Nobody expected the impact that this youth series would have in the future. On January 5, 2009, the South Korean channel KBS broadcast the first episode of Boys Over Flowersa youth romance k-drama that changed the lives of its protagonists and became a symbol of Hallyu (the famous Korean Wave) throughout the world.
The production adapted the popular Japanese manga Hana Yori Dangoand presented the story of a young working-class girl who arrives on a scholarship to an elite school. It is in this place that he discovers the bullying carried out by the group of F4the four most popular boys in school.
While trying to defend a student in danger, she challenges the leader. This interaction makes her the new target of harassment, although she also finds protection in another melancholic member of the F4 who shows her his compassionate side.
In this Korean version, the cast consisted of Koo Hye Sun as the protagonist Geum Jan-Di y Lee Min Ho like the cold Gu Jun-Pyo. The singer also participated Kim Hyun Joongwith the role of Yoon Ji-Hoo, the protagonist’s first love, Kim Bum as the womanizer So Yi-Jung and Kim Joon like the F4 Song Woobin.
Although the plot did not age well, due to criticism of the violence and dependence shown by the female character, Boys Over Flowers It remains a k-drama that marked an era with notable successes, such as its comedy elements and its love triangle that still sparks passionate debates.
16 years after its broadcast, this is what the stars of the Korean series now look like, which is currently available in streaming via HBO Max.
Among all the leading cast, Lee Min Ho He is the one who has achieved the greatest progress in his acting career. Before Boys Over Flowersthe heartthrob had participated with small characters in other series and had even suffered a serious accident that put his future on screen at risk.
By playing Gu Jun Pyo, the heir of the Shinhwa group, the doors of multiple projects and advertising contracts were opened for him. Each k-drama of his was synonymous with success in the ratings. The list mentions Personal Taste, City Hunterthe classic The heirsthe fantasy series The legend of the blue sea y The king: Eternal monarch.
In 2022, Lee Min Ho went international by landing a role in the Apple TV+ series Pachinko. In an interview, he confessed that he had auditioned again for the first time in more than 10 years because of that project.
Coincidentally, this January 4 (one day before the anniversary of Boys Over Flowers), Lee Min Ho returns to Korean television with the k-drama If the stars could speaka production in which he plays a space tourist in trouble. The episodes will be available on Netflix.
She played the charismatic Jan-Di, the swimming-loving student who ends up falling in love with two F4s in Boys Over Flowers. According to what he told the local press, such was the success of the series (including its international distribution) that he was able to live comfortably for 12 years.
Koo worked as an actress in more k-dramas such as Angel Eyes (2014), The Musical (2011) y Blood (2015), but he could not escape the shadow of his most famous character.
In parallel, she explored other facets such as fine arts and literature, and had successful exhibitions in Seoul. In 2009, she also debuted as a director by premiering her first short film at the Puchon Film Festival.
However, her marriage in 2016 and subsequent divorce in 2019 led her to put a pause on all her entertainment activities. Instead, he decided to go back to university to finish his art degree.
At the moment, Koo Hye Sun She is practically retired from acting. mainstreambut he dedicates himself to music, painting, and directing in independent cinema. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, he is also working on a postgraduate degree in science journalism at KAIST university.
El boom de Boys Over Flowers and his character Yoon Ji Hoo reinforced the international fame of Kim Hyun Joongwho was a member of the k-pop group SS501. In 2010, he also starred in the series Playful Kiss which repeated the success of its predecessor.
At the same time, Kim launched her solo career in 2011 with the mini-album Break Downshowing a more mature and energetic style. Successes followed like Lucky and his first Japanese album, Unlimited.
His career faced a complicated turn in 2014 due to a legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend and mother of his first child, a case that impacted his public image. During that time, he completed his mandatory military service (2015-2017) and, after completing it, gradually returned to the industry with music and concerts.
In recent years, Kim has reinvented himself as an independent musician, with a preference for genres such as rock. In 2022, he surprised by announcing his marriage with a childhood friend. That year their second child was also born.
Between February and March 2025, Kim Hyun Joong will visit Latin America again with a new musical tour.
After her fun role as So Yi Jung, Kim Bum He also began working on other television projects with the goal of diversifying his acting range. In 2010, he starred The Woman Who Still Wants to Marrywhere he played a musician in love with an older woman.
It was also part of the melodrama That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), although that year he had to take a temporary break due to a broken leg.
Another break was mandatory due to his military service, but his return in the fantasy k-drama The Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020) reaffirmed his popularity among the public. He also premiered the series Law School y Ghost Doctor. Currently, Kim Bum is 35 years old and continues to be active in the industry.
After his success in Boys Over Flowers in 2009, where he played the charismatic Song Woo Bin, Kim Joon He enjoyed a brief but notable career in both music and acting. Before the drama, he was already known as the rapper of the group T-Maxwho gained popularity for songs like “Paradise”part of the soundtrack of Boys Over Flowers. However, the band disbanded in 2012, while Kim was serving his mandatory military service.
In the acting field, he starred in the Korean-Japanese drama Pygmalion’s Love (2010) and had a role in Detectives in Trouble (2011). After his return from military service in 2013, he worked on the Japanese film Lupin III (2014) and in the drama City of the Sun (2015), his last important participation on television.
In 2015, Kim Joon married his high school sweetheart after nine years of dating, although He kept the marriage a secret until 2018.
Currently, he lives a quiet life as a husband and father of a daughter, Kim So Yi, born in 2016. He has mentioned that starting a family was always his personal priority.
