Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Park Yoo Chun and Han Ji MinRooftop Prince tells the story of the Crown Prince Yi Gak (Park Yoo Chun) of Joseon who is transported to modern day Seoul along with his three trusted bodyguards, and they land right in the middle of Park Ha’s (Han Ji Min) rooftop apartment.

He then encounters a woman named Se Na (Jung Yu Mi) who looks just like his dead wife from the past.  And when everyone mistakes him as the missing grandson of a CEO, he takes the opportunity to uncover the mystery behind their resemblance.

Oh how I loved Rooftop Prince! It’s one of my top 10 all time favorite dramas and has that great mix of romantic comedy and melodrama that I love. There’s a lot of fun to be had as we watch our four Joseson era guys adapt to life in modern day Seoul. This drama touched my heart. I laughed, cried, and experienced every emotion in between!

Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Park Yoo Chun

Park Yoo Chun is perfect as the uptight royal prince Yi Gak/Tae Young. He’s completely self absorbed and knows full well how important his princely status is. But when he lands in the modern day, he is completely out of his element.

Despite this, he continues to act high and mighty no matter how out of place he is. It really is quite funny. But underneath all of that, is a warm man with a big heart ready to love. He was a great character, and Park Yoo Chun played him wonderfully.

Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Han Ji MinHan Ji Min plays Park Ha. She’s feisty and independent with a big heart. Her world gets turned upside down when four strange guys randomly land in her apartment. She gets tangled up with them and their crazy shenanigans, but that brings lots of fun into her life as well as a chance at love.

Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Se Na Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Lee Tae Sung

I really loved the villains in this drama. They are quite villainous and cause all sorts of problems for our main couple. Se Na (Jung Yu Mi) has the same appearance as Yi Gak’s dead wife, and she has a complicated relationship with Park Ha which she exploits to her advantage.

And Tae Moo (Lee Tae Sung) has it out for Yi Gak’s modern day look alike Tae Young. He does anything and everything to take him down so he can better his position in the family. This duo is all kinds of trouble, but I sure did get a kick out of watching them cause problems!

Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Choi Woo Sik, Park Yoo Chun, Lee Min HoRooftop Prince Korean Drama - Park Yoo Chun, Choi Woo Shik, Lee Min Ho

Then there’s the rest of our Joseon crew. Chi San (Choi Woo Shik), Man Bo (Lee Min Ho), and Yong Sul (Jung Suk Won) are dedicated to serving the Prince and will protect him no matter what. They are a quirky bunch with a lot of heart. And they are oh so hilarious! The crazy situations these guys get into are so funny, and I grew to love each of them.

Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Park Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Park Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min

I loved Yi Gak and Park Ha as a couple! This is one of those relationships that I got completely swoony over. It’s a slow build with a lot of cute bickering in the beginning. But then it blossoms into quite the fated love story. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and so much more. I adored this couple, and their love story completely tugged at my heart.

Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Park Yoo Chun Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Han Ji Min

The mystery surrounding the death of Yi Gak’s wife was also very interesting. The drama laid it out well and slowly peels back the layers as we learn the full story and how it effects our characters in the past and in the present.

Rooftop Prince Korean Drama - Park Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min

This is also a drama that just gets better as it goes along. What starts out as mostly fun, turns into a very dramatic and intense drama. The story was just so good all the way through, and I was completely invested in the characters. The romance hit all of the right spots for me and gave me feels to last a lifetime. Everything just came together to make this a truly wonderful drama.

My Rating: 10/10

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37 responses to “Rooftop Prince Korean Drama Review”

  1. Hannathegrace Avatar

    Omaygash. I love this drama. It’s super funny. 😍😍

    1. Kay Avatar

      Agree! I love everything about Rooftop Prince! 🙂

  2. […] This is also a drama that just gets better as it goes along.  What starts out as mostly fun, turns into a very dramatic and intense drama.  The story was just so good, and I was completely invested in the characters. The romance hit all of the right spots for me too. Everything just came together to make this a truly wonderful drama. (Rooftop Prince Review) […]

  3. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    I’m almost finished with “My Princess” so you’ve just picked what’s next on my list – can’t wait!!

    1. Kay Avatar

      Oooh, I hope you like it! I have a huge soft spot for Rooftop Prince and loved it so much 🙂 So what did you think of My Princess? That one has been on me list for years, and I’ve never gotten around to it.

      1. Kate Avatar
        Kate

        My Princess was okay but there was a lot of wasted potential. It started out as one thing (cute, funny, light, fluffy – what I love) and tried to get serious with a very thin plot line and in so doing got away from what was working so well at the beginning. I had not seen Song Seung Heon before but my goodness he was handsome in this(!), and Kim Tae Hee was all kinds of adorable. The two of them were great together so I’m not sorry I watched but a bit disappointed in the drama as a whole. I would give it a 6/10. I was able to squeeze in one episode of Rooftop Prince before bedtime last night and I’m already trying to clear my schedule today so I can start binge-watching!

