While 2022 was distinctly a year of office romances (The New Employee, The Director Who Buys Me Dinner and Roommate of Poongduck 302), the generalist tropes were flavorful and intriguing. Gone are the days when Korean BLs were stuck in the old formulaic, recycling the same stories. Today, we have daring adaptations that employ actors par excellence. In today’s feature, we round up the best KBL’s in 2022- in terms of storytelling and directorial!

Roommates of Poongduck 304

Obviously one of my favorite Korean BLs last year, Roommates of Poongduck 304 took an onscreen couple with their own niche audience and turned them into a global phenomenon. That’s right, we are talking about Kim Ji Woong & Yoon Seo Bin. Tauted as one of the most popular couples in the Korean industry, Ji Woong and Seo Bin have an undeniable connection that translates into great chemistry. The bickering between their onscreen characters, Ji Ho Joon and Seo Jae Yoon was light-hearted and humorous. Unlike previous KBLs, Roommates of Poongduck 304 had an office setting which added to the charm of this sweet romance. Their second project together (after Kissable Lips), Roommates of Poongduck 304 might have a shoestring budget; but the storytelling was solid and the execution was praiseworthy. Some dramas leave you with a lifetime of good memories. Roommates of Poongduck 304 was one of those!

Happy Ending Romance

Melancholy at its best!

Some of you might be wondering why this show is on this list, because it wasn’t exactly a fan favorite. Stemming past the loopholes in the storytelling, this show gave me something that I hadn’t seen in a long time- a strong casting. Starring Kpop idol Leo alongside Ha Jong Woo and Karam in the titular roles of Kim Jung Hyun, Han Tae Young and Cha Jung Woo. A dulcet romance with acrid tones, Happy Ending Romance focuses on the inner workings of the literary world. Popularity is a double-edged sword; a small cut can make you bleed dangerously. While I did enjoy the slow burn romance between Tae Young and Jung Woo, it was Jung Hyun who stole the limelight. Despite being famous, Jung Hyun lives a dubious life, meddling with his partner’s work interests and making his own decisions. He is a perfect example of a flawed individual who truly believes that he is out to save the world. Although the storytelling could have been better, the acting was commendable!

The Director Who Buys Me Dinner

Another vivid adaptation that had a stellar casting. Although the storyline does deviate from the original webtoon in a lot of instances, The Director Who Buys Me Dinner quickly plunges into a tragic romance between two star-crossed lovers, Director Min Yu Dam (Park Young Woon) and his employee Dong Baek (Park Jeong Woo). While the odd pacing was inadequate, the story does dwell into the powerful interlude of an angsty love story between two individuals from different social statures. The fact that this oddity stretches across two lifetimes might seem like a misnomer, but it forms the essence of this storyline. The cinematography and settings are quite similar to the webtoon, so nothing felt out of place. There are very few adaptations that stay true to the original content and despite a few deletions, The Director Who Buys Me Dinner does manage to grab your attention. Preferably, the show’s success can be attributed to the flawless chemistry between the actors. Park Young Woon and Park Jeong Woo share a comfortable camaraderie which is quite evident from their social media posts; they were truly able to pour their heart and soul into their characters. Both actors truly embody the finer nuances of their textbook versions and it was interesting to watch them bicker their way to happiness!

Choco Milk Shake

This show definitely ranks high on my watchlist because of the solid performances dealt by the lead actors. With an assembled casting that focuses on two different pairings, Choco Milk Shake was definitely one of the best scripted KBLs in 2022. While pet peeve is not exactly an ideal subject for storytelling, this show manages the impossible. The story pans across the lives of Jung Woo (Go Ho Jung) and his pets, Choco (Lee Jae Bin), Milk (Kim Seong Hyuk). The characterization is so vivid that you can help but be enthralled. While Lee Jae embodies the loyalty that a dog feels for his owner, Kim Seong Hyuk’s uppity attitude closely resembles that of a cat. Even in their reincarnated human forms, Choco and Milk’s behavioral patterns resemble those of their animal forms. The best part about this show is Jung Woo’s love and adoration for his pets; even death couldn’t separate them from each other. While the somber romance between Jung Woo and Choco is heartwarming; their close friendship with Milk is equally endearing. Add Jung Woo’s handsome Uncle (Park Seung Bin) to this mix and we have an interesting potboiler in our hands!

To My Star Season 2: Our Untold Stories

Words wouldn’t suffice to express my love for this show. I did love the prequel, but it was more like an interlude to the main couple’s budding romance. What sets To My Star 2 apart from the first season is the candid characterization. We get to know the characters more deeply, learn their back story while getting a glimpse into the struggles they face individually. While Kang Seo Joon (Son Woo Hyun) battles old traumas and his insecurities; Han Ji Woo (Kim Kang Min) hides behind a mask, his past leaving him scarred and deeply wounded. Son Woo Hyun and Kim Kang Min have a strong chemistry; something that transcends beyond the silver screen, making you feel vulnerable; because they are that good at embracing their characters. While I do love Seo Joon, Ji Woo stole the limelight here; simply because it showcases his flawed personality. No man is perfect and Ji Woo is the best example of the same. His actions might leave you frustrated, but he has been hiding for so long; that he doesn’t know any other way of life. I’m a huge fan of Hwang Da Seul’s artworks, and To My Star will forever be remembered as one of her best works!

