As a fan ofK-dramas, I’ve watched many Korean series over the years, and some of them stand out more than others. Korean cinema has become increasingly popular with the advent of streaming platforms that have both new, original, andclassic K-dramasin their library.
While some of these TV shows are well-known, others are hidden gems that are worth watching for anyone who considers themselves a fan of K-dramas.
Although there are a plethora of Korean TV shows ranging across several genres that will appeal to different audiences, several titles are essential viewing as they provide an example of the kind of quality and storytelling that is usually included in K-dramas. From romantic series tofantasy K-dramas, there’s no shortage of must-watch TV shows for audiences to delve into.
Mr. Queen
Cast
Mr. Queen is a South Korean television series that tells the story of a modern-day chef, Jang Bong-hwan, who mysteriously travels back in time to the Joseon era and inhabits the body of Queen Cheorin, the wife of King Cheoljong. As the queen, he must navigate the complexities of royal life while trying to find a way to return to his own time.
Released in 2020,Mr. Queenis undoubtedly Shin Hye-sun’s best K-drama.The period drama, which focuses on a chef who travels back to the Joseon era and wakes up in the queen’s body, is a revolutionary concept that adds to the show’s enduring appeal. WhatMr. Queendoes so well is how it combines several genres that look like they might not work on paper, but nonetheless do.
Mr. Queenis hilarious, but it’s also emotional and can tug at the heartstrings, especially when So-young and Cheoljong begin to fall in love. What makesMr. Queenone of my all-time favorite K-dramas lies in Shin Hye-sun’s performance. The way the actor seamlessly adopts Jong Bong-hwan’s mannerisms is a joy to watch.
From the way she walked to how she flirted with the court ladies,Shin Hye-sun flawlessly portrayed how a man in a woman’s body would act. Amid So-young’s predicament is court politics that are endlessly thrilling.Mr. Queenhas everything from love to action, but its best asset is the way it keeps comedy at its center.
Descendants of the Sun
This drama series follows the romance between a dedicated soldier and a talented surgeon, whose differing worldviews test their relationship. Amidst challenging circumstances and life-threatening situations, they navigate the complexities of love, duty, and the unpredictable nature of fate.
Descendants of the Sunis a highly popular K-drama that won over viewers both locally and internationally. The series, which stars Song Joong-kin as Yoon Su-jin, an army captain, and Song Hye-kyo as Dr. Kang Mo-yeon,tells a story of lovers who are drawn apart due to the circumstances they find themselves in.
Descendants of the Sunwasn’t only popular with audiences, but critics as well, who praised the series for the emotional love story and chemistry between its lead characters.The romantic K-dramais memorable and worth watching as it delves into a love story that is fated to fail due to the differences between Su-jin and Mo-yeon.
Descendants of the Sunis emotional yet thrilling, and has one of the best K-drama couples to ever grace the small screen.
Despite Su-jin being the exact opposit of Mo-yeon as he takes lives while she saves them,their love story endures inspite of the challenges they have to face.Descendants of the Sunis emotional yet thrilling, and has one of the best K-drama couples to ever grace the small screen.
The Glory
The Glory is a South Korean television series that follows the journey of Moon Dong-eun, a woman who seeks vengeance against those who tormented her during her school years. As she meticulously executes her elaborate plans, the show explores themes of bullying, revenge, and the lasting impact of trauma. Directed by Ahn Gil-ho and written by Kim Eun-sook, the series stars Song Hye-kyo in the lead role.
One of the most riveting TV shows of the past five years,every K-drama fan should giveThe Glorya chance. The series, which stars Song Hye-kyo, sees her character embark on a journey of revenge after being bullied in high school. The concept of vengeance isn’t something new in the world of K-dramas.
The Gloryis loosely based on a true story.
The Glory, however, does it in such a masterful way that it’s easy to root for Moon Dong-eun and hope that she gets the justice she deserves. Every scene inthe revenge K-dramais captivating, particularly when it comes to how determined Dong-eun is to make the people responsible for her pain pay.
But perhapsThe Glory’s greatest strength is that it deals with an issue that many can relate to, which is bullying and the impact it has on its victims.The revenge K-drama takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster ride,but is also cathartic because Dong-eun’s bullies do end up paying for their sins in one way or another.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a South Korean television series starring Shin Min-a as a pragmatic dentist and Kim Seon-ho as her free-spirited counterpart. The narrative unfolds in the seaside village of Gongjin, where personal and professional lives intersect in heartwarming and often humorous ways. Directed by Yu Je-won, the series explores themes of community, love, and personal growth amidst picturesque coastal scenery.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a binge-worthy,slice-of-life K-dramathat will instantly draw you in with its intriguing characters. What makesHometown Cha-Cha-Cha agreat show is that it’s such a simple series that doesn’t have an overloaded story. Instead, it relies on its cast and setting to provide audiences with an unforgettable experience.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Chawasn’t only a hit in South Korea, but it resonated with audiences internationally when it was added to Netflix.It became one of the most-watched K-dramas on the streaming platform, which in itself isn’t surprising as it has one of the sweetest and heartwarming love stories, which is made even better by an exceptional main and supporting cast.