        1. Kay Avatar

          Yeah, it seems like My Princess kind of got mixed reviews. Kind of like you said, cute but not quite enough plot to carry it later. I’ll still keep it on my list for when I find myself in a particular mood for it.

          Yes, definitely make time for Rooftop Prince! Although the set up episode is quite good, it’s more light and fun in the beginning episodes, but then it has a pretty good plot to work with and gets all kinds of dramatic in the second half. Rom/com/melo at it’s finest, lol. I really hope it’s a good one for you 🙂

  4. zbz (@ibnuzakariyya) Avatar

    Yayy you finished the review!! This deserves your 10 😀
    I only remembered Park Yoo Chun in these two dramas – Rooftop Prince & Missing You – and i love them both!! Such opposites in role but he delivered them so well. Unfortunately, I don’t see him around on screens anymore 🙁

    1. Kay Avatar

      Yes! Finally got it finished! And it completely deserves a 10 🙂 I really enjoy all of Park Yoo Chun’s dramas, but Missing You and Rooftop Prince are my favorites. Both are in my all time top 10. And yes, he’s so different in the roles and really has such a good acting range. Have you seen Girl Who Sees Smells? That was another one I really enjoyed him in 🙂

  5. Toni Avatar
    Toni

    Hi I just have to ask, you said Rooftop Prince as one of your top 10 kdramas. I checked but I havent opened all of your kdrama reviews. You rated moon lovers, gu family book, rooftop prince with 10/10. Im just curiuos which else among these have you given a 10, cause we seen to have the same favorites. Thanks

    1. Kay Avatar

      Hi! Yes, I definitely have a lot of love for Rooftop Prince as well as Moon Lovers and Gu Family Book. It’s neat that we share some of the same favorites 🙂

      Some of my other 10’s would be: Kill Me Heal Me, Empress Ki, Shopping King Louie, Bridal Mask, I Miss You, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Flower Boy Next Door, Fated to Love You, City Hunter, Pinocchio, and Eulachacha Waikiki.

      Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. I know there are several more though 🙂

  6. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    Hello just wanted to ask, did you watch this at the time it was airing or watched it years later? I’ve been looking at some older dramas and some I loved and others are so so. I wanted to mnow because there are dramas that were rated really well but I didn’t really end up liking. Thank you

    1. Kay Avatar

      Hi Ann. I watched it just about a year after it aired. I know watching older dramas can be very hit or miss when looking at reviews or ratings since sometimes they are best enjoyed closer to when they aired as they can start to feel dated. I think Rooftop Prince holds up pretty well if you like that genre, but it definitely “feels” like a drama of that time. Have you liked other dramas from around 2011-2013?

      1. Ann Avatar
        Ann

        I liked a few including The Moon That Embraces The Sun and I loved Master’s Sun. i didn’t see as many as I thought from those years. I remember starting Secret Garden but never really got into it. There’s just loads in Netflix now and you can really see the difference from then to now lol. I just wanted to see something ‘older’ and this is really popular

        1. Kay Avatar

          Haha, yeah, when you go back about 5 years you really notice that difference. Go back 10 years ago and the difference is night and day! But Rooftop Prince is pretty good if you like that rom/com/melo mix and doesn’t feel too old, but is older. Have you tried some of the other classics like My Love from Another Star, I Hear Your Voice, and City Hunter? Most people seem to think they hold up pretty well as long you like the stories in general. I’m always glad to meet others giving some of the older dramas a chance since there are some really greats ones 🙂

          1. Ann Avatar
            Ann

            Sorry for the too late reply. I even forgot I commented lol. I remembered because I am now about to watch the drama and I was looking for assurance that I won’t have my time wasted. A lot of people are really mixed about this – a lot of the ones who watched it when it was airing loved it and others found nothing special about it. I guess I just have to dive in. It helps that I love tine travel dramas and Yoo Chun. Only ever saw him in The Girl Who Can See Smells but he made such a mark. Wish me luck!! 😂

          2. Kay Avatar

            Haha, no problem 🙂 Yes, that’s been my experience with this drama too as the reaction has been quite mixed. It was super popular when it came out, but since then the reactions seem pretty varied. And I agree, it seems like with dramas like that, you just kind of have to dive in and see how you feel.

