The 54 Best Korean Dramas for You to Binge-Watch in 2022

Action/Thriller Korean Dramas · 'Squid Game' · 'Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area' · 'Vincenzo' · 'Sweet Home' · 'Happiness' · 'All of Us Are ... MarieClaire MarieClaire × Search Fashion Beauty Culture Money&Career Politics More Health&fitness Celebrity Food&Cocktails Travel Love&Sex Home PromoCodes Subscribe Shop logoMCE TrendingTheDangersofaBBLTheWellnessIssueTheRoyalFamily'Nope' MarieClaireissupportedbyitsaudience.Whenyoupurchasethroughlinksonoursite,wemayearnanaffiliatecommission.Here’swhyyoucantrustus. (Imagecredit:Netflix) Jumptocategory: Action/ThrillerKoreanDramas RomanceKoreanDramas FantasyKoreanDramas MelodramaKoreanDramas HistoricalKoreanDramas Legan/MedicalKoreanDramas SliceofLifeKoreanDramas By QuinciLeGardye published1July22 MarieClairenewsletter Celebritynews,beauty,fashionadvice,andfascinatingfeatures,deliveredstraighttoyourinbox! 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Ifyou'renotwatchingKoreandramas, betterknownasK-dramas, thenyou'remissingoutinseveralways.First,there'sthebig-picture,culturalimpacttoconsider:K-dramasandK-movieshavebecome aworldwidephenomenon,andifyou'regoingtobeapopcultureconnoisseur/productivedenizenoftheentertainment-lovinginternet—andyou'rehere,soyouobviouslyarebothofthosethings—thenyouneedtobeversedin allthingsK-drama. Andthenthere'sthemoreimportantreasontowatchK-dramas:Theyareaddictiveandamazing,andyou'llthankyourselfforaddingthemtoyourpopculturediet.Knownfortheirinterestingstorylinesandintense(ifsometimespredictable)plottwists,Koreandramascangofromsupersappytoincrediblyheartbreakingto"WTF,whatwasthat?"inaheartbeat.Thatvarietyisexactlywhatkeepsviewerscomingbackformore.Here,we'velistedthebest-everK-dramastowatch,groupedbythemostpopulargenres—andifyou'rewellversedinthemoreestablishedK-dramas,consultourlistofthebestnewKoreanshowsonNetflixin2022.(Andifyou'relookingspecificallyfortheall-timebestK-dramasonNetflix?We'vegotyoucoveredtheretoo.)Action/ThrillerKoreanDramas'SquidGame'Ifyouhaven'tyetcheckedout SquidGame,whichissettobecomeNetflix'smost-watchedshowever,thenhere'sonemorerecommendation:Thisedge-of-your-seat KoreanthrilleronNetflix(opensinnewtab)isdefinitelyworthalook.Intheviralhit,a groupofcharacters(opensinnewtab) inseriousdebtsignuptoplayaseriesofchildren'sgamesforachanceat45.6billionwon(about$38million).Thecatch?IftheplayerslooseatTugofWarorRedLight,GreenLight,theydie.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'MoneyHeist:Korea–JointEconomicArea'ThisremixoftheinternationalNetflixhitLaCasadePapel(MoneyHeist)takestheoriginal'sthrillingplotanddeftlyweavesinKoreanculture.TheseriestakesplaceinafictionaltimelinewhereNorthandSouthKoreaareonthebrinkofreunification,andhavemadeaJointEconomicArea,completewithamintandauniversalcurrency.However,therichjustkeepsgettingricherwhilethepoorfaceinequalityanddiscrimination.Enteragroupofcharismaticthieves(opensinnewtab)whotakeovertheUnifiedMintwiththegoalofstealingfourtrillionwon(roughly$3billionUSD).watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'Vincenzo'Ifyou'relookingforsomethinginthemiddleoftheVennDiagramof"K-Drama"and"MafiaDrama,"then Vincenzo istheshowforyou.Init,SongJoong-kistarsasaKoreanmannamedVincenzowhowasadoptedbyanItalianmafiafamilyandraisedinthemoblifeinItaly.Whenhisadoptivefatherdies,hisadoptedbrothersetsouttokillhim,forcingVincenzotofleebacktoSeoul.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'SweetHome'IfyouenjoyedKoreanmovies(opensinnewtab)like TheCall(opensinnewtab) and #Alive(opensinnewtab),you'llbeabletostomachandlove SweetHome.Theshowfollowsaguywhomovesintoanewapartmentcomplexafterthedeathofhisfamily.Depressedandaloner,hestartswitnessingfrighteningthingsinthebuildingfromsomeofhisoddneighbors.Ifyou'reapeek-over-the-blanket-typepersonwhenwatchinghorrorshowslikeIam,thenI'dadviseyoutotuneintothisduringthedaytime.