Can’t really remember exactly how it all started but I came across “Boys Over Flowers” (꽃보다 남자) in Channel U in June 2009. I remembered that it was a scene where the character Gu Jun Pyo was acting silly and clumsy in front of the girl KGum Jan Di whom he likes at the playground in an island resort. I thought it was funny and I followed the drama.
I really like the story and the lead male and female casts (Lee Min Ho and Ku Hye Sun). The story is about a poor girl who went to a rich-kids school and got into trouble with the richest and most full-of-himself kid. In the process, the boy fell hard for the girl and but his mother objected to it and threw in all kinds of obstacles for them. But what I really like about the story is how much the boy loves the girl, the things he would do for her and how steadfast and faithful he is to his love inspite of all kinds of circumstances they are in – background, family objections, love rivals, etc. The only exception is when he lost his memory due to an accident. That’s when it’s the girl’s turn to try and get him back.
I like the story so much that I went on to watch the earlier Japanese version Hana Yori Dango (花より男子) and its sequel Hana Yori Dango Returns and the subsequent movie version Hana Yori Dango Final. The casts were Jun Matsumoto and Mao Inoue and their characters are and Domyouji Tsukasa and Makino Tsukushi respectively.
I also read the translated original manga story by Kamio Yoko.
Lastly I watched the Chinese (Taiwanese) version Meteor Garden.
Of all these versions, I like the original manga version the best and the Korean version next.
There are a number of OSTs that I really like among these dramas.
For the South Korean Version:
Tears are falling down – This songs describes the longing and pain that the Jun Pyo had when he was forced to be away from Jan Di.
What should I do? –
Fight the bad feeling –
Something happened to my heart –
My Everything –
For the Japanese Version:
Flavor of Life –
Planaetarium –
Pink Sapphires 