8 K-Dramas From ‘Start-Up’ Writer Park Hye-run, the Mother of Heartbreaking Second Leads
Dec 1, 2020 • Bianca Katipunan and Cristina Morales
If you’ve watched I Can Hear Your Voice, Dream High, and While You Were Sleeping you might’ve noticed some kind of pattern in these dramas: they all made us feel terrible for the second leads. What if we told you that they were all penned by the same writer?
Park Hye-run is notorious for writing second lead characters that you can’t help rooting for. Looking for proof? Check out these other dramas that she also co-created:
Stranger Than Paradise (2006)
Via SBS
An adopted lawyer from Canada (Lee Sung-jae) returns to Korea after receiving news that his biological family has been found. He later meets a Korean singer who has dreams of escaping abroad (Kim Min-Jung), and falls for her. However, he’s not the only one who’s interested in her — her manager (Eom Tae-Woong), also loves her. And to make things more complicated, the two rivals find out that they’re long-lost brothers. Oh, the drama!
Watch this drama here.
Get Karl! Oh Soo-jung (2007)
Via SBS
Oh Soo-jung (Uhm Jung-hwa) was an “it girl” in high school, but after seeing her parents’ marriage fall apart, she became cynical and demanding when it came to choosing a man. She decides to date and marry Go Man-soo (Oh Ji-ho), a law student at a prestigious school, even though she’s not attracted to him (he’s overweight and nerdy). But when she finds out that he failed his bar exam, she leaves him at the altar.
If that sounds like horrible behavior, you’d be glad to know that Soo-jung gets her karma. Years later, Soo-jung finds herself in her 30s, working at a jewelry store and no longer in demand. Meanwhile, Man-soo has transformed into a rich and hunky pro-golfer Karl Go. He hires Jung Woo-tak (Kang Sung-jin) to pose as a wealthy bachelor and trick Soo jung into falling in love with him, only to leave her at the altar like she did with Man-soo. But Man-soo’s plans go awry when he catches feelings for Soo-jung once again…
Dream High (2011)
Via KBS2/Netflix
Start-Up isn’t the first time that Bae Suzy worked with writer Park Hye-run. She also starred in Dream High as Ko Hye-Mi, the most popular girl in Kirin High School of Art. There, she is pursued by Song Sam-Dong (Kim Soo-Hyun), a country bumpkin who follows Hye-Mi to Kirin High and learns he is a musical prodigy. But he’s not the only one who’s fallen for Hye-Mi. Gifted dancer and troubled student Jin-Gook (TaecYeon) is also interested in her. Who will she choose?
Watch this drama here.
I Can Hear Your Voice ( 2013)
Via SBS/Netflix
After witnessing his father’s murder, Park Soo-ha (Lee Jong-suk) gained mind-reading abilities. His father’s death had been dismissed as a car accident until high school girl Hye-sung (Lee Bo-young) gave a decisive testimony in spite of the killer’s threats. For 10 years, Soo-ha searched for the girl, and when they meet again, she has grown into a tough and jaded public defender. The two, along with cop-turned-lawyer Gwan woo (Yoon Sang-hyun) work together to solve cases, serve justice, and perhaps fall in love along the way.
Watch this drama here.
Pinocchio (2014)
Via SBS/Netflix
After a misleading news report destroyed his family, Ki Ha-Myeong (Lee Jong-suk) begins a new life as Dal-po, hiding behind a facade. He develops feelings for Choi In-ha (Park Shin-hye), but when he finds out that her mother is the reporter who had maligned his father, he steps back from their budding friendship. Eventually, Ha-Myeong decides to follow In-Ha’s footsteps and become a reporter to clear his family’s name. They are joined by Seo Beom-jo (Kim Young-kwang), a former fashion magazine editor who also becomes interested in In-ha.
Watch this drama here.
Page Turner (2016)
Via Source
Yoon Yoo-Seul (Kim So-Hyun) is a talented pianist who loses her vision in an accident. With the help of her friend Cha-Sik (Ji Soo) and former rival Seo Jin-mok (Shin Jae-ha), she struggles to get her life back on track. This three-episode series is short, sweet, and satisfying.
Watch this drama here.
While You Were Sleeping (2017)
Via SBS
Another drama starring Bae Suzy, While You Were Sleeping is about three people who have the ability to see the future: field reporter Nam Hong-joo (Bae), rookie prosecuter Jung Jae-chan (Lee Jong-suk), and police officer Han Woo-tak (Jung Hae-in). Together, they do everything they can to stop their ominous dreams from turning into reality. And of course, some romantic feelings develop and things get a little messy.
Watch this drama here.
Start-Up (2020)
Via tVn
Here’s the K-drama that everyone’s talking about right now. About up-and-coming entrepreneurs who are determined to make a mark in the tech industry, Start-Up centers on Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy), who is set on becoming a CEO of a successful company. Some love letters from her childhood lead her to Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk), a genius who heads a struggling start-up. However, Nam Do-san isn’t the actual author of these love letters; the real writer is Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon Ho), a venture capitalist with a tough exterior but a heart of gold. Who will she choose?
Watch this drama here.
Which of these Park Hye-run dramas will you watch first? Tell us below!
