"Rags-to-Riches"

kdramarecs oct. 13, 2019
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  • Shining Inheritance

    1. Shining Inheritance

    Korean Drama - 2009, 28 episodes

    Shining Inheritance - A girl helps a senile old woman, who actually happens to be the owner of a large restaurant chain. The grandmother repays her debt to the girl by having her move in with her and the rest of her family. - u/silverbluefox

    I liked the fact that it wasn't just based around romance but the growth of the female lead. - u/kassim3

  • Big Man

    2. Big Man

    Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes

    Big Man - The lead suddenly becomes a chaebol but there are complications.  - u/omlettes

  • King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo

    3. King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo

    Korean Drama - 2010, 30 episodes

    'Bread, Love and Dreams' is most watched TV show in Korea, average viewership rating was around 45-50% I believe, which makes it one of the highest rated dramas of all time. - u/Dracyarys_baby

    King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo. It was fabulously weird, because it's an older drama and it's all about baking bread. It also makes you hungry. There are some tropes, but are overshadowed by the step-siblings' intriguing relationship and the sheer positiveness of Tak Goo. If there's one role Yoon Shi Yoon acts well, it's being a cheerful person in a world that's trying to crush him. Perseverance is the name of the game.  - u/AlohaAlex

    Kim Tak Goo is an inspirational character. Even though he has a bad life, he refuses to succumb to negativity, hatred, and revenge. He keeps his compassionate heart through the end, a very difficult task to do but his determination makes it happen. - u/jarnumber

  • Golden Empire

    4. Golden Empire

    Korean Drama - 2013, 24 episodes

    Golden Empire - Another brilliant drama. I liked Lee yo won's character a lot in this drama. - u/omlettes

  • Cheongdamdong Alice

    5. Cheongdamdong Alice

    Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes

    Cheongdamdong Alice ends up in a huge debt after her boyfriend steals from a company he worked at and disappears. She then decides to force her way into the world of the rich and the famous following the example of her old classmate. Not the most entertaining drama but Park Shi Hoo steals the show playing a wacky, easygoing, revenge-driven, borderline psychotic character.  - u/AlohaAlex

    Cheondamdong Alice - The whole drama is themed around how the lead actress makes it in Gangnam although not exactly by the traditional means. - u/omlettes

    I loved Cheondamdong Alice. I thought it was a really fresh, interesting take on 'rags to riches' and the moral implications of trying to marry into money that other dramas usually ignore.  - u/majekmistake

  • May Queen

    6. May Queen

    Korean Drama - 2012, 38 episodes

    May Queen- 36 episodes and has a love triangle of three friends since childhood. Two of them become childhood sweethearts and the other goes overseas and returns later, just as the childhood sweethearts are having disastrous relationship issues. - u/silverbluefox

    May Queen - Han Ji Hye sort of becomes the rich person here, although the money ain't hers. - u/omlettes

  • My Woman

    7. My Woman

    Korean Drama - 2008, 24 episodes

    My Woman - Park Sol Mi is the rags to riches story here.  - u/omlettes

  • History of the Salaryman

    8. History of the Salaryman

    Korean Drama - 2012, 22 episodes

    History of a Salaryman - it's been a while since I saw it, but it was undoubtedly one of my favourite dramas ever (and I've seen quite a few). It has a good mix of black comedy/political (or corporate, in this case) intrigue and doesn't get tied down in the usual K-drama tropes.  - u/Helikaon242

  • Stairway to Heaven

    9. Stairway to Heaven

    Korean Drama - 2003, 20 episodes

    Stairway to Heaven - Stairway to Heaven- Much like Cinderella, a girl lives with her step mother and pesky step siblings. She falls in love with her friend that she was raised with, but because of plot they were separated. The years pass and their love is nearly forgotten until they meet each other again and sparks fly.

