In the Korean drama world, we have many people to be thankful for, from the actors and actresses who have perfectly portrayed and given life to the characters set for them and to the people behind the scenes whose presence made the drama the best. 

One of the most important contributors is the writer, who craft the stories and write the characters we may love or hate. They are the people who can steer the direction of the story for the best or for the worst.

Various writers stand out for their different skills, from writing hit dramas to their unparalleled ability to craft stories that resonate deeply with audiences, transcending borders and language. Probably one, if not the best K-Drama writers, is writer Noh Hee Kyung, a prolific screenwriter known for her exceptional storytelling prowess and poignant narratives that delve into the complexities of life, love, and human relationships. 

With a career spanning decades, Noh Hee Kyung has left an indelible mark on the Korean entertainment industry, earning widespread acclaim and numerous accolades for her work. She has won multiple awards as Best Drama Writer and has won the Best Screenplay for Television Award twice from the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards. She has also written a lot of K-Dramas tackling important issues, including being the screenwriter for a drama special titled, "Sad Temptation" in 1999, which became the first ever drama to feature a gay couple on Korean television.

Let's embark on a journey through some of the masterpieces that define her extraordinary legacy:

"Padam Padam"

"Padam Padam" tells the story of Yang Kang Chil (Jung Woo Sung) who is given a second chance at life following his 16-year unlawful imprisonment, and is saved by his best friend and guardian angel, Gook Soo (Kim Bum), by a miracle. Kang Chil will eventually fall in love with Jang Ji Na (Han Ji Min), a veterinarian characterized by her selfish nature who he will soon discover to be connected to his arrest. 

Noh Hee Kyung's masterful storytelling infuse "Padam Padam" with a sense of magic and wonder, captivating viewers with how it conveys hope and redemption, leaving a lasting effect on everyone who experiences it, thanks to its emotionally stirring story and endearing characters.

"That Winter, the Wind Blows"

The series is based on the Japanese drama "Forget Love", with the  adaptation being written by Noh Hee Kyung, unfolding a captivating tale of love, deception, and redemption. The series revolves around the story of  Oh Young (Song Hye Kyo), a lonely visually-impaired heiress of a conglomerate, whose parents are dead and has an estranged older brother. Oh Soo (Jo In Sung), also an orphan, has his life going astray due to the death of his first love and leading for him to become a gambler and eventually, a con-man to pay off his debts. He tries to deceive Oh Young as he pretends to be her long lost brother to inherit her wealth when she dies.

"It's Okay, That's Love"

The drama series, "It's Okay, That's Love", was drama that Noh Hee Kyung wrote in hopes of challenging the stigma and social prejudice against the taboo topics regarding mental health and disorders. The story revolves around Jang Jae Yeol (Jo In Sung), an author of bestselling mystery novels and a radio DJ. While he seems to be playful and arrogant, he is continuously suffering from a very traumatic past. He will eventually meet Ji Hae Soo (Gong Hyo Jin) a first-year fellow in the psychiatry department at a university hospital who is also being affected by an incident in her past. 

Writer Noh Hee Kyung's screenplay for this series was nominated for the Best Screenplay for Television Award during the 51st Baeksang Arts Awards.

"Dear My Friends"

Noh Hee Kyung spotlights the stories of friendship, aging, and the passage of time in the series, "Dear My Friends" through the lens of a group of elderly friends. Park Wan (Go Hyun Jung) listen to the stories of her mother, Jang Nan Hee (Go Doo Shim), alongside the experiences and stories of her friends and how they all navigate their twilight years and their struggles due to their old age. As they navigate the challenges of old age, the friends find solace and strength in each other's company, offering support and encouragement through life's ups and downs.

Due to its star studded cast, the drama received warm reception, not to mention Noh Hee Kyung's poignant storytelling that encapsulated relatable stories especially to the viewers. Writer Noh Hee Kyung won the Best Screenplay Award both from the 9th Korea Drama Awards and the prestigious 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards. 

"The Most Beautiful Goodbye"

The series is a remake of the drama written by Noh Hee Kyung that aired in 1996, with the same title. The drama revolves around the story of a family coming to terms with the impending loss of their matriarch to terminal illness, as Won Mi Kyung (Kim In Hee) gets diagnosed with late-stage terminal cancer. Her ungrateful family becomes together for the first time after learning the said illness to try and support her at the very end of her life. 

Her writing of the drama resulted to her bagging the Best Drama Writer Award during the 1997 MBC Drama Awards when it first aired. The huge influence of the drama has resulted to its drama remake, theater play version, and as a published book. 

"Live"

In "Live," Noh Hee Kyung shifts her scriptwriting focus to the world of law enforcement, offering a gritty and realistic depiction of the challenges faced by police officers on the front lines. The series covers the various stories of police officers - Han Jung Oh (Jung Yu Mi), a female cop struggling to cope with her personal life and work life, Yeom Sang Soo (Lee Kwang Soo), a policeman who has been dubbed as an icon of misfortune, Oh Yang Chon (Bae Seong Woo), a former Violent Crimes Unit Detective and Ahn Jang Mi (Bae Jong Ok), Yang Chon's wife who is also a detective herself. 

"Our Blues"

Her most recent screenplay for a drama, "Our Blues" revolves around the bittersweet stories of people at the end, climax, or beginning of life, in the beautiful island of Jeju. The drama features the lives of Lee Dong Seok (Lee Byung Hun), a hardworking truck merchant native to Jeju; Min Seon Ah (Shin Min Ah), a single mother seeking a fresh start on the island; Jeong Eun Hee (Lee Jung Eun), the vivacious owner of a local fish store; Choi Han Soo (Cha Seung Won), Eun Hee's long-lost first love who returns to Jeju as a refined urbanite; Go Mi Ran (Uhm Jung Hwa), Eun Hee's steadfast high school friend and benefactor; Lee Young Ok (Han Ji Min), a determined first-year haenyeo; and Park Jeong Joon (Kim Woo Bin), a warm-hearted captain whose guidance and kindness leave a lasting impact on those around him.

The drama received various awards and nominations, including Noh Hee Kyung being nominated as Best Writer during 2022 APAN Star Awards.  

Here are some of the many beautiful dramas written by the star writer, Noh Hee Kyung. It is not a shock that her artistry is continuously recognized not only by the viewers who loved her dramas, but also award giving bodies and even receiving the Presidential Commendation from the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards. 

Her future dramas are highly anticipated, with reports of Noh Hee Kyung reuniting with Song Hye Kyo for her new modern historical drama, and recently, with Gong Yoo in talks to join the cast.

Which of her dramas is your favorite?