In the drama-watching group I’m a part of, we once had to choose a show to watch written by either Kim Eun Sook, or Hong Jung Eun and Hong Mi Rae, collectively known as the Hong sisters. I remember going into that drama battle thinking I was squarely in the Kim Eun Sook camp. At that time my two top dramas were written by Kim. She won the vote and we watched the show On Air. At the same time, I was hearing so many good things about a Hong sisters currently airing drama, Master’s Sun, that I decided to marathon it at the same time.
It. Was. Fantastic.
Far more amazing than On Air which, by the way, ended up being much better than it had started. Watching Master’s Sun and On Air at the same time was the beginning of my questioning whose writing did I really prefer? I still held fast to my allegiance to Kim Eun Sook. But, the numbers might tell a different story.
By the Numbers
9 Total number of TV shows each have written
Hong sisters
7 – number of their shows I’ve watched
6 – number of their shows I’ve watched and liked
1 – number of their shows I HATED
1 – number of their shows that have made my Top 10 and re-watch incessantly list
Kim Eun Sook
4 – number of her shows I’ve watched
4 – number of her shows I’ve watched and liked
0 – number of her shows I HATED
2 – number of her shows that have made my Top 10 and re-watch incessantly list.
Hated It!
The Hong sisters delivered for me a tough situation. They had the first show to feature Gong Yoo following his completion of his military service. Yay! And then it turned into the worst garbage I’d watched up until watching Marry Him If You Dare replaced it for me. So far I haven’t hated any shows by Kim Eun Sook, but I have watched fewer of them so quite possibly there’s one lurking in the batch I haven’t seen.
Loved it!
Like Joo Joong Won (Master’s Sun) and Kim Joo Won (Secret Garden), I keep doing the calculations trying to make them add up to put me firmly in one camp or the other. I probably have to watch a couple of more of Kim Eun Sook’s shows to be able to do this. I also don’t know if currently watching and enjoying Delightful Girl Choon Hyang (aka Sassy Girl Choon Hyang) is making me lean toward the Hong sisters. But is that real when Kim’s A Gentleman’s Dignity and Secret Garden are at the top of my list. Actually Master’s Sun is in a tie with Secret Garden, so where does that leave me? Confused.
Is there some other writer that I’m not even aware of that is my true preference? Especially when I’m finding that show I had no interest in watching seem to go straight to the top of my list. It’s as if I don’t really know myself.
So you tell me. Is it the sisters or KES? Vote below.
Pinkpodster Ponders 
Of Kim Eun Sook; I’ve seen 7, liked or loved 5 and 2 were just okay. Now Hong Sisters, I’ve seen 7, liked or loved 5, 1 was ok and 1 I hated! Yes, I didn’t like Big! It was, for a better word, a BIG disappointment. But I might have to give the top prize to Kim because she has more dramas that I loved!!
Did you see Lovers in Paris? Did you like it?
I saw all of the Lovers series. I should have watched Lovers last but I watched it first so I didn’t enjoy the others as much for that reason.
I haven’t watched any of them yet. They are on my ever-growing list. Haha.