Legal Kdrama is one of the most popular genres among the many South Korean series, with countless extraordinary works currently available.
While basic k-drama genres such as action and romance k-drama series are widely known to audiences, there are genres that are a bit smaller and more unique than others, such as legal k-dramas. , which are not only plentiful, but also truly awesome to watch. Also known as a courtroom drama, a legal k-drama is a type of k-drama whose story revolves around lawyers, courtrooms, or the law. Tending to be intense and mysterious, a good legal k-drama usually features a lawyer protagonist, as well as other actors who are also part of the legal community.
The high number of legal k-dramas in the world makes it difficult to select the best among them and one cannot say that a series is extraordinary just because it is legal. The best k-dramas in the legal category are those that add spice, in fact, while some are rather procedural and slow, others are fast and exciting. Legal k-dramas that subvert expectations and look at the human side of the law set themselves apart from others while allowing audiences to become invested in both the legal cases and the characters.
- Suits
Season 1 in 2018
Do you feel like this title is familiar to you? It’s normal. First broadcast in 2011, Suits is a very popular legal drama in the United States which was adapted into a Korean drama of the same name in 2018 but based on the same premise of a respected lawyer who recruits a young man who doesn’t have a legal degree, but has a retentive memory. Retaining the magic of the original series, Suits is a great series to follow for those who crave stories that are familiar, yet exciting and exciting.
- Divorce Attorney Shin
Season 1 in 2023
A 2023 drama that depicts the complicated life of divorce lawyer Shin Sung-han, Divorce Attorney Shin is a very recent legal series that has captured the hearts of k-drama fans. With the unique and interesting characters as well as the exciting cases in Sung-han’s charge, Divorce Attorney Shin proves to be a series full of history and life although its storyline may seem simple.
While divorce court might not seem like the most exciting type of law, this series manages to make it exciting and captivating.
This is a good series for those who like life stories.
- The Devil Judge
Season 1 in 2021
Sometimes the story of a legal drama doesn’t end with the law and the same goes for The Devil Judge, a series released in 2021 that takes place in a dystopian future where discord reigns and citizens oppose their leaders. During live television programs, three judges try to restore peace in South Korea. The Devil Judge takes the stakes of a legal drama to an entirely new level, making it a very unique series, unlike any other legal k-drama airing today.
- Suspicious Partner
Season 1 in 2027
Made up of countless complex connections, Suspicious Partner is a legal k-drama released in 2017 that features a prosecutor and his intern who deal with a mysterious case. Things become even more complicated despite their rather difficult professional life when personal problems arise for both parties, one of them even being accused of murder. Suspicious Partner is a legal k-drama that is far from boring as it manages to balance the exciting legal aspects of the series with the dramatic social issues of the characters’ personal lives.
- Diary Of A Prosecutor
Season 1 in 2019
Mixing law and personal issues, Diary of a Prosecutor is a legal k-drama that depicts the daily lives of a group of South Korean prosecutors. Again, despite a title that may seem quite simple or bland, the series is actually full of gripping storylines. Diary of a Prosecutor is definitely a top priority for those who like slow-moving or character-driven series. Where action is lacking, dynamic characters and relationships make up for it, all within the context of the legal profession.
- Stranger
Season 2 in 2017
Also known as Secret Forest, Stranger is a legal k-drama that was so successful that it got a second season. This k-drama features a prosecutor who, after a procedure, loses his sense of empathy. In collaboration with a local police lieutenant, he tries to solve a murder and, together, they discover that corruption is involved. The story in Stranger is definitely worth following despite it being longer than other legal k-dramas, due to its two seasons. Fans of murder and mysteries will find what they are looking for since it is a dark, mysterious and tense series.
- Juvenile Justice
Season 1 in 2022
Juvenile Justice might be the series to watch if you’re looking for a legal k-drama with a twist. The 2022 series features a judge who is prejudiced against young people but who finds herself assigned to the role of judge in a children’s court. So she finds her own ways to punish the young people in her court while learning what it means to be an adult. Again, this is a legal k-drama with a strong focus on humanity and personal issues, but in a very specific sense. The success of Juvenile Justice can be explained by its commitment to presenting interesting cases and characters.
- Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Season 1 in 2022
Extremely popular on Netflix upon its release, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a k-drama that tells the story of an autistic woman who becomes a lawyer in a major South Korean firm. While some aspects of his autism, such as his photographic memory, help him in the courtroom, other aspects, such as his awkward communication methods, cause him problems. As the series progresses, we see her overcome her problems and become the lawyer she is destined to be. Apart from being a sincere and gentle series that talks about law, Extraordinary Attorney Woo above all demonstrates kindness and acceptance.
- Vincenzo
Season 1 in 2021
While some legal k-dramas take place in courtrooms, others take place in much more dangerous settings. The 2021 Vincenzo series features a young lawyer who, as a child, was adopted by the boss of an Italian mafia and upon returning to his hometown of Seoul, finds himself embroiled in a legal case pitting a shopping mall against a pharmaceutical company. This series is an exciting mix of law and crime whose main character, Vincenzo, is very endearing with a story that becomes more and more interesting. Vincenzo is on the more thrilling side of legal k-dramas.
- law school
Season 1 in 2021
Finally, Law School is among the most loved legal k-dramas of all time. The 2021 series features students and faculty studying and teaching law at Hankuk University School of Law. Things get complicated, however, when a class begins investigating a strange case and a law professor ends up killed. This is an intense, unexpected and satisfying series with an impressive k-drama ensemble and a truly gripping mystery. This is the k-drama to watch absolutely for those who like the school environment with many characters.