17 Daebak K-dramas to Get Obsessed with Right Now
Long gone are the days of K-dramas being an obscure guilty pleasure. Shows coming out of South Korea have become a phenomenon of their own, attracting legions of loyal fans who eagerly anticipate their next watch — in fact, more than 60% of all Netflix members watched Korean titles last year.
If you’ve already dipped your toes in the world of K-dramas, you’d probably know this, but if you haven’t, word to the wise: Once you watch one, you can’t stop. You know that Squid Game and Kingdom are must-watches, and maybe your romance-obsessed friend also recommended Crash Landing on You, but if you’re looking for more, we’ve got you covered.
Whether you need a good laugh, a good cry, or a bite-sized offering for a sleepless night, K-dramas have it all. With new Korean series continually being added to Netflix’s lineup, there’s plenty to choose from. Read on for 17 of our recent favorites — no matter which one you start with, you’re sure to get hooked.
Long gone are the days of K-dramas being an obscure guilty pleasure. Shows coming out of South Korea have become a phenomenon of their own, attracting legions of loyal fans who eagerly anticipate their next watch — in fact, more than 60% of all Netflix members watched Korean titles last year.
If you’ve already dipped your toes in the world of K-dramas, you’d probably know this, but if you haven’t, word to the wise: Once you watch one, you can’t stop. You know that Squid Game and Kingdom are must-watches, and maybe your romance-obsessed friend also recommended Crash Landing on You, but if you’re looking for more, we’ve got you covered.
Whether you need a good laugh, a good cry, or a bite-sized offering for a sleepless night, K-dramas have it all. With new Korean series continually being added to Netflix’s lineup, there’s plenty to choose from. Read on for 17 of our recent favorites — no matter which one you start with, you’re sure to get hooked.
Alchemy of Souls
If you enjoy longer watches, Alchemy of Souls is the show you’ve been looking for. (It features two parts, spanning 30 episodes in total.) A period K-drama with a side of fantasy, it follows the story of mages who have the ability to move their souls across bodies using a forbidden magic spell that gives the series its name. Yep, people actually change bodies in this drama, which means things get complicated very fast, but it’s oh-so-entertaining. Think Game of Thrones level character charts, but make it K-drama — and a tad more romantic.
All of Us Are Dead
What do you get when you mix high school students and zombies? The gem that is All of Us Are Dead, another webtoon adaptation you can stream on Netflix. Set in the fictional city of Hyosan, the series follows a group of teenagers stranded in school (and fighting for survival) after a zombie outbreak takes over the country. With a dash of high school romance and a lot of suspense, All of Us Are Dead will have you glued to the screen across its 12 episodes, ending with a major cliff-hanger. Be sure to catch up now before the show comes back for Season 2.
Bloodhounds
Real-life besties Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi star as fictional besties Kim Geon-woo and Hong Woo-jin in this action-filled crime drama, so expect brotherly banter galore. Both former Marines turned boxers, their paths cross after a fated fight brings them together. With a common past and similar financial problems, the two instantly click and end up joining forces to take down private loan sharks after getting conned themselves.
Business Proposal
Looking for a feel-good office romance that you can watch over and over again? Look no further than Business Proposal. This show will have you kicking your feet like a teenager while watching. (Don’t fight it.) It stars Ahn Hyo-seop as Kang Tae-moo, the rich CEO of a food company with a perfectionist nature, and Kim Se-jeong as Shin Ha-ri, a researcher working for the company. A fake date brings them together, but the love story that follows is very much real. And what’s better than one love story? Two, of course. Enter the budding relationship between Kim Min-kyu and Seol In-ah’s characters, the show’s second leads.
Celebrity
The perfect amalgam of thriller and romance, Celebrity has to be one of the most addictive K-dramas of the past few years. The series follows Seo A-ri (Park Gyu-young), a former rich girl turned door-to-door saleswoman who decides to become a social media influencer lured by the prospect of wealth and high status — but all that glitters is not gold. Money, fame, power, love, and murder all converge in this gripping show. And if that was not enough to get your attention, Kang Min-hyuk (who plays love interest Han Jun-kyoung, successor to the largest cosmetics company in Korea) and Park’s chemistry might change your mind.
