Recently, a trend has spread on social media, particularly among Generation Z, highlighting the “feelings of 2016.” This trend involves incorporating filming techniques, music, and styles popular ten years ago into content to recreate the sensibilities of that era. Amidst this nostalgic “Back to 2016” trend, we take a look at ten dramas that rocked South Korea back in the year.
- 1. Signal (tvN, 2016.01.22 ~ 2016.03.12)
- 2. Descendants of the Sun (KBS2, 2016.02.24 ~ 2016.04.14)
- 3. Another Miss Oh (tvN, 2016.05.02 ~ 2016.06.28)
- 4. W (MBC, 2016.07.20 ~ 2016.09.14)
- 5. Love in the Moonlight (KBS2, 2016.08.22 ~ 2016.10.18)
- 6. Don’t Dare to Dream (SBS, 2016.08.24 ~ 2016.11.10)
- 7. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (SBS, 2016.08.29 ~ 2016.11.01)
- 8. Dr. Romantic (SBS, 2016.11.07 ~2017.01.16)
- 9. The Legend of the Blue Sea (SBS, 2016.11.16~2017.01.25)
- 10. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (tvN, 2016.12.02 ~ 2017.01.21)
2016 was a year when various dramas across genres, romance, historical dramas, and fantasy were successful, leading to the “drama heyday.” High-quality scripts, intense characters, and actors’ life performances were combined to create works that are still talked about.
1. Signal (tvN, 2016.01.22 ~ 2016.03.12)
The drama is a crime investigation with a unique setting in which the past and present detectives are connected through a radio device to solve unsolved cases. He persistently delved into the long-term unsolved case and depicted the consideration of social justice. The cast members were Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, and Cho Jin-woong.
“Signal” was scheduled to air its sequel “The Second Signal” in 2026, a decade after many fans waited for it. However, its release is currently uncertain due to actor Cho Jin-woong’s controversy over the past and his announcement of retirement.
2. Descendants of the Sun (KBS2, 2016.02.24 ~ 2016.04.14)
It is a romance blockbuster about a special forces captain and a chest surgeon in the background of a disaster. It is about soldier Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki) and doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) develop trust and love for each other even in extreme situations. Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won appeared in the movie.
The drama was overwhelmingly popular both at home and abroad. It received 38.8 percent of viewership in Korea, and it attracted attention from overseas as well as many copyright contracts.
In particular, the drama was the first for director Lee Eung-bok and writer Kim Eun-sook to work together. The two later joined hands with Guardian: The Lonely and Great God and Mr. Sunshine. With its emotional directing skills and interesting taste for words, Descendants of the Sun marked a milestone in the drama world, creating many famous lines and scenes.
3. Another Miss Oh (tvN, 2016.05.02 ~ 2016.06.28)
It is a reality-based romantic comedy in which two women of the same name and a man are intertwined. Oh Hae-young (Seo Hyun-jin), who got divorced ahead of her marriage, is involved with Park Do-kyung (Eric Mun), looking back on her life and growing up.
Eric played Park Do-kyung, who lives with scars, and Seo Hyun-jin played Oh Hae-young, who is ordinary but honest. Jeon starred as another Oh Hae-young, showing contrasting charms. She received a lot of sympathy as a “real-life drama” by portraying everyday emotions realistically.
Above all, it is not an exaggeration to say that this drama marked the turning point of actor Seo Hyun-jin’s acting life. Seo Hyun-jin was recognised for her acting skills by winning the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards for the drama’s Best Female Award in the TV category, and has since established herself as a representative actor of romance and melodrama.
4. W (MBC, 2016.07.20 ~ 2016.09.14)
It is a fantasy romance that moves between the real world and the webtoon world. It is a story about Kang Cheol (Lee Jong-suk), the main character in the webtoon, and Oh Yeon-ju (Han Hyo-joo), the doctor of reality, becoming intertwined like fate. Lee Jong-suk, Han Hyo-joo, Kim Eui-sung and Lee Tae-hwan appeared.
The drama attracted viewers’ attention with its novel setting that crosses the boundaries of webtoons and reality. It attracts curiosity as the story unfolds unpredictable and steel chasing the truth in order to change his fate while being framed for murder.