My Name
My Name is a South Korean television series starring Han So-hee as Ji-woo, a revenge-driven woman who infiltrates a drug cartel to avenge her father’s death. As she rises through the ranks, Ji-woo must navigate the dangerous underworld of organized crime and confront her own morality.
WhileMy Nameonly has eight episodes, the K-drama ensures that each one of them leaves an impact.Starring Han So-heeas Yoon Ji-woo,My Namehelped establish the actor as one of the best in the K-drama scene. The series, which focuses on revenge, is action-packed from start to finish and includes a mystery that draws viewers in.
My Namewill undoubtedly catch your attention from its first scene, as it’s impossible to tell who the bad guy is. The K-drama offers a thrill because audiences have to find out the truth along with Ji-woo.The show’s plot twists, perfectly choreographed action scenes, and the conflict between the police and a crime syndicateadd to its appeal.
Fight For My Way
Fight For My Way is a South Korean television drama series that aired in 2017. Starring Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won, the show follows the lives of four young adults struggling to achieve their dreams in the face of societal expectations and everyday challenges. The series explores themes of friendship, ambition, and romance, offering a nuanced portrayal of the hardships and triumphs faced by its characters.
With the number of heavy and dark K-dramas available,Fight for My Wayprovides an escape with its sweet love story and emphasis on friendship. One ofPark Seo-joon’s best shows,Fight for My Waynot only embraces the beloved friends-to-lovers trope but also elevates it with its incredibly talented cast.
The K-drama is hilarious, particularly when Dong-man and Ae-ra begin to fall for each other and have to grapple with their foreign feelings.
Fight for My Wayis a K-drama that is easy for audiences to lose themselves in. It’s funny, yet touching as it take will you on the thrilling adventure that is Dong-man and Ae-ra’s love story. While Dong-man and Ae-ra are the central couple inFight for My Way,Seol-hee and Joo-man are just as enthralling.
4Weak Hero (2022)
Genres: Drama & Action
WhenWeak Hero Class 1was released in 2022, it flew under most people’s radars. However, that changed when it was added to Netflix ahead of the release of its sophomore season.Weak Herois a rare K-drama that has no bad episodes.Everything in the show is executed perfectly,from the fight scenes to the heartwarming friendship that develops between its characters.
Weak Hero Class 1was Park Ji-hoon’s breakout role, earning him recognition both domestically and internationally, which isn’t surprising as he perfectly nailed his character’s mannerisms.
Weak Hero Class 1was Park Ji-hoon’s breakout role, earning him recognition both domestically and internationally, which isn’t surprising as he perfectly nailed his character’s mannerisms from his infamous glare to his unusual fight skills.Underneath the action sequences inWeak Herois a story about friendship and found family, which makes it a little different from othercoming-of-age K-dramas.
SKY Castle
SKY Castle is a South Korean television series that delves into the lives of four women living in a luxurious residential area. The series explores their relentless efforts to secure the highest academic achievements for their children, often at great personal cost. Through their ambitions and the pressure of societal expectations, SKY Castle provides a critical lens on education and family dynamics in South Korea.
SKY Castleis one of the most compelling K-dramas ever due to how it depicts the lengths that the rich will go to to ensure that their children have successful futures. The TV show is both funny and enlightening as it shines a light on how competitive the Korean education system really is.
SKY Castleleaves a lasting impression because it doesn’t shy away from showing how flawed its characters are. No one in the series is perfect, and that adds to the show’s allure. With its incredible cast, plotting, and the never-ending competition between Jin-hee, Seung-hye, and Mi-hyang,SKY Castletruly is a remarkable K-drama that will have you hooked from its very first scene.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
Squid Gamewas released during a time when Netflix had just gotten into producing original K-dramas. The thrilling series played a huge role in putting the streaming platform on the map as one of the best sources of engaging K-dramas.Squid Gamequickly became a global sensationand will probably remain so in the upcoming years.
If you like high-stakes TV shows that also have important themes, thenSquid Gameshould be on your K-drama watchlist. The series is incredibly brutal, but also doesn’t shy away from criticizing the capitalist system. While the second and third seasons ofSquid Gamedebuted to mixed reviews, the action-packed K-drama is one of the most relevant shows of our time.
Goblin
In this fantasy romance series, a centuries-old guardian seeking to end his immortality meets a student with a mysterious destiny and forms an unexpected alliance with a grim reaper. Their interconnected fates unravel as they navigate themes of love, loss, and destiny.
Goblinhas been hailed as one of the greatest K-dramas, and it’s easy to see why it deserves the praise it’s received. With two of South Korea’s biggest actors, Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, starring in the series,Goblinwas one of the most highly anticipated K-dramas of 2016.Goblinis a great example of how K-drama creators have mastered the art of combining genres.
The romantic series is one of the most visually stunning K-dramas on the small screen, and it’s made better by the chemistry between its lead actors.
Goblinbalances fantasy, romance, and comedy, which adds to the appeal of the K-drama as it has elements that fans of these genres can enjoy. The romantic series is one of the most visually stunning K-dramas on the small screen, and it’s made better by the chemistry between its lead actors, the compelling love story between a human and a goblin, and the memorable soundtrack.