(Imadethemistakeofstartingthisshowatnight—neveragain.)watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'Happiness'Thismodernzombiedramaisfullofsurprisesateveryturn,startingwithbeingoneoftheonlydramastoacknowledgetheCOVID-19pandemic.OfficerYoonSae-bom(HanHyo-joo)hasbeendreamingofhavingherownapartmentwhenshegetsthechancetomoveintoahigh-risewithherhigh-schoolfriend,DetectiveJungYi-hyun(ParkHyung-sik).Soonaftertheymovein,aninfectiousdiseasesweepsthecountry,withthoseinfectedgettingacravingofhumanblood.Theapartmentbuildingendsupquarantined,withSae-bomandYi-hyuntryingtokeepthepeaceamoungtheeccentrictenants.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'AllofUsAreDead'Thisheart-racingzombiethrilleroffersanotheruniquespinonthedrama,followingagroupofhighschoolstudents(opensinnewtab)asthezombieapocalypsecomestotheirschool.Thekidsareleftontheirownastheirclassmatesquicklyreturn,andweseehowtheyhandlethesurvivalchallengewhilealsogettingstorylinesofparentsandpoliticianshandlingthevirusoutsidetheschool.Themostinterestingpartishowclassichighschooltropes(crushes,bullies,etc.)aretwistedintothrillingplots.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'MyName'Inthisintensethriller,ayoungwomannamedJi-woo(HanSo-hee)setsouttoavengethedeathofherfather,whowasinvolvedinthecriminalunderworld.Shetakesupanewidentityasamemberofthepoliceforceworkingwithherfather'soldpartner,ChoiMu-jin(ParkHee-soon). watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)RomanceKoreanDramas'CrashLandingonYou'ASouthKoreanheiress,YoonSe-ri,getscaughtinastormwhileparaglidingandfindsherselfblownoffcourseintoNorthKorea.Se-rithenrunsintoRiJeong-hyeok,CaptainoftheNorthKoreanSpecialForcesandamemberoftheNorthKoreanelitefamily.CaptainRieventuallyhatchesaplantogetSe-ribacktoSouthKoreawiththehelpofhissquad,butnotbeforetheyalltackletheobstaclesthatcometheirway—andthensome.Thisdramamixesromancewithcomedyandultimatelytellsthetaleoftwostar-crossedlovers.It'scurrentlythehighestratedtvNdramaandthesecond-highestKoreandramaincabletelevisionhistory.(Also,starsSonYe-jinandHyunBinhavesincegottenmarriedandareexpectingababy!)watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'BusinessProposal'This2022rom-comdramahasbecometheyear'sbiggesthitsofarthankstoitshilariousromances(andasuper-popularkissingclip).ShinHa-ri(I.O.I.andTheUncannyCounter'sKimSe-jeong)isafoodresearcheratacompanythatjustwelcomedanewpresident,KangTae-moo(AhnHyo-seop).WhenherwealthyBFF(playedbySeolIn-ah)askshertogoonablinddateforherandruinit,thedateturnsouttobeTae-moo.Themorningafterthedisastrousdate,Ha-rireceivesacall—Tae-moowantstomarryher!?!Theirhilariouscourtship,aswellasthesecondleadromance,willdefinitelystealyourheart.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'DescendantsoftheSun'Ifyou'vetornthroughVincenzoandwanttospendmoretimewithSongJoong-ki,checkouttheacclaimeddramathatmadehimpartoftheHallyuWave.ThisacclaimeddramafollowsCaptain YooSi-jin(Song)oftheKoreanSpecialForcesashefallsinlovewithsurgeonKangMo-yeon(SongHye-ko).watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'BoysOverFlowers'BoysOverFlowers isanold-schoolteendrama,focusedonagroupofpopular/privileged/not-so-niceboysattheprestigiousShinhwaHighSchool.Thegroup,knownasF4,bullyotherstogettheirway—untilaworkingclassgirlnamedGeumJan-diarrivesattheschoolonscholarshipandstandsuptotheboys.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'TrueBeauty'Ifyouwanttofollowahigh-schoollovetriangle,thenthishilariouscoming-of-agedramaisforyou.HighschoolerImJu-yeong(MoonGa-young)hasaninferioritycomplexafterbeingbulliedforyearsbystudentsandfamilymembersforherlooks.AfterlearningmakeupartistryfromYouTube,sheisconsidereda"goddess"andbecomesmorepopularatschool.SoonshefallsintoatrianglebetweenmysteriousLeeSu-ho(ChaEun-woo),whorecognizesherthroughhermakeup,andhisformerbestfriendHanSeo-jun(HwangIn-youp).watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'WeightliftingFairyKimBok-joo'Thisdramahasoneofthemostlikableprotagonistsandthecutestfriends-to-loversstory.KimBok-joo(LeeSung-kyung),acollegiateweightliftertrainingfortheOlympics,meetsJungJoon-hyung(NamJoo-hyuk)aswimmeratthesameschoolrecoveringfromapsychologicalproblem.Thetwoathletesstartoutasreluctantfriends,butwatchingthemfallinlovemakesforsomehilarious,heart-warmingmoments.