5. Love in the Moonlight (KBS2, 2016.08.22 ~ 2016.10.18)
It is a historical drama of youth that depicts the love and growth of a male poet Hong Ra-on (Kim You-jung) and Crown Prince Lee Young (Park Bo-gum) against the backdrop of the Joseon Dynasty. Park Bo-gum, Kim You-jung, Jinyoung, and Chae Soo-bin appeared.
The drama recorded a high viewer rating of 23.3 percent, signaling a boom in KBS’s youth romance historical drama. At the center were Park Bo-gum and Kim You-jung. In the play, Park Bo-gum played the prince with warmth and charisma, and Kim You-jung played the brave and bold Hong Ra-on, expressing a fresh and mournful romance.
6. Don’t Dare to Dream (SBS, 2016.08.24 ~ 2016.11.10)
It is a romantic comedy about a love triangle involving journalist Lee Hwa-shin, weatherman Pyo Na-ri and the second generation of conglomerate Go Jung-won. It is an honest and pleasant way to express jealousy, pride and inferiority in front of love. Gong Hyo-jin, Jo Jung-suk, Ko Kyung-pyo, Lee Mi-suk, Lee Sung-jae and Park Ji-young appeared.
Jo Jung-suk plays the feisty but humane Lee Hwa-shin, and Gong Hyo-jin plays Pyo Na-ri, who has positive energy. Ko Kyung-pyo formed another triangle axis with the fixed circle of gentle charm. In addition, Lee Hwa-shin is a breast cancer patient, and this drama helped spread the perception that men also develop breast cancer.
7. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (SBS, 2016.08.29 ~ 2016.11.01)
It is a fantasy historical drama in which modern woman Hae-soo (IU) moves to the Goryeo Dynasty and has relationships with various princes and suffers love and tragedy. Lee Joon-gi, IU, Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Baekhyun, Kim Ji-soo, Yoon Sun-woo, Kim San-ho and Kim Sung-kyun attracted attention at the time.
In particular, the drama drew attention with the sad and reckless romance of princes including Lee Jun-ki and Kang Ha-neul, who are centered on IU. IU played the innocent yet strong Hae-soo, while Lee Jun-ki played the hurtful Prince IV. Kang Ha-neul played the role of Wang Wook, the 8th prince.
8. Dr. Romantic (SBS, 2016.11.07 ~2017.01.16)
The start of “Dr. Romantic,” a representative SBS season-based drama that aired until Season 3 in 2023, was also in 2016. The hospital story, which is played by Kim Sa-bu (Han Suk-kyu), a “crazy genius doctor,” and passionate young doctors Kang Dong-joo (Yoo Yeon-seok) and Yoon Seo-jung (Seo Hyun-jin), was a box office hit with 27.6 percent of viewers.
Han Suk-kyu performed an in-depth performance as Kim Sa-bu, and Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin each appeared as young doctors with wounds, adding to the resonance. The members of Doldam Hospital growing up through patients in each episode led to empathy by asking questions about good medical personnel beyond simple medical dramas, and even good professionals and good people.
9. The Legend of the Blue Sea (SBS, 2016.11.16~2017.01.25)
It is a fantasy romance about the love between a mermaid and a man. The Joseon Dynasty’s relationship continues into the modern era, and the stories of past and present life intersect to arouse interest. The drama, which attracted attention even before its airing with its splendid cast starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho, achieved a successful 21 percent viewership.
Lee Min-ho played Heo Jun-jae, a genius con artist, and Jun Ji-hyun played Shim Chung, a mermaid who doesn’t know the world. The fairytale-like setting, comedy, and melodrama are combined to add to the richness of the play. In addition, Park Ji-eun, who caused the syndrome of “My Love from the Star,” joined hands with Jun Ji-hyun once again, raising synergy at the box office.
10. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (tvN, 2016.12.02 ~ 2017.01.21)
The splendid finale of 2016 had ‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’. The drama is a fantasy romance about an immortal goblin, a human bride, and the Grim Reaper. It centers on a fateful meeting between Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) and high school student Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), who have to find a bride to end the curse. Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae, and Lee El.
Director Lee Eung-bok and writer Kim Eun-sook met again for the second time after Descendants of the Sun, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, which has emerged as the top talk of 2016 with a combination of sensual directing, attractive OST, and brilliant lines. With a 20.5 percent rating, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God ranked high on various popularity indicators throughout the show, and background music also proved its popularity by occupying music charts for a long time. Ten years later, it is still being talked about as a representative drama of winter.