Gingerjiejie’s Favorites

It is time for the crème de la crème of Boys’ Love Korean adaptations of 2022.

Semantic Error – The Movie

First and foremost, and forever in my heart, Semantic Error! 2022 presented us with the movie adaptation of the greatest BL drama released in South Korea so far. This is a must-see for any BL fan. It has it all. Sizzling chemistry, an enemy-to-lovers plot, an extremely talented cast, and, most importantly, kissing scenes that actually convince you the characters are deeply in love and not afraid to show it to the world.

If you still don’t know the story, it is about a shorty and nerdy guy named Sang Woo (Park Jae Chan) who is a college student and takes his college life very seriously. That means getting rid of freeloaders such as Jae Young (Park Seo Ham), a senior who was supposed to have helped him during an assignment together but failed to do so. Because of this, Sang Woo gets really angry and refuses to give Jae Young any credit in the assignment, which means Jae Young ends up getting held back another semester at college. That marks the beginning of their hilarious feud. These two very different men get caught in a cat-and-mouse game that leads them to fall head over heels in love in end. The story is gripping from start to finish, and the actors do an amazing job of capturing the essence of their characters. Funny enough, it is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, if you enjoy romcom, this series is definitely for you.

Blueming

Blueming is not your typical BL even if it does look like it at first glance. This BL seems like it is going to take you on a familiar enemies-to-lovers journey, but it ends up taking you on a bittersweet ride. Si Won (Kang Eun Bin) is a young man with hopes and dreams of becoming a great filmmaker. However, he suffers from a major inferiority complex. Along comes Da On (Jo Hyuk Joon), another college student who is everything Si Won would like to be. Da On is rich, intelligent, and popular. To Si Won, Da On seems to have it all effortlessly. What he doesn’t know is that behind Da On’s allegedly perfection lays a thoughtful and lonely young man who wishes for human connection and understanding as much as Si Won does.

Even though they come from different backgrounds, their love for cinema brings them together. Eventually, they come to an understanding.

What I love about Blueming is that the story is not just about falling in love, but about growing up, facing inner demons, and moving on. It is about two boys trying to break away from their own insecurities and loneliness. In fact, every single take in Blueming is carefully planned to bring out the poetry and sadness in every scene. Blueming may be bittersweet, but it is also romantic and sensitive. Definitely a must-see.

Cherry Blossoms After Winter

Just like the webtoon that it was based on, Cherry Blossoms After Winter is an acquired taste, and not everyone feels comfortable with its plot. It tells the story of two high school students, Haebom (Ok Jin Uk) and Taesung (Kang Hui). They are also childhood friends who end up living together after Haebom’s parents die and Taesung’s mother takes Haebom in. As the boys grow up, they drift apart. Even though they don’t seem close, Taesung is always watching Haebom closely, and eventually, they rekindle their friendship when Taesung defends Haebom from his bullies. As the story progresses, we realise that Taesung just got away from Haebom in the past because he has feelings for him. Since they grew up as brothers, Taesung doesn’t want things to get weird between them. But the boys do have strong feelings for each other, and eventually, those feelings get so obvious they cannot put them aside anymore.

Overall, Cherry Blossoms After Winter is a heart-warming and emotional story about first love, friendship, and personal growth. It is a cute and touching love story that will give you fuzzy feelings.

Roommates of Poongduck 304

I confess I was expecting a lot more from Rommates of Poongduck 304, particularly because the actors, Yoon Seo Bin and Kim Ji Woong, have already worked together in Kissing Lips and proved to have amazing chemistry as a couple. But even though it wasn’t all I was hoping for, it delivered a nice story.

Jae Yoon (Yoon Seo Bin) is a hardworking man who is driven and ambitious. He is also sweet and warm-hearted. He is just starting at a new company and wants it all to be perfect.

Ho Joon (Kim Ji Woong) is a chaebol, that is, he is a rich kid with too much money and not a lot of sense. His father is fed up with him, so Ho Joon ends up having to work for a living – sort of speaking. He ends up being Jae Yoon’s roommate, but thanks to a misunderstanding they do not get along in the beginning. Things get even more awkward when Ho Joon realises his new boss is Jae Yoon. As they try to balance their personal and work life, they also find themselves becoming attracted to each other. While at home Ho Joon sets the rules, but at work it is Jae Yoon’s turn. This power play exchange between them is very interesting and different for a BL. The plotline is refreshing but poorly executed. Still, Seo Bin and Ji Woong’s chemistry make the story work.

We will be back with an exciting new feature next weekend. Till then, keep watching this space as we bring you updates from the BL world!