10. SungkyunKwan Scandal

Broadcast: Aug-Nov 2010
Episodes: 20, Period/Romance/Comedy
Cast 
Park Yoochun as Lee Sun-joon (nicknamed Ga-rang = perfect husband)
Park Min Young as Kim Yoon-hee (nicknamed  Dae-mul = bigshot) - Kim Yoon-Sik
Song Joong-ki as Gu Yong-ha (nicknamed Yeo-rim = playboy )
Yoo Ah-in as Moon Jae-shin (nicknamed Geol-oh = crazy horse)
Seo Hyo-rim as Ha Hyo-eun
Kim Min-seo as Cho Sun
Jun Tae-soo as Ha In-soo

This was the first period costume Kdrama I had seen. I've mentioned this already, but I'm not a big fan of Korean period costumes. Anyway, the plot of this one sounded really good. An old plot done before: girl dresses as boy to get into prestigious school /organisation /band because women were not allowed, in this case due to the time period. I also wanted to watch this one because Park Yoochun and Yoo Ah In were in it.

We have a very intelligent and academic girl Kim Yoon Hee. The disadvantage was that she was born in the Joseon time where women were not seen as equal. They were not allowed to attend school or study. Their roles were to look pretty, cook, sew and get married in to a decent family. Thank goodness we live in modern time now :) Women had it hard in those days.

When Yoo Hee's father died, they lost everything and the family became very poor. It didn't help that her brother was seriously ill too. She had to make ends meet by doing odd jobs such writing exam review answers to exams for scholars. Reluctantly, she agrees to be a substitute test taker, i.e. take the exam on someone else's behalf for the entrance exam in to the prestigious Sungkyunkwan University (this is still prestigious and present in modern Seoul).

She was caught by the righteous and arrogant Lee Sun Joon. However, later on he acknowledges that she is indeed very intelligent and talented in academic studies. He encourages her to apply as a candidate in to the university. She applies unwillingly because she would have to live her dorm life as a guy under her brother's name Kim Yoon Shik. She enters because she needed the money that came with being a student at SKK Uni so she could send the money to her poor mother and sick brother.

Once, she enters the university, she befriends 3 guys: Lee Sun Joo, her room mate (nicknamed Garang meaning the perfect husband); Gu Yong Ha, nicknamed Yeorim meaning the firt/playboy; Moon Jae shin, nicknamed Geol Oh meaning crazy horse who is mysterious, moody, highly skilled in martial arts but really was a gentleman and very kind hearted. Together, you can say they were the Joseon F4 (refer to Boys Before Flowers review).

The whole drama revolves around their fun & adventurous time at uni, the conflicts between them and the student body university president Ha In Soo and his unintelligent entourage, and looking for missing scroll for the king.

The only one that could tell Kim Yoon Shik was a girl was Gu Yong Ha. However, he kept it quiet and played around with it by observing and hinting. Later Moon Jae Shin finds out also by accidentally seeing her bathing in a wooden bath tub. Both guys were attracted to her. Even Lee Sun Joon was attracted to her even though he thought she was a guy. He was going crazy because of this thinking he was gay. Sun Joon and Jae Shin fell for her the most. For Yoon Hee, she had fallen for Lee Sun but she had to keep her attraction hidden because it was very dangerous for anyone to find out that she was a female at the university. She could be arrested and even hanged for it. Three guys in love with one girl! This never happens in reality. Only in kdramas.

The ending is a happy one. I love happy endings :) Yoon Hee still had to live 2 double lives, one as the male professor at Sungkyunkwan University and one of Sun Joon's wife at home. 

The theme of this one is an old plot, similar to You're Beautiful and Coffee Prince (will write reviews for these dramas later). Park Min Young is so damn feminine looking. How can anyone be so dumb as not to know she is female? Only in the dramas.

The funniest scene for me was the sleeping arrangement scene in the dorm room with Yoon Hee, Sun Joon & Jae Shin. Both the guys knew she was a girl already without her knowing and didn't want her to lie next to the other. It was comical and a lot of fussing around.

All 3 guys were good looking, and each one had their own charisma and nice characteristics. Which one would I pick as a suitor? :) I would have to say Sun Joon's good looks, his righteousness, Jae Shin's dedication and martial arts, and Yong Ha's playful cheeky personality. So...a combination of the three!

OST: 찾았다 Found You - JYJ (Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun, Xiah Junsun);
         그대를 그리다 Drawing You – Yeon Jun.

Interesting fact: Jun Tae Soo is Ha Ji Won's (Secret Garden, The King 2 Hearts) little brother.

I loved this drama. The characters were played very well. I'm a big fan of Park Yoochun, Yoo Ah In & Park Min Young.

Rating: 4.5/5  ♥