With unique storylines and well-developed characters, the influence of K-dramas continues to grow in the entertainment world. If 2023 gave us the best viewing experience with top rated K-dramas like Crash Course in Romance, 2024 had an equally promising start!
Netflix’s must-see romantic comedy of the year Queen of Tears, starring Kim Soo-hyun, is already in the Top 10 best series in several countries. Another comedy romantic is “Doctor Slump”. Directed by Oh Hyun-jong, the series stars Park Shin-hye, who returned to the screen after three years. It debuted at the top of the weekly ranking of non-English television series on the American streaming platform after its release in January. The series has also accumulated over 2,9 million views and 10,2 million watch hours between January 29, 2024 and February 4, 2024 on Netflix. So let’s find out the highest rated K-dramas of 2024 so far.
- Wonderful World
- Directed by: Yi Seung-young
- Cast: Kim Nam-joo, Cha Eun-woo, Kim Kang-woo, Lim Se-mi
- Broadcast date: March 1
- Episodes: 14
- IMDb rating: 9
Synopsis: Psychology professor Soo-hyun (Kim) loses her son to a group of corrupt men. But the law fails to provide justice and pardons the guilty. Now Soo-hyun’s only mission in life is to avenge his son and punish the guilty. To help her in her mission, she joins the mysterious Kwon Seon-yul (Cha Eunwoo). Available on DISNEY+.
- Queen of Tears
- Directed by: Kim Hee-won and Jang Young-woo
- Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon
- Broadcast date: March 9
- Episodes: 16
- IMDb rating: 8,3
Synopsis: Hong Hae-in (Ji-won), the heiress of the Queens Group, and Baek Hyun-woo (Soo-hyun), the group’s legal director, are a seemingly happily married couple. However, they can’t stand each other in private. Soon, a problem arises and the duo is forced to face the situation together. Will this bring Hyun-woo and Hae-in closer together or will they drift apart?
The K-drama marks Kim Soo-hyun’s return to the screen after a three-year hiatus. Available on Netflix.
- A Shop for K!llers
- Directed by: Lee Kwon
- Cast: Lee Dong-wook, Kim Hye-joon, Seo Hyun-woo
- Date of diffusion : January 17
- Episodes: 8
- IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: After losing her parents, Jung Ji-an (Kim) grows up under the tutelage of her uncle Jung Jin (Lee). One day, a phone call informs Ji-an that her uncle is no longer there. Having a hard time believing it, Ji-an returns to her uncle’s house to find out the truth. She comes across a group ready to do anything to eliminate her. The Kdramais an adaptation of the novel Sarinjaui Syopingmol by Kang Ji-young. It is available on DISNEY+.
- Marriage Impossible
- Directed by: Kwon Young-Il
- Cast: Jun Jong-seo, Kim Do-wan, Moon Sang-min
- Broadcast date: February 26
- Episodes: 12
- IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: Na A-jeong (Jun) and Lee Do-han (Kim) are longtime friends who share the same idea about marriage and prefer to remain single. But when Do-han’s chaebol family forces him to marry, he asks A-jeong to pose as his wife. Will this false relationship change the duo’s notion of love?
The Kdrama is based on the webtoon of the same name by Song Jung-won, and is available on Prime Video.
- Flex X Cop
- Directed by: Kim Jae-hong
- Cast: Ahn Bo-hyun, Park Ji-hyun, Kang Sang-jun
- Date of diffusion : January 26
- Episodes: 16
- IMDb rating: 7.9
Synopsis: Jin Yi-soo (Ahn), from a Chaebol family, joins the detective department led by honest officer Lee Gang-hyun (Park). Soon, Gang-hyun learns that Yi-soo is using his money and connections for his investigations and begins to hate him. However, when the duo team up on a case, Yi-soo strives to do better for Gang-hyun’s sake. The K-drama is available on DISNEY+.
