of this drama.
Additionally, the cast of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo includes the beautiful faces of IU, Lee Joong Gi (The Scholar Who Walks The Night), Kang Ha Neul (When The Camellia Blooms), Hong Jong Hyun (My Absolute Boyfriend), Nam Joo Hyuk ( Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo), and Byun Baek Hyun from the globally popular boyband EXO. Furthermore, the drama consists of a total of twenty spectacular episodes that were premiered on SBS in 2016.
This historical kdrama answers the question, ”What would happen if we could travel back in time?” Except in this kdrama, IU’s character Go Ha Jin gets magically transported back to the start of the ancient Goryeo Dynasty. She wakes up as a sixteen-year-old girl named Hae Soo amidst a plethora of good-looking princes of the Wang Family. Although unintentionally, Hae Soo ends up capturing the hearts of all the four Princes and becomes a part of the heated battle to the throne. Amidst all the chaos, Hae Soo finds herself growing fond of Prince Wang So, aka the fourth and most feared Wang Prince. The castle politics, comedy, jealousy, and especially the romance of this kdrama will steal your heart. You can enjoy this historical thriller on SBS Vod.
3. Persona
This is one of the kdramas that just goes to show how creative IU is. This anthology proves that IU is one of the most talented South Korean actresses. Persona consists of four beautiful episodes that will make you cry, laugh, scream, but mostly be amazed by IU. Each episode of this IU starter anthology is almost twenty minutes long. The first episode of this anthology is titled ‘Love Set’ and is directed by Lee Kyoung Mi (The Truth Beneath, Feel Good Story, The Lady From 406). The first episode revolves around a nerve-racking tennis match between Bae Doo Na and IU. Moving on to the second episode, ‘Collector,’ directed by the talented director Im Pil Sung (Doomsday Book). This Im Pil Sung directorial is everyone’s favorite among the four episodes.
Furthermore, it tells the story of a man who is ready to sacrifice everything for an alluring woman. However, this charming woman, aka IU, runs away. The cinematography in this storyline will give you chills.
The third story of this anthology is directed by Jeon Go Woon (The Queen Of Crime) and is called ‘Kiss Burn.’ This story is innocent and makes you nostalgic. It revolves around two girls Han Na and Hye Bok, who lay up some booby traps to get revenge on Hye Bok’s father. The last part of this series is directed by Kim Jong Kwan (One Shining Day). Named ‘Walking At Night,’ the last part of this anthology will make you cry your heart out. It tells the story of two ill-fated lovers. The two go on a romantic walk in a dream and say everything they wanted to say to each other when they were alive.
Moreover, the last part is filmed in black and white, making the longing and passion the two people feel even clearer. After this extraordinary series, IU has shut down her haters once and for all. You can watch this fantastic kdrama series on Netflix.
2. Hotel Del Luna
This is just one of the perfect kdramas with IU in it. If you still haven’t watched it, then you are seriously missing a whole lot. Although it falls primarily in the horror genre, Hotel Del Luna has comedy, romance, and mysteries that you could never solve. The creators of this series are Hong Jung Eun and Hong Mi Ran, who is more popularly known as the Hong sisters. Spectacular kdramas like The Master’s Sun and My Girlfriend Is A Nine-Tailed Fox are all thanks to their genius. In an interview, these two talented ladies have shared that they wrote the series with only IU in their minds.
And if she were not to play the character of Jang Man Wol, then they would have shelved their work. Thankfully, IU agreed to play the role and embedded the iconic character of CEO Jang Man Wol deep in our minds. Furthermore, Hotel Del Luna consisted of a total of sixteen episodes and was broadcast on tvN from July 13 to September 1 on tvN.
This intriguing kdrama is set up around the mystical Hotel Del Luna. Although it has a skyline taller than any of Seoul’s towers, Hotel Del Luna is not visible to the ordinary eye. This magical hotel is a place for the dead to rest and complete whatever unfinished work they have before going to the afterlife. You may think that the CEO of the hotel must be a kind old lady who selflessly serves the guest. But instead, the hotel is run by the materialistic, mysterious, and hot-tempered Jang Man Wol. She is confined to the hotel by the deity until she can let go of her resentment.
Three thousand years pass, and Jang Mann Wol cannot let go of her bitter resentment. However, when Go Chan Sung comes into the picture, things change. You can watch this splendid IU kdrama on Rakuten Viki.
1. My Mister
My Mister wins the tough race of being IU’s best kdrama by just a tooth’s gap. Choosing the best among the numerous excellent kdramas that IU has blessed us with is incredibly hard. However, with its beautifully layered plot that breaks every kdrama stereotype and extremely well-written characters, My Mister makes it clear who the winner is. Furthermore, Kim Won Suk (Arthadral Chronicles) and Kim Sang Woo (Extraordinary You) co-directed this South Korean series.
The screenwriter of this IU kdrama is Park Hae Young ( Another Miss Oh, Two Weddings And A Funeral), an absolute genius for writing an emotionally packed and layered plotline. Moving on from the crew, the main cast of this incredible kdrama boasts of stars like IU and Lee Sun Kyun (My Wife Is Having An Affair This Week). Furthermore, this kdrama aired from March 21 to 17th.
A middle-aged man, Dang Hoon, has been troubled as his life has been falling apart. Adding to the struggle, Dang Hoon has two brothers who are currently unemployed. He meets Lee Ji Ah, a part-time worker in her 20s, who catches him receiving a bribe. Furthermore, My Mister has a vast storyline and is not tied down to a single concept. It shows the raw and unfiltered struggle of three men in their forties and a helpless twenty-year-old girl. The series raises questions about love, family, and how much is too much?
An excellent storyline that shined even brighter because of the actors playing the role. Moreover, this is arguably IU’s best performance. As Lee Ji An, IU does not leave a single doubt about her acting skills. Her character is at the edge of life and struggles so much that she can barely stand independently. The relationship she forms with Dang Hoon is one of the purest and admirable relationships the drama world has given us. Honestly, IU must be endlessly applauded for giving us these amazing kdramas. You can watch this beautiful kdrama on Rakuten Viki.
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