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YesAsia 2011 Bestsellers - TV Dramas

Written by YumCha! Editorial Team Tell a Friend

With precious few Chinese and Japanese television series seeing English-subtitled releases, Korean dramas dominated YesAsia's best-selling television dramas ranking in 2011. Eight out of the top ten TV sellers on YesAsia's Global Site are Korean series.

1. Secret Garden (Korea)
Secret Garden was just about the most talked about K-Drama of 2010-2011, thanks to Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won's sizzling chemistry (and fabulous array of tracksuits). The body-swapping fantasy takes its well-deserved spot on the top of our bestsellers ranking. Kim Joo Woon approves.

2. Dream High (Korea)
K-Drama meets K-pop in Dream High, and the concept paid off in a big way. Bringing together the Korean Wave worlds, the star-making, star-spotting school drama appealed to both K-pop fans supporting their idols and K-Drama fans looking for a good old underdog youth drama.

3. Marry Me, Mary (Korea)
Marry Me, Mary may have gotten mixed reviews for its uneven story, but just about everyone agrees on the mega-watt drawing power of cute leading couple Jang Keun Suk and Moon Geun Young. Never bet against Jang Keun Suk.

4. Sungkyunkwan Scandal (Korea)
Aired in autumn 2010, Sungkyunkwan Scandal lived up to high expectations as an enjoyable campus sageuk that challenged the heart and mind - and provided plenty of romance and bromance to squeal over. Park Yoo Chun's solid debut has become a benchmark for idol-turned-actors, and local and overseas fans alike adored Song Joong Ki and Yoo Ah In's breakthrough turns.

5. Coffee Prince (Korea)
Sandwiched between Sungkyunkwan Scandal and You're Beautiful, Coffee Prince can take credit for being the first of the K-Drama hits about cross-dressing heroines. The 2007 romance is still a steady favorite, and the drama of choice for those who miss seeing Gong Yoo on the small screen.

6. You're Beautiful (Korea)
Even two years after its broadcast, the popularity of You're Beautiful is still going strong. The fan-favorite idol drama spawned a Japanese remake in 2011, not to mention a slew of Pig Rabbit products and Jang Keun Suk fan meetings.

7. Down with Love (Taiwan)
Romantic, hilarious, and touching, Down with Love charms audiences like there's no tomorrow despite its admittedly corny premise. S.H.E's Ella is the modern Cinderella who falls in love with the princely protagonist played by F4's Jerry Yan. Besides the pop star team-up, the idol drama is particularly memorable for child actor Xiao Xiao Bin, who adorably steals the show.

8. My Fair Lady (Korea)
Aired in 2009, My Fair Lady took a while to come to DVD. Though this series didn't attract as much love as Yoon Eun Hye's previous hits, anything she stars in remains popular among K-Drama fans. Yoon Sang Hyun, Jung Il Woo, and Moon Chae Won's rise in 2011 also boosted the drama's appeal.

9. Hi My Sweetheart (Taiwan)
The fact that Hi My Sweetheart was an early 2010 release but still clung to the bestsellers list throughout 2011 is a telling sign of the drama's popularity. It's incredible that this is only the first collaboration between Rainie Yang and Show Luo given their palpable chemistry and impeccable comedy timing in the series. The theme songs they sing are quite nice, too.

10. My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox (Korea)
With the Hong Sisters on screenwriting duties and a leading couple formed by the luminous Shin Min Ah and Korea's favorite son Lee Seung Gi, My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox was a surefire charmer. Sassy girlfriends may be common in K-Dramas, but the magical fantasy element offers a fresh twist.

CHINESE TV BESTSELLERS

1. Down with Love
2. Hi My Sweetheart
3. Little Nyonya
4. Condor Hero
5. Bu Bu Jing Xin
6. Spirit of the Sword
7. Justice Bao (2010)
8. Love You
9. Sunny Happiness
9. Wing Chun

KOREA TV BESTSELLERS

1. Secret Garden
2. Dream High
3. Marry Me, Mary
4. Sungkyunkwan Scandal
5. Coffee Prince
6. You're Beautiful
7. My Fair Lady
8. My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox
9. Playful Kiss
10. Bread, Love and Dreams

JAPAN TV BESTSELLERS

1. 24CH△NNEL
2. Onegai Kanaete Versailles
3. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger
4. Urakara
5. SMAP Ganbarimasu!! 2010
6. Letter from Sakura
7. Ikemen Desune
8. Another Gantz
9. Majisuka Gakuen 2
10. Freeter, Ie wo Kau

Note: Rankings for best-selling TV dramas differ between YesAsia's US and Global Sites due to the different product selections available on each site based on regional licensing restrictions. Korean and Chinese TV drama rankings in this feature reflect the sales on Global Site only.

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Published January 27, 2012

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