Haha, so this isn't generally my genre, but I actually rewatched the 2012 Tooniverse three-episode Kim So-hyun drama Ma Boy this morning for a blog post, and it holds up surprisingly well. Despite it having a pretty terrible message about making it as an idol, it's cute and funny genderbender fun! And it's also baby Kim So-hyun, so really, what's not to like??

It hard to say because so many established actors are former idols if you look far enough back, including Hyeri, Jung Ryo-won, Yoon Doo-joon. I believe Seo Hyun-jn and Jang Nara started out as singers though I don't know if they were exactly idols. Does the 'Lets Eat!' series qualify as an idol drama?

I have two Imitation and The liar and his lover. They were both early watches in my K drama journey and have stuck with me.

I'll be honest, most of the idol dramas I started I didn't wind up finishing. So I Married an Anti-Fan in particular inspired near-violent levels of rage in me, specifically the male lead, who was a Go Jun-Pyo-level bully and the (as already mentioned) insufferable second leads.

I pushed through the latter end of You're Beautiful out of respect for its cultural status, and reckon I'll give Imitation another try at some point, though.

This all being said, being the diehard rom-com lover that I am, I was surprised to find that my two favourite idol dramas pretty heavily sideline the romance in favour of focusing on the friendship and relationships between the band/group members.

It took me a while to watch SUFBB, because I couldn't get past that scene, but once I finally did, what I found was beautifully sincere story of a group wayward teens, coming to terms with grief, and overcoming others' prejudice, and their own shortcomings to achieve their dreams. Also, Sung Joon! And L pleasantly surprising me!

The other one for me is probably a little less critically acclaimed, but Idol: The Coup was another surprisingly cracky watch that focused on the (mostly) charmingly flawed members of Cotton Candy as they fight for their dream against the seeming inevitability of disbandment. Hani was as likeable as always in the role of the leader of the group, fighting tooth and nail to keep everyone's head above water, and her chemistry with Kwak Si-Yang was more sizzling than it had any right to be.

Idol drama means music and I really liked Dream High and You're Beautiful OST. I don't really remember the OST in Shut Up Flower Boys or in Imitation.

Entertainer was pretty good for the idol band parts.

Reply 1997.
Loving this idol chasing coming of age story.

Dream High was my second kdrama I ever watched, and it introduced me to Suzy, Taecyeon/2PM, IU, and Park Hye Run dramas! The soundtrack is amazing, and I was in college at the time so the themes about hardwork, competition, friendship, and romance resonated. I also remember Suzy's character Hye Mi having a great arc - she starts starting off as very unlikeable but she learns to appreciate everyone around her.

Also shoutout to Let Me Be Your Knight for having great fake songs!

Without any doubt, thought, or pause, WHAT'S UP.

You're Beautiful was the first one that came to mind. I watched it way back when it was airing live, and I remember checking the sub status on Viki several times a day, looking for that 100% to show up. It's all kinds of tropey, and requires a substantial amount of suspension of belief, but my love for it still lingers.

Touch Your Heart.

.. (embarassedly admit) that her very first recognition that TwDrama and KDrama are on different genre by watching Skip Beat.
Siwon is good enough, but Donghae is ... lets forget that he once try his hand in acting.

I'm still not sure what qualifies as an idol drama. Obviously My Mister or Weak Hero Class 1 are not idol dramas, because the lead actors were establishing themselves as actors separate from their music careers. Right? Is Semantic Error an idol drama? Because I think the whole reason that the two leads agreed to be in a BL was for exposure for their music, right? I love that show enough to rewatch it. Or should I just look for any drama with "flower boy" in the title for a hint about whether it's an idol drama?

DREAM HIGH!!!!!! I still have the OST on my Ipod. I unapologetically love that drama without abandon. Suzy pooping in a shack with perfect pitch is hilarious, plus IU was so adorable. Then add on Kim Soo Hyun. In addition two out of five members of 2pm, what is not to love. I forgot to add Uhm Ki Joon as a good guy. Winning was all over this drama.

Of course @missvictrix because
No Limitation Love Imitation
No Invitation Watch Imitation

So we can only pick one! Well, I loved Shut Up Flower Boy Band. Dream High and You're Beautiful were fun! But, if I have to choose an idol drama it would be High End Crush. A story of a pop agency head with an array of pop star characters including Monsta X. So, you have fake idols and real idols wrapped up in a comical send up of the industry. Still on my watch list is Imitation and I Married an Anti-Fan. Given the recommendations, I think they will be next up on my playlist.

If Shut Up: Flower Boy Band is an idol drama then Shut Up: Flower Boy Band but I don't really seem to think of it as one.
(It is technically, yes in part, and it does that part pretty well to be honest, but like any good drama it's also many other things; it's also a coming of age drama, and it's also a drama about grief and loss and finding your way forward, and it's also about music and and memory, and much more besides.)

Kdramaland rarely, like practically never, probably never, except for SUFBB if we're counting it, does the idol drama (idol drama here meaning a drama ABOUT the Korean phenomenon of "pop idols" as the main focus, not dramas acted by idols turned actors lmfao) in a way that actually truly satisfies me since I have far too many thoughts, feelings and opinions about, and know too much about, kpop and everything related to it, and Korea isn't self aware yet enough to give them the idol drama I want, and as such the last idol drama I watched (Imitation), I hate watched and it drove me up the wall, so I've been avoiding any others for the time being lest I get too incensed... lol.

