If you're enjoying the funny and tear-inducing scenes in the current k-drama "Fated To Love You," you may want to check out the Chinese version. The k-drama starring Jang Hyuk, Jang Nara, Wang Ji Won and Choi Jin Hyuk is a remake of a Taiwanese drama of the same name.
In the 2008 Taiwanese drama the Jang Nara role is played by Joe Chen and Ethan Juan plays the Jang Hyuk role. Baron Chen plays the Choi Jin Hyuk role and Bianca Bai takes on the Wang Ji Won role. The series scored the highest average single episode rating in China and won several awards.
But "Fated To Love You" is not the first k-drama remake of a Taiwanese drama. One of the best-known k-dramas, often described as the gateway drama, is "Boys Over Flowers." Although it is based on a Japanese manga "Hani Yori Dango," it aired as two seasons of "Meteor Garden" before the Korean version. It inspired the creation of the Taiwanese band F4, which consists of the drama's male stars. Before Lee Min Ho there was Jerry Yan and before Gu Hye Sun played Geum Jan Di, there was Barbie Hsu. Vic Chou, Vanness Wu and Ken Chu played the other F4 members. The Taiwanese drama was such a hit that it propelled the careers of all involved.
The k-drama "Playful Kiss," starring Kim Hyun Joong and Jung So Min, also had a Taiwanese version. Like "Boys Over Flowers" it is based on a Japanese manga. The manga is titled "Itazura na Kiss" and the first live adaptation that ever aired was Japanese. Then the Taiwanese version was made in 2005 with the Korean remake following 2010. In the Taiwanese version Ariel Lin played the Jung So Min role and Joe Cheng played the Kim Hyun Joong role.
And it also happens the other way around. The 2009 k-drama "Brilliant Legacy," which starred Lee Seung Gi, Bae Soo Bin, Han Hyo Joo and Moon Chae Won, was remade into a successful 2011 Taiwanese version "My Splendid Life," starring F4 singer Jerry Yan and actress Chen Yanfei.
And the 2009 k-drama "You're Beautiful," which starred Jang Geun Suk, Park Shin Hye, Jung Yong Hwa and Lee Hongki, was remade into the 2013 Taiwanese version "Fabulous Boys" starring Lyan Cheng, Jiro Wang, Cheng Yu Xi and Evan Yo. In the Korean version Park Shin Hye makes her first appearance in a church scene. She plays a novice nun and is seen trying to get a girl to stop listening to music in church.
Park Shin Hye did a cameo in the Taiwanese version. It's the opening scene and Cheng Yu Xi plays the novice nun. Only this time its Park Shin Hye playing music and the nun tries to stop her. It's a cute nod to the way Taiwanese and Korean dramas borrow and adapt each other.