    More like riches to rags to riches - u/silverbluefox

    Stairway to Heaven is one of the classics and I highly recommend it - u/Junnielocked

    Only the strong survive Stairway to Heaven. And those who can handle the industrial strength dose of early Hallyu lol. - u/AgentSkipper

  • Her Legend

    10. Her Legend

    Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes

    Her Legend - a melodrama about a girl that loses everything to gaining everything to losing it all again (the second leads acted better than the leads in my opinion) - u/digi_baby

  • Bride of the Century

    11. Bride of the Century

    Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes

    Bride of the Century - spoiled rich girl goes missing, they bring in a poor girl look alike so the engagement isn't ruined while they look for her.  Meanwhile rumor has it that the brides in the family always die, so missing girl really just wants poor girl to get married and die, and then she can come back and be the wife.  But naturally romance blossoms between poor girl and fussy rich boy. Plenty of cute in this one.  - u/SpinThePickle

    Bride of the Century - The main characters really work well together.  I also thought the twists and turns of this one made it really fun to watch.  Lots of surprises.  I'm also kinda partial to Lee Hong Ki.  - u/gordonshumway85

    Bride of the Century - Seriously an underrated Kdrama. One of my favorites. It's fast-pace and has lots of interesting twists. It's Rom-com with a dash of mystery and ghost. - u/nomm01

  • My Princess

    12. My Princess

    Korean Drama - 2011, 16 episodes

    My princess - It is literally about an ordinary girl finding out she’s a descendant of Korean royalty and they want to establish Korean royalty again. u/Kolibar

    My Princess -  I don't see it talked about very much.  I originally watched it because I like Kim Tae Hee.  I really liked the beginning of the drama but the last part got a little tedious. - u/gordonshumway85

  • Jang Ok Jung

    13. Jang Ok Jung

    Korean Drama - 2013, 24 episodes

    Jang Ok Jung is about a seamstress (so I guess she is too fashionable to be in actual rags...) who ends up working in the palace and falling in love with the king. - u/silverbluefox

  • Mask

    14. Mask

    Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes

    Mask - When a woman is forced to take the place of her doppelganger, she enters a whole new world of wealth and manipulation. - u/silverbluefox

    Mask - Doppelganger impersonates a paranoid chaebol's dead fiancee, moves into his highly dysfunctional family's house and makjang ensues. – u/deviantrockstar

  • My Golden Life

    15. My Golden Life

    Korean Drama - 2017, 52 episodes

    My Golden Life - It's about a girl, who was raised in average family and has very hard work life, but then she founds out that she's a daughter of very wealthy family, who was lost when she was 5. It's good, but on the longer side (52 ep. each 1h). - u/Fallen_Ruby

    My Golden Life - A rich family finds its long lost daughter and daughter has to adjust with the rich life. Its pretty entertaining. It had over 40 percent ratings in Korea. - u/DETHEAMIT

    My Golden Life has a pretty great story, but a tad heavy on the melodrama. Shin Hye Sun is amazing though. - u/tingkagol

  • Five Fingers

    16. Five Fingers

    Korean Drama - 2012, 30 episodes

    For me Five Fingers will always be a favourite. You get the usual early childhood episodes, and without spoiling a lot builds up and half way through the series you wonder why you would carry on watching, but past that dip it makes everything worth it. - u/Jynxette

  • Doctor Stranger

    17. Doctor Stranger

    Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes

    Doctor Stranger, male lead is a North Korean defector who is also a very skilled doctor. His girlfriend failed to escape with him, but while living in South Korea he finds a complete look-a-like of her and tries to find out if it is actually his girlfriend. (Though there are scenes where they perform heart surgery so I don’t recommend this drama if you’re squeamish about blood and organs etc). - u/i-ate-it

  • Goong

    18. Goong

    Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes

    Goong - In a time when the royal family still exists in Korea, a common girl weds the crown prince due to a promise between their grandfathers. She is open to forming a relationship but he seems to want nothing to do with her. (It is a bit older, so mind the dated styles. It's Boys Over Flowers, era.)  - u/Kordiana

