South Korea · Drama · 1998
How Am I
Binge Brief
- An SBS weekday sitcom of 139 episodes, broadcast from 19 October 1998 to 28 May 1999.
- Song Hye Kyo plays Lee Ye Rin, a high school student who always comes second in the rankings to her housemate Chang Min.
- The role, together with Soonpoong Clinic, won her the 1998 SBS Drama Awards prize for a new actress in a sitcom.
- SBS streams every episode free on its own website.
Synopsis
How Am I (나 어때?) is an SBS teen sitcom that went out every weekday evening from 19 October 1998 to 28 May 1999, 139 episodes in all. Most youth sitcoms of the time followed university students. This one is set among the pupils of a co-educational arts high school and the boarding house where several of them live.
Jung Sang Hoon plays Choi Hyun Min, bottom of the whole school in every exam and quick-witted at everything else, a boy who never misses the nature documentary Animal Kingdom. His younger brother Chang Min, played by Choi Je Woo under his old stage name Choi Chang Min, is top of the year. Their uncle Jae Ryong (Lee Jae Ryong), who teaches Korean at the same school, lost his money by standing guarantor for a loan and moves the boys into the boarding house run by his old friend Eung Kyung (Lee Eung Kyung). Jo Hye Ryun plays their homeroom teacher, who has had a crush on Jae Ryong since the three of them were at school together.
Song Hye Kyo plays Lee Ye Rin, a classmate who lives in the same house. She is clever and popular but always finishes second in the school rankings behind Chang Min, so she quietly treats him as her rival. Hyun Min is plainly in love with her. She knows it and keeps saying no, because she cannot stand how he coasts through school on tricks. Jo Yeo Jeong plays her best friend Yeo Jung, and Song Eun Yi, Song Chang Hwan and Kim Seung Hyun are among the other students.
This was the 90s sitcom period of Song Hye Kyo's career. In 1998 she was playing a university student in SBS's Soonpoong Clinic at the same time as she played a high school girl here, which was closer to her real age. When How Am I ended, SBS filled the slot three days later with the college sitcom March, and she moved across to it with several of this cast.
Why it still gets watched
Most people who look for it now arrive through Song Hye Kyo. It is one of the few places to see her before Autumn in My Heart made her a drama lead, playing a schoolgirl in a weekday sitcom at sixteen. It is also easy to reach: SBS streams the full run free on its website, and its archive channel on YouTube has been posting clips since 2019.
How Am I cast
Themes and messages
The jokes come out of a school where everyone is ranked. The brothers sit at opposite ends of the list, Ye Rin is stuck one place below Chang Min, and the teachers who live alongside them carry their own old school crushes. The show keeps asking the question in its title, "how about me?", from the point of view of teenagers who are being measured all day and would rather be liked.
Interesting facts
- It was the first screen role for both Choi Je Woo and Kim Seung Hyun.
- Before it began, critics said it was MBC's hit university sitcom Three Guys and Three Girls with the students swapped for high schoolers. Running against that show, it never caught up in the ratings and ended after about seven months.
- Kim Seung Hyun, Song Eun Yi, Song Hye Kyo, Song Chang Hwan and Jung Eun Pyo all moved straight on to its successor in the same slot, March.
- SBS lists 139 episodes, the last a goodbye special on 28 May 1999. Some databases stop at 136 episodes and 24 May.
