Boys Over Flowers

Geum Jan-di is an ordinary, tough-minded high school girl who ends up at an elite private school where the wealthiest students hold the rules. When she publicly pushes back against the F4, a notorious quartet led by arrogant heir Gu Jun-pyo, she draws their attention and sparks an uneasy rivalry with the group's leader. As Jan-di keeps her feet on the ground, romantic tension grows around her, friendships shift, and power plays at school force everyone to show who they really are. The tone moves between comedy and melodrama, with school politics, loyalty, and class differences always in the background.

Released in 2009, Boys Over Flowers adapts Yoko Kamio's popular manga for Korean television, developed by Jeon Ki-sang and Yoon Ji-ryun and starring Koo Hye-sun and Lee Min-ho.

The series picked up several nominations and awards at South Korean television ceremonies, and its cast received recognition for breakout performances. Those industry nods helped cement the show as a mainstream hit during its run.

Boys Over Flowers had a wide cultural ripple across Asia, boosting the visibility of its young leads and popularizing certain fashion looks and catchphrases. It inspired remakes and references in other media, and many viewers still point to its iconic scenes and character dynamics when talking about classic 2000s K-dramas.

Critics and audiences responded strongly to the show's emotional highs and occasional melodrama, reflected in a solid fan rating around 8.26 out of 10. Major themes include class inequality, bullying and power imbalance, young love, and the pressures of social status. Viewers tend to praise the chemistry among the main cast and the show's balance of humor with intense emotional conflicts.