Everyone’s looking back at 2016, a landmark year for K-drama fans. It shaped Hallyu, created trends, built fandoms, and took Korean pop culture to the world. Dramas, bands, films, songs, everything they touched was gold. Here’s a look back at why 2016 was a truly iconic year.
Descendants of the Sun
One of the most popular Korean dramas of all time is Descendants of the Sun, starring the iconic couple Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo. Unlike most Korean shows, which are filmed alongside their release and allow for script changes during broadcast, this drama was completely pre-produced. The drama gained immense popularity, with actor Song Joong-ki becoming the face of Hallyu culture. The final episode of the drama had a record viewership of 38.8 percent, an all-time high for the KBS hit drama, according to Nielsen Korea. Furthermore, the chemistry of the second lead couple, Kim Ji-won and Jin Goo, was also widely praised. With its high production value and high-stakes moments, Descendants of the Sun made 2016 a remarkable year for K-drama fans.
The Debut of BLACKPINK
YG Entertainment debuted its girl group BLACKPINK in 2016. Widely regarded as the most successful K-pop debut, the group released two hit singles, ‘BOOMBAYAH’ and ‘WHISTLE.’ This established BLACKPINK as YG’s next big act after 2NE1. Building on this momentum, members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa quickly rose to stardom, topping major charts. Their first music show performance aired on August 14, 2016, on SBS’s Inkigayo, and they won first place just thirteen days after their debut. Their rapid rise continued as they won numerous rookie awards, including the New Artist Award at the Melon Music Awards. Further cementing their early achievements, Billboard named them one of the best new K-pop groups of 2016. This early success laid the groundwork for what would become one of the biggest girl groups in the world.
Train to Busan
For most people, the zombie apocalypse is synonymous with the movie Train to Busan. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, it is South Korea’s first homegrown zombie movie, bringing Korean cinema onto the global stage. The film follows a workaholic man, played by Gong Yoo, and his estranged daughter aboard a zombie-infested bullet train. It emerged as one of South Korea’s most acclaimed films and found wide popularity worldwide, particularly in India. Distributed to 156 countries, including France, the US, Japan and China, Train to Busan achieved widespread international reach following its debut at the Cannes International Festival. It paved the way for Korean films to achieve global recognition, prompting audiences to value Korean filmmaking.
TWICE’s ‘Cheer Up’ Phenomenon
In April 2016, the ‘sha sha sha’ craze was everywhere. The girl group Twice’s song ‘Cheer Up‘ was widely considered the nation’s song of the year, with the music video surpassing 100 million YouTube views in record time. The song became a viral sensation, with schools, colleges, and shows across the country echoing it. The song further cemented the nine-member girl group’s popularity within the country as well as overseas. ‘Cheer Up’ also won multiple awards in 2016, including the Best Song of the Year award at the Melon Music Awards.
Goblin: The Guardian and Lonely God
In most beginner K-drama recommendations, Goblin: The Guardian and the Lonely God is a frequent name. Kim Eun-sook, who previously wrote another 2016 megahit, Descendants of the Sun, penned the script for the drama. Goblin tells the romantic fantasy tale of a 939-year-old immortal goblin searching for his bride. Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun star in this drama, delivering the second iconic hit of the year. Audiences widely celebrated the unforgettable chemistry between Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun.The brotherly bond between the two male leads, Gong Yoo and Lee Dong-wook, also received widespread praise. The drama’s OST gained huge recognition and contributed significantly to its popularity. In particular, fans regard the soundtrack ‘Stay With Me‘ as one of the best Korean drama OSTs ever made.
BTS’ Rise to Popularity
BTS stands tall as one of today’s hottest global boy bands. 2016 marked a turning point, propelling them onto the international stage. Their album Wings shattered records, selling over 1.5 million copies in Korea and debuting at No. 26 on the Billboard 200, the highest position for any K-pop album at the time. The lead single, ‘Blood Sweat and Tears‘ is still considered one of their best works. They secured their first-ever Daesang: Album of the Year at the Melon Music Awards for ‘The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever’ in 2016.
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