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Korean drama has gained popularity globally for almost two decades. Remember the iconic stories in the 2000s like Full House (2004), Coffee Prince (2007), and Boys Over Flowers (2009)? How about the early 2010s classics such as Secret Garden (2010), You Who Came from the Stars (2013), and Reply 1988 (2015)?
The K-drama wave is still moving and will continue to attract larger audiences with various storylines, characters, and unique visual charm. With the proven high quality of production processes such as well-written story, escalating character development, and a great investment in the place and time setting, some K-drama series will make you unable to move on after finishing the final episode.
Those who love K-drama know how it has an all-consuming impact on you. But on the bright side, there are so many inspirations you can get from watching Korean drama. Learning new culture, language, life lessons, drama production, the list goes on. You can also get inspired and take some ideas from it, including the one we cover here, impressive gift ideas inspired by K-drama. Is your favorite going to be on the list?
1. Potted plant – Crash Landing on You (2019)
Crash Landing on You was one of the South Korean biggest shows of 2019-2020. This drama tells the story of Yoon Se Ri, a South Korean heiress, and Ri Jung Hyuk, a North Korean soldier, who both fall in love after she accidentally paraglides over the border and crashes into the neighboring country. While the beautiful love story is something we find often, it is the precise, detailed, and well-researched depiction of everyday life in North Korea that has caught people’s attention.
If you’re currently stuck in a long-distance relationship, you might want to take notes from Ri Jung Hyuk (Hyun Bin), who has mastered the skills to survive the long-distance relationship. Just because you’re in a relationship but far away from each other doesn’t mean you should cut the effort in showing your partner how deep your love is. Ri Jung Hyuk does it in a very meaningful and romantic way.
In the series, Jung Hyuk sends a gift with hidden messages to Yoon Se Ri (Son Ye Jin). The gift is a potted plant that she needs to nurture and take care of. The plant ends up growing into Edelweiss. There is a message from him to her, which is an invitation to meet in the country where those flowers bloom. Edelweiss is the national flower of Switzerland. It is the country where Jung Hyuk and Se Ri met for the first time.
Edelweiss symbolizes deep love and devotion. How people acquire the flowers at their origin place has become a popular story because of the difficulty. The flowers grow mostly at about 1,800 to 3,000 meters altitude. Picking Edelweiss in the Alps needs a huge effort. Bringing these flowers to the loved ones shows that they would die for them. The Edelweiss is not just a sign on where Ri Jung Hyuk and Yoon Se Ri should meet. It is also proof of how much he loves her.
2. Perfume – My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018)
My ID is Gangnam Beauty is a South Korean TV series released in 2018, starring Cha Eun Woo as Do Kyung Seok and Im Soo Hyang as Kang Mi Rae. Mi Rae, a college freshman, has an inner battle with her self-image. Growing up, Mi Rae believed that she doesn’t fit the beauty standards, which made her want to change the way she looks. After receiving plastic surgery, Mi Rae has to face the consequence that comes with it. Living her “new” life, she meets Kyung Seok, who shows her true beauty.
Kang Mi Rae is very interested in perfume. It is what gives her motivation to keep living her life even though she is struggling with anxiety. It is also central to the plot and character development. She loves to wear perfume and wants to pursue a career in that field. In summary, perfume has given her strength since a young age.
There is a scene where the chemistry between the main characters is escalated through Mi Rae’s favorite thing, perfume. Kyung Seok gives perfume to Mi Rae with her name engraved on the case. This part gives the audience that intimate, sweet, and romantic feelings If this sounds like what you are hoping for in a relationship, why not give this idea a try? Perfume is also something that both women and men always like. When you wear perfume, your elegance blooms, filling up the entire room.
3. Wine – Itaewon Class (2020)
Before getting into wine as a gift, let’s talk about the Itaewon Class version first, the soju story. Like any other K-drama series, soju is frequently consumed on this 2020 series starring Park Seo Joon. Served in those distinctive green bottles, soju is distilled from fermented grain (rice, wheat, or barley), and popular throughout the country thanks to its large-scale availability and affordable price.
It is not just a complementary scene, drinking soju has a special meaning in the Itaewon Class story. In the first episode, young Park Saeroyi (Park Seo Joon), the main lead, gets his first sip of soju from his single father. It is a profound emotional bonding moment as his father teaches his son how to drink soju. When he asks Saeroyi about the taste, he answers that it is sweet. His father laughs. He says that it means his son had an impressive day. In the next episode, an unfortunate event makes Saeroyi says something different about how the soju tastes. He says, “It’s bitter,” as he has to continue his life without his beloved father.
Drinking soju is not only a lifestyle in South Korea, it can also represent your current state of mind and feeling. It can release any emotion that you have. Drinking soju is also a great way to bond and make memories with people.
While soju is not quite common outside of South Korea and is rarely used as a gift, you can get inspired by Saeroyi and his soju story and style it your way. You can choose wine as a substitute for soju. Wine even elevates your elegance more, adds more lavishness and luxury, and it is a perfect and special drink to cherish the moments with your beloved. There are many variants of wine that you can freely choose to suit the mood you want to create. Ready to build your own wine story?