- Marry My Husband
- Directed by: Park Won-gook
- Cast: Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, Song Ha-yoon
- Broadcast date: January 1
- Episodes: 16
- IMDb rating: 7.9
Synopsis: Kang Ji-won (Park) discovers that her husband Park Min-hwan (Lee) is having an affair with her best friend Jung Soo-min (Song). Feeling betrayed, she confronts the duo and is pushed against a table by her husband. However, when a strange series of events gives Ji-won a second chance at life, she vows to expose Min-hwan and put him behind bars. The Kdrama is based on the webtoon of the same title and is available on PRIME VIDEO.
- The Impossible Heir
- Directed by: Min Yeon-hong
- Cast: Lee Jae-wook, Lee Jun-young, Hong Su-zu
- Date of diffusion : February 28
- Episodes: 12
- IMDb rating: 7.9
Synopsis: Kang In-ha (Jun-young) is the illegitimate son of a Korean conglomerate. When he is deprived of his share in the company, In-ha teams up with his ambitious childhood friend Han Tae-oh (Jae-wook) to take back what is rightfully his. The Kdrama is available on DISNEY+.
- Captivating the King
- Directed by: Jo Nam-gook
- Cast: Cho Jung-suk, Shin Sae-kyung, Park Ye-young, Lee Shin-young
- Broadcast date: January 21
- Episodes: 16
- IMDb rating: 7.8
Synopsis: Yi In (Cho Jung-suk) is a king of the Qing dynasty. One day, he meets a Baduk (Go) player, Kang Hee-soo (Shin Sae-kyung) and is completely fascinated by her. What Yi In doesn’t know is that Hee-soo is seeking revenge for his misdeeds. The Kdrama is available on Netflix
- Doctor Slump
- Directed by: Oh Hyun-jong
- Cast: Park Shin-hye, Park Hyung-sik, Yoon Park, Kong Seong-ha
- Broadcast date: January 27
- Episodes: 16
- IMDb rating: 7.4
Synopsis: Doctors Yeo Jeong-woo (Hyung-sik) and Nam Ha-neul (Shin-hye) were rivals in high school and still can’t stand each other. However, when difficulties strike their lives, the duo finds themselves finding comfort in each other. Will Jeong-woo and Ha-neul fall in love during this time? The Kdrama is available on Netflix
- Gyeongseong Creature 2
- Directed by: Jung Dong-yoon
- Cast: Park Seo-joon, Han So-hee, Wi Ha-joon, Kim Hae-sook, Kim Su-hyun
- Broadcast date: January 5
- Episodes: 3
- IMDb rating: 7.3
Synopsis: Jang Tae-sang (Park), a pawn shop owner, and Yun Chae-ok (Han), a bounty hunter from Gyeongseong, find themselves involved in a series of missing persons cases at the mysterious Ongsung Hospital. Now Tae-sang and Chae-ok must work together to uncover the truth behind the kidnappings. Available on Netflix
- Love Song for Illusion
- Directed by: Lee Jung-seob
- Cast: Park Ji-hoon, Hong Ye-ji, Ji Woo
- Broadcast date: January 2
- Episodes: 16
- IMDb rating: 7.3
Synopsis: The dangerous Yeon Wol (Hong) is on a mission to eliminate Crown Prince Sa Jo-hyun (Park). She discovers that the prince suffers from dissociative identity disorder and decides to trap him. She poses as a concubine and enters Sajo’s mansion. But Yeon-wol quickly develops romantic feelings for the prince and begins to become distracted from her mission. Love Song for Illusion is adapted from the webtoon of the same name by Vanziun and is available on Watcha.
- AK!ller Paradox
- Directed by: Lee Chang-hee
- Cast: Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, Lee Hee-jun: Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, Lee Hee-jun
- Broadcast date: February 9
- Episodes: 8
- IMDb rating: 7.2
Synopsis: After a fight with a drunk man, Lee Tang (Choi) ends up eliminating him in self-defense. The incident makes him realize that he has a special ability to spot men with a malicious character. Tang eventually plans to erase all the corrupt from society as the days pass. But with Detective Nan-gam (Son) and former detective Song Chon (Lee) on his trail, the task seems difficult.
The Kdrama is adaptation of the webtoon Salinja Nangam and is available on Netflix.