Episodes
| Ep | Title | Air date | Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Between Love and Friendship (사랑과 우정 사이) | 1998-10-19 | Aired | |
| 2 | The Scent of Friendship (우정의 향기) | 1998-10-20 | Aired | |
| 3 | She Has Arrived (그녀가 왔다) | 1998-10-21 | Aired | |
| 4 | When That Day Comes (그날이 오면) | 1998-10-22 | Aired | |
| 5 | I Hate My Little Brother (동생이 싫어) | 1998-10-23 | Aired | |
| 6 | Ghost (고스트) | 1998-10-26 | Aired | |
| 7 | No Vacancy (빈방 없수) | 1998-10-27 | Aired | |
| 8 | Being Left Out Is Lonely (왕따는 외로워) | 1998-10-29 | Aired | |
| 9 | What Is an Exam Anyway (시험이 뭐길래) | 1998-10-30 | Aired | |
| 10 | LOVE IS | 1998-11-02 | Aired | |
| 11 | Parting with Her (그녀와의 이별) | 1998-11-03 | Aired | |
| 12 | What Makes a Woman (여자의 조건) | 1998-11-04 | Aired | |
| 13 | Open Your Heart (가슴을 열어라) | 1998-11-05 | Aired | |
| 14 | I Know What You Did Last Night (나는 네가 지난 밤에 한 일을 알고 있다) | 1998-11-06 | Aired | |
| 15 | Just Because You Are a Man (단지 그대가 남자라는 이유만으로) | 1998-11-09 | Aired | |
| 16 | What Happened to Hye Ryun? (혜련에게 무슨 일이 생겼나) | 1998-11-10 | Aired | |
| 17 | Things You Must Do at 18 (18세에 하지 않으면 안될 일) | 1998-11-11 | Aired | |
| 18 | Long Live Friendship (우정 만세) | 1998-11-12 | Aired | |
| 19 | Dieting Hurts (다이어트는 괴로워) | 1998-11-13 | Aired | |
| 20 | Being a Pro Is Not Always Pretty (프로는 아름답지만은 않다) | 1998-11-16 | Aired | |
| 21 | Soo Hong, Oh Soo Hong (수홍아 수홍아) | 1998-11-17 | Aired | |
| 22 | The Angel in My Heart (내 마음의 천사) | 1998-11-18 | Aired | |
| 23 | Why Can't We? (왜 우리는 하면 안되나요) | 1998-11-19 | Aired | |
| 24 | The Most Popular Kid in Our School (우리학교 인기 짱) | 1998-11-20 | Aired | |
| 25 | Older Woman, Younger Man (연상의 여자 연하의 남자) | 1998-11-23 | Aired | |
| 26 | Father and Daughter (아버지와 딸) | 1998-11-24 | Aired | |
| 27 | When I Become You (내가 너가 될 때) | 1998-11-25 | Aired | |
| 28 | Chang Min Joins a Biker Gang (폭주족이 된 창민) | 1998-11-26 | Aired | |
| 29 | A Face Drawn on a Cloudy Sky (흐린 하늘에 그린 얼굴) | 1998-11-27 | Aired | |
| 30 | The Best Transfer Student on Earth (지상 최고의 전학생) | 1998-11-30 | Aired | |
| 31 | Too Tangled to Get Close To (가까이 하기엔 너무 꼬이는 그대) | 1998-12-01 | Aired | |
| 32 | Here Comes the Princess (공주마마 납시네) | 1998-12-02 | Aired | |
| 33 | How Could This Happen (우째 이런일이) | 1998-12-03 | Aired | |
| 34 | People Looking for Songs (노래를 찾는 사람들) | 1998-12-04 | Aired | |
| 35 | The Dreaded Final Exams (공포의 기말고사) | 1998-12-08 | Aired | |
| 36 | The Dreaded Couples Party (공포의 쌍쌍파티) | 1998-12-10 | Aired | |
| 37 | I Just Dug a Little (그냥 파봤어) | 1998-12-14 | Aired | |
| 38 | What Happened at the Department Store (백화점에서 생긴 일) | 1998-12-17 | Aired | |
| 39 | Can You Find Lost Love at the Post Office? (우체국에 가면 잃어버린 사랑을 찾을 수 있을까) | 1998-12-21 | Aired | |