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'HerPrivateLife'Thisdramafromrom-comqueenParkMin-youngisasweetstoryofloveandfangirling.ArtgallerycuratorSungDeok-mi(Park)hasasecretliferunningafanpageforheridolShi-an.Shedevotesherlifetoherjobandfamily,whilekeepingherfangirlactivitiessecretoutofdisapproval.Oneday,Ryan(KimJae-Wook) becomestheartdirectorofDeok-mi'sgallery,andhesoonsetsupacelebrityexhibitfeaturingShi-an.AsDeok-mistrugglestokeepherprivatelifesecret,Ryantakesaninterestinher.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'OurBelovedSummer'TenyearshavepassedsincehighschoolersChoiUng(Parasite'sChoiWoo-sik)andKookYeon-su(KimDa-mi)starredinadocumentarytogether.Thoughtheystartedouthatingeachother,thepairlaterbegandatingandstayedtogetherforfiveyears.Now,fiveyearsaftertheroughbreakup,thetwoadultsfindeachotherbackintheirlivesatthesametimethedocumentarygoesviral,withfansclamoringforanupdate.WillUngandDa-mifallinloveagainwhilefilmingthesequel?Checkoutthisenemies-to-loversdramatofindout.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'RunOn'Thestoryline:KiSeon-gyeom,apopularsprinterturnedsportsagent,meetsOhMi-joo,whowritessubtitletranslationsformovies,andMi-joobelievestheyweredestinedforeachother.Thestorycentersaroundtheirbuddingromancealongsidesomestrongsecondarycharacters.Mi-jooisplayedbyactressShinSe-Kyung(from RookieHistorian)whileSeon-gyeomisplayedbyImSi-Wan(from StrangersFromHell),soifyou'refamiliarwithbothfamousfacesthengivethisshowachance.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'Start-Up'BaeSuzyandNamJoo-hyukstanswillwanttotuneintothisdrama,whichmixescomedywithromance.Theshowcentersaroundagroupofyoungindividualswhoarealleagertostarttheirownbusinesses.WhenBaeandNam'scharacters,SeoDal-miandNamDo-sanrespectively,arechosentojoinSandbox(atechacceleratorforentrepreneurs),alongwithSeo'ssisterWonIn-jae,thethreearepittedagainstoneanotherinacontesttobethebest.LittledoesDal-miknow,however,someoneimportantfromherpast(HanJi-pyeong,playedbyKimSun-ho)hasherbackthroughoutthisstart-upjourney.ViewerswillberootingforDal-MitoendupwithDo-SanorJi-pyeong.Personally,weareteamJi-pyeong.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'LoveAlarm'Inaworldwhereanappletsyouknowwhetherornotsomeoneisinlovewithyouwithina10-meterradius,feelingsaretransparentevenwhenyoudon'twantthemtobe.ThestorycentersaroundahardworkingandstudiousstudentKimJo-jowhocatchestheeyeoftwoguys(whojustsohappentobebestfriendsandbasicallyarelikebrothers)inherschool:HwangSun-ohandLeeHye-yeong.Sun-ohisamodelfromarichfamilyandcouldnotbeanymoredifferentfromJo-jobuttheyfallforeachother.Astimepasses,thetwodriftapartandHye-yeongseesthisasachancetofinallyconfesshisfeelingsforJo-jo.Attheendofseasononewe'releftwithacliffhanger:whowillJo-jochoosetobewith?watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'TouchYourHeart'I'msomewhatbiasedbecauseIamanunabashedLeeDong-wookstan,but TouchYourHeart isreally,reallyfuntowatch.Thingstakeplaceinahigh-poweredlawfirm,whereawashed-upactressworksasasecretaryforacrankyattorney.Thetwoleadshavegreatchemistry—they'veplayedstar-crossedloversinGoblin—andthey'rebothextremelygood-looking.Plus,it'sanotherworkplacelovestory!Istheuniversetryingtosendmeasign?watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'CoffeePrince'Thisclassick-dramafollowsChoiHan-gyul(Goblin'sGongYoo),theirresponsibleheirtoaconglomeratewithapopularchainofcoffeeshops.OnedayhemeetsKoEun-chan(YoonEun-hye),atomboywho'softenmistakenforamanandhasbeenthebreadwinnerofherfamilysinceshewas16.NotknowingEun-chanisagirl,Han-gyulhireshertobehisgaylovertogetoutoftheblinddateshisgrandmothersetsup.Han-gyulalsotakesoveraderelictcoffeeshop,renamedCoffeePrince,toprovetohisgrandmotherandex-girlfriendthatheiscapable.Ashe'sonlyhiringgood-lookingmaleemployees,Eun-chandecidestokeepuphergendercharadetogetajobathiscafe.