For male it's actually my favorite kdrama of all time.
Beyond The Clouds (2014)
The lead is Yoon Kye Sang from GOD.
He's phenomenal. And the drama is my absolute favorite type of kdrama. A moody tense revenge melodrama where the leads are a love hate sort of dynamic. It's in the style of melodramas that were popular during the early 2000s that's they don't make as much anymore because the male lead style and dynamic between leads is seen as retrograde and out of style. (They see the relationships as controlling and toxic.)
It's one I can watch over and over. It's so good. My absolute favorite.
I even gave a synopsis card I wrote a long time ago to promo it: (Something I didn't touch on in my comments below is how awesome the second lead is. Maybe one of my favorite characters in a kdrama. And the villain is so so so good.
Beyond The Clouds (AKA The Full Sun) (2014)
Genre: Romance / Melodrama
Setup: After serving time in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, a con-artist vows to exact revenge on those who falsely imprisoned him. His con becomes complicated when the daughter of the object of his revenge, proves herself more lamb than wolf.
Cast: Yoon Kye-sang, Han Ji-hye, Cho Jin-woong, Kim Yoo-ri
Comment: My other favorite drama of all time (tied with That Winter The Wind Blows). Another moody and romantic melodrama. Yoon Kye-sang is my second favorite male lead performance, behind Jo In-sung in That Winter The Wind Blows. Han Ji-hye is beautiful and vulnerable, one of my favorite female lead performances. Also features my favorite second lead performance by Cho Jin-woong. The whole show is angsty, extremely romantic and beautiful. The chemisty and love-hate relationship between the two leads drives the show. Again, if you like moody and romantic melodramas tinged with revenge plots, you’ll love this.
Trailer:
(Feat. OST) (*One of my favorite songs of all time.)
