Once a niche interest, Korean dramas have captured the hearts of millions worldwide. Netflix reports that over 80% of its global users have tuned to Korean-language content. While romance remains a staple, the success of gritty series like Squid Game and The Glory has opened the door for more genre-bending.
Whether you’re a K-drama newbie or a seasoned fan, it’s time to explore the K-dramas. This blog will recommend the 20 best Korean dramas you must binge on now!
Best Korean Dramas, Rank 20 to 16
20. The Heirs (2013)
The Heirs is a hit K-drama starring Lee Min-ho and Park Shin-hye in 2013. This teen romance follows Cha Eun-sang, a girl from a poor family, and Kim Tan, a charming heir to a conglomerate. After a fateful meeting in the U.S., their love faces family challenges, class divides, and rivalry, especially with Kim Tan’s rival, Choi Young-do (Kim Woo-bin).
A global sensation, The Heirs won multiple awards and captured girls’ hearts. With its romance, drama, and glamor blend, this drama remains a must-watch for K-drama fans.
19. Vincenzo (2021)
Vincenzo (2021) is a gripping South Korean drama starring Song Joong-ki as Vincenzo Cassano, a mafia lawyer who returns to Korea and teams up with lawyer Hong Cha-young (Jeon Yeo-been) to deliver justice through underworld tactics.
Known for its mix of action, dark humor, and stunning visuals, the drama captivated viewers with its compelling story and standout performances. After achieving record-breaking ratings and multiple awards, Vincenzo became a global sensation on Netflix.
Don’t miss this explosive hit! You will know it’s a fan favorite for more than just because of Song Joong-ki when you watch it!
18. True Beauty (2020)
Many of the best Korean dramas are adapted from comics, and “True Beauty” is one of them. Starring Moon Ga-young as Lim Ju-kyung, it tells the story of a high school girl who overcomes bullying and insecurity about her looks by mastering makeup and transforming into a campus goddess. However, only Lee Su-ho (Cha Eun-woo) knows her bare-faced secret.
True Beauty captured more audiences with its mix of humor, heartfelt moments, and relatable themes. Moon Ga-young’s exceptional performance earned her the Best Emotional Actress Award in 2021.
17. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is a historical K-drama based on Tong Hua’s novel Scarlet Heart. The story follows Go Ha-jin (IU), a modern woman transported back to the Goryeo Dynasty, where she becomes Hae Soo, a 16-year-old girl entangled in royal power struggles.
Hae Soo becomes embroiled in a complex emotional entanglement in the power struggle of the royal family, especially the love story between the fourth prince Wang Zhao (played by Lee Joon-gi) and the eighth prince Wang Wook (played by Kang Ha Na). The series cost more than $400,000 per episode to produce but performed poorly in the ratings. Despite this, Lee Joon-gi and Lee Ji Eun were nominated for the 2017 Baeksang Arts Awards. If you love historical themes, this Korean drama is a good choice.
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16. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
“Lawyer Young-woo” is a legal K-drama produced by ENA. The heroine, Young-woo (played by Park Eun-bin), is a rookie lawyer with a high IQ (IQ 164) and an autism spectrum disorder. Young-woo has shown extraordinary talent in the field of law. Her photographic memory and deep understanding of the law have solved many complex cases. Each episode revolves around a legal case, and the drama explores legal and social issues.
“Lawyer Young-woo” soared to 17.5% after the broadcast, setting a record for the ENA channel’s highest ratings and winning the Best Work Award and Best Actress Award at the 2023 Baeksang Arts Awards.
Best K-Dramas, Rank 15 to 11
15. Squid Game (2021)
“In this world, everyone is equal, will not be discriminated against, and must be given the same opportunities.” This is a classic line from the Korean drama “Squid Game.”
“Squid Game” is a Korean dystopian survival thriller written and directed by Hwang Dong Hyuk. The drama tells the story of 456 people who are desperate due to debt problems and are invited by a mysterious organization to participate in a series of deadly children’s games. The winner will receive a prize of up to 45.6 billion won (about 4 million US dollars). The content of the game includes several classic Korean children’s games, such as “One Two Three Wooden Man,” “Pick Sugar Cake,” “Tug of War,” etc., but each round of failure means the loss of life.
