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K-pop idols and K-dramas have a common connection, as the Korean industry has produced several dramas based on pop idols and the music industry. While some audiences find them therapeutic, some see an escape in the fictional world of dramas.
A few dramas have showcased the strict journey of pop idols. Adding some variety, some shows weave the narrative of the idol's life. Idol: The Coup, one of the popular k-dramas on idols, showcases the journey of the pop singers, while So I Married an Anti-Fan portrays a love story between a popular idol and a reporter.
Note: The article reflects the author's opinion and is listed in no particular order.
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Dream High and other K-dramas based on pop idols
The Sportskeeda team has picked some of the best dramas based on pop idols, and they are-
- Top Management
- Idol: The Coup
- Dream High
- Part-Time idol
- Doona!
- The Heavenly Idol
- So I Married an Anti-Fan
1) Top Management
Top Management is a K-drama about pop idols, released in October 2018. This drama consists of 16 episodes and tells the story of a girl named Yoo Eun-sung, who has the power to see the future.
Seo Eun-soo plays the role of Eun-sung, who goes through strict training sessions to become a pop idol. However, she ends up becoming the manager of a struggling boy band, S.O.U.L., at Starlight Entertainment.
This K-drama about pop idols showcases the reality of the band and its downfall. Hyun Soo-yong, played by actor and singer Ahn Hyo Seop, joined the band as the new member and aimed for high.
Soo-yong met Eun-sung at the music company and fell in love. However, complications begin when Eun-sung starts predicting the future.
Where to watch: YouTube
2) Idol: The Coup
Idol: The Coup is another K-drama showcasing the reality of pop idols' lives. The show, directed by Noh Jong-chan, was released in 2021. With 12 episodes, the drama depicts the story of the girl band Cotton Candy, consisting of five members.
Cotton Candy is on the verge of disbandment, while the members, Jenna, Hyun-ji, Stella, El, and Chae-ah, decide to accept failure and rebuild themselves.
Ahn Hee-yeon portrays Kim Je-na (Jenna), the team leader of Cotton Candy, who is a problem solver and always works as the middleman to keep harmony in the group. The drama discards overwhelming romance. Instead, it highlights the mental health struggles of these pop idols behind their glamorous lives.
Where to watch: Prime Video
3) Dream High
Dream High shows the journey of becoming a pop idol, highlighting teenage life at school. The drama was released in 2011 and ran for 16 episodes. This KBS2 drama bagged several awards in 2011-12, including the Korean Drama Awards, the Seoul International Drama Awards, and the MAMA Awards.
The show revolves around Kirin Art High School and its six students. Bae Suzi portrays an arrogant student named Go Hye-mi, who wants to become an opera singer but is forced to join the school to pay off her father's debt.
Queen of Tears actor Kim Soo-hyun plays a village boy, while Ok Taec-yeon and Jang Woo Young, from boy band 2 PM, portray the students from wealthy and influential families. IU then joins them at the school and creates a six-member band.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
4) Part-Time Idol
Part-Time Idol is a fun drama, released in 2017. The drama depicts the process of a producer making pop idols. It ran for five episodes on SBS Network, starring Kim Min-kyo, Lee Su-hyun, Haha, Kim Hee-jung, and others.
Kim Min-kyo, who plays Jung Tae Kyung, is a music producer and trains many pop idols. He takes a break, goes on a spiritual journey, learns about himself, and eventually returns.
Later, he starts working with some trainees including Soo Ah, Lee Chan-hyuk, Hyun-bin, and others. These trainees face various setbacks - one fears singing on the stage, another cannot hit high notes, and one struggles with anger issues.
Tae-kyung helps them overcome their weakness, while the CEO of their entertainment agency throws obstacles at them, highlighting his malicious intentions.
Where to watch: Netflix
5) Doona!
Doona!, one of the most notable works of Bae Suzy, is a romantic Korean drama revolving around a retired pop idol's life. Crash Landing on You director, Lee Jeong-hyo, directed the drama, adapted from Naver's webtoon The Girl Downstairs (Lee Doo-na!) by Min Song-ah.
Bae Suzy plays the lead role, portraying a K-pop idol who retires at an early age. She lives alone in the neighborhood near her university, where she meets Lee Won-jun (Yang Se-jong). Won-jun is a shy, introverted boy with no extraordinary background. When Doo-na (Bae Suzy) tells him she wants to lead a normal life, he finds it strange.
This romantic K-drama brings twists and complications when Kim Jin-ju (Shin Ha-young) makes an entry, who is the teenage crush of Won-jun. With further development of the narrative, a prominent love triangle forms, which keeps the audience hooked.
Where to watch: Netflix
6) The Heavenly Idol
Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, The Heavenly Idol is a fantasy K-drama released in February 2023. The drama features Business Proposal actor Kim Min-kyu in the lead role, showcasing his acting skills in dual roles.
Min-kyu portrays two characters—Pontifex Rembrary, a priest, and Woo Yeon-woo, a pop idol. In the beginning, Rembrary battles the antagonist, who casts a spell, trapping the priest in Yeon-woo's body.
This situation occurs just moments before the idol's performance, and a confused Rembrary ruins it, while in Yeon-woo's body. The drama exhibits a smooth transition from Min-kyu, who then begins living an idol's life.
Where to watch: Viki
7) So I Married an Anti-Fan
So I Married an Anti Fan is a romcom, portraying a love story between an idol and a magazine reporter. The show was released in 2021 and consisted of 16 episodes. It revolves around an idol's fandom and a reality show.
Hoo-Joon (Choi Tae-Joon) portrays a world-famous pop idol. At a party, reporter Geun-young (Soo-young) captures his violent behavior and publishes the news. Due to this action, Hoo-joon is fired from his company.
This incident makes Geun-young an anti-fan. Later, the two of them are invited to a reality show where they have to live as a married couple. On-screen and off-screen moments capture their feelings, as they gradually become a couple.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Viki
These are some of the dramas based on Korean idols, highlighting the creative prowesses of the writers and directors, as the appearance of the idols makes the shows more realistic.