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)FantasyKoreanDramas'Goblin(Guardian:TheLonelyandGreatGod)'Thisseries,writtenbyKimEun-sook,isthefourthhighest-ratedKoreandramaofalltime.Thefantasyromanceisaboutamoderndaygoblin,GongYoo,whoneedsahumanbride(KimGoEun)toendhiscursedimmortallife.Hislifethenbecomesintertwinedwithagrimreaper,LeeDong-wook,whoisunabletorememberhispast.Thestoryevolvesasallthesestrangers'livesintertwine.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'HoteldeLuna'TheHotelDelLunaisarefugeforthedead,amiddlegroundthathelpssoulspassintotheafterlife.Allsoulspassonafterdealingwiththeirunfinishedbusinessinlife,exceptMan-wol(IU),theownerwhohasbeencursedtorunthehotelforoveramillennium,aspenanceforhersins.Thehotelalsoneedsahumanmanagertohelpitrun;thenextfatedhumanisKooChan-sung(YeoJin-goo),aHarvardgradwhodiscoversthathecanseeghosts.Astheyworktogether,Chan-sungbeginstounravelthesecretsofMan-wol'spast.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'TheUncannyCounter'Thisshowlooselyremindsmeof Ghostbusters,butwithaneclecticgroupofcharacterswhoeachpossessesspecialabilities.Thefive-persongroup,called"Counter,"workatanoodlerestaurantbydayandatnight,huntdownevilspiritswhohaveescapedfromtheafterlifetogoafterhumans.(TheirredtracksuitsintheshowareiconicandhonestlywouldmakeforgreatgroupHalloweencostumein2022—justputtingtheideaoutthere.)ThisK-dramahasbeenverywellreceivedbytheaudienceandwillhaveyoubingingalltheepisodesinoneweekend.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'TaleoftheNineTailed'YoumightwanttokeepthelightsturnedonforLeeDong-wook'snewshowbecauseit'salittlescary(thinksceneswithghostsandawaterwellàla TheRing).Asidefromsomeminorscenesthatmakeyoushudder,however,thestorylargelyrevolvesaroundhischaracterLee-yeon,amythicalfoxknownasgumiho,andadocumentaryfilmmakerNamJi-a(playedbyJoBo-ah)whowereonceloversinthepast.(Thefoxesadopthumanappearances,buthavespecialpowers.)CircumstancesinthepresentbringthetwoonatreacherousjourneythatinvolvessolvingJi-a'sparentsmysteriousdeathsandthetworediscoveringtheirloveforeachother.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'TheKing:EternalMonarch'ThisKoreandramahasitall:paralleluniverses,timetravel,ahandsomeking,astrongfemaledetective,tragedy,andromance.TheshowtellsthestoryofLeeGon(playedbyoneofSouthKorea'smostpopularactors:LeeMin-ho),aKoreanemperorwhorulesTheKingdomofCorea(theNorthandSoutharestillunifiedinthisworld)anddiscoversaportalopeninginthebambooforestthatleadshimtoaparalleluniverse—theworldthatweknowtoday.Hemeets,andfallsinlove,withdetectiveJungTae-eul(playedby Goblin'sKimGo-eun)inthisworldandtheyhavetoworktogethertoclosethistimeportalbeforetheirtwoworldscollideandfreezeintimeforever.Willtheysucceedintheirjourneyandwilltheirlovebeabletotranscendtime?watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'MysticPop-upBar'Thisshowchecksofftheboxesfordrama,fantasy,andmystery.ThestorylinecentersonSsanggabCartBar,whichisonlyopenatnightontherooftopofabuilding.Wol-Ju(playedbyHwangJung-eum)runsthemysteriousfoodcartandcustomerswhovisitherconsistofthelivinganddead.Whiledrinkingandeating,theyconversewithWol-Juaboutthemselvesandtheirinternalstruggles.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'MemoriesoftheAlhambra'ThisfantasydramaisperfectforHyunBinandParkShin-hyefans(youmayrememberherfromthepopularshow TheHeirs).Thetwoactorsplayeachother'sromanticinterestin MemoriesoftheAlhambra,whichissetbetweenSpainandSouthKorea.(Funfact:ParkShin-hyelearnedSpanishfortheshow,sohervoiceisnotdubbed!)TheyencountereachotherinSpainwhenHyunBin'scharacter,YooJin-woo,arrivestothehostelownedbyParkShin-hye'scharacter,JungHee-joo,becausehewantshertosignovertherightstodevelopherbrother'saugmentedrealitygame.