The Most Influential K-Drama Writers in Korea
We often talk about the stars and the directors, but the true masterminds behind every K-Drama success story are the writers. In the Korean television industry, the screenwriter (jakka, 작가) holds immense power and cultural prestige. They are the architects who build the emotional worlds, invent the iconic tropes, and craft the dialogues that launch global trends.
If you want to understand the DNA of a successful K-Drama, you must know the names of these creative giants. As a local, I’m here to introduce you to the most influential jakka whose pens have shaped the Korean Wave (Hallyu) and captured the hearts of millions worldwide.
1. Kim Eun-sook (김은숙)
Signature Hits: Descendants of the Sun, Goblin: The Lonely and Great God, The King: Eternal Monarch, Mr. Sunshine.
Why She’s Iconic: She is arguably the most commercially successful screenwriter alive. Her dramas are known for their high production value, witty, quotable dialogue (especially the male lead’s lines), and complex blending of romance with fantasy or intense action. She creates immediate megastars and her dramas are a guaranteed global hit—she knows the formula for maximum swoon and spectacle.
2. Park Ji-eun (박지은)
Signature Hits: Crash Landing on You, My Love From the Star, The Producers, Legend of the Blue Sea.
Why She’s Iconic: She is the queen of the high-concept, highly addictive romantic comedy. Her dramas excel at taking an outrageous premise (a North Korean soldier falls for a South Korean heiress; an alien falls for a top actress) and rooting it in heartfelt, relatable emotion. Crash Landing on You became a global phenomenon, proving her ability to connect universal romance with unique, local Korean political themes.
3. Kim Eun-hee (김은희)
Signature Hits: Signal, Kingdom, Ghost, Jirisan.
Why She’s Iconic: She is the master of the Korean thriller/mystery genre. Her work is known for its meticulous plotting, high suspense, and willingness to delve into dark, historical, or political themes (like the Hwaseong murders in Signal or the Joseon zombie plague in Kingdom). She proved that Korean TV could produce world-class, critically acclaimed genre fiction.
4. Lee Woo-jung (이우정)
Signature Hits: Reply 1997, Reply 1994, Reply 1988 (The Reply Series) and Hospital Playlist.
Why She’s Iconic: She is the queen of nostalgia and slice-of-life realism. Her work excels at creating large ensemble casts where the drama comes not from explosions, but from the everyday joys, heartbreaks, and mysteries of family and friendship. Reply 1988 is widely considered one of the greatest Korean dramas ever made because of its authentic portrayal of human connection.
5. Kim Young-hyun (김영현) & Park Sang-yeon (박상연) – The Collaborative Duo
Signature Hits: Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace), Queen Seondeok, Six Flying Dragons.
Why They’re Iconic: They revolutionized the historical drama genre, proving that complex political history could be serialized and globally consumed. Dae Jang Geum was a cultural phenomenon that spread the Hallyu wave across Asia, showcasing traditional Korean culture, cuisine, and history with incredible depth.
These writers are the true powerhouses, shaping everything from our language to our fashion sense. If you love a drama, remember the jakka who wrote it!