If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen everyone posting their “2016 me” throwbacks. But let’s be honest—if you were anyone in 2016, you were probably watching K-dramas.
It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since shows like Descendants of the Sun, Goblin, Love in the Moonlight, Hwarang, The K2, W: Two Worlds, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, Scarlet Heart: Ryeo, Uncontrollably Fond, The Legend of the Blue Sea, and The Doctors first captured our hearts.
We all remember the memes, the swooning posts, and the endless debates about our favorite “Oppa”—Song Joong Ki, Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook, Lee Min Ho, Ji Chang Wook, Park Bo Gum, Lee Jong Suk, Nam Joo Hyuk, and Lee Joon Gi. And who didn’t daydream about having the glass skin of Song Hye Kyo, Suzy Bae, Kim Go Eun, Han Hyo Joo, Im Yoona, IU, or Lee Sung Kyung?
And who doesn’t remember all those ads during the end credits? Somehow, we all ended up swooning over product placements—Subway sandwiches, Laneige skincare, Samsung phones, Korean beer, and yes, even fried chicken. Somehow, the drama made it all look irresistible.
K-dramas weren’t just shows—they were a lifestyle. Watching a new episode meant rushing to sites like KissAsian, DramaCool, or DramaFever, sometimes waiting hours for subtitles, just to see what your favorite couple would do next. Facebook feeds were flooded with clips, fan edits, and the latest posts from pages like “Annyeong Oppa,” making it impossible not to get caught up in the hype.
Beyond the screen, these dramas inspired dreams of visiting South Korea, imagining your own K-drama love story while walking past filming locations, or just obsessing over every little detail from your favorite show.
Even with streaming apps like Viu, Netflix, and Disney+ today, nothing quite matches the excitement of 2016. For Filipino fans, it was a golden year—a time of fan theories, fangirling, and countless sleepless nights keeping up with our “Oppas” and leading ladies. And honestly? We wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.
