Soompi & Viki Staff Talk: What Is Your Favorite K-Drama From 2016?

For K-drama fans, 2016 was an absolutely golden year with so many dramas that are still talked about to this day! As a decade has passed now, we took this chance to look back on some of our favorite K-dramas from 2016 for this edition of Soompi & Viki Staff Talk.

Here are some of our staff’s responses to this very difficult question:

Somni: “Descendants of the Sun”

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A true icon of 2016, “Descendants of the Sun” remains one of the most unforgettable K-drama experiences that I’ve had so far. Starring Song Joong Ki as the soldier Yoo Si Jin and Song Hye Kyo as doctor Kang Mo Yeon, the drama perfectly blends romance, action, and emotional storytelling set against high-stakes humanitarian missions. Equally captivating is the chemistry between the sub couple Seo Dae Young (Jin Goo) and First Lieutenant Yoon Myung Joo (Kim Ji Won), whose intense, slow-burn romance adds another layer of depth. Rewatching the series now, it still delivers the same thrill, butterflies, and tears even a decade later!

Watch “Descendants of the Sun”:

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Deanne: “Another Miss Oh”

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For those of us who were K-drama fans in 2016, “Another Miss Oh” was a drama we didn’t just watch—we sat with it, replayed scenes over and over again, and let it ruin our sleep schedules in the best way! Oh Hae Young (Seo Hyun Jin) isn’t the typical polished character we were used to at the time, which made her all the more memorable—expressive, flawed, and refreshingly real. Paired with Park Do Kyung (Eric), whose guarded nature gradually softens throughout the series, this drama gives us a love story that feels raw rather than idealized. For anyone craving a 2016 throwback, I definitely recommend “Another Miss Oh.” It’s a perfect rom-com that blends humor with pure emotion, capturing messy yet truthful love that lingers with you long after the final episode!

Watch “Another Miss Oh”:

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Winnie: “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”

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It’s hard to believe that “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” is already celebrating its 10th anniversary! A decade later, the drama still feels just as fresh, heartfelt, and comforting as ever. What truly makes it unforgettable is the sparkling chemistry between Kim Bok Joo and Jung Joon Hyung, brought to life so effortlessly by Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk. Their playful bickering, heart-fluttering confessions, and soft, supportive moments capture the sweetness of first love in the most natural and adorable way, and their romance remains one of K-drama’s cutest love stories. So…”Do you like Messi?”

Watch “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”:

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Julia: “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo”

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As a 2016 throwback, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” is a drama with a very loyal fandom that has only grown stronger over time. IU as Hae Soo appears bright and lively at first, but as the story progresses, the tone turns devastatingly sad. The character goes through intense character development as she endures repeated loss, which gives the drama its lasting emotional weight. Add to that a stacked lineup of actors playing Goryeo princes—each with distinct personalities and tragic arcs—and it’s easy to see why everyone who watches this drama gets so attached. This drama has become one of my lifelong favorites as it’s the kind of series that lingers deeply in your heart forever!

Watch “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo”:

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Jinny: “Dear Fair Lady Kong Shim”

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“Dear Fair Lady Kong Shim” is a drama I loved in 2016 and still do ten years later! What I love about the series is the rare, warm charm that feels both chaotic and comforting at the same time. From the very first episode, the way Ahn Dan Tae (Namkoong Min) crashes into the life of Kong Shim (Bang Minah)—literally kicking the flowerpot she drops and becoming her rooftop tenant—sets up a relationship that feels organic and messy. The drama recently gained spotlight again as Bang Minah got married to On Ju Wan, who played Seok Joon Soo, late last year. An on-screen connection turned into a real-life love story gives K-drama fans even more reason to revisit the series!

Watch “Dear Fair Lady Kong Shim”:

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Sala: “Dr. Romantic”

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An oldie but a goldie, ”Dr. Romantic” is so iconic that they needed to bring the cast and story back not once but twice! With three seasons of binge-worthy goodness, “Dr. Romantic” is a classic must-watch K-drama that first aired in 2016, following the stories of the renowned Dr. Kim (Han Suk Kyu) along with realistic doctors working at a rundown hospital in the countryside. I love the heartwarming stories of doctors who sincerely care for their patients and also the phenomenal chemistry and teamwork between the hospital staff, helmed by Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin in Season 1. The series delivers everything from emotional moments to laughter—so don’t miss out and start by watching the first season, the story that started it all.

