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This article is about the Korean drama. For other uses, see Boys Over Flowers.

Boys Over Flowers (Hangul: 꽃보다 남자; Hanja: 꽃보다 男子), or Boys Before Flowers, is a South Korean television drama based on the Japanese manga of the same name by Yoko Kamio.[1] It stars Ku Hye-sun as Geum Jan-di with Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, and Kim Joon as the F4.[2] It was directed by Jeon Ki-sang.[3]

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.

Summary[]

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On a delivery for her family's dry cleaners, Geum Jan-di (Ku Hye-sun) saves a student (Jung Eui-chul) from jumping off the roof of the famously elite Shinhwa High School. Hoping to avoid further scandal, Kang Hee-soo (Lee Hye-young) orders her secretary Jung Sang-rok (Jung Ho-bin) to offer Jan-di a scholarship to Shinhwa. She does not want to accept it, having heard about the F4, but is forced by her family. The F4, made up of Gu Jun-pyo (Lee Min-ho), Yoon Ji-hoo (Kim Hyun-joong), So Yi-jung (Kim Bum), and Song Woo-bin (Kim Joon), are the school's richest students and basically act like tyrants. Jan-di tries not to get involved with them, but intervenes when Jun-pyo becomes angry at her new friend Oh Min-ji (Lee Si-young). He later sends her a red card, causing the others to start bullying her.[10]

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]

Cast and characters[]

Starring[2]

Costarring[2]

Guest starring

Cameo appearance

Staff[]

  • Original work: Boys Over Flowers by Yoko Kamio
  • Screenplay: Yoon Ji-ryun
  • Producers: Kim Hyung-il, Kwak Jung-hwan
  • Director: Jeon Ki-sang, Lee Min-woo
  • Cinematographer: Ji Jae-woo
  • Filming: Yang Jin-young, Woo Jung-min, Jang Kyung-jun
  • Planning: Song Bum-jun
  • Music: Oh Joon-sung[13]
  • Costume designer: Ko Tae-yong[14]
  • Planning/Production: Song Byung-joon

Episodes[]

Main article: Boys Over Flowers (Korean drama)/Episodes
Episode 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25

Production[]

Original-Korean-poster

Original teaser poster

BoysOverFlowers-conference

Main cast at the December press conference

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]

Broadcast[]

See also: Boys Over Flowers (Korean drama)/International broadcast and release

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]

Promotion[]

Main article: Boys Over Flowers (Korean drama)/Promotion

Home media[]

Main article: Boys Over Flowers (Korean drama)/Home media

Music[]

Bof-soundtrack

Cover of the first soundtrack

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]

Merchandise[]

Main article: Boys Over Flowers (Korean drama)/Merchandise

Reception[]

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]

Ratings[]

Episode TNS AGB Nielsen Source
Seoul Nationwide Seoul Nationwide
1 14.4% 14.3% 13.8% 13.7% [46]
2 17.4% 17.6% 16.1% 15.9% [47]
3 21.1% 20.8% 17.2% 18.2% [48]
4 21.6% 21.4% 17.8% 17.7% [49]
5 24.3% 24.8% 21.4% 22.2% [50]
6 24.6% 24.8% 23.4% 23.2% [51]
7 19.1% 19.5% 17.4% 18.1% [52]
8 25.3% 25.9% 22.1% 22.6% [53]
9 29.4% 29.7% 24.9% 25.8% [54]
10 30.2% 30.5% 25.6% 26.7% [55]
11 31.8% 31.5% 25.6% 26.2% [56]
12 31.2% 31.4% 27.0% 27.6% [57]
13 31.5% 31.5% 27.7% 27.6% [58]
14 32.0% 31.9% 26.8% 27.7% [58]
15 32.3% 32.4% 28.5% 29.2% [59]
16 32.9% 33.2% 30.0% 30.1% [60]
Special 22.4% 21.8% 18.0% 18.1% [61]
17 30.6% 29.9% 26.6% 27.3% [62]
18 35.7% 35.5% 32.9% 33.3% [63]
19 31.3% 31.2% 26.6% 26.3% [64]
20 31.3% 31.2% 30.6% 31.2% [65]
21 33.8% 33.6% 30.8% 31.3% [66]
22 32.4% 31.8% 29.9% 30.8% [67]
23 31.6% 31.8% 30.3% 31.7% [68]
24 29.2% 30.2% 29.0% 30.1% [68]
25 34.9% 34.8% 33.5% 32.7% [46]
Average
rating
28.2% 28.2% 25.1% 25.6% [61]
Adapted from Korean Wikipedia