            Park Yoo Chun is really good in this drama too. And the writer is even the same as The Girl Who Sees Smells. I also really love time travel 🙂 Rooftop Prince takes a few eps to really get going, but then it gets quite fun. And then super dramatic, lol. So yeah, definitely depends if you like that kind of genre. I wish you lots of luck with it! 🙂

  7. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    How did you take the ending? I LOVED everything about it and it’s so neatly wrap up. I’ve yet to fully accept the ending lol. I feel like I do get it but Id like to know your interpretation of it. I was literally searching the internet about it. Their love is so sweet and heartbreaking 😭

    1. Kay Avatar

      I personally thought the ending fit perfectly 🙂 It was very bittersweet with a combination of being sad and beautiful. I thought it was sad that Yi Gak had to basically live his life alone without Park Ha in the past. But the Tae Young of the present was the one meant to be with her. I like to think he may have retained some of his memories from his past life as Yi Gak though. I think that’s sort of left up to personal interpretation, but I certainly want to believe it so that it feels like a part of Yi Gak lived on in Tae Young and still got to be with his love. So beautiful all around though 🙂

      1. Ann Avatar
        Ann

        I love that you choose to see it that way. Well, I think it did imply that Tae Yong recognised her as though he was Lee Gak. It really confused me when I saw the ending but then I’ve seen a clip on Youtube. It was basically the picture frame with Park Ha only remaining in the picture since the guys all returned to Joseon. They showed the picture frame again, this time Lee Gak reappearing beside her.

        I wonder if you’ve seen that ending clip. I feel like that was such a crucial bit to the ending to satisfy us 🤣. So now I see it as Lee Gak appearing through Tae Yong 😂

        But YooChun and Han Ji Min were really so impressive with their characters though. Amazingly acted especially towards the end. I feel like this might be Yoo Chun’s best role. I loved him in The Girl Who Sees Scents but his versatility in here was so impressive.

        1. Kay Avatar

          Ah, that is interesting. I don’t believe I have seen that clip, but it definitely makes since. I thought showing him in his traditional clothes implied the connection with his past self which to me would indicate he would remember her. And that extra ending bit sounds like it fits perfectly with that 🙂 So yay for our sweet couple!

          I too thought they were both very impressive in this drama. They wowed me the first time, and I was still left in awe after watching it a couple more times. They were just perfect!

          Oooh, I would be torn between this role and I Miss You for Yoo Chun’s best role. Yi Gak is bit more of a well rounded character while his I Miss You character of Han Jung Woo is more intense. Hmmm, maybe I’ll just go with they were both amazing! lol 😉

          1. Ann Avatar
            Ann

            Sorry but which do you refer to that it sounds like it fit perfectly with?

            Yes they had such an amazing chemistry together. I’m happy I gave this a chance. It’s always sad watching an older kdrama though because you’ve got no one to talk to about it. So it’s great you loved this drama haha.

            Hmm, I’m quite afraid to start that. I feel like that drama would be intense and tragic. 🙈

          2. Kay Avatar

            I meant the picture frame with him appearing beside her combined with him appearing in traditional clothes in the ending scene seems like they would both indicate that he remembered her 🙂

            Yeah, that’s probably the main negative to watching older dramas. No one to share with! I always try to get an older one in when I can, so it is disappointing not to have others to talk to about it. I’m glad we both loved this one too! It’s one of my favorite dramas so it’s a really nice to bring back all of those nostalgic moments 🙂

            Haha, I can understand being a bit weary to start I Miss You. The beginning of the drama is quite sad, and then it stays super angsty throughout. It’s a fantastic drama if you’re into the genre, but you definitely have to be ready for it, lol

          3. Ann Avatar
            Ann

            I thought that at first but then have read Yoo Chun’s interview. He said that he acted the scene where he was Tae Yong fully thinking it was just Tae Yong himself. And that he personally thinks he doesn’t have any memories of Lee Gak. That’s why i got so confused lol. And that is why I thoughtthat maybe in the end, it was Lee Gak himself who appeared through Tae Yong. Does that make sense? Haha sorry this is getting too long.

            Yup I think I better leave it for another time. Lol

          4. Kay Avatar

            Haha, yeah, ending are confusing many times. I feel like kdramas like to leave them open a lot. I’m sure an actor has to decide on a way to interpret a scene for themselves though, and I figure sometimes that could align with what the PD/writer planned and sometimes it might not. I know I’ve read conflicting reports between actors and production at times in the past. I’m still going to believe he remembered her though, hehe 😉

  8. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    True. It all points to it in the end 🙈

  9. […] But don’t be fooled, this drama gets very intense and dramatic with a rich story and a mystery to solve. It was so good and just got better as it went. The romance is also amazing and brought me much joy as well as some tears. A truly wonderful drama! (Rooftop Prince Review) […]

  10. Fred Avatar
    Fred

    Hi, Kaye. I haven’t posted a long comment in a while. But I just have to post one for this drama. HAHAHAHAHA. Here goes.

    THE ENDING
    Oh my! I did not expect that. I just wanted to finish this drama since I wanted to rewatch one of my Top Tens. Definitely one of the best endings I have seen. Bittersweet, painful, beautiful. I was just expecting some basic happy ending since Kdramas are not really very good with endings HEHE. But my, oh my! Amazing, perfect ending! A bit sad for Lee Gak but happy overall.

