kdrama - Sungkyunkwan Scandal

official website:
http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/scandal/

drama title:
성균관 스캔들 / Sungkyunkwan Scandal

main cast:
Micky Yoochun as Lee Sun Joon
Park Min Young as Kim Yoon Hee
Song Joong Ki as Goo Yong Ha
Yoo Ah In as Moon Jae Shin

synopsis:
gender bender in ancient korea. ordinary girl wears male attire in order to support family, using her brains to help scholars at the nearby all male academy (for public office - besides, girls are not allowed to go to school) cheat. she ends up enrolled in the same school, and falling for one of the boys. who also falls for her, initially thinking he is gay (a bit like coffee prince). along they way, they form a quartet (3 boys, 1 girl) and solve school situations as well as political ones.

my score: 8 out of 10.
some of the situations are really awesomely resolved. just when you think its a no-win situation, they come up with some brilliant solutions. also, while the girl is not very manly, they give the excuse that the 'guy' is girly looking and as a result, it works!

why you should watch it:
um, to see micky really act? lol. of course, there's tons of eye candy (for the girls) since the trio of guys are very good looking, and some of the other male students of the school too! but if you are a guy, all you want is to feast your eyes on that one rose. ok, i think most guys would be very attracted to the top courtesan who has a double role in this drama. but the real reason to watch it is cos the situations that come up are awesome and the resolution is even more awesome.

dorama - Ikemen Desu Ne

official website:
http://www.tbs.co.jp/Ikemen_Desune2011/

drama title:
Ikemen Desu Ne [美男ですね]
oso known as he's beautiful (japanese version)

main cast:
Takimoto Miori as Sakuraba Yoshio/Miko (role played by Park Shin Hye)
Tamamori Yuta as Katsuragi Ren (role played by Jang Guen Suk, who cameos in 1 episode!)
Fujigaya Taisuke as Fujishiro Shu (role played by Jung Yong Hwa)
Yaotome Hikaru as Hongo Yuki (role played by Lee Hongki)

synopsis:
same storyline in general as the korean original drama, but with some changes (after all 16 episodes reduced to 11) as well as some different interpretations of the situations.

my score: 5 out of 10.
very sad, cos what they cut out are all the singing and idol group issues, reducing it to mostly a romance drama. as a result, you dont feel there is an idol band, even though they followed the same concept as the korean version in using singers to act the drama (or actors who can sing).

why you should watch it:
just cos you watched the korean version and want to see what the japanese version is all about. personally, it's a major letdown. i'd rather re-watch the korean version!