Accolades[]

Recipient Category Result
45th Paeksang Arts Awards
Lee Min-ho Best New Actor Won
Kim Hyun-joong Popularity Award
Lee Min-ho Nominated
14th Asian Television Award
Lee Min-ho Best Drama Actor Nominated
Ku Hye-sun Best Drama Actress
3rd Mnet 20's Choice Awards
Lee Min-ho Hot Male Drama Star Nominated
Kim Bum
Ku Hye-sun Hot Female Drama Star
Gu Jun-pyo Hot Character
4th Seoul International Drama Awards
Boys Over Flowers Popular Drama Won
Kim Hyun-joong Popular Actor
Lee Min-ho Nominated
Cyworld Digital Music Awards
"Because I'm Stupid" by SS501 Song of the Month (February) Won
Best OST
11th Mnet Asian Music Awards
"Because I'm Stupid" by SS501 Best OST Won
Bugs Music Awards
"Because I'm Stupid" by SS501 Best TV Drama Song of the Year Won
2nd Korea Junior Star Awards
Kim Hyun-joong Best New Actor in a TV Drama Won
2009 KBS Drama Awards
Ku Hye-sun Top Excellence Award, Actress Nominated
Lee Min-ho Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama
Ku Hye-sun Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama Won
Lee Min-ho Best New Actor
Kim Hyun-joong Nominated
Kim Bum
Kim So-eun Best New Actress Won
Park Ji-bin Best Young Actor Nominated
Ku Hye-sun Netizen Award, Actress Won
Lee Min-ho Popularity Award, Actor Nominated
Kim Hyun-joong
Lee Min-ho and Ku Hye-sun Best Couple Award Won
Kim Hyun-joong and Ku Hye-sun Nominated

Gallery[]

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[]

Notes[]

Illustration-for-K-drama

Yoko Kamio's illustration to celebrate the drama

Korean-cast-Japanese-conference

Cast at the first concert

  • 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 first two events were accompanied by press conferences.
  • Actor Kim Soo-hyun was originally cast in the dual role of Lee Min-ha and Lee Jae-ha. After participating at a table read, he was let go and replaced with Jung Eui-chul for unknown reasons.[76]

References[]