(Thebrother,meanwhile,hasvanishedintothinair).Jin-woostartsplayingthegameandeventuallyrealizesitiscausingthosearoundhimtodie.IfhewantstosavehimselfandJungHee-joo'smissingbrother,hehastocompletethedangerousquests.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'LegendoftheBlueSea'Thisfantasyromanceshowexplorestherelationshipbetweenaconartistandamermaidwhomeetandfallinlove.Themermaid,ShimCheong,(playedbythetalentedandbeautifulJunJi-hyun)followsherloverHeoJoon-jae(LeeMin-ho)tolandunbeknownsttohimthatsheisamerperson.Juxtaposedagainstpresentday,thestorylinealsofocusesonthetwo'sJoseon-eraincarnations,townheadKimDam-ryeongandthemermaidSe-hwa.Thatpairmetatragicfate,sowhatdoesthismeanfortheircurrentcounterparts?WillShimCheongandJoon-jaemeetthesamebadfate?watchitonhulu(opensinnewtab)'W'Ifyou'veeverwishedthattheheroofyourfavoritebookcouldjumpoffthepageandintoyourarms,thiscontemporaryfantasyisjustforyou.CardiothoracicresidentOhYeon-joo(Happiness'HanHyo-joo)isthedaughterofOhSung-moo(KimEui-sung),theartistbehindthepopular10-yearwebtoonW,whogoesmissingthedayhisfinalchapterisdue.Whilelookinginhisoffice,Yeon-joosuddenlygetssuckedintothecomicitself,andsavesthelifeofitsheroKangChul(LeeJong-suk),whoherfatherisdeterminedtokill.Shethenemergesbackinhisoffice,withthewebtoonchapterhavingfinisheditself,withheractionsasthenewplot. watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)MelodramaKoreanDramas'ThePenthouse:WarinLife'Ifyouthoughtshowslike BigLittleLies and Revenge laidthemelodramaonthick,justwaituntilyoutakeabiteoutofthisrollercoasterofaseries. Penthouse followsthreewealthyfamiliesvyingforpowerintheexclusiveHeraPalacecommunity–aluxurious100-floorhigh-risethatjutsoutoftheSeoulskyline.Likeitsforebears,theseriescentersonthreewomenwhohidebehindtheirvarioussecretsandtraumaswithpilesofmoneyandtheirboundlessambitionsfortheirchildren.TheirworldbeginstocrumbleafteramysteriousgirlfallstoherdeathandthetrioattempttocoverupthelocationofherdeathtoprotectthereputationofHeraPalace.It’smessy,andIamlivingforit.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'SKYCastle' ThisseriesfollowsthejourneysoffourwomenandtheirfamiliesastheytrytomaintainthestatusquoamongtheuppercrustofSouthKoreansociety.Thedramarevolvesaroundonemother'sobsessionwithgettingherdaughterintoaneliteuniversitybyanymeansnecessary...soundfamiliar?Thisoneisanicemixofromance,soapydrama,andcomedy,soifyouenjoyhuman-intereststories, SKYCastle isdefinitelytheK-dramaforyou.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'It'sOkaytoNotBeOkay'Thestorycentersaroundacaretakeratapsychiatricward,MoonGang-tae,whocrossespathswithachildren'sbookwriterKoMoon-young.GangTaehaslivedlifeontherunwhiletakingcareofhisolderbrother,SangTae,whoisautisticandsuffersfromreoccurringnightmaresofthedaytheirmotherwasmurdered.HeisabigfanofMs.Ko,whoisknowntobeantisocialandhasadifficultpersonality.Afteraseriesofevents,allthreelivesbecomeintertwinedandtheirdramaticbackstoriesarerevealed.Gang-tae,Sang-tae,andMs.Kosharemoreincommonwithoneanotherthantheythink.Asidefromthefactthatthetwoleadingromanticpairsarebothgorgeous,thisshowwillkeepviewersgluedtotheirseatsthankstoGang-taeandMs.Ko'spush-and-pulldynamic.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'TheHeirs'Thisdramatellsthestoryofagroupofrich,privilegedhighschoolstudentswhowillonedaytakeovertheirfamiliesbusinesses.Thecoming-of-agethemesexploredinthedramaincludeidentity,wealth,andrelationships.OneofthemaincharactersisKimTan,achaebolheirtoJegukGroup,whohasn'thadtheeasiestrelationshipwithhisolderhalf-brotherKimWonbecausehethinksTanistryingtostealtheirfather'scompanyfromhim.TomakeTan'slifeevenmoredifficult,heendsupfallinginlovewithhishousekeeper'sdaughter,ChaEun-sang,muchtohisfather'sdisapprovalandhehastocompetewithclassmateChoiYoungDo'ssuddeninterestinEun-sangtoowhenshetransfersintotheireliteschool.TanseekstoovercomealltheobstaclestobewithEun-sangnomatterwhathisfamilyorfriendsatschoolsay.