| 40 | Before and After | 1998-12-22 | Aired | |
| 41 | Ye Rin's Sleepless Night (예린이의 잠못 이루는 밤) | 1998-12-23 | Aired | |
| 42 | A Christmas Miracle (크리스마스의 기적) | 1998-12-24 | Aired | |
| 43 | Christmas Present (크리스마스 선물) | 1998-12-25 | Aired | |
| 44 | The Man with Two Faces (두 얼굴을 가진 사나이) | 1998-12-28 | Aired | |
| 45 | Love Comes with the Snow (사랑은 눈을 타고) | 1998-12-29 | Aired | |
| 46 | Adieu 1998 (아듀 1998) | 1998-12-30 | Aired | |
| 47 | Wake Up, Dreamer (깨몽 깨몽) | 1999-01-04 | Aired | |
| 48 | Clingy Counterattack (찐드기 맞불작전) | 1999-01-05 | Aired | |
| 49 | The Axe and the Peanut (도끼와 땅콩) | 1999-01-06 | Aired | |
| 50 | Tears of the Dragon (룡의 눈물) | 1999-01-07 | Aired | |
| 51 | Find the Lucky Doughnut (행운의 도너츠를 찾아라) | 1999-01-08 | Aired | |
| 52 | Briquette Jung (번개탄 정) | 1999-01-11 | Aired | |
| 53 | Somebody Stop Me (누가 좀 말려줘요) | 1999-01-12 | Aired | |
| 54 | A Wanderer's Tale (강호유랑기) | 1999-01-13 | Aired | |
| 55 | I Said Don't Peek (훔쳐보지 마란 말야) | 1999-01-14 | Aired | |
| 56 | Possessed Liszt (신들려 리스트) | 1999-01-15 | Aired | |
| 57 | The Dreaded Virus (공포의 바이러스) | 1999-01-18 | Aired | |
| 58 | Jae Ryong's Double Life (재룡이의 이중생활) | 1999-01-19 | Aired | |
| 59 | My Boyfriend's Girlfriend (내 남자친구의 여자친구) | 1999-01-20 | Aired | |
| 60 | Boy Meets Girl (소년 소녀를 만나다) | 1999-01-21 | Aired | |
| 61 | The Picture I Drew (내가 그린 그림은) | 1999-01-22 | Aired | |
| 62 | Always Like a Movie (언제나 영화처럼) | 1999-01-25 | Aired | |
| 63 | A Friend Becoming a Lover (연인이 되어가는 친구) | 1999-01-26 | Aired | |
| 64 | Teacher, Teacher, Our Teacher (선생님 선생님 우리 선생님) | 1999-01-27 | Aired | |
| 65 | This Time It's Real (이번엔 진짜라니까) | 1999-01-28 | Aired | |
| 66 | Chun Hwa, the Exchange Student from Yanbian (연변 교환학생 춘화) | 1999-01-29 | Aired | |
| 67 | She's Too Pretty for Me (내겐 너무 이쁜 그녀) | 1999-02-02 | Aired | |
| 68 | Words, Words, Words (말 말 말) | 1999-02-03 | Aired | |
| 69 | Let's Stay as We Are (우리 사이 이대로) | 1999-02-04 | Aired | |
| 70 | When the Discipline Teacher Met Hye Ryun (학주와 혜련이 만났을때) | 1999-02-05 | Aired | |
| 71 | That Wasn't How I Felt (그건 내 마음이 아니었어) | 1999-02-08 | Aired | |
| 72 | The Last Proposal (마지막 프로포즈) | 1999-02-09 | Aired | |
| 73 | A Pain of One's Own (혼자만의 아픔) | 1999-02-10 | Aired | |
| 74 | The Bluebird Exists (파랑새는 있다) | 1999-02-11 | Aired | |
| 75 | Oh, Valentine (오 발렌타이) | 1999-02-12 | Aired | |
| 76 | Hyun Min's Choice (현민이의 선택) | 1999-02-18 | Aired | |
| 77 | I'm a Tough Guy (나는야 터프가이) | 1999-02-19 | Aired | |
| 78 | Congratulations on Graduating (축 졸업) | 1999-02-22 | Aired | |
| 79 | Roman Holiday (로마의 휴일) | 1999-02-23 | Aired | |
| 80 | Oh My God (오 마이 갓) | 1999-02-24 | Aired | |