D.P.
If you’re a fan of Korean culture as a whole, then you’re probably familiar with the country’s mandatory conscription service — hi, K-pop and soccer fans! — but D.P. paints a picture most of us are unaware of. Based on the popular D.P. Dog’s Day webtoon by Kim Bo-tong, D.P. follows the story of Private Ahn Jun-ho (Jung Hae-in) and Corporal Han Ho-yeol (Koo Kyo-hwan), a forced-to-be duo put under the Deserter Pursuit unit of South Korea’s military police, whose main purpose is to hunt down AWOL soldiers. Across two seasons, D.P. tackles complex topics such as hazing and bullying in the military, all while delivering action-packed scenes and even some perfectly-timed comic relief.
Destined with You
Most people fall down the K-drama rabbit hole for the love stories, and Destined with You puts a new spin on that classic genre. The drama stars SF9’s Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah and takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to romance. Protagonists Jang Shin-yu and Lee Hong-jo find themself in a forced love story — but there’s no fake dating or arranged businesses going on here. Instead, Hong-jo accidentally puts Shin-yu under a love spell after discovering a 300-year-old book of spells, which hides more than one secret for the involuntary duo.
The Fabulous
Much like Celebrity, The Fabulous is another K-drama that explores the glitz and glam of Korea’s fashion elite, but without the murderous twists. Starring SHINee’s Choi Minho and Chae Soo-bin, The Fabulous follows a group of friends in their late 20s living and working in Seoul’s cutthroat fashion industry — so be sure to expect Fashion Week extravaganzas alongside some steamy romances. (Honestly, the “F” in The Fabulous could also easily stand for “fun.”)
The Glory
When a show becomes one of the most-watched non-English titles on Netflix shortly after its release, you know you’re in for a treat. This two-part drama, fronted by veteran actor Song Hye-kyo and fan-favorite Lee Do-hyun, will have you on the edge of your seat from minute one. After enduring years of ruthless physical and verbal abuse during high school, Moon Dong-eun (played by Song) starts plotting her decades-long revenge. In her thirties, she finds a way to infiltrate each of her former bullies’ lives, plotting their slow and sure demise. (And there’s nothing quite as cathartic as a revenge arc.)
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The Good Bad Mother
Get the tissues ready because The Good Bad Mother puts the drama in K-drama. Starring Ra Mi-ran and Lee Do-hyun, the series follows a mother-son duo after an unfortunate accident brings their lives back to square one, forcing them to relive the inner joy and (mostly) trauma of the past. The less you know before jumping into this one, the better, so just trust us and hit play. (And, again, tissues!)
Mask Girl
If you require even more suspense, then Mask Girl is the show for you. The webtoon-adapted thriller, starring Lee Han-byeol and After School member Nana, follows the story of Kim Mo-mi, a conventional office worker by day who lives a double life. Desperate for fame since childhood, Mo-mi transforms into a camgirl by night, wearing a mask to hide her “ugly” appearance. After revealing a bit too much during a stream, she goes down a spiral that changes her life forever — in multiple senses, as bullying, vengeance, sexual violence, and murder all ensue. Mask Girl is not for the faint of heart, but the intrigue from the get-go makes it well worth the watch. (Pair your popcorn with some soothing tea for this one!)
Move to Heaven
If heartfelt content is your thing, then queue up Move to Heaven. The series stars Tang Jun-sang as Han Geu-ru, a young man with Asperger’s syndrome who takes over his father’s trauma scene cleaning company after his untimely death, and Lee Je-hoon as Sang-gu, Geu-ru’s estranged uncle who becomes his legal guardian and business partner after being released from jail. Working as trauma cleaners, the nephew-uncle duo present us with the tragic stories of the deceased whose keepsakes they help clean up, while also unraveling their own family mysteries.