    There is the “old” classic Goong. High school kids getting married. One is royalty and the other common person. It’s been ages since I watched it, but I remember enjoying it when I watched it. Not sure if it holds up today.  - u/sfgirl00

  • Dong Yi

    19. Dong Yi

    Korean Drama - 2010, 60 episodes

    Dong Yi - follows life story of a peasant girl who rises to a high position in the court. Has a sweet romance, comedy (with a young Lee Kwang Soo) and of course lots of palace politics. Good character development and lots to learn culturally. It is older, so slower paced - u/LcLou02

    Dong Yi follows a servant who eventually becomes a consort, mostly fictional but good nevertheless. It focuses more on the inner court and the King’s harem. - u/NgocLinh359

  • Cinderella's Sister

    20. Cinderella's Sister

    Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes

    Cinderella's Sister- A closed-off girl is forced to move in with her mother's new husband's family. She doesn't relate to anyone and hates it there, but one of the workers at her step-father's company helps her to adjust. They come to understand each other, but he leaves for 8 years and when he returns she is back to her cold self.  - u/silverbluefox

  • Liar Game

    21. Liar Game

    Korean Drama - 2014, 12 episodes

    Liar Game - the only real rags to riches, from pursued by loan sharks to winning the cash prize  - u/GSV_Zero_Gravitas

  • Secret Garden

    22. Secret Garden

    Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes

    Secret Garden - not exactly destitute to start with, but main girls marry fabulously rich - u/GSV_Zero_Gravitas

  • Monster

    23. Monster

    Korean Drama - 2016, 50 episodes

    Monster - It's riches-to-rags-to-riches story. - u/lannisterstark

  • Do Bong Soon, une force de la nature

    24. Do Bong Soon, une force de la nature

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    Strong Woman Do Bong Soon - not exactly destitute to start with, but main girls marry fabulously rich - u/GSV_Zero_Gravitas

  • Romance is a Bonus Book

    25. Romance is a Bonus Book

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    Romance is a Bonus Book - from homeless to having a solid middle class job in publishing - u/GSV_Zero_Gravitas

  • The King of Dramas

    26. The King of Dramas

    Korean Drama - 2012, 18 episodes

    The King of Dramas - kind of fall, rise, slight dip again, but at least he triumphs over adversity through his own strength and it's the main theme of the drama - u/GSV_Zero_Gravitas

  • Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency

    27. Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    Flower Crew Joseon Marriage Agency - the second lead is a poor blacksmith who becomes king. The heroine is an escaped slave who becomes a noble lady (My Fair Lady style) - u/GSV_Zero_Gravitas

  • Sungkyunkwan Scandal

    28. Sungkyunkwan Scandal

    Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes

    Sungkyunkwan Scandal - she's dirt poor and a girl, manages to go to enter university and become a lady scholar - u/GSV_Zero_Gravitas

  • The Master's Sun

    29. The Master's Sun

    Korean Drama - 2013, 17 episodes

    The Master's Sun Girl is not interested in money, but finds out she she needs some after falling in love with chaebol, so that they can be on a more equal footing. Mostly about ghosts and personal development and jokes. - u/the-other-otter

  • Potato Star 2013QR3

    30. Potato Star 2013QR3

    Korean Drama - 2013, 120 episodes

    Potato Star - Not exactly riches, but the economic circumstances of female lead definitely improved. Funny commentary on how us flawed humans are trying to survive in today's unequal society.  - u/the-other-otter

    Potato Star 2013 - FL and mom have to leave their house when it is demolished, have no money and end up living in the garage of a wealthy family.  FL ends up with one of the sons.  - u/LcLou02

  • Rooftop Prince

    31. Rooftop Prince

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    Rooftop Prince Hard work can pay off, but it is not always needed. The funniest scam and the best track suits.  - u/the-other-otter

  • Perfume

    32. Perfume

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    Perfume An overweight, stressed out, average housewife comes into possession of a magical perfume that transforms her back into her twenties. Unable and unwilling to stay home, she becomes homeless and while trying to rekindle her old dreams, she becomes entangled with an arrogant fashion designer. She moves in with him and hijinks ensue. A story of self-discovery and second chances, Perfume tells a lovely story of self-love and love for others. While monetary riches were not the focus of the story, personal growth and glory is delivered in heaps.  - u/myweithisway