| 81 | I Told You I Can't (난 안된다니까) | 1999-02-25 | Aired | |
| 82 | Hyun Min's Three-Day Reign (현민의 삼일천하) | 1999-02-26 | Aired | |
| 83 | Escaping Last Place (꼴찌 탈출기) | 1999-03-01 | Aired | |
| 84 | No One Can Stop Yeo Jung's Mom (여정 엄마는 아무도 못말려) | 1999-03-02 | Aired | |
| 85 | I'll Give You Up (널 포기하겠어) | 1999-03-03 | Aired | |
| 86 | Hustler (허슬러) | 1999-03-04 | Aired | |
| 87 | Ye Rin vs Yeo Jung (예린 VS 여정) | 1999-03-05 | Aired | |
| 88 | Oh, Microwave (아 전자렌지여) | 1999-03-08 | Aired | |
| 89 | Why Always Me (왜 나만 갖고 그래) | 1999-03-09 | Aired | |
| 90 | No Secrets (비밀은 없어) | 1999-03-10 | Aired | |
| 91 | Win Auntie's Heart (이모 마음을 뺏어봐) | 1999-03-11 | Aired | |
| 92 | Our White Day (우리들의 화이트데이) | 1999-03-12 | Aired | |
| 93 | Mr. Elvis Park (MR 엘비스박) | 1999-03-15 | Aired | |
| 94 | Cooking, Lies and Videotape (요리 거짓말 그리고 비디오테이프) | 1999-03-16 | Aired | |
| 95 | Belling the Cat (고양이 목에 방울 달기) | 1999-03-17 | Aired | |
| 96 | Friendship and Betrayal (우정과 배신) | 1999-03-18 | Aired | |
| 97 | Chang Min Has Left (창민이가 나갔어요) | 1999-03-19 | Aired | |
| 98 | Dances with Chang Hwan (창환이와 함께 춤을) | 1999-03-22 | Aired | |
| 99 | The Bold Freshman (당돌한 신입생) | 1999-03-23 | Aired | |
| 100 | A Hundred Ways to Enjoy How Am I (나 어때 100배 즐기기) | 1999-03-25 | Aired | |
| 101 | Blinded by Hair (머리카락에 눈이 어두워) | 1999-03-26 | Aired | |
| 102 | Hyun Min Runs, Chang Hwan Flies (뛰는 현민 위에 나는 창환) | 1999-03-29 | Aired | |
| 103 | The VJ Fuss (VJ소동) | 1999-03-31 | Aired | |
| 104 | I'm the Hottest Guy (나는야 킹카보이) | 1999-04-01 | Aired | |
| 105 | A Literary Night of Love (사랑의 문학의 밤) | 1999-04-02 | Aired | |
| 106 | Couples Can't Be Stopped (커플은 못말려) | 1999-04-05 | Aired | |
| 107 | Kkachi and Eomji (까치와 엄지) | 1999-04-06 | Aired | |
| 108 | Hyun Min the Girl (소녀 현민) | 1999-04-07 | Aired | |
| 109 | The Secret of the Wax Doll (밀랍인형의 비밀) | 1999-04-09 | Aired | |
| 110 | Cheerleaders, Assemble (치어리더 모여라) | 1999-04-12 | Aired | |
| 111 | The Sun Exists (태양은 있다) | 1999-04-14 | Aired | |
| 112 | There Is an Oppa (오빠가 있다) | 1999-04-15 | Aired | |
| 113 | Our Discipline Teacher (우리들의 학주) | 1999-04-19 | Aired | |
| 114 | The Wrong Encounter (잘못된 만남) | 1999-04-21 | Aired | |
| 115 | There's Something Special About Chang Hwan (창환에게 뭔가 특별한 것이 있다) | 1999-04-22 | Aired | |
| 116 | The Silence of the Goats (염소의 침묵) | 1999-04-23 | Aired | |
| 117 | Beauty and the Beast (미녀와 야수) | 1999-04-26 | Aired | |
| 118 | Hyun Min's Girlfriend (현민의 여자친구) | 1999-04-27 | Aired | |
| 119 | The Teenage Trap (청소년의 덫) | 1999-04-28 | Aired | |
| 120 | Mr. X (미스터 X) | 1999-04-29 | Aired | |
| 121 | Curiosity Heaven (호기심 천국) | 1999-04-30 | Aired | |
