Korean series' to watch out for

1.Hwang Jini
This story sheds new light on the life of Joseon-era dancer, musician and poet Hwangjini, who made her art blossom even when her love was put to test. The series also depicts the tragic life of a woman who faces hardships due to her social status. The drama drew the spotlight even before its premiere because Hwangjini is portrayed by top actress Ha Ji-won. Meanwhile, Wang Bit-na portrays another prominent dancer of the same era who is jealous of Hwangjini’s artistic talent. The role of nobleman Kim Eun-ho, Hwangjini’s first love who dies because their love turns out unrealistic due to differences in their social status, is played by Chang Keun-seok, while king’s relative Byuk Kye-soo, who becomes addicted to Hwangjini but fails to win her heart, is played by Yoo Tae-jun. Actor Lee Shi-hwan portrays Yi Saeng, an ambivalent character who is neither Hwangjini’s lover nor friend. Kim Young-ae plays the role of dancing girls’ trainer, while Kim Bo-yeon portrays her rival, Mae-hyang. The role of dancer Heon-keum, Hwangjini’s mother who gave birth to her as a result of her belief that love only comes once in a lifetime, is portrayed by Chun Mi-seon.

2. Cloud Staircase
The main character of the story is Jong-soo, who has no other choice but to give up going to medical school due to financial difficulties. He leaves for a remote island without telling anyone his whereabouts. On the island, he meets a doctor who teaches him medical techniques, and begins to treat patients without a license. One day Jong-soo rescues a dying woman by mere chance and is mistaken for a talented doctor. But things get messed up as he continues to meet with that woman, as one misunderstanding spawns another. He ends up falling in love with her, and gradually finds himself addicted to love. To protect his feelings, Jong-soo keeps lying about his educational background and tries to escape from his past. But when he reaches the pinnacle of his “success,” he realizes that everything he has done so far was in vain. His love turns into poison and ruins his life.

3. The man of the Vineyard
“The man of the vineyard” is a comic story about a girl from a big city who moves to a village to make money for starting her own business and meets there a guy working in a grape field. Dreaming of setting up her own apparel firm, Ji-hyun one day receives an alluring offer from her relative who promises her to leave a big grape field when he dies if she works in the field for a year. At first, Ji-hyun insists she will never in her life work on a farm, but eventually ends up becoming a farmer because of her ever complaining mother. Ji-hyun decides to try her best to achieve her dream of becoming an entrepreneur by inheriting the grape field, but being a farmer turns out a challenging task. To make things worse, the guy she meets in the village, Taek-ki, keeps driving her crazy. However, after many twists and turns Ji-hyun adapts to rustic life and opens up to the warmhearted residents of the village as well as ends up falling in love with Taek-ki.