My Demon
What’s better than a love story fronted by fan-favorite Song Kang (Nevertheless, Sweet Home, Love Alarm)? A love story fronted by Song Kang playing an angsty demon. In this juicy drama, Song plays Jeong Gu-won, a demon who’s lived on Earth for 200 years. When he gets involved with the icy heiress Do Do-hee (Kim You-jung), however, he finds himself in a bind — she’s mysteriously robbed him of his power unless he stays close to her. In order to protect his own existence, he finds himself having to protect Do-hee and pose as her bodyguard. But emotions begin to get in the way of their arrangement. The cast also includes notable familiar face Lee Sang-yi who you might recognize from last year’s Bloodhounds and 2021’s Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
See You in My 19th Life
See You in My 19th Life follows the story of Ban Ji-eum (played by Shin Hye-sun), who reincarnates and can remember her past lives. Having lived for nearly a thousand years, Ji-eum decides to do things a bit differently during her 19th life, setting out to find a special person (played by Ahn Bo-hyun) whom she met during her previous life, which was tragically cut short due to a car accident. With many twists and turns, this drama truly has it all: intertwined past lives, stories forged millennia ago, and destiny-defying moves, plus an infectious protagonist and a tsundere male lead who slowly but surely softens up.
See You in My 19th Life follows the story of Ban Ji-eum (played by Shin Hye-sun), who reincarnates and can remember her past lives. Having lived for nearly a thousand years, Ji-eum decides to do things a bit differently during her 19th life, setting out to find a special person (played by Ahn Bo-hyun) whom she met during her previous life, which was tragically cut short due to a car accident. With many twists and turns, this drama truly has it all: intertwined past lives, stories forged millennia ago, and destiny-defying moves, plus an infectious protagonist and a tsundere male lead who slowly but surely softens up.
The Silent Sea
Spanning eight episodes, The Silent Sea is a retelling of director Choi Hang-yong’s 2014 short film The Sea of Tranquility. The sci-fi thriller features a star-studded cast that includes Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, and Lee Joon as a crew that sets out on a perilous, high-stakes mission to the moon to find a valuable sample that could save life on Earth, where desertification has made resources more than scarce. During their mission, the crew deals with both external and internal complications that uncover hidden truths. The cinematography and special effects in The Silent Sea are as intriguing as its plotlines — and just as captivating.
Spanning eight episodes, The Silent Sea is a retelling of director Choi Hang-yong’s 2014 short film The Sea of Tranquility. The sci-fi thriller features a star-studded cast that includes Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, and Lee Joon as a crew that sets out on a perilous, high-stakes mission to the moon to find a valuable sample that could save life on Earth, where desertification has made resources more than scarce. During their mission, the crew deals with both external and internal complications that uncover hidden truths. The cinematography and special effects in The Silent Sea are as intriguing as its plotlines — and just as captivating.
Sweet Home
Based on the highly popular webtoon of the same name, the apocalyptic Sweet Home mainly takes place inside the Green Home apartment complex and follows the lives of its neighbors as monsters break loose and rampage through the city. Song Kang takes the leading role of Cha Hyun-su, a teenager who moves into Room 1410 and plans to end his life –– before one thing leads to another, and he ends up infected and gaining superpowers that put him in a unique position within the group. Come for the horror, and stay for the intricate relationships that sprout between the residents — which will be further explored now that the third and final season is streaming.
Based on the highly popular webtoon of the same name, the apocalyptic Sweet Home mainly takes place inside the Green Home apartment complex and follows the lives of its neighbors as monsters break loose and rampage through the city. Song Kang takes the leading role of Cha Hyun-su, a teenager who moves into Room 1410 and plans to end his life –– before one thing leads to another, and he ends up infected and gaining superpowers that put him in a unique position within the group. Come for the horror, and stay for the intricate relationships that sprout between the residents — which will be further explored now that the third and final season is streaming.