(So I Married an Anti Fan is a trash love, but I wouldn't pick it if I could only pick one LMAO it was just wildly entertaining for me in all it's trainwreck glory.)

I would probably choose Shut Up for all the reasons already mentioned (and that unforgettable cameo of Lee Minki).

I also quite liked Monstar, with young Kang Haneul.

And You Are Beautiful is just a classic! It was also my first kdrama OST on my mp3 player.

Monstar which ran on Mnet and tvN back in 2013. Junhyung (when they were still called Beast)! Hyunsik and Minhyuk and Sungjae and Changsub from BtoB! Park Hyo Shin! A wee little Kang Haneul! Soooooo many cameos by now well-established stars, and such amazing music throughout. Nine thumbs up!

The original Dream High also continues to have a big chunk of my drama-watching heart. Sadly, dramas with a major music influence like these just aren't made anymore... 🥺

I am TORN between You’re Beautiful and Dream High, which are both very entertaining though perhaps not in the way they are intended to be 😅

I might have to give it to Dream High for having a lovely farm boy/musical genius but it’s a tough call.

Uhh...trick question, right? DREAM HIGH, of course. My first introduction to idol music and many of the stars of that drama. Nothing gets me like coming of age stories, but then you mix it with underdog groug, found family, and cute romance...shesh. I still watch this every year.
But I have not seen SHUT UP, which I have heard so many good things about (just not available in my area). And does THE BEST HIT count? The best fish-out-water story and YOON SHI YOON ate that part up. I am giggling thinking about it.
I agree about IMITATION. And like that, MIMICUS was one that really surprised me at how much I enjoyed it. I still have fuzzy feelings about it.

I loved A LIAR AND HIS LOVER. But IMITATION is a very close second.

I'm going to sing my choice, (I) Dream Hiiiiiigh...
And my reason? I haven't even watched any other idol drama! :D

Maybe it's because I entered the k-pop world way earlier than my venture into k-dramaland, this genre is generally not for me. Either the story would feel too ridiculous (and I have extensive list of comparison to make) to get myself invested into, or it would follow the "real life" too closely to be comfortable to watch.

But if I have to pick one, I'll go for the oldies Dream High, one of my gateway k-dramas. It has satisfying storytelling, touching friendship and romantic relationship, some cool songs and dance sequences, and sprinkled with real 2nd gen idols inside (complete with some cringey acting too, which I could remember fondly now). Also, a great introduction to the wonder of Kim Soo-hyun.

I have not watched any of dramas that Beanies chose as their favorites. I'm afraid I can only pick The Best Hit (if it can be considered as an idol drama). I enjoyed that series a lot, I was really hooked, my loved Yoon Shi Yoon was amazing there, and the OST is one of my favorites ever (Light in the Sky is in my
TOP of drama songs).

Another series I enjoyed was Age of Youth 2. It wasn't centered in idols but part of the plot was about a fallen idol (or wannabe idol). Their final performance was a touching scene.

I would say Imitation if not for the female lead being very annoying. but the sis-mance was nice.
The Best Hit was very touching tho

I love Dream High, Shut Up Flower Boy Band, and What's Up for different reasons, but if I have to choose just one then I'm going with You're Beautiful. It was my very first Kdrama and it will always be super special to me.

Top Management-- Ahn Hyo Seop and Cha Eun Woo were delightful in this gem of a web drama.

I guess the first K-drama I ever watched was an idol drama, though I didn't realize it. 'Dating Agency Cyrano' 2013, Sooyoung was still in the middle of her Girl's Generation years, not that I knew who Girl's Generation was at the time.

Dream High, of course! I also have fond memories of Monster.

I want to say Top Star Yoo Baek but technically the main lead WAS an idol, so I don't know if it counts. 🥺
Dream High is a iconic and it gives me nostalgia as a kpop fan, but they totally destroyed my ship. Taec was supposed to be end game!
I Picked Up a Star on the Road is hilarious but I don't even remember if there was singing?

So I pick The Best Hit.
I still listen to Hyun Jae's song and the OST is awesome with all the 2nd gen idols in it. The storyline was cute and YSY was hilarious as always. I love this show. Tabong!
(Isn't it funny that my username is tabong but I had a difficult time remembering The Best Hit when I saw the question? LOL 🤦‍♀️).

I would have to say "The Greatest Love" which was fun and so cute, and had the best ost song "Dugeun Dugeun (Thump Thump)."

Runner up would be "One More Happy Ending," which followed the lives of the girl group members after they retired from the idol group.

I've stopped watching idol dramas several years ago, only checking out the first few eps if I liked the cast, so I probably can't speak for the more recent ones but the one I think encapsulates my era of idol dramas and that will always hold a special place in my heart is You're Beautiful. First drama that introduced me to SLS and started/propagated a lot of the classic tropes we see today. There are tons of better dramas out there, even a few like Shut Up: Flower Boy Band and Idol: The Coup that are pretty much better in every aspect (better written, acted, etc.) but it feels like a classic that became a gateway to kdramas for many.

I guess I don’t watch idol dramas cos other than Dream High, i’ve never seen all the other dramas mentioned. So DH wins by default 😂

I can't believe no one mentioned Heartstrings! This drama still has some of the best OSTs ever!!! in dramaland. Of course, I watched it because of You're Beautiful, but it stands on its own. Not the best acting and script but I loved the attitude of characters towards achieving their dreams and how they made the little to no storyline matter to me, and the OSTs.... I confess that I still have them on my playlists, and I watched this drama in 2013. That says a lot.