Korean stars crossover to Chinese ent

Rather than bore you with a spiel on hallyu; here is a compilation of Koreans in Chinese films proving that the Korean wave is here to stay.

The trend reminds me of Hollywood stars shooting Japanese commercials and I bet they're paid handsomely too. Due to language barriers, actors usually run lines in Korean that is then dubbed in Chinese. 

#1 Lee Min Ho in Bounty Hunters 一諾千金 (premieres Jul 1, 2016). After City Hunter comes Bounty Hunter, a Chinese action flick led by Lee Min Ho, Wallace Chung and Tiffany Tang Yan (Princess Weiyoung). Both the romance and the bromance look promising in this one.

#2. Im Yoona from SNSD Girls Generation in God of War Zhao Yun 武神赵子龙 (2016). She is the sword wielding heroine to Zhao Yun played by Lin Gengxin.

#3 Kim Jeong Hoon from Princess Hours is also in God of War Zhao Yun. So Yoona can have a friend or two because I swear there is one other Korean actress also in the series.

#4 Park Min Young in Braveness of the Ming 锦衣夜行 (2016). Always stunning even in ancient garb.

#5 Park Chan Yeol from EXO in So I Married the Anti-Fan 所以，我和黑粉结婚了 (premieres Jun 30, 2016). A movie based on a Korean manhwa about a top star and his biggest anti-fan.

#6 SNSD Girls Generation Seohyun in So I Married the Anti-Fan as the hot and successful other woman that is bound to lose against Plain Jane.

#7 Lee Min Ho in One Line Romance 一线钟情 (2014). A cross-cultural drama where Lee Min Ho plays a Korean musical producer who meets an ordinary Chinese girl. Brought to us by LINE at 3 episodes and 16 minutes each, it's like a very long advertisement for the messaging app.

#8 Lee Jong Suk in Jade Lovers 翡翠恋人 (upcoming). From the producers of Diamond Lovers, comes Jade Lovers following a similar Cinderella story set in the 1930s. Lee Jong Suk stars opposite Zheng Shuang (Chronicle of Life).

#9 Rain in Diamond Lovers 克拉恋人 (2015). Rain Jung Ji Hoon's first foray into c-drama is in the form of a highly-accomplished executive who meets the ugly duckling played by Tiffany Tang Yan (Princess Weiyoung), that is until she gets a makeover. Rain lends his voice for the opening song, in Chinese!

He also ventured into his first c-movie For Love or Money (2014) where he stars opposite Crystal Liu Yi Fei.

#10 Kim Tae Hee in Famous Calligrapher Wang Xi Zhi 书圣王羲之 (upcoming). It is a 40-episode historical drama following the life of Wang Xi Zhi. Sadly, this is barely on anyone's radar, which is weird since it is Kim Tae Hee, begging the question as to why she took on such a nondescript project in the first place.

#11 Former Super Junior member Kim Ki Bum in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils 天龙八部 (2013) and Lucky Tianbao 吉祥天宝 (2016). Netizens are mixed about casting a foreigner into such an iconic role from one of the most popularized wuxia nonetheless. I actually liked him in this but it's a shame the series wasn't nearly as good. And then, he goes on to star opposite Zhao Li Ying, nice move.

#12 Choi Si Won from Super Junior in Dragon Blade 天将雄师 (2015). You won't often hear the names Jackie Chan, Adrien Brody, John Cusack and Choi Si Won together in a movie and a historical film at that. 

Choi Si Won is also in a number of other c-dramas and movies so it's no surprise that his popularity is skyrocketing in China.

#13 Nichkhun from 2PM in One And A Half Summer 一又二分之一的夏天 (2014). Why did I know that the title would have the word summer in it? Nichkhun has always had such a bright and sunny personality it kind of fits though.

#14 Lee Da Hae in Love Actually 爱的蜜方 (2012). With Joe Cheng (Chinese Paladin 5) and Li Yi Feng (Legend of Chusen) as the two leading men, who needs the plot.

#15 Jang Nara in My Bratty Princess 刁蛮公主 (2005). Did every k-actress back in the day partner up with Alec Su. First Chae Rim, then Jang Nara? Props to Jang Nara for her performance in My Bratty Princess, a quirky drama beloved by many to this day. She sang the opening too, in Chinese!

#16 Chae Rim in Warriors of the Yang Clan 杨门虎将 (2004). One of the first k-actresses to venture into the land of c-dramas.

#17 Cha In Pyo in one of the earlier c-drama adaptations of The Four 四大名捕会京师 (2004).

Given that You From Another Star and Descendants of the Sun has done wonders for Kim Soo Hyun and Song Joong Ki, catapulting them to top star status worldwide, I wonder if and when they will make the leap to c-ent. 

If you know any more, comment below and I'll add it whenever I can. For a couple more k-celeb crossovers that include Park Shin Hye, Choi Si Won and Goo Hye Sun, click here.

Asian Drama Remakes from Manga

Boys Over Flowers is by far the most successful crossover from Manga to TV earning a separate posting all to itself. Yet, there are so many other Asian drama remakes based on manga that have garnered off-the-chart ratings as well.

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Devil Beside You written by Takanashi Mitsuba 
Taiwan 2005 ( 惡魔在身邊)

At a time when Taiwanese dramas created based on manga were making waves, Devil Beside You was yet another peak in the Taiwanese drama mania. It's a typical setup about a good girl who falls in love with the bad boy yet done in such a way that it captured the hearts of many and many fans madly cheered for Mike He and Rainie Yang's sizzling on-screen chemistry.