“Squid Game” was launched globally on Netflix and quickly became popular worldwide. It became the first non-English series nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Drama.
14. My Love from the Star (2013)
“I love you until the end of the universe.” do you remember this sentence? This is a classic line from the Korean TV series “My Love from the Star.” The drama tells the romantic love story between an alien, Do Min Joon (played by Kim Soo Hyun), and the popular actress Cheon Song Yi (played by Jun Ji Hyun) after living on Earth for 400 years.
The drama was written by Park Ji Eun, directed by Jang Tae Woo, and produced by SBS. The series was inspired by the records of UFOs in “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.”
The drama triggered a viewing boom in South Korea and attracted attention in other parts of Asia. The costumes and eating habits of the characters in the drama (such as Cheon Song Yi’s love of fried chicken with beer) have become popular trends.
13. Kill Me, Heal Me (2015)
Kill Me, Heal Me revolves around the emotional entanglement between Cha Do-Hyun (Ji Sung), a wealthy man with multiple personality disorders, and his attending physician, Oh Ri-jin (Hwang Jung-um).
The most impressive line is when Oh Ri-jin says to Cha Do-hyun: “Everyone has a dark basement in their heart. If you ignore it and watch it, it will only make the shadow darker. You must have the courage to go down and turn on the light.”
The drama won the Best Korean TV Drama Award at the 10th Seoul International Television Festival.
It successfully explores the complex psychological problem of multiple personality disorder.
12. Goblin (2016)
“Goblin” is a project for TVN’s 10th anniversary. The production team has participated in creating many popular dramas, such as “Descendants of the Sun.”
“Goblin” tells the story of the immortal goblin Kim Shin (played by Gong Yoo), who must find a human bride to end his loneliness. Only she can pull out the sword in his heart and lift his curse.
The show’s filming locations are all over South Korea, and many scenes have become popular places for tourists to check-in. The OST of the show is “Stay With Me,” sung by Park Seo-Joon, which became a hit song of the year.
11. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
“It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” tells the story of the male protagonist, Moon Kang-tae (played by Kim Soo-Hyun), a caregiver working in a mental hospital who refuses love due to the pressure of life. The female protagonist, Ko Moon-young (played by Seo Ye-ji), is a fairy tale writer with an antisocial personality. The two unfold a fantasy and romantic love story.
This best Korean drama involves a variety of mental health issues, such as autism and depression. It received extremely high ratings and praise during its broadcast. “It’s okay. Not everyone can be perfect.” This sentence made the audience feel warm.
Top Korean Dramas, Rank 10 to 6
10. Descendants of the Sun (2016)
Some relationships endure despite all the tests they face. “Descendants of the Sun” tells the love story between Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki), a special forces officer in a war-torn area, and Kang Mo-Yeon (Song Hye-Kyo), a surgeon.
“Descendants of the Sun” was a massive success in South Korea, with a peak viewership rating of 41.6%, becoming one of the most popular Korean dramas of the year and even boosting South Korea’s tourism industry.
9. The Glory (2022)
This is not just a revenge drama but real life. “Dark Glory” tells the story of the heroine, Wen Dongen (played by Song Hye Kyo), who suffered school violence in high school and finally took revenge on the perpetrator after years of planning.
“You think your life is the hell I created? In fact, your life has been hell since you were born.” Such lines make people feel the refreshing revenge.
Since its launch, the drama has received extremely high praise and multiple awards. The success of “Dark Glory” reflects society’s concern about school violence, especially in East Asian culture.
8. Crash Landing on You (2019)
“Crash Landing on You” tells a love story that crosses the border between North and South Korea, revolving around the relationship between a wealthy girl from South Korea, Yoon Se-ri, and a North Korean officer, Lee Jung-hyuk.
Starring powerful actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, their collaboration made this screen couple popular in Asia.
Many viewers feel happy for the love between the male and female protagonists in “Crash Landing on You.” This is not only a love drama. It explores the relationship between North and South Korea.
7. Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Boys Over Flowers is a globally loved South Korean drama based on Yoko Kamio’s manga Hana Yori Dango. The series follows Geum Jan-di (Ku Hye-sun), a courageous girl from a modest background who earns a scholarship to the elite Shinhwa High School. There, she clashes with the F4, a group of wealthy and handsome boys led by the arrogant Gu Jun-pyo (Lee Min-ho). What begins as hostility evolves into love, class struggles, and personal growth.
A beginning show of the Hallyu wave, Boys Over Flowers, makes more audiences start to understand K-drama.
6. Mr. Queen (2020)
In Mr. Queen, a modern-day chef, Jang Bong-hwan (Choi Jin-hyuk), wakes up trapped in the body of Queen Kim So-yong (Shin Hye-sun) during the Joseon Dynasty. As Bong-hwan navigates palace life, tangled in court politics and romance, the drama combines laugh-out-loud moments with sharp social commentary.
Yoon Sung-Sik directed this 20-episode with over 12% peak viewership in South Korea. Mr. Queen became a hit and was celebrated for challenging gender roles and societal norms in a fun way.
Engaging, fresh, and packed with humor, Mr. Queen is a must-watch K-drama that offers both entertainment and insight.
No. 5 – Flower of Evil (2020)
Flower of Evil is a K-drama that blends romance and suspense, enthralling viewers from start to finish. First aired in 2020, the series follows Baek Hee-sung (Lee Joon-gi), a seemingly perfect husband and father hiding a dark past. His wife, Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won), is a skilled homicide detective whose latest investigation into a string of murders threatens to unravel Hee-sung’s carefully guarded secrets.
This 16-episode thriller, directed by Kim Cheol-kyu and written by Yoo Jung-hee, captivates with its heart-stopping twists and emotional intensity.
The drama garnered widespread acclaim, winning Best Director at the Baeksang Arts Awards and gaining international popularity through platforms like Netflix and Viki.
No. 4 – Hospital Playlist (2020)
Hospital Playlist is a touching South Korean medical drama that aired from March 2020 to September 2021, quickly becoming one of the most beloved K-dramas in recent years. The series follows five doctors who have been inseparable friends since their medical school days in 1999.
“No matter how hard it gets, we’ll always be together,”. The warm camaraderie among the five friends and the emotional depth have left a lasting impression.
This series is a must-watch for anyone seeking a heartwarming and inspiring K-drama.
No. 3 – Reply 1988 (2015)
Reply 1988 is a beloved Korean drama set in the nostalgic neighborhood of Ssangmundong during the 1980s. The series follows five childhood friends—Deok-sun, Jung-hwan, Sun-woo, Dong-Yong, and their families—as they navigate first loves and family bonds—the ups and downs of their life against the backdrop of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Directed by Shin Won-ho and written by Lee Woo-jung, this third installment of the Reply series became among the highest-rated Korean cable dramas ever. It is your first choice if you want to feel a warm plot.
No. 2 – Signal (2016)
In Signal, talented criminal profiler Park Hae-young stumbles upon a battered walkie-talkie. But this is no ordinary walkie-talkie—it emits a voice from the past, a detective named Lee Jae-han, speaking in 1989.
Signal is inspired by real-life crimes in South Korea. There, the weight of unsolved tragedy feels incredibly real. Each episode pulls you into a web of suspense, forcing you to ask yourself: If you could change the past, what would you do? And at what cost?
No. 1 – Move to Heaven (2021)
Move to Heaven revolves around a unique profession: trauma cleanup. It tells the story of Geu-ru, a young man with Asperger’s syndrome, and his uncle Sang-gu, who become partners in a business to help families sort out the belongings of their deceased relatives.
“Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. As long as you remember it, it will never go away.” The series is filled with touching dialogues that will bring tears to your eyes.
Conclusion
As we wrap up this tour of the best Korean dramas, Korean dramas have captivated audiences worldwide.
We’ve covered the iconic Reply 1988 and the emotional Move to Paradise. If you haven’t watched these dramas, now’s the time. Whichever Korean drama you watch first, you’ll be in for a treat!