Watch “Dr. Romantic”:

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Yeon: “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God”

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We can’t talk about 2016 K-dramas without mentioning “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God”! This fantasy romance tells the emotional story of the immortal Goblin Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) and Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun), the only bride destined to end his eternal life. It’s a tear-jerking romance that is impossible not to get invested in, but there are also plenty of comedic moments that bring smiles and laughter. The stunning cinematography and beloved OST also contribute to the drama’s lasting power that brings me back to watching it every year!

Watch “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God”:

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Cha Hak Yeon And Kim Hyang Gi Talk About Their Drama “Absolute Value Of Romance,” Similarities To Their Characters, And More

The two leads of “Absolute Value of Romance” recently participated in a photo shoot with the fashion magazine Cosmopolitan Korea!

“Absolute Value of Romance” is a drama about high school student Yeo Ui Ju (Kim Hyang Gi), who writes romance novels featuring handsome teachers as the main characters. She encounters the teachers—Ga Woo Su (Cha Hak Yeon), Noh Da Ju (Kim Jae Hyun), Jung Gi Jeon (Sohn Jeong Hyuck), Yoon Dong Ju (Kim Dong Gyu)—in real life in unexpected moments and becomes the central figure in a turbulent school life.

Talking about the drama, Cha Hak Yeon said, “It’s a series where the characters’ youth and growth are clearly portrayed. Watching Woo Su grow because of Eui Ju was something I could genuinely relate to, and when filming the final class scene, I actually felt very emotional.”

Kim Hyang Gi shared, “It’s a project that delivers its message in a simple and natural way. So when you watch it, you’ll be able to relate to it and find it funny.”

On how similar they are to their characters, Cha Hak Yeon said, “When I first met Woo Su, I thought we had nothing in common. His personality and way of speaking are very cold. But if there is one similarity, it’s that we both have strong ‘T’ (“Thinking” personality in MBTI) tendencies. Other than that, we’re quite different, so getting to know Woo Su was actually interesting.”

Kim Hyang Gi added, “Our similarity is having a passionate love for something and the desire to achieve a dream. Just like Eui Ju works toward her dream of becoming a writer, I was deeply immersed in acting during my school years, and that period lasted quite a long time. I tried to draw from that experience.”

They also talked about their most memorable scenes. Kim Hyang Gi said, “There’s a scene early on where the teachers are introduced for the first time. When news spreads that young, handsome male teachers have been assigned to the school, the students all rush into the staff room—that scene really captures the overall atmosphere of our series, so it left a strong impression on me.”

Cha Hak Yeon shared, “In the drama, Woo Su is a completely guarded and perfectionist teacher. He builds his own walls and doesn’t let anyone inside. But there’s a scene where this almost perfect character completely breaks down. He faints over something as trivial as pigeon droppings. At the time, I was lying there with my eyes closed, and Hyang Gi’s acting was so lively and expressive. Eventually, I reached the point where just hearing her breathing would make me burst out laughing. I think we had to reshoot that scene more than 10 times.”

“Absolute Value of Romance” airs every Friday at 8 p.m. KST on Coupang Play. Cha Hak Yeon and Kim Hyang Gi’s full pictorial and interview can be found in the May issue of Cosmopolitan Korea.

In the meantime, watch Kim Hyang Gi in “Moment of Eighteen” on Viki:

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And watch Cha Hak Yeon in “Familiar Wife” below!

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Kim Go Eun And Kim Jae Won Talk About Their Experience Working Together, What “Yumi’s Cells 3” Means To Them, And More

“Yumi’s Cells 3” stars Kim Go Eun and Kim Jae Won have teamed up with Harper’s BAZAAR Korea for a pictorial and interview!

The two actors showcased natural and lovely chemistry in this photo shoot that seems to capture the fluttering excitement of a spring day.

