There are many striking and memorable moments in Korean dramas that the list would probably be a long one if we jot them down. But among the 2020 to 2021 K-dramas, here are 10 of the iconic scenes we have collected:
The list is according to the drama’s broadcast date.
1. Crash Landing On You (2019-2020)
“I wish I could go down, but as you can see, it’s so high up here.” – Yoon Seri
Son Ye-jin as Yoon Seri suddenly finds herself hanging from a tree in North Korea after a tornado hit her while paragliding. When the North Korean soldier, Captain Ri played by Hyun Bin, tells her to come down while pointing a gun, she immediately unbuckles the seat belt but falls into his arms. That’s when their iconic love story begins.
2. Itaewon Class (2020)
“Do you think I’m a pushover? I’m a businessman.” – Park Saeroyi
Park Saeroyi played by Park Seo-jun is surprised to see the powerful businessman, Chairman Jang, gets down on his knees to ask for his forgiveness with the intention of saving him from bankruptcy. Expected to extend sympathy, Saeroyi surprisingly responds to him as a cold businessman who has no empathy, like Chairman Jang always does to people around him. It’s one of the best payback time in K-dramas.
3. Flower Of Evil (2020)
“Come here and hold me.” – Detective Cha
A tear-jerker scene. Lee Joon-gi as Do Hyun-soo and fake Baek Hee-sung is highly determined to kill the psychopath-serial killer, the real Baek Hee-sung, when his wife, Detective Cha appears with the police squad. Confused about his wife’s death and still seeing his dead father, he cries helplessly not knowing what to do. Detective Cha tries to calm him down, convince him that she is real, and pleads him to drop the knife and come to her.
4. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020)
“When you can’t control yourself, cross your arms like this and take turns tapping on each shoulder. This will help you calm down.” – Gangtae
Kim Soo-hyun as Gang-tae works at a psychiatric hospital who knows how to deal with patients suffering from all kinds of psychological behaviors. He encounters the antisocial author, Ko Mun-yeong played by Seo Yea-ji, trying to kill a rude man with a pointed pen and by pushing him down the stairs. Gang-tae comes to the rescue and helps Ko Mun-yeong calm down by teaching her the Butterfly Hug Method.
5. The King Eternal Monarch (2020)
“Protect her! She’s the future queen of the Kingdom of Corea.” – King Lee Gon
Tae Eul played by Kim Go-eun gets kidnapped and sent to the other world, Corea, by the antagonist, Lee Lim. She manages to escape but Lee Lim’s men continue to chase her. Amid the hunting, King Lee Gon played by Lee Minho comes to the rescue like a knight in shining armour, riding on a white horse with his numerous soldiers behind him. What a magnificent moment! He makes it more iconic when he commands his men, “Protect her! She’s the future queen of the Kingdom of Corea!”
6. Start-Up (2020)
“I’m not a good boy.” – Han Jipyeong
Known as a perfectionist and critical investment mentor, Han Ji-yeong played by Kim Seonho, gets dispirited and heavy-hearted after being confronted for the cause of suicidal death of one start-up participant and getting blamed by one of his mentees for the team’s split. He visits his halmeoni, his safe place, after a fistfight who comforts him upon seeing wounds on his face. Due to self-loathe, he rejects her words calling him “good boy”. Yet, he still gets a hug from halmeoni and cries in deep misery, “I’m not a good boy.” This scene became one of the most heartbreaking moments in K-drama history.
7. True Beauty (2020)
“I really need to go to the bathroom.” – Lim Jukyung
A funny scene can also be iconic. Lim Jukyung played by Moon Ga-young is a funny yet lovable girl who gets entangled with two equally handsome guys. While being stuck in the elevator, nature calls and she pleads the two guys to stop bickering and get help to fix the lift. Upon rescue, the adrenaline-emergency hormone kicks in and she strangely climbs the half-opened door and rushes towards the bathroom. It’s a hilarious moment.
8. Vincenzo (2021)
“I swear I’m going to catch you and kill you!” – Vincenzo Cassano speaking in Italian
The Korean-Italian mafia consigliere, Vincenzo played by Song Joong-ki, can be deadly, serious, and intimidating but he’s also one humorous guy who can make you laugh. When he arrives in South Korea to settle an unfinished business, he gets robbed and beaten. Furious, he curses in Italian and swears that he will catch the robbers and kill them. He gets mad and speaks Italian so well that it became one of the iconic moments in the series.
9. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
“Don’t you need renovating? I do that for minimum wage, too.” – Chief Hong
After a good settlement with the landlady and agent, Dentist Hye-jin played by Shin Mina is surprised to know that the agent, Hong Dusik played by Kim Seonho, is not assisting for free but collecting payment for his service, “Listen up. Whatever the task, I go by minimum wage.” The handyman continues to offer his service to renovate her home and clinic. As the conscientious dentist is doubtful about his skills, Hong Dusik displays his multiple licenses and Hye-jin gets dumbfounded. That scene marks the iconic character of Chief Hong in the series.
10. Squid Game (2021)
“This is it. I can melt it from the back.” – Seong Gihun
Player 456 or Seong Gi-hun played by Lee Jung-jae, survives the “Red Light, Green Light” game and proceeds to the next game, “Sugar Honeycombs”, also known as “Dalgona” where players are shot dead if they break the shape or unable to complete the mission within 10 minutes. Anxious with the remaining time left, Seong Gi-hun finds a brilliant way to remove the most complicated umbrella shape, “This is it. I can melt it from the back.” He licks it with his tongue until he manages to remove it without a crack. The man with the umbrella survives. Whew.
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