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Tomorrow written by Asunaro Hakusho
Taiwan (2002) 愛情白皮書

Tomorrow is adapted from manga yet I feel that it stands out for not being the typical boy meets girl story. Rather it has a subtle charm focusing more on each character's struggles and how they come together throughout the years.

It's been a while since I saw this yet I still remember the OST (Qi Cheng by Fan Wei Qi), such a beautiful song to match a beautiful drama. Tomorrow is Another Day. And need I say, Eddie Peng is in it.

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Itazura Na Kiss written by Tada Kaoru

About a simple girl who is lacking in many ways but has a lot of heart. After harboring a crush on the smartest and cutest boy in class, she musters the courage to confess her feelings in front of the whole school but was crushed when he didn't even bother to acknowledge her presence. Dejected, she is shocked when her family ends up having to move in with his family.

It Started With a Kiss (2005) Taiwan
They Kiss Again Pt 2 (2007) Taiwan 

Playful Kiss (2010) Korea

Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo (2013) Japan

It's been a while since I last saw this and now that I look back, I realize that objectively speaking, I really ought to dislike stories like these where the relationship is very much one-sided. The guy is smart and aloof while the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve keeps putting herself out there and getting hurt again, and again. And of course, she has a much nicer 2nd lead who constantly looks out for her but trust me, that guy never gets the girl.

Despite everything I just said, I fell for it head over heels. I was such a fan of the Taiwanese version of It Started With a Kiss (ISWAK). It can be over the top and corny in some ways but as a whole, the cast was endearing, the main leads had great chemistry and the OST amazing.

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Hana Kimi written by Hisaya Nakajo

About a girl who idolizes a star athlete from an all boy's school. Hence she decides to transfer to his school by pretending to be a boy.

Hana Kimi (2006) Taiwan

To the Beautiful You (2012) Korea

Thought it was quite interesting how girly-girl Sulli Choi was cast to play this role in Korea, awhile Ella Chen, known for her tomboyish looks got the part in the Taiwan. Either way, I think both women are capable of pulling of boyish and sultry in their own right.

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City Hunter (2011) Korea

Diverging from the manga, City Hunter is an action revenge Korean drama starring Lee Min Ho. Unfortunately for fans, it is also through this drama where he meets his current girlfriend Park Min Young.

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Tomorrow Cantabile (2014) Korea

A Korean drama about two extremely gifted musicians - a violinist and a pianist - who are polar opposites in every way.

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When Love Walked In (2012) China 

Not based on a manga but the plot sure sounds very familiar. Victoria Song portrays Shen Ya Yin, the classic Cinderella who works multiple jobs to repay her foster family. There's even a bitter stepmother, jealous stepsister and an irresponsible stepbrother to boot.

However, a twist of fate uncovers the truth that Shen Ya Yin is actually an heiress to the mass fortunes that her real grandfather owns.

Romantic Princess (2007) Taiwan

Based on the manga Four Steps to Romance, this is another Cinderella story about a long-lost heiress found by her grandfather after many years of searching. She is swept into the lifestyle of the rich and famous and along with that comes the many good looking suitors to choose from.

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Absolute Boyfriend (2012)

As I was compiling this list, just noticed that there seems to be a growing trend of dramas not only based on Japanese manga but also having actors / actresses of different nationalities.

A Taiwanese drama starring Jiro Wang and Korean actress Koo Hye Sun as the girl who is unlucky in love and inadvertently purchases an android created for the sole purpose of being the absolute boyfriend. What kind of android would it be without a six pack?

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Skip Beat (2012)

Taiwanese actress Ivy Chen and her two leading men Choi Si Won and Lee Dong Hae from Super Junior. It's an extremely good-looking cast and that's about it.

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Hayate Combat Butler (2011) Taiwan

George Hu plays the combat butler while Korean actress Park Shin Hye is the heiress that he swears to protect.

See here for a complete list of Korean dramas and more Chinese-Korean collaborations.

Boys Over Flowers, Meteor Garden & Hana Yori Dango

Are there still any Meteor Garden (流星花園) fans out there? Taiwanese drama Meteor Garden was the first of its kind, creating waves across Asia. Originally a remake based on Japanese Manga Hana Yori Dango (花より男子), the style and feel of this drama was a fresh take that easily set itself apart.

2009 Boys Over Flowers (Korea)

2005 Hana Yori Dango (Japan)

2001 Meteor Garden (Taiwan)

Meteor Garden and its subsequent adaptations are about a girl who is struggling to make ends meet. Through a chance encounter, she ends up attending a prestigious high school where a group of students from the richest and most powerful families of the country rule the school.

It's a typical story about a mean guy who eventually falls for the girl that he torments yet it is the characters and their good looks that make the story so appealing such that so many swoon over F4.

If I had to nitpick, well I think men should always be gentlemanly and frankly the Flower 4 and their lackeys are such bullies.

Also worth mentioning are the stories they setup for the supporting characters and the actors who portray them.

So many memorable scenes, if you want to reminisce: See here for a complete list of Top Korean Dramas and Korean Historical Dramas.

I was browsing through some websites until I came across Bull Fighting (Dou Niu Yao Bu Yao), a Taiwanese drama starring Mike He and Hebe Tian in 2008. It was such a good drama back then but I remember feeling a sense of deja vu that reminded me of Meteor Garden.

The story begins with Yi Sheng Xue, a high school girl, who is an avid basketball fan. She meets high school basketball star Shen Ruo He whose group of friends are good-looking, sporty, adept at fighting and of course well-to-do. The started out at odds with each other but eventually fall in love. It's something I'd seen before but maybe because I have seen it in the past and it worked, which is why I ended up liking it just the same.
If I were to recommend other similar dramas, you can also try other Asian dramas remade from manga.