In the accompanying interview, when asked about his feelings on working with Kim Go Eun for the first time, Kim Jae Won said, “From our first meeting, Kim Go Eun told me it was okay to speak comfortably to her, so once I started using informal speech, we were able to become close quickly. Once we were on set, she created an atmosphere where she would accept everything even if I had 10 things to say, and I was very grateful for that. It was all thanks to her consideration. She never jumped to conclusions and always asked for my opinion. I learned so much from her regarding her attitude toward acting.”

Kim Go Eun And Kim Jae Won Talk About Their Experience Working Together, What “Yumi’s Cells 3” Means To Them, And More插图

Kim Go Eun And Kim Jae Won Talk About Their Experience Working Together, What “Yumi’s Cells 3” Means To Them, And More插图1

Regarding her experience working with Kim Jae Won, Kim Go Eun replied, “It was my first time meeting a much younger junior as my acting partner. I had inner concerns, wondering, ‘If I joke around like this, will he take it seriously?’ or ‘If I say this, will it come across as a joke?’ When I’m with seniors, I feel much more like a playful little sister, so I even wondered if I should approach him more like a comfortable friend instead. Since I have worked with the director for a long time, both the director and I wanted to make sure Jae Won felt less like a stranger and could settle into the set more easily.”

Kim Go Eun And Kim Jae Won Talk About Their Experience Working Together, What “Yumi’s Cells 3” Means To Them, And More插图2

When asked about his experience playing the role of Shin Soon Rok, Yumi’s final romantic interest, he replied, “At first, it felt like I was in a situation where a precious daughter, raised with abundant love in a large family, brings her boyfriend home to introduce him to everyone. It was as if I were that very boyfriend, with the entire family watching my every move. It was an honor to be part of the final journey of a project that has received so much love. Since Soon Rok is imprinted in people’s minds as a ‘unicorn-like’ younger man, I did feel some pressure, but it was definitely a pleasant kind of pressure.”

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Regarding her experience playing the role of Yumi over the course of three seasons, Kim Go Eun expressed her special affection for the project, saying, “Yumi was the beginning of my 30s. It felt like the opening of a second chapter in my life. I loved the very fact that I existed within a charming drama where I could communicate with the cells, and because it was a project with such delicate elements of empathy, I often found myself thinking, ‘This is what our lives are like.’ I liked that it was a drama where we could share thoughts about the emotions one feels while dating—like, ‘Right, they shouldn’t do that. That’s so annoying.’”

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She continued, “This third season features thoughts that are much closer to the daily life of a woman in her mid-to-late 30s. It contains subtleties that are different from one’s early-to-mid 30s. As I grew older alongside Yumi, it became an even more enjoyable experience to portray the character. It is rare in Korea to carry a single drama through multiple seasons, so it was a very special experience, and I feel like I can now bring the grand finale to a close.”

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Kim Go Eun and Kim Jae Won’s full pictorial and interview can be found in the May issue of Harper’s BAZAAR Korea.

Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, “Yumi’s Cells” tells the story of an ordinary office worker named Yumi (Kim Go Eun)—from the point of view of the many brain cells in her head controlling her every thought, feeling, and action. In Season 3, Kim Jae Won plays Yumi’s new love interest Soon Rok, an editorial PD at Julie Publishing. Episode 3 and 4 of “Yumi’s Cells 3” will be unveiled on April 20.

Catch up on the first two episodes of the drama on Viki below:

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Kim Go Eun And Kim Jae Won Talk About Their Experience Working Together, What “Yumi’s Cells 3” Means To Them, And More插图6

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WayV’s “Love Talk” Becomes Their 1st MV To Hit 100 Million Views

WayV has just hit the 100 million mark for the first time on YouTube!

On April 15 at around 3:45 a.m. KST, WayV’s music video for their hit English-language single “Love Talk” surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, making it the group’s first music video ever to reach the milestone.

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WayV first released the music video for “Love Talk” on November 5, 2019 at 6 p.m. KST, meaning that it took approximately six years, five months, and nine days to hit the 100 million mark.

Congratulations to WayV!

Celebrate by watching the music video for “Love Talk” again below:

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