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'Hi,ByeMama'Ifyoulikealittlesupernaturalpizazzwithyourdrama,thisshowisforyou.ChaYoo-riisaghostwhodiedfiveyearsago,leavingbehindherhusband,JoKang-hwa,andtheirchild.Inamovetobecomealivinghumanagain,ChaYoo-ricarriesoutareincarnationprojectfor49days.WhenshereappearstoJoKang-hwa,however,shefindsthatherhusbandhaschangedalotsinceshedied.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'MyMister'MyMister tellsthestoryoftwopeoplestrugglingwithfinancialtroubles,familydrama,andloneliness.ParkDong-hun(LeeSun-kyun)isamiddle-agedengineerworkingunderabosswhoisyoungerthanhim,allthewhileprovidingforhistwounemployedbrothersandtheirmom.Tomakemattersworse,Dong-hun’swifeishavinganaffairwithhisboss(yikes).Meanwhile20-somethingLeeJi-an(K-popstarIU)isinamountainofdebtandwilldojustaboutanythingtogettheloansharksoffherback.AftershecatchesDong-hunacceptingabribe,shedecidestostealgiftcertificateshereceivedinanattempttopayoffherloans.Heart-wrenchingandhopeful,theshowtellsthestoryoftwopeopledevelopingasweetkinshipwhiletryingtodigthemselvesoutoftrouble.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'Mother'WhensubstituteteacherSoo-jin(playedbyLeeBo-Youngof WhenMyLoveBlooms)discoversoneofherstudentsHye-na(playedbythebrilliantHeoYool)isbeingabusedbyhermotherandherboyfriend,sheimpulsivelydecidestorunawaywiththelittlegirl.Soo-jinsetsouttotravelfromSouthKoreatoIceland(sheisabirdresearcherandhasbeengivenagranttoworkataninstitutionthere),butbeforeshecanmakeittoIcelandsomanyunexpectedeventshappen.ViewerswilldiscoverwhySoo-jinissodrawntoHye-naandtheywillgrowintothequiteunexpectedmother-daughterpairwe'reallrootingfor.Thisshowwillaskviewerstothinkaboutwhatitmeanstobeamother/whogetstobeoneandwillleaveyoureyespuffyfromsobbingaftereveryepisode.MotherisoneofSouthKorea'smosthighly-ratedseries.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)HistoricalKoreanDramas'Kingdom'Twosubjectsk-dramasdoextremelywell:historicalepicsandzombiehorror.PutthemtogetherandyougetthefirstNetflixoriginaldramatobecomeaninternationalhit.Asamysteriousplaguemovesthroughthecountry,acrownprincesetsouttofindthesource.Luckily,thisdramadoesn'tendatoneseason,withaspin-offfilmpremieringthisyearandathirdseasonreportedlyintheworks.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'100DaysMyPrince'In 100DaysMyPrince,PrinceLeeYul(EXOmemberD.O.)isforcedtofleethepalaceafterhediscoversasecretthatputshislifeatrisk.Afteranaccidentcauseshimtolosehismemory,he'snursedbacktohealthbyacommonerandtoldhe'sbetrothedtotheirdaughter,YeonHong-shim.Thestoryfocusesontheirnext100daystogether,withLeeYullivinglifeasacommonerandtheirlovestorygrowingintheprocess.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'Pachinko'Ifthereisn'talreadyalabelfortheinternational,prestigeK-drama,we'recreatingitforPachinko.CreatedbySooHughbasedonanovelbyKorean-AmericanwriterMinJinLee,thisgorgeousdramatellsthetaleoffourgenerationsofaKoreanfamilylivinginpermanentresidentsinJapan,spanningfromJapanese-occupiedKoreainthe1910sto1980sTokyo.WithacastincludingOscarwinnerYuh-jungYoun,HallyustarLeeMinho,andnewcomerKimMin-ha,thesagaoflove,familyduty,andperseveranceisamust-watchtearjerker.watchitonappletv+(opensinnewtab)'Mr.Sunshine'ThishistoricalsagaisbasedonrealhistoricaleventsthataffectedKorea(thenJoseon)intheearly1900s.BorninJoseonasthechildofslaves,MarineCorpsofficerEugeneChoi(SquidGame'sLeeByung-hun)returnstohisnativecountry,yearsaftersmugglinghiswaytotheU.S.TherehemeetsAe-shin(TheHandmaidenandTwentyFive,TwentyOne'sKimTae-ri),anoblewomanwho'spartofeffortstosecurethecountry'sindependenceagainstthethreatofcolonization.Thetwofallinlove,despitetheirclassdifferencesandAe-shin'simpendingmarriage,againstthebackdropofachangingnation.