12 Best Korean Dramas You Should Be Binge-Watching On Netflix
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Are you looking to expand your tastes and try watching shows and series in a foreign language? Have you browsed to the end of Netflix and are absolutely tired of watching the same shows over and over again? Well, maybe it’s time you started watching some K-dramas instead! If you’re someone who is looking for a change of scenery, there are tonnes of chair-gripping, nail-biting Korean dramas that you can tune into on your favorite online streaming platforms. With Korean skincare, shows, movies, and music being all the rage right now, we can understand your curiosity and interest in learning more about Korean culture. So if you’re new to K-dramas, we have a list of twelve incredible shows for you to start binging ASAP:
1. Descendants Of The Sun
Korean dramas are known for their wonderful storylines and passionate love stories. Descendants Of The Sun is the story of two completely different people falling for each other. It follows the story of Captain Yoo Shi Jin who is a part of the South Korean Special Forces and a young doctor by the name of Kang Mo Yeon who is a cardiothoracic surgeon at a hospital called Haesung Hospital in Seoul. They pair find themselves facing deadly dangers together as they are caught in a country that is torn by war.
2. Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class is the story of a young man, Park Sae-ro-yi who ends up in jail due to a series of misfortunes. What follows is the story of how he overcomes his difficulties to become a successful restaurateur and achieve his dreams. Along the way he finds companionship in Jo Yi-seo, a brilliant and highly intelligent young woman with dreams as big as his own. While Jo Yi-seo has romantic feelings for Park Sae-ro-yi, he doesn’t feel the same about her. Find out if Park Sae-ro-yi will turn around and return Jo Yi-seo’s feelings by watching the show!
3. Crash Landing On You
Crash Landing On You follows the story of a gorgeous young South Korean heiress by the name Yoon Se-ri. Se-ri accidentally ends up on the wrong side of the Korean border following a paragliding accident and has to find her way back to South Korea. She meets a handsome but stoic young North Korean army man, Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok when she lands on the North Korean border. What follows is a series of twists and turns and an unlikely and unconventional love story. This is definitely a show you will want to binge watch with your partner!
4. It’s Okay Not To Be Okay
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay is the story of a famous author named Ko Moon Young who crosses paths with a caretaker named Moon Gang Tae at a psychiatric ward. Gang Tae’s sibling, Sang Tae has autism but is a huge fan of Moon Young’s work. Despite not getting along at first, Ko Moon Young and Moon Gang Tae end up discovering that they share a common connection and a deeply troubled past as well.
5. When The Camellia Blooms
When The Camellia Blooms is all about second chances. It follows Oh Dong-baek who is a single mother with big dreams of her own. She moves to a quaint little town and opens her own bar called Camellia. Unfortunately for Oh Dong-baek, she is harshly judged by the narrow-minded village women for her relationship status. Soon, Oh Dong-baek manages to catch the eye of a handsome young police officer named Hwang Yong-sik. Unbeknownst to the happy couple, their love story might just be nearing an end after a serial killer decides that Oh Dong-baek is going to be his next victim. Watch this show if you are a fan of twists and turns.
6. Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine is a periodical drama that is set in the early 1900s and focuses on the numerous men and women who fought hard for Korean independence. It follows the story of a man named Eugene Choi who was born into slavery but goes on to become a marine. He returns to Korea (then called the Joseon dynasty) and meets and falls for a brave young aristocratic woman, Go Ae-shin, who is also secretly fighting for Korean independence. What follows is the story of how they overcome their differences and fight for their nation’s independence.
7. Hospital Playlist
If Grey’s Anatomy was one of your favorite shows on TV and you’ve been looking to find similar shows, then you’ve come to the right place! Hospital Playlist is about five young doctors who have been best friends since they were in medical school. Like Grey’s Anatomy, the story follows how they navigate through their lives and deal with the complexities of life and death in a hospital.
8. Boys Over Flowers
Boys Over Flowers is a classic teen K-drama that follows the story of a feisty young girl named Geum Jan-di who wins a scholarship to an elite and highly prestigious high school. Despite being from a less privileged background than her classmates, Geum Jan-di holds her own ground and stands up against the leader of a popular school gang named Gu Jun-pyo. Seeing how bold and vivacious Geum Jan-di is, Gu Jun-pyo starts to catch strong feelings for her. However Geum Jan-di ends up having a crush on Yoon Ji-hu who is a good friend of Gu Jun-pyo. What follows is a delicious love triangle between the three of them. Watch this show for a throwback to your high school and college days.
9. Record Of Youth
Record Of Youth is about two fashion models who are also best friends and have dreams of making it big in the film industry and becoming successful actors. Sa Hye-Joon and Won Hae-Hyo end up meeting an equally ambitious young woman named Au Jung-Ha who has dreams of becoming a famous makeup artist. Au Jung-Ha quits her boring 9-5 job in an office to pursue her true passion. The three of them join forces and try their hardest to navigate through an industry that is as cutthroat as it is appealing. Sa Hye-Joon and Au Jung-Ha also catch strong feelings for each other as they move along their journey on the path to success.
10. Reply 1988
If you’re looking for a show that will take you back to the era of the 80s, then Reply 1988 is the show for you. It features all the popular 80s tropes and counterculture, and a major plot point of this series is set around the famous Seoul Olympics that occured in the year 1988 and its impact and influence on the younger generation of South Koreans. This show follows the story of five young friends who live in a quaint little town and has a coming-of-age storyline. Featuring all the regular teen series tropes, Reply 1988 deals with young love, heartbreak, innocent crushes, the difficulties of navigating through college life and more 80s nostalgia than you thought you needed.
11. Something In The Rain
If you’re someone who lives for forbidden romances and love stories that are of the more unconventional style, then this is the story for you. This drama filled story breaks past the barriers of age and tells us that love is love, regardless of whether you’re 20 or 50. Something In The Rain is a heartwarming story of a woman in her mid 30s by the name of Yoon Jin-ah who works with a coffee company. She soon crosses paths with her best friend Kyung-Sun’s younger brother, Seo Joon-hee who is in his mid 20s. Seo Joon-hee has just returned to South Korea after spending the last few years working abroad. Although Yoon Jin-ah never ever saw her friend’s younger brother as a potential love interest in the past, she finds herself slowly but steadily falling for him. Sadly, we still live in a patriarchal society that cannot comprehend that a younger man can make the choice to be with an older woman. We see the pair face resentment and judgemental looks from those around them due to their difference in age. So the question is, will love truly overcome numbers?
12. Cinderella And The Four Knights
Eun Ha-Won is a beautiful young woman who lives with her evil stepmother and her equally despicable children. To save money for her college tuition, Eun Ha-Won finds herself working multiple jobs and struggling to make ends meet. Soon she ends up meeting three super wealthy cousin brothers by the names of Hyun-Min, Seo-Woo, and Ji-Woon. The three cousins live in a massive mansion that is owned by their strict grandfather. After their grandfather sees Eun Ha-Won stand up for herself and hold her ground in front of Hyun-Min, he hires her to be a live-in butler with the hopes that she can teach them how to behave better. However, what ensues is a super complicated and messy love triangle that will leave you at the edge of your seats.
With this list, you can feel confident that you will be watching the most popular and highly rated K-dramas that you will come across online. Once you have binge watched these shows, we guarantee that you will be more than well versed in Korean culture and drama. Do let us know which of these awesome shows are going on your watch list, in the comment section down below!