| 122 | If You Love, Love Like Hyun Min (사랑한다면 현민이처럼) | 1999-05-03 | Aired | |
| 123 | A Certain Vow (어떤 언약식) | 1999-05-04 | Aired | |
| 124 | The Extra (엑스트라) | 1999-05-05 | Aired | |
| 125 | The Snail Bride (우렁이 각시) | 1999-05-06 | Aired | |
| 126 | The Time Machine Fuss (타임머신 소동) | 1999-05-07 | Aired | |
| 127 | Switched Fates (뒤바뀐 운명) | 1999-05-10 | Aired | |
| 128 | Goodbye, My Love (안녕 내사랑) | 1999-05-11 | Aired | |
| 129 | The Secret of the Box (상자의 비밀) | 1999-05-12 | Aired | |
| 130 | Nobody Knows the Discipline Teacher's Heart (학주 마음은 며느리도 몰라) | 1999-05-13 | Aired | |
| 131 | Hyun Min with a Wad of Cash (돈다발을 든 현민이) | 1999-05-17 | Aired | |
| 132 | A Mermaid's Tale (인어 이야기) | 1999-05-18 | Aired | |
| 133 | Catch the Pickpocket (소매치기를 잡아라) | 1999-05-19 | Aired | |
| 134 | Ye Rin's Triple Life (예린이의 삼중생활) | 1999-05-20 | Aired | |
| 135 | Cherry Tomato (방울 토마토) | 1999-05-21 | Aired | |
| 136 | Heungbu Is Flabbergasted (흥부가 기가막혀) | 1999-05-24 | Aired | |
| 137 | The People Who Mean So Much to Me (내가 너무나 소중한 사람들) | 1999-05-25 | Aired | |
| 138 | The Baby Fuss (아기 소동) | 1999-05-26 | Aired | |
| 139 | Goodbye Special: Arts High Ghost Story (굿바이 스페셜 예고괴담) | 1999-05-28 | Aired |
Awards
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | SBS Drama Awards | Best New Actress in a Sitcom (with Soonpoong Clinic) | Song Hye Kyo | Won |
| 1998 | SBS Drama Awards | Best New Actor in a Sitcom | Choi Je Woo (then Choi Chang Min) | Won |
Frequently asked questions
Who does Song Hye Kyo play in How Am I?
Lee Ye Rin, a student at an arts high school who lives in the same boarding house as the Choi brothers. She is part of the main cast, and she was sixteen when the show began.
How many episodes does How Am I have?
139 by SBS's own count, broadcast Monday to Friday from 19 October 1998 to 28 May 1999. The episodes in SBS's archive run about 24 minutes each. Some databases list 136.
Where can I watch How Am I?
SBS streams all 139 episodes free on its website. Its YouTube archive channel for old entertainment shows has also posted clips.
Is How Am I the same show as Soonpoong Clinic?
No. Both were SBS sitcoms and Song Hye Kyo was in both during 1998, but Soonpoong Clinic followed a family that runs an obstetrics clinic and cast her as a university student, while How Am I is set among high school students.
Who wrote and directed How Am I?
Kim Tae Sung and Lee Yong Hae directed it. The writers included Oh Soo Yeon, Shin Dong Ik, Mok Yeon Hee and Lee Sang Deok.
What replaced How Am I on SBS?
March, another SBS youth sitcom, took over the slot on 31 May 1999 and ran until 13 October 2000. Song Hye Kyo was in its cast as well.
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