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'TheRedSleeve'Thishistoricalromance,basedonafictionalnovelaboutrealhistoricalfigures,isaslow-burnthatbothwarmsyourheartandleavesyouintears.CrownPrinceYiSan(2PM'sJunho)fallsinlovewithoneofhiscourtladies,SungDeok-im(LeeSe-young),andwantshertobehisconcubine.However,strong-willedDeok-imwantstoliveherlifefreely,andrejectshisadvances.Eventually,sherealizesthathisloveforheristrue,andthattogether,theycancreateabetterfuturefortheircountry.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'RookieHistorianGooHae-Ryung'Ina RomeoandJuliet-esquestoryline,thisshowrevolvesaroundaromancebetweenanaspiringpalacehistorianandalonelyprince.Together,theygoonajourneytobreaksocietalnormsanduncoversecretsfromtheirpaststhatcouldhaveconsequencesontheirpresentdaylives.Thisshowissuitedforthoseseekingsweet,heart-flutteringmomentsandwillhaveyourootingforthecoupleuntiltheveryend.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)Legan/MedicalKoreanDramas'HospitalPlaylist'Grey'sAnatomy andothermedicaldramafanswillwanttodiverightintothisdramathatdepictsthestoriesofpeopleworkingatahospital.Thefivedoctorshavebeenfriendsfor20years(theyallwenttothesamemedicalschool)andnowthey'recolleaguesnavigatingthroughacareercenteredaroundlifeanddeath.Thisshowiscurrentlyoneofthehighest-ratedKoreandramasincabletelevisionhistorywithtwoseasonssofarandathirdalreadyconfirmed!watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'TheGhostDoctor'Thissupernaturalmedicaldramafollowsthedoctorsandghoststhathauntthehallsofalargeuniversityhospital.ChaYoung-min(idol-actorRain)isagenius,arrogantsurgeonwhoentersacomaafteramysteriouscaraccident.KoSeung-tak(BoysOverFlowers'andLawSchool'sKimBum)isakindsurgicalresidentwhosefamilyownsthehospital...andistotallyincompetent.Thetwototalopposites(oneghost,onehuman)endupworkingtogethertotreatpatientsandinvestigatecorruptionamongthehospitalexecs.watchitonviki(opensinnewtab)'Hyena'YoonHee-jaeisahandsomeattorneywho'sconfidentincrushinghisopponentsincourt.Hehasa"chance"meetingatalaundromatwithamysteriouswomanandendsupfallingforheronlytolaterdiscoverthatthewoman,JungGeum-ja,isactuallyanattorneyrepresentingtheoppositeside.ShehadstrategicallywonHee-jae'sheart(andhiscasefiles)becauseshereallyneedsawintosaveherstrugglingbusiness.Despitebeingwronged,Hee-jaeisattractedtoGeum-jaandthepairdukeitoutincourt.IfYoonHee-jaelooksfamiliartoyouit'sbecausethecharacterisplayedbyJuJi-hoon,whoalsoplaysthedazzlingCrownPrincein Kingdom.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'LawSchool'HowtoGetAwayWithMurder fansaresuretolove LawSchool,whichfocuseson studentsandprofessorsareprestigiousHankukUniversityLawSchool.Theshow'splotkicksoffwhenonelawprofessorattheschoolisfounddeadandanother,ProfessorYang(playedbyKimMyung-min)isarrestedforthecrime,forcingthestudentstoteamuptoproveYang'sinnocence.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'ChiefofStaff'Remember HouseofCards?TheNetflixoriginalseriesfollowedthecomplexandilicitlivesofpoliticiansandjournalistsinWashington,D.C.Theshowwasnothingshortofahit,butitcametoan unfortunateend(opensinnewtab) onceitsstarbecameembroiledinaveryserious,verydisturbingcontroversy.ChiefofStaff isalotlike HouseofCards,butrestassured,thedramaismaintained within theshow.There'sscheming,manipulation,illicitaffairs,seriouscriminalactivity,andawholelotoflyingtothegeneralpublicbythevotersbytheverypeopletheyputinoffice—soundsappropriateforthedayandagewe'relivingin,no?watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)SliceofLifeKoreanDramas'Reply1988'TheReplyseriesaredifferentkindsofperioddramas;insteadoftakingusbackto theGoryeoorJoseoneras,thesecomediesshowrecentculturaleventsthroughtheeyesofyoungpeoplecomingofageatthetime.Theslice-of-lifeseriesisbelovedforitsstorylinesofyoungloveanditsportrayalsofpopculturalphenomenons.ThoughReply1988wasthelastseriesmade(theycameoutinreversechronologicalorderbyyear),it'sthemostpopular,followingboththekidsandparentsoftheSsangmun-dongneigborhoodinSeoul.