Ardent fans of K-dramas can rejoice since the first half of the year was already filled with engaging dramas of different genres and multi-layered stories if we only mention the globally popular Korean dramas like “Lovely Runner” with Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon and “Queen of Tears” with Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, which are also supported by strong ensemble performances. We therefore invite you to discover the list of the best K-dramas of 2024 so far below.
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Lovely Runner – Netflix, Viki
If Lovely Runner has established itself as the flagship series of 2024, it is thanks to the captivating alchemy of Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon.
This romantic comedy features an ambitious filmmaker whose dreams are dashed when she becomes paralyzed following an accident, leading her to turn to the music of a K-pop idol in order to find comfort except that she becomes his unconditional fan. The sudden death of her idol, however, mysteriously brings her back to 2008, to the time when she and the singer and actor were high school students. It is then during a second chance that the young fan promises to change the destiny of her idol and her own. Lovely Runner also stars Song Geon Hee and N.Flying leader Lee Seung Hyub.
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Queen of Tears – Netflix
There are two reasons that made Queen of Tears a highly anticipated K-drama in 2024, namely the first-ever on-screen collaboration of Hallyu stars Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won and the attachment of ‘Hallyu’ star Park Ji Eun. Crash Landing on You”, to the project as screenwriter.
Indeed, Queen of Tears’ worldwide popularity has ensured that it has eclipsed Crash Landing on You as tvN’s most popular series. This romantic melodrama revolves around an estranged couple, including the chaebol heiress of the group Queens and the group’s legal director, who reconnect with their lost love when one of them is struck by a life-threatening situation . In Queen of Tears, we also find Park Sung Hoon, Kwak Dong Yeon and Lee Joo Bin.
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Marry My Husband – Amazon Prime Video
It was in 2024 that “Marry My Husband” began on a high note, bringing the plot to life with an incredible ensemble performance. This fantasy-filled, revenge-filled romantic comedy follows a terminally ill woman who catches her husband and best friend in the act, sparking a fight that results in her accidental death. A second chance is offered to her when she travels in time and returns 10 years earlier to the same workplace as her husband and her best friend and it is there that she then seeks revenge on her former loved ones for their illicit affair and hatches the perfect revenge plan.
Marry My Husband stars Park Min Young, Na In Woo, Lee Yi Kyung and Song Ha Yoon.
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A Shop for Killers – Disney+ Hotstar
It must be recognized that Lee Dong Wook’s filmography is full of underrated masterpieces, and “A Shop for Killers” is no exception. This well-directed action drama follows a young girl who lives with her eccentric uncle after the death of her parents while he runs an unusual shopping mall called Murthehelp while training his niece in survival tactics. After the sudden death of her uncle, the young girl becomes the target of suspected killers and can only rely on the training her uncle taught her to survive. A Shop for Killers also stars Kim Hye Jun.
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Wonderful World – Disney+ Hotstar
Fans of ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo were particularly excited about “Wonderful Wonder,” which shows the idol in a new light. Indeed, this series of mysterious and emotional thrillers follows a famous psychology professor and writer who seeks revenge after the tragic death of her son. While the culprit escapes any legal sanction, the mother decides to take justice into her own hands and this is where her life becomes entangled with that of a former medical student who leads a difficult life after losing his parents.
In Wonderful World, we also find Kim Nam Joo, Kim Kang Woo and Im Se Mi.
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Captivating the King – Netflix
It is on a deeply satisfying note that the refreshing saeguk (historical drama) “Captivating the King” ends. This intricately written series depicts the bittersweet love story between the king of Joseon and his close associate, a brilliant baduk player. It is then that the king’s life becomes miserable, as he is caught in the crossfire of royalty and political power struggles, while his close aide turns out to be a noblewoman disguised as a man seeking revenge on the monarch , which does not prevent a fatal attraction from establishing itself between the two improbable characters.
Captivating the King stars Jo Jung Suk, Shin Se Kyung and Lee Shin Young.
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Chief Detective 1958 – Disney+ Hotstar
It’s obvious that a K-drama starring Lee Je Hoon almost never disappoints, but “Chief Detective 1958” exceeded all expectations. A prequel to the cult Korean series “Chief Inspector,” this retro crime investigation drama follows a passionate people’s detective who prides himself on having the highest arrest rate when it comes to petty thieves. It is then with three other charismatic detectives that he teams up to dismantle corrupt power using common sense. In Chief Detective 1958, we also find Lee Dong Hwi, Choi Woo Sung and Yoon Hyun Soo.
So, which of these dramas is your favorite?