  1. http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/f4/about/story/index.html (Korean)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/f4/about/cast/index.html (Korean)
  3. http://www.kbs.co.kr:80/drama/f4/about/staff/index.html (Korean)
  4. http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/f4/view/preview/1561741_28447.html (Korean)
  5. http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/f4/view/preview/1577300_28447.html (Korean)
  6. Global Media Convergence and Cultural Transformation: Emerging Social Patterns and Characteristics, Dal Yong Jin, IGI Global, 2010, 9781609600396, pages 84-85
  7. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20090311000031
  8. http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/04/boys-before-flowers-f4-special-edition-parts-1-2/
  9. https://www.yes24.com/Product/Goods/3353452 (Korean)
  10. Episode 1, Boys Over Flowers
  11. Episode 2, Boys Over Flowers
  12. Episode 3, Boys Over Flowers
  13. http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/02/music-director-defends-boys-before-flowers-soundtrack/
  14. https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20141029001013
  15. http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?newsid=200802290819401112 (Korean)
  16. http://www.dramabeans.com/2008/02/boys-before-flowers-aka-the-korean-hana-yori-dango/
  17. http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/200809/h2008090407075291970.htm (Korean)
  18. http://www.dramabeans.com/2008/09/continued-failure-to-cast-korean-hanadan-keeps-super-idol-boys-hopes-alive/
  19. http://www.dramabeans.com/2008/10/meet-your-korean-f4/
  20. http://www.joynews24.com/view/361452 (Korean)
  21. http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?newsid=200810060837081112&ext=na (Korean)
  22. https://newvoices.org.au/volume-4/the-localisation-of-the-hana-yori-dango-text-plural-modernities-in-east-asia/
  23. http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200909111230401020 (Korean)
  24. http://www.dramabeans.com/2008/12/boys-before-flowers-has-its-evil-mom-goes-overseas/
  25. http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G0812220055 (Korean)
  26. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=001&aid=0002433891 (Korean)
  27. 27.0 27.1 http://www.kbs.co.kr:80/drama/f4/view/preview/1561741_28447.html (Korean)
  28. 28.0 28.1 http://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2009030610091431826& (Korean)
  29. http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/03/boys-before-flowers-episode-25-final/
  30. http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/04/boys-before-flowers-f4-special-edition-parts-1-2/
  31. http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/f4/view/preview/1577300_28447.html (Korean)
  32. http://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2009030118241487874& (Korean)
  33. 33.0 33.1 https://www.koreastardaily.com/sc/news/74296 (Chinese)
  34. http://www.mnet.com/album/173083 (Korean)
  35. http://www.mnet.com/album/175233 (Korean)
  36. http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2009021909335675660 (Korean)
  37. http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/news-bites-january-28-2009-boys-before-flowers-edition/
  38. http://www.hkn24.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=24154 (Korean)
  39. https://www.genie.co.kr/detail/albumInfo?axnm=80270725 (Korean)
  40. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20090311000031
  41. https://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/reruns-of-boys-before-flowers-beating-first-run-programming/
  42. https://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/overnight-star-lee-min-ho-awash-in-cf-offers/
  43. https://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/news-bites-january-21-2009/
  44. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2013/01/199_39427.html
  45. https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/g34110694/best-korean-dramas-on-netflix/
  46. 46.0 46.1 http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/culture/entertainment/347358.html (Korean)
  47. http://www.breaknews.com/94187 (Korean)
  48. http://www.breaknews.com/94599 (Korean)
  49. http://www.hkn24.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=21677 (Korean)
  50. http://www.breaknews.com/95032 (Korean)
  51. http://www.breaknews.com/95123 (Korean)
  52. https://www.ebn.co.kr/news/view/366405 (Korean)
  53. https://www.hankyung.com/finance/article/2009012880716 (Korean)
  54. http://news.jkn.co.kr/post/273753 (Korean)
  55. http://enews.imbc.com/News/RetrieveNewsInfo/917 (Korean)
  56. https://www.edaily.co.kr/news/read?newsId=01105366589589208&mediaCodeNo=258 (Korean)
  57. http://www.breaknews.com/96276 (Korean)
  58. 58.0 58.1 http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2009021806544672892 (Korean)
  59. http://news.jkn.co.kr/post/280603 (Korean)
  60. http://www.hkn24.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=23182 (Korean)
  61. 61.0 61.1 Boys Over Flowers on Korean Wikipedia
  62. http://www.mhj21.com/sub_read.html?uid=10184 (Korean)
  63. http://www.breaknews.com/98051 (Korean)
  64. https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2009031107100041617&VRN (Korean)
  65. http://www.breaknews.com/98496 (Korean)
  66. http://www.breaknews.com/98577 (Korean)
  67. http://www.hkn24.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=24377 (Korean)
  68. 68.0 68.1 http://www.breaknews.com/99361 (Korean)
  69. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=001&aid=0002433891 (Korean)
  70. https://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/kim-joon-in-a-fender-bender/
  71. https://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/news-bites-january-21-2009/
  72. http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/02/kim-bum-in-yet-another-accident/
  73. http://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2009030118241487874& (Korean)
  74. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2901981
  75. https://jp.yna.co.kr/view/AJP20100707002400882 (Japanese)
  76. https://www.kdramastars.com/articles/118237/20200629/kim-soo-hyun-nearly-starred-boys-over-flowers.htm

See also[]



Boys Over Flowers adaptations
Television series

Boys Over Flowers (1996-1997) | Meteor Garden (2001) | Meteor Rain (2001) | Meteor Garden II (2002)
Hana Yori Dango (2005) | Hana Yori Dango Returns (2007) | Boys Over Flowers (2009) | Meteor Garden (2018)
F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers (2021-2022)

Films

Hana Yori Dango (1995) | Hana Yori Dango: The Movie (1997) | Hana Yori Dango Final (2008)

Musicals

Hana Yori Dango: The Musical (2016) | Boys Over Flowers: The Musical (2017) | Hana Yori Dango (2019)

Audio drama

Hana Yori Dango (1993-1994)

See also

Hana Nochi Hare: Hanadan Next Season (2018)

External links[]

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