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'ItaewonClass'Wheretostartwiththisone?ThisseriestellsthestoryofParkSae-royi,whoopensarestaurantinItaewonafterhavingspentafewyearsinprisonforbeatingupchaebolheirJangGeun-won.Thetwohavearoughhistoryandnow,withafreshstart,Sae-royiwantstonotonlyfranchisehisrestaurantDanBam,buthaveitovertakeJanggaGroupasahouseholdname.(Hisultimategoalistogetrevengeforhisfather'sdeath,whichwascausedbytheJanggafamily.)TheCEOofJanggaGroupisaself-mademanofsuccessandhewillnotletSae-royidefeathimorhisson.Thetwoengageinapowerstrugglethroughouttheentireseriesthat'sfilledwithjuicyplottwistsandturns.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'SomethingintheRain'Althoughweloveoutrageouslyplottedk-dramas, SomethingintheRain isamorestraightforwardandrealisticlookintoanill-fatedromanceandworkplacediscrimination.YoonJin-ah(CrashLandingonYou'sSonYe-jin)isasinglecareerwomanwhobeginsaromancewithherfriend’slittlebrother(playedbyyournewcrushJungHae-in)afterhereturnedfromastintabroad.Buttheirrelationshipdrawsanimmenseamountofscrutinyfromtheirfamilies,whodon’tapprove.Jin-ahalsofacesasexistworkplace,wheresheandherfemaleco-workersaredemeanedbytheirmalecolleagues.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'BecauseThisIsMyFirstLife'Doesbrokemillennialsworkingunderpaidjobsanddealingwithtoday’shighcostoflivingsoundfamiliar?Thecharactersin BecauseThisIsMyFirstLife arejustlikeus–followingtheirdreams,workinginhigh-poweredindustries,allthewhilejustbarelyreapingthebenefits.NamSae-hee(LeeMin-ki)isasoftwaredeveloperworkingforastart-upwhosuffersfromamortgagethateatsupallhisdisposableincome.YoonJi-ho(JungSo-min)isastrugglingscreenwriterwhodreamsofdevelopingherownk-dramas,butshe’srelegatedtobeingahighlyunderpaidwriter’sassistantonmediocreshows.Aftershe’sforcedtomoveoutofherapartment,sheendsuprentingoutaroominSae-hee’shouse.Whentheyrealizethatafake-marriagewouldbemutuallyadvantageousforboththeirprecariousfinancialsituationsandsocietalexpectations,theydecidetotietheknot.Obviously,onethingleadstoanotherandthey’reunabletoseparatetheircontractualmarriagefromtherealfeelingsthattheybegintodevelop.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'Navillera'Fairwarning: Navillera isthekindofshowthatisbestwatchedwithafullboxoftissuesatyourside.TheseriesfocusesonShimDeok-chul,a70-year-oldretiredmailmanwhodreamsofbeingaballetdancer.AsDeok-chulpursueshisdream,healsobattlesadvancingAlzheimer’s.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'RecordofYouth'NewtoNetflix,thisshowcentersonthreeambitiousindividualsfromdifferentsocialclassesworkinginthecutthroatworldofshowbusinessandfashion.SaHye-joon(ParkBo-gum)andWonHae-hyo(ByeonWoo-seok)aremodelswhoaspiretobeactors.TheyendupbecomingfriendswithmakeupartistAnJung-ha(Parasite'sParkSo-dam)andtogetherthetriomustfaceavarietyofobstaclesthatthreatentostopthemfromachievingtheirdreamsintheentertainmentindustry.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab)'DearMyFriends'Featuringastar-studdedcastofindustryveterans—mostnotablyOscar-winnerYounYuh-jung(!)—thisheartwarmingslice-of-lifedramafollowselderlyfriendswhoarejustvibingintheirlastyearsoflife.AfterParkWan(GoHyun-jung)decidestowriteanovelaboutthelifeoftheelderlyatthebehestofhermother,shegetsclosetohermother’sgroupoflifelongfriendsandlearnstheirsmallbutsignificantlifestories.Theseriesisalovestoryaboutfriendshipandlifelongconnectionsthatlooksthroughtimeatoldmemoriesandthewaysthosemomentsthreadintoourtwilightyears.watchitonnetflix(opensinnewtab) QuinciLeGardye (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) ContributingCultureEditor QuinciLeGardyeisaContributingCultureEditorwhocoversTV,movies,Koreanentertainment,books,andpopculture.Whensheisn’twritingorcheckingTwitter,she’sprobablywatchingthelatestK-dramaorgivingaconcertperformanceinhercar. 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