My Life Diary: Dream High

I recently finished this Korean drama series, and I really gotta say that this drama was every bit worth my time. A truly genius, well-written plot, great music, tear-jerking drama, full of laugh-out-loud scenes, lovable characters and lots of blossoming romance.
Definitely one of the best I've ever watched! I'd recommend this to anyone reading this. :)

Dream High Poster

Yang Jin Man(Park Jin Young)
and his awesome dance.

The K Pendant passed around the characters.

Dream High tells the story of six students at Kirin Art High School who work to achieve their dreams of becoming music stars in the Korean music industry. Go Hye Mi is a student who had majored in classical music but has to give up her dream by entering Kirin Art High School to pay off her father's debt. However, she needs to get two other students to also come to the school in order for her to enroll in the school conditionally. These two students are Song Sam Dong, who lives in the countryside, and Jin Guk, whom she accidentally meets while trying to escape from a loan shark. Yoon Baek Hee, formerly Hyemi's sidekick, becomes her rival in school because Hye Mi betrays her during an audition to enter the school. [ http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Dream_High]

The other two characters are Jason and Kim Pil Sook. Jason enters the school with his natural talent, breezing through showcases and classes without difficulty. He meets Kim Pil Sook and realizes what he's missing. Kim Pil Sook, on the other hand, auditions in Kirin Art High School with her fat body but beautiful voice. She fights to break out of her shell and develops a big transformation.

Cast: Bae Suzy(of Miss A) as Go Hye Mi, TaecYeon(of 2PM) as Jin Gook/Hyun Shi Hyuk, Kim Soo Hyun as Song Sam Dong, Ham Eun Jung(of T-Ara) as Yoon Baek Hee, Wooyoung(of 2PM) as Jason and IU as Kim Pil Sook, Uhm Ki Joon as Kang Oh Hyuk, Park Jin Young as Yang Jin Man

Here are five(5) reason why Dream High is a must-watch:

Dream High Main Student Cast

Dream High Flash Mob -- Episode 16(FINAL)

1. Well-written plot. It's one of the things I really appreciated about this series. The story is so life-like, a true-to-life scenario where everyone can relate to in some way. Every member of the cast has their own story to tell, and the series was able to

present it excellently, giving each character their own emphasis and importance. The change that the characters develop along the way(even with loan shark Ma Doo Shik) is incredible and visible.The story retains so much of its consistency throughout the end. Character changes don't happen so suddenly, unlike some dramas. The twists and turns of the plot keeps the drama going forward, and its 'moving' plot keeps you really hooked onto the series. It balances the ups and downs of each situation, and its truly satisfying to see how the characters were able to overcome their difficulties. The mix of humor, drama(and a bit of action at the beginning) and romance is so good! Genius, indeed!

Jason convincing Pil Sook to
come out for a photoshoot.

2. Unforgettable characters. Each character of the series proves vital to the drama. Each of them is so distinct in their own way, because the series presents their story clearly without tending to overlap with the other main stars. It's so interesting to see even how almost-perfect, wonderboy Jason learns that talent does not win over hard work, and that he has to have ambition, and not just be someone who breezes through life with his talent(courtesy of Pil Sook's words to him). Each of the characters have their funny side, and they'll keep you laughing when they show it. One of the cast is JYP Entertainment's CEO and founder, Park Jin Young as Yang Jin Man, the 'dance God'. He earned so much of my respect in this series because of his musical talents(dance, singing and composition) that he shows throughout the show as a choreographer Jin Man. He helped create the theme song of the series and busts his moves in the show(pwahahaha). How awesome is it for a CEO to star in a series show? Character change is also very notable. From flat-face Hye Mi to emotional Hye Mi. From cool, cocky Jason to awkward, lovey-dovey Jason(his changing facial expression are so fun to watch!). And so much more. Plus the romance! The Jason-Pil Sook pair is ridiculously cute. You'll also find unlikely pairings that surprise us at the last parts. No one can hate a character too long because they became so loveable in the series. Actually, they are all great characters.

3. Great music. The theme song is super duper catchy and you'll get hooked the first time you listen to it. Watch how the characters sing their way to the top, while finding yourself adding their songs to your ipod because it's just that GOOD. You'll be recognizing songs from SNSD(Genie), Big Bang(Sunset Glow), 2AM and 2PM. I thought their rendition of Genie was cool and so fun.

Pil Sook, Hye Mi, Sam Dong and Ji Gook serenading
Ji Gook's friend with 'Genie'

4. A series I can watch over and over again. Usually, you know that a series is so good when you want to watch them over and over again you can't keep count anymore. This is what happened to me. I love replaying particular scenes, but at the same time, I find myself breezing through the entire episode because every bit of the scene is so awesome! I enjoy so much of the funny scenes, making me laugh out loud. Jason and Pil Sook are such adorable characters I'm squirming in my seat while cheering them on. Jin Man's scenes are flat-out funny, while Sam Dong's drama scenes are just as heartbreaking. I have got to note Soo Hyun(Sam Dong)'s acting here. His emotional scenes(especially his crying ones) are so all over the place that I want to sob harder than him. His acts his drama so good that it breaks my heart to a million pieces. Furthermore, Dream High shows a lot of creativity in the series. From dance battles to Flash Mobs, this series gets more awesome with each episode. It's no wonder why I could watch this series for the nth time.

*Hye Mi saying that Jin Man can pose as a student*
Oh Hyuk (disagree): Does this make sense?
Jin Man: That's okay, when I went out for
a drink, they asked for my ID.
Oh Hyuk: That's because you look like a criminal!

5. Over-all awesomeness. I really can't describe this series, because its too cool for words. There is really a lot of lessons to learn from this episode, real ones that really get to you. [My favorite one was that of Jason's lesson, that talent does not win over hard work. Just because you already have the talent, it doesn't mean you stop aiming higher. You've got to work hard, and still have an ambition to reach.] They've really got a great cast of idols who make the drama truly worthwhile. The acting may be so-so(since they're idols and novice actors), but this is so good for a korean series. I've had so much fun following their journey throughout this series. It's inspiring to see Uhm Ki Joon(Kang Oh Hyuk)'s desire to give his students opportunities to succeed that he ends up giving up so much, including constant loans and almost losing his house as a guarantee for Hye Mi's debt. There are so many interesting elements of a drama mixing together, that it ended in this drama series becoming such a hit. Their top ratings prove it.