Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Our Blues, and more: Shin Min Ah's K-dramas to binge-watch on her birthday

By now, if you're a K-drama fan, you've undoubtedly heard of her - Shin Min Ah, the timeless queen of the screen, unless you might be living under a rock. And guess what? Today isn't just any ordinary day; Shin Min Ah is turning the big 4-0 today! So, what better way to celebrate this iconic actress than to indulge in a marathon of her greatest hits? And for those who are feeling overwhelmed by the plethora of options (we don't blame you, she's been gracing our screens since 2001), fear not! We've got you covered with a curated list of must-watch dramas starring the one and only Shin Min Ah.

This drama has a stronger focus on politics. Jang Tae Joon (Lee Jung Jae) is a former detective turned chief aide to a seasoned lawmaker in the National Assembly. With a background in law enforcement and a hunger for power, he navigates the political landscape with sharp intuition and a relentless drive for success. Though instrumental in his lawmaker's rise to prominence, Tae Joon harbors aspirations beyond his current role. Meanwhile, Kang Sun Young (Shin Min Ah), a newly-elected lawmaker representing her party through proportional representation, brings her legal expertise and media savvy to the political arena. Despite her competence, she finds herself at odds with Tae Joon due to their conflicting allegiances and ambitions. And the cherry on top? It comes with two seasons!

In this series, Shin Min Ah steps into the role of Yoon Hye Jin, a dentist who flees the city after a clash with her boss, seeking solace in a familiar seaside village from her childhood. Discovering the village lacks a dentist, she resolves to stay and establish her practice there. However, her uptight demeanor clashes with the easy-going locals. Enter Hong Do Shik (Kim Seon Ho), a jack of all trades with a carefree spirit, tasked with helping her adjust to small-town life, even though their initial encounters are anything but smooth. Despite their rocky start, they find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other over time.

Meet Cha Dae Woong (Lee Seung Gi), your typical carefree university student with big dreams of stardom. But life isn't all sunshine and roses for this orphan, who relies on his wealthy grandfather and single aunt for support. Trouble brews as Dae Woong's reckless spending and career aspirations clash with his grandfather's traditional values. Then, in a twist of fate, Dae Woong's world turns upside down when he accidentally releases a Gumiho, a mythical nine-tailed fox trapped for centuries. Terrified, Dae Woong injures himself while fleeing, only to be saved by the Gumiho, who takes on the form of a stunning woman (Shin Min Ah). In return for saving his life, she asks him to help her become human. And as time passes, they begin to fall for each other.

Kim Yeong Ho (So Ji Sub) is a personal trainer to the stars in Hollywood, who reluctantly returns to Korea to confront his family following a scandal with an actress. Despite his wealthy background, he carries the burden of a childhood injury, which he has overcome through embracing a healthy lifestyle. Enter Kang Joo Eun (Shin Min Ah), once dubbed ‘Daegu's Venus’ for her beauty in her school days but now struggling with weight gain and heartbreak after a 15-year relationship ends abruptly. Determined to turn her life around, she enlists Yeong Ho as her personal trainer. As they train together, they develop feelings for each other.

‘Our Blues’ an omnibus-style drama weaving together the lives of diverse characters whose paths intertwine on the island of Jeju. Lee Dong Suk (Lee Byung Hun) is a native Jeju islander eking out a living selling mainland goods from his truck. His world collides with that of Min Seon Ah (Shin Min Ah), a young woman with a mysterious past, arrives in Jeju to start anew and leave her troubled past behind. Meanwhile, Park Jung Joon, a ship captain, finds his heart captured by the vivacious diver Lee Young Ok. Additionally, fish shop owner Jung Eun Hee is confronted with her own past when former flame Choi Han Soo returns to Jeju, realizing urban life isn't his calling.