Ranking K-drama screenwriters whether by quality or personal like is much harder than the actors and actresses that bring their narratives to life on television. Very few become household names, requiring hit after hit after hit and a longevity that is made even more difficult when storytelling creativity must be repeated. Like her or not, Kim Eun Sook has become the biggest star of her field, with a name recognition as high as the actors and actresses that star in her dramas, even going as far as churning out two ratings breaking drama hits in the same year 2016 with Descendants of the Sun and Goblin in an era where there are very few hits to be had anymore. That’s why it’s no surprise that she was voted the most favorite K-drama screenwriter in a recently released poll, gathering 42.7% of all the tops. Second was writer Kim Eun Hee of Signal, Phantom, and Sign fame, with Noh Hee Kyung round out the top three with her Dear My Friends, It’s Okay, It’s Love, and That Winter, The Wind Blows.
Following the top three favorites of Kim Eun Sook, Kim Eun Hee, and Noh Hee Kyung, the very veteran screenwriter Kim Soo Hyun came in 4th, then Park Ji Eun at 5th, and 6th place was none other than the Hong Sisters.
I think Kim Eun Sook would be better off writing movies or short dramas – around 10 episodes or so. I think her plots only last for a couple hours and I never understand the appeal to watch 20 episode when everything is just filler and the actual plot fills only 3 or 4 episodes combined.
Agree. She did tried penning a movie once but the project failed so she stays in dramaland. I never appreciate her works either. Too cheesy with alpha male leads and unrealistic banter. I prefer Song Ji Na and So Hyun Kyung. Their works are more versatile and solid.
Bloody hate Kim Eun Sook’s dramas.
I Prefer Noh Hee Kyung and Kim Eun Hee because they always bring realism and depth into their story and character. My fave of 2016 is Signal, Dear My Friends and Another Oh Hae Young. Most Beautiful Goodbye is my all time fave.
Seems Noh Hee Kyung is my kind of writer becoz i love 3 dramas mentioned in the article. i love some of Ki Eun Sook too.
I’ve watched all KES dramas except for her very first drama. The only drama of her that i couldnt finish is city hall. And the only drama i wont re-run is gentlemen dignity. The rest, i like them all. But my fave is going to be On Air. An old drama but not KES’ typical drama abs typical heroine.
I love signal. But havent watched any other projects of this writernim.
Im literally not a fan of hong sister. Except for master sun, i couldnt finish anything else.
But well it’s one’s preference. Cabt judge.
I wonder if there’s anymore of Hong sister work… feel like it have been ages, didn’t they say they want to do some zombie thing or something…
I supposed all of these writers are depend on your preferences…
just like either you like koala, dramabeans, girlfriday…. teeheee… just saying ^^
While goblin have an interesting plot and a very well deserved for it popularity..that still doesn’t make me full of her..i still dont like her writing skill..The hiers is f*cking overrated and descendants of the sun make me cringe..
Park Hye Ryun is better and the real deal..
Hong’s sisters are overrated! I know I’m hating… they wasted two of my fav’ actors in that nothingness that was Warm and Cozy.
KES dramas are almost all in my favourite rewatch list*Crosses Heirs-Lovers in Prague-Gentleman’s dignity from the list* when I need to watch male centric-dramas.
But I need the writers to make me love the heroine… Is that difficult to have a badass heroine from time to time in Kdramaland?? To have a woman to admire not because she’s able to snag THE man but for who SHE is?
That’s why two of my favourite dramas are Lee Bo Young’s. “My daughter Seo Young” and “I hear your voice”. In those 2 she stole the show from the men. You can say the same for “Yoona’s street” and the daily “Ugly Alert”.
I don’t understand how in the mostly female world of kdramas scriptwriting, there can only be the damsel in distress type of heroine. When you read the drama’s description the male character has ALWAYS something exceptional and the heroine is described as normal or even lacklustre. Is that internalised misogyny? Anyway I think my dramas watching days are coming to the end. I connect less and less with that type of writing.