People who don’t watch Korean series, better known as K-dramas, are missing out on a lot of things. First of all, it’s worth considering the large-scale cultural impact because indeed, K-dramas and K-movies have become a global phenomenon, and if you want to be a pop culture geek/local productive of the internet who loves entertainment and you are here, then it is obvious that you are one and the other, you must be aware of everything related to K-dramas.
But above all, there is the most important reason why you should watch Korean dramas and that is because it is an addictive and extraordinary phenomenon, and you will thank yourself for having it added to your pop culture diet. Known for their interesting plots and intense (although sometimes predictable) twists and turns, Korean dramas can range from romantic comedy to incredibly heartbreaking story that will make you cry to the point of saying “F**k, what the hell?” what was that? » in the blink of an eye and it is precisely this variety that keeps viewers asking for more.
Here you will find the 10 best K-dramas of all time to watch, grouped according to the most popular genres and for those who are familiar with the more established K-dramas, just check out our list of the best new Korean series to watch on Netflix in 2023. By the way, if you are specifically looking for the best K-dramas of all time on Netflix, on Viki, on Hulu, on Prime Video, on Tubi, or the best Korean reality shows?
Here too, we have everything you need. If your knowledge of Korean entertainment doesn’t extend beyond Squid Game and Train to Busan, you can start there. These thrilling K-dramas are packed with action and intrigue, and some selections tackle social issues, like Parasite but there are also so many zombies!
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‘Squid Game’ (2021)
This is one more recommendation if you haven’t yet watched “Squid Game”, a Korean suspense thriller on Netflix, which is worth watching. In this success story, a group of deeply indebted characters sign up for a series of children’s games for a chance to win 45,6 billion won or approximately $38 million. The problem is that if the players lose in the tightrope game or the red light game, green light.
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All of Us Are Dead (2022)
In this fast-paced zombie thriller, we follow a group of high school students as the zombie apocalypse descends on their school. The young students are left to their own devices as their classmates quickly return, allowing us to see how they cope with the challenge of survival, while also having storylines about the parents and politicians dealing with the virus. outside of school.
What’s most interesting is how classic high school tropes of crushes, bullies, etc. are transformed into thrilling storylines.
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Parasyte: The Gray (2024)
Based on the popular Japanese manga Parasyte, this invasion horror drama features a species of maggot-like aliens who arrive on Earth and begin taking over human bodies. Supermarket employee Jeong Su-in (Jeon So-nee) encounters one of these parasites when she is attacked on her way home, except instead of being killed, the alien invader heals her wounds and takes up residence in her head, only taking control when Su-in is threatened.
As the latter becomes the target of Team Grey, an elite team tasked with eliminating the alien threat, she must find a way to survive by coexisting with the monster in her head.
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Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
This love story between a country boy and a city girl begins when Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-ah), a dentist in Seoul, loses her shoe during a visit to the village of Gonjin, on the edge of the sea. The shoe is then found by Hong Doo-shik (Kim Seon-ho), a handyman who does odd jobs in town. So Hye-jin ends up moving to Gonjin, where Doo-shik helps her adjust to her new surroundings, and the couple slowly (and sweetly) begin to develop feelings for each other. other.
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Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Being an old-fashioned teen drama, “Boys Over Flowers” centers around a group of popular, privileged and unlikable boys from the prestigious Shinhwa High School. The group, known as F4, bullies others to achieve its ends, until a young working-class girl, Geum Jan-di, arrives at the school on a scholarship. and stand up to the boys.
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What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (2018)
In this popular romantic comedy, Park Min-young plays Kim Mi-so, the capable secretary of businessman Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon), a chaebol.
While the job is grueling and Young-joon is narcissistic and self-centered, Mi-so finally decides, after nine years of work, to quit and start leading a life on her own. That’s when Young-joon refuses to let her go, realizing that his feelings for Mi-so go beyond professional admiration. For her part, Mi-so begins to see her boss slowly soften into a new life, which gives us a truly sweet love story with some extraordinary kissing scenes.
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Lovely Runner (2024)
In this very popular romance-fantasy drama, time travel mixes with the wildest dreams of all young girls who love K-pop.
In 2023, 34-year-old Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon) uses a wheelchair and is a die-hard fan of K-pop superstar Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok), who gave her the strength to continue living during the most difficult time of your life. After the unexpected death of Sun-jae, who appears to have committed suicide, a devastated Sol comes into possession of Sun-jae’s old digital watch. By pressing one of the buttons, Sol finds herself transported 15 years back, to 2008, when she was a 19-year-old student in a high school close to Sun-jae’s. She is then determined to prevent Sun-jae’s future death by all means, which is only the beginning of a love story full of twists and turns and fate.
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The Red Sleeve (2021-2022)
Based on a fictional novel about real historical figures, this historical romance slowly takes on proportions that will warm your heart and leave you in tears.
Crown Prince Yi San (Junho from 2PM) falls in love with one of his court ladies, Sung Deok-im (Lee Se-young), to the point of wanting to make her his concubine but the latter, with a strong character, wants to live his life freely and rejects his advances. However, she eventually realizes that his love for her is sincere and that together they can create a better future for their country.
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Law School (2021)
Fans of “How to Get Away With Murder” will definitely love “Law School,” which focuses on the students and faculty at the prestigious Hankuk University Law School. It all begins when one law professor at the school is found dead and another, Professor Yang (played by Kim Myung-min) is arrested for the crime, forcing the students to team up to prove the Yang’s innocence.
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Something in the Rain (2018)
We may love K-dramas with outlandish plots, but “Something in the Rain” offers a more direct and realistic look at an unhappy love story and discrimination in the workplace.
We follow the story of Yoon Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin from Crash Landing on You), a single, career-driven woman who begins a romance with her friend’s little brother (played by your new crush Jung Hae-in ) after returning from a stay abroad. Their relationship, however, is the subject of all the attention from their families. Jin-ah also faces a sexist workplace, where she and her female colleagues are belittled by their male colleagues.
So, which of the Kdramas on this list is your favorite?