The drama originally aired on KBS2 from January 5 to March 31, 2009 for twenty-five episodes.[4][5] It was a huge success for the network, earning an average 30% viewership rating.[6][7] The series was followed by a four episode music drama in April 2009.[8]Boys Over Flowers was released on DVD in South Korea the same month.[9]
One day, Jan-di (Ku) is offered a scholarship to Shinhwa School. The school is controlled by the F4, four chaebol heirs who change her life forever. Their leader, Gu Jun-pyo (Lee) falls for her and clumsily pursues a relationship with her. Jan-di develops a crush and later friendship with Yoon Ji-hoo (Kim), before ultimately falling for Jun-pyo.
After a vicious rumor is spread about Jan-di, she confronts Jun-pyo and kicks him in the face. He develops a crush on her and makes attempts to impress her, which all fail. During winter break, he tracks her down in his yacht. Jan-di also meets Ji-hoo's first love Min Seo-hyun (Han Chae-young), whom shows her kindness at the party that night.[11] Sometime after returning from vacation, Jan-di is invited to Seo-hyun's birthday party. There Seo-hyun announces her plans to return to France. Jan-di later sees her and Ji-hoo kiss. Jun-pyo saves her from the awkward situation and takes her to a bar, where she becomes drunk. In the morning, she wakes up in Jun-pyo's house. They spend the afternoon hiding her identity from his mother. Jan-di, in the meantime, begins seeing Jun-pyo differently.[12]
Group 8 announced production on a Korean version of Boys Over Flowers in February 2008. Author Yoko Kamio and her publisher Shueisha were impressed by their work on Couple or Trouble and Goong S, which led them to approve the project.[15][16] The series experienced some delays early on due to casting and organization difficulties. Production was handled completely outside of KBS2.[17] Director Jeon Ki-sang and writer Yoon Ji-ryun were announced in September 2008.[18]
On October 2, 2008, the actors playing the F4 were revealed, including Kim Hyun-joong whose involvement was rumored months earlier.[19]Lee Min-ho was cast as Tsukasa renamed Gu Jun-pyo, and rounding out the F4 cast with Kim Bum and Kim Joon.[20]Ku Hye-sun's role as the female lead, Geum Jan-di (Tsukushi), was announced on October 6.[21] Despite a clause stating that the production had to retain the Japanese names, the characters were given common, localized names.[22][23]
In early December, Boys Over Flowers wrapped their overseas shooting in New Caledonia and Waiheke Island, and began filming in Macau.[24] A press conference was held on December 22 and was attended by the main cast and director.[25] Kamio was also there as an unannounced guest.[26]Boys Over Flowers premiered on January 5, 2009.[27] Due to its popularity, it was extended by one episode and concluded on March 31.[28][29] In April, a short music drama set five years later was released on Mnet's website.[30]
Boys Over Flowers was broadcast by KBS2 on Mondays at 9:55 PM from January 5 to March 31, 2009.[27][31] The airing of the series' seventeenth episode was delayed from March 2 to March 3, allowing Ku to heal following a car accident. A special aired in its place. It was hosted by Han Suk-joon and Hyun Young, who interviewed the F4 actors.[32] Internationally, Boys Over Flowers has aired in 183 countries.[33]
The drama's opening theme song was "Paradise" by T-max. Kim Joon, who played Song Woo-bin, was a member of T-max. Kim Hyun-joong's band SS501 performed the ending themes, "Because I'm Stupid" and "Making a Lover". The first soundtrack of the show was released on January 8, 2009,[34] followed by the second on March 6.[35] Music director Oh Joon-sung was criticized for the overuse of the songs in the drama.[36] Nevertheless, several songs on the soundtrack were popular and fared well on the music charts.[37]
A mini-album, titled F4 Special Edition, was released on March 18, 2009. It features songs covered by the F4 actors.[38] A compilation album was released on October 13, 2011.[39]
Boys Over Flowers was extremely popular in South Korea, particularly among teenagers. It received high viewership ratings for its regular broadcast and for its reruns.[40][41] The series ended up being extended by one episode because of its popularity.[28] Lee Min-ho became an overnight star.[42] The other main cast also benefited from the series' popularity, receiving numerous commercial and endorsement offers.[43]Boys Over Flowers influenced fashion trends for men, making "preppy" styles popular at the time.[44]
The series has also been successful internationally, airing in over one hundred countries.[33] In the decade after Boys Over Flowers original airing, the series has remained popular and is often regarded as a "classic."[45]
Boys Over Flowers Wiki has a collection of images on this topic. (view gallery)
Boys Over Flowers Wiki has a collection of screenshots on this topic. (view category)
Videos[]
Boys Over Flowers Trailer (YA Entertainment)
Boys Over Flowers Trailer (KBS World)
Boys Over Flowers Trailer (KBS Media)
Boys Over Flowers Highlights (Viki)
Boys Over Flowers Teaser 1
Boys Over Flowers Teaser 2
Notes[]
Author Yoko Kamio attended the press conference on December 22, 2008. She drew an illustration on the spot to celebrate.[69]
Kim Joon, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun-joong, and Ku Hye-sun were involved in separate car accidents during the taping of Boys Over Flowers. Joon's and Hyun-joong's were only minor incidents.[70][71] Bum, who was actually involved in two, had to have stitches on his big toe.[72] Ku's accident, which took place on February 27, caused a delay for the seventeenth episode.[73]
While Boys Over Flowers was still filming, actress Jang Ja-yeon committed suicide on March 7, 2009. The entire cast paid their respects to Jang at the mourning hall the following day.[74]
In 2009 and 2010, a total of four concerts related to Boys Over Flowers were held in Japan.[75] The firsttwo events were accompanied by press conferences.
↑Global Media Convergence and Cultural Transformation: Emerging Social Patterns and Characteristics, Dal Yong Jin, IGI Global, 2010, 9781609600396, pages 84-85