    Perfume - She becomes homeless and ends up with the head of a fashion house. Unexpectedly, This drama has a lot to say about loving yourself.  - u/LcLou02

  • Tomorrow With You

    33. Tomorrow With You

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    Tomorrow with you - Poor former child actress ends up marrying a rich entrepreneur who happens to be a time traveler.  Interesting premise, good acting.  - u/LcLou02

    Tomorrow with You - FL is a popular child actress known as “Bap Soon” and despite getting popularity as a child she grows up to become popular but in a bad way. She is poor and trying to make ends meet until her life gets entangled with the ML who is a time traveler and is the owner of a well-known company. - u/Fatooz

  • The Crowned Clown

    34. The Crowned Clown

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    Crowned Clown - Poor clown lives the life of a King.  Great acting by Yeo Jin Gu, playing two roles.  Beautiful cinematography.  One of the best dramas of 2019 in my opinion.  - u/LcLou02

  • The Innocent Man

    35. The Innocent Man

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    The Innocent Man - SFL betrays ML for money and from dirt-poor journalist she ends up becoming the wife of a wealthy man. I guess her story does fit in the rags to riches tag. She, however, becomes the step mother of the FL and so the ML takes revenge on the SFL using the FL, but soon falls in love with her. It’s a melodrama that could’ve been done better but both Moon Chae-Won and Song Joong-Ki had outstanding chemistry and I enjoyed it for the most part. - u/Fatooz

  • Cinderella and the Four Knights

    36. Cinderella and the Four Knights

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    Cinderella and the Four Knights - ML is working at a garage and living an ordinary life until he finds out that he is an heir and now lives the rich life. It’s a rom-com which is filled with cliches as the name suggests. I loved the FL, she was strong, witty and quirky. Also loved the chemistry between the main leads. It’s an entertaining drama when you don’t want to use your brain cells or watch a lighthearted and cliched rom-com with fun characters. - u/Fatooz

  • Doctors

    37. Doctors

    Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes

    Doctors - FL is a thug-like brat who doesn’t want to study and gets kicked out of her school. She ends up living with her grandmother in a small town where they try to make ends meet. FL meets ML through chance events and he motivates her to do something better in life. FL ends up dreaming of becoming a doctor and achieves her dream through hard work. She is now living a good rich life. She is not extremely rich but her situation is definitely a contrast to her life as a student. It’s a nice medical drama with the slice-of-life aspect, I enjoyed the relationship between the main leads. Most side characters also had a nice character development and overall, it’s worth your time. - u/Fatooz

  • Uncontrollably Fond

    38. Uncontrollably Fond

    Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes

    Uncontrollably Fond - ML was living an ordinary life and dreamt of becoming a prosecutor like his father but turn of events leads him to becoming a popular actor who has only a few months remaining to live. It’s a cliched melodrama with frustrating side characters but the chemistry between the main leads was amazing and so was the cinematography and soundtrack. It’s worth watching for Kim Woo-Bin who was amazing as Shin Joon-Young, make sure you go in with your tissues ready because it’s going to make you cry buckets. - u/Fatooz

  • Record of Youth

    39. Record of Youth

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    Record of Youth - This drama amazingly portrays the struggle of a rookie to earn his place in the entertainment industry.  - u/Designer_Top_1829  

  • Horse Doctor

    40. Horse Doctor

    Korean Drama - 2012, 50 episodes

    King's Doctor (Horse Doctor) - A combination of a medical drama, romance, a rags to riches story, and a fight the system story, this one is an epic historical with staring Cho Seung Woo as a lowly horse doctor who rises through the ranks to become a physician in the royal court. It's most definitely a feel good story and I got completely sucked in to enough to binge this 50 episode drama.  - u/Silly_Merricat

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