‘Snowdrop’ and 2 Other North-South Korea Romance K-Dramas
A storyline theme of Korean dramas that is not often explored is a romance between South and North Korean characters. Most non-fans can guess the reasoning due to the political history between both countries. But it has not stopped K-dramas from developing some well-known North-South love stories like one famous Netflix original.
The premiere of the 2021 K-drama Snowdrop had caused some controversy as it warped the facts of South Korean history during the Democratic movement. The K-drama initially included a love story between a female college student and a spy.
‘Doctor Stranger’ K-drama tells the story of a North Korean medic traveling to South Korea
Doctor Stranger is one of the most recognized medical K-dramas involving a North-South Korea storyline. In 2014, Lee Jong-suk starred as the leading character Park Hoon. The K-drama begins with Hoon as a child with his father being tricked into moving to North Korea. Hoon must adapt to a new country. He becomes a genius cardiothoracic surgeon.
In North Korea, he falls in love with Song Jae-hee (Jin Se-yeon). After Hoon’s father passes away, they plan to escape to South Korea. But only Hoon was able to leave. He loses touch with Jae-hee. In South Korea, he works as a hospital doctor.
At the hospital, he meets a young woman who is an exact copy of Jae-hee. The problem? The young woman claims to have no idea who Hoon is.
Doctor Stranger is available to stream on Viki.
‘Crash Landing on You’ became Netflix’s first success in K-dramas
Netflix started to gain notoriety for its K-dramas thanks to Crash Landing on You from 2019. The tvN K-drama became the highest-rated drama in cable television history and is considered a fan favorite. CLOY gained popularity for its dynamic romance between a South Korean chaebol heiress and an army captain from North Korea.
Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) is a successful businesswoman and heiress. While paragliding, she goes off course and lands in a forest in North Korea. She landed in a military zone and found by Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) of the North Korean army.
Instead of killing her, he realizes she is not a threat. But Se-ri escapes from him and his patrol officers. They remeet at the local village, and Jeong-hyeok risks everything to keep her hidden. Together they look for ways to get her back home but fall in love along the way. Back home, her family presumes her dead.
Crash Landing on You is available to stream on Netflix.
‘Snowdrop’ K-drama received controversy over its North-South Korean romance distorting historical facts
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Snowdrop is categorized as a North-South romance K-drama, but netizens have fought against the drama to have it canceled. Netizens were outraged after reading a leaked version of the synopsis. Theyglorifying a spy during the turbulent political events of the Democratic Movement of 1987.
Snowdrop’s storyline includes a romance between a female college student and the spy. Set in November and December 1987, Lim Soo-ho (Jung Hae-in) is a graduate student mistaken by Eun Young-ro (Jisoo) to be a protestor.
She and her friends help heal his wounds and keep him hidden from the government. It is love at first sight for Young-ro and Soo-ho. But the K-drama’s storyline takes a turn when Soo-ho’s true identity is revealed. He is a North Korean spy who was sent to the South.
Snowdrop is available to stream on Disney+ in select regions.