    EPISODE ONE TO NINETEEN
    First of all, I would like to say Sorry. I have an unpopular opinion about the nineteen episodes. Though it is mainly about the leading man. HAHAHA. This is the gist of my review before the last episode: “The drama would have been amazing if not for the male lead actor.” Hehe, sorry Kaye. I don’t hate him (I hate someone else – that you also love – hehe). His acting just disturbs me. The only emotion he can act is the ‘stoic’ emotion. The one where he doesn’t talk HAHA. When he tries to be sad, happy, angry or whatever other emotion there is, I do not feel convinced. It feels so awkward.

    What makes this drama so amazing? This drama is the first Lee Tae Sung drama that I finished HAHA. I dropped both Sungkyunkwan Scandal and Missing You. For Sungkyunkwan Scandal, I wanted Song Joong Ki to end up with the leading lady instead. For Missing You, I believed then that I dropped it mainly because I was in a not-so-into-kdrama phase. But thinking about it now, it may also have had a lot to do with the lead actor.

    There were also some minor loopholes and the acting of the leading lady had some very minor issues. All of those I could let go. This could have been a 9.5 for me. Not a 10 since it lacked those “big moments” where in major reveals or climaxes are shown with amazing music + beautiful cinematography + perfect acting.

    The last episode though was a 10. But because of the lead actor, I’ll give it an 8 as an overall score. HEHEHE.

    1. Kay Avatar

      Well, I’m glad you still enjoyed the drama despite some things not working for you 🙂 Haha, that’s okay, we all have actors we just don’t care for for whatever reason. I always really enjoyed Park Yoo Chun as an actor, and he’s the lead in some of my favorite dramas. He is pretty stoic in a good chunk of this drama, but I always felt that was more of his character. Missing You is my number 2 favorite drama of all time, and I thought he was very emotional in that one. But I understand, there are actors that others think are amazing that I don’t. It just happens, hehe

      Oh yes, that ending for Rooftop Prince though! I was overall very happy with it, but it ripped my heart out with how bittersweet it was. It’s one of my favorite endings by far because of how impactful it was. The feels still linger on to this day, lol 🙂

  11. Subi Avatar
    Subi

    I absolutely loved this series as well! I was wondering if you knew any similar series? I’ve had my expectations set so high by this romance that non other seem to compare.

    1. Kay Avatar

      It really is such a great drama. One of my favorites. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much too 🙂 I know what you mean. It is so hard to find comparable series because of how good the romance was in this one. I guess it kind of depends what element you really liked about it most. Have you seen the some of the classics like Fated to Love You and Kill Me Heal Me? I find them to be similar in some ways. If you’ve already seen those, I can recommend something else 🙂

      1. Subi Avatar
        Subi

        Thank you for the response! I’ve heard about those two but the accidental pregnancy trope doesn’t appeal to me. Also, I don’t think I’d like a romance with depictions of mental illnesses like DID. I really liked Shopping King Louie, Bring It On Ghost!, 100 Days my Prince, I’m Not a Robot, and Crash Landing, along with Rooftop Prince. I don’t know what the similarity between those would be, my taste seems to be a bit random 😅. Still, if you have any other shows you’d like to recommend, I’d love suggestions! 🙂

        1. Kay Avatar

          I understand. We all have our drama preferences 🙂 I like the ones you mentioned too. Shopping King Louie is another one of my all-time favorites.

          And there are plenty of others that I really enjoyed that maybe you might be interested in. Some of my other favorite romances are Pinocchio, Flower Boy Next Door, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (a bit older, but very fun), and Girl Who Sees Smells (same writer as Rooftop Prince). Also maybe something like Her Private Life, True Beauty, and Moonlight Drawn By Clouds.

          And just to throw it out there, if you’re open to a Taiwanese drama, the time travel romance Someday or One Day is amazing! One of the best dramas I’ve seen. If you go for that one, I recommend not reading anything else about the plot though as it is truly best enjoyed going in blind.

          I hope something on that list catches your interest. If not, we’ll keep looking! hehe 🙂

          1. Subi Avatar
            Subi

            I liked Pinocchio as well! I just watched the first episode of the girl who sees smells and it looks promising, thank you for the other recommendations as well, I’ll check them out after!

          2. Kay Avatar

            Yes, Pinocchio is a wonderful drama 🙂 Glad to hear you enjoyed that one too.

            I hope you like Girl Who Sees Smells. Completely different set up from Rooftop Prince, but the writer has a recognizable style of humor in her dramas as well as storytelling that mixes the rom-com and melo elements really well 🙂

  12. renee ham Avatar
    renee ham

    I read the entire conversations that went on between the writers. thank you. they were very interesting and insightful. ^^

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