5 K-Dramas where feisty Eommas (mums) and batty Ajummas ruled the roost: Boys over Flowers to Reply 1988
You can spot an eomma or ajumma in a K-drama from a mile away. She may be fussing over food, dispensing unsolicited advice, meddling in her children’s love lives or running the neighbourhood gossip network. Or, in the olden days, they were downright evil (yes, hand me my evil Chaebol eomma, I miss them) Nevertheless, these women are just that good. They can walk into a scene for five minutes and…
K-dramas are full of unforgettable feisty mums and batty ajummas who steal the spotlight with their antics. In Boys Over Flowers, Kang Hee-soo, played by Lee Hye-young, is an evil chaebol eomma who kidnaps her son's lover and stages breakups. Her husband is sidelined when he becomes inconvenient to her plans. On the other side, Jan-di's mom runs a dry cleaners and handles emotionally stunted rich children with ease.
Their contrasting styles showcase the rich vs. poor divide in the show. The Heirs features two moms who barely make an appearance. Kim Tan's actual birth mother, Han Ki-ae, is registered as his mother by his real wife, while Park Hee-nam, the mute housekeeper, out-communicates all adults in the mansion. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha centers around three grandmothers who run Gongjin like a fiefdom, weighing in on everyone's love lives, business decisions, and choices.
The trio is supported by Yeo Hwa-jung, the sharp-tongued café owner who oversees neighborhood affairs. Crash Course in Romance stars Jeon Do-yeon as Nam Haeng-seon, who raises her niece after being abandoned by her sister. The show emphasizes the intense private-tutoring and college-entrance-exam culture, with Jang Seo-jin as a pushy lawyer, Jo Soo-hee as a fierce mother, and Lee Mi-ok as another mother competing in the academic arms race.
Reply 1988 is a gold standard of eommas, with Ra Mi-ran, Lee Il-hwa, and Kim Sun-young leading the charge. Each mother brings something unique to the neighborhood: Mi-ran's blunt humor and generosity, Il-hwa's affectionate cooking and activism defense, and Sun-young's financial struggles and unwavering support. Their friendship and everyday gatherings create a heartwarming neighborhood atmosphere.
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