The Uncanny Counter
The Uncanny Counter meshes action and fantasy throughout its two seasons. The show follows the story of teenager So Mun (Jo Byeong-kyu). After suffering a near-fatal accident, Mun lives an ordinary life with his grandparents, but one day he comes in contact with a supernatural force and starts developing superstrength. The Counters are a group of noodle shop employees who double as hunters of paranormal evil spirits that escape from the afterlife and target humans. The Counters soon recruit Mun, and the adventures start. As its name suggests, The Uncanny Counter is everything but formulaic. Equal parts emotional and suspenseful, it’s the perfect light sci-fi watch after a long day.
The Uncanny Counter meshes action and fantasy throughout its two seasons. The show follows the story of teenager So Mun (Jo Byeong-kyu). After suffering a near-fatal accident, Mun lives an ordinary life with his grandparents, but one day he comes in contact with a supernatural force and starts developing superstrength. The Counters are a group of noodle shop employees who double as hunters of paranormal evil spirits that escape from the afterlife and target humans. The Counters soon recruit Mun, and the adventures start. As its name suggests, The Uncanny Counter is everything but formulaic. Equal parts emotional and suspenseful, it’s the perfect light sci-fi watch after a long day.
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This series is a ’90s time machine, complete with cassette players, analog TVs and pagers (remember those?). Written by Kwon Do-eun, who previously served as an assistant writer to legendary K-drama screenwriter Kim Eun-sook (known for penning smash hits like Mr. Sunshine, Inheritors and The King: Eternal Monarch), Twenty Five Twenty One is a heartwarming coming-of-age romance that centers on the lives of teenage fencing prodigy Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri from Mr. Sunshine and Space Sweepers) and Back Yi-jin, the son of a chaebol family (played by model and Start-Up heartthrob Nam Joo-hyuk). After the devastating 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (known as the “IMF Crisis” in South Korea) bankrupts Yi-jin’s family and forces Hee-do’s high school to cut its fencing team, the two find comfort in each other and form a special bond as they struggle to pursue their dreams amid challenging times.
While the show isn’t adult in the risqué sense, those who lived through the 1990s will appreciate the show’s retro vibes (like the old-school aesthetic used in the title sequence that is reminiscent of ’90s K-dramas) and some of the cultural references. Though Hee-do and Yi-jin first meet when they’re 18 and 22, viewers are taken through how their relationship evolves over time as they grow older.
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This series is a ’90s time machine, complete with cassette players, analog TVs and pagers (remember those?). Written by Kwon Do-eun, who previously served as an assistant writer to legendary K-drama screenwriter Kim Eun-sook (known for penning smash hits like Mr. Sunshine, Inheritors and The King: Eternal Monarch), Twenty Five Twenty One is a heartwarming coming-of-age romance that centers on the lives of teenage fencing prodigy Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri from Mr. Sunshine and Space Sweepers) and Back Yi-jin, the son of a chaebol family (played by model and Start-Up heartthrob Nam Joo-hyuk). After the devastating 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (known as the “IMF Crisis” in South Korea) bankrupts Yi-jin’s family and forces Hee-do’s high school to cut its fencing team, the two find comfort in each other and form a special bond as they struggle to pursue their dreams amid challenging times.
While the show isn’t adult in the risqué sense, those who lived through the 1990s will appreciate the show’s retro vibes (like the old-school aesthetic used in the title sequence that is reminiscent of ’90s K-dramas) and some of the cultural references. Though Hee-do and Yi-jin first meet when they’re 18 and 22, viewers are taken through how their relationship evolves over time as they grow older.
Forecasting Love and Weather
Like its Korean title, which translates to “People of the Korea Meteorological Administration: A Tale About the Cruelty of Office Romance,” this drama explores the excitement and pitfalls of workplace romance. K-drama mainstay Park Min-young stars as Jin Ha-kyung, a cold but highly capable weather forecaster who is promoted to the head of her team. Things get complicated, however, when her colleague and ex-fiancé Han Ki-jun (Yoon Bak), who dumped her right before their wedding, continues to work in the same building. Ha-kyung promises herself that she will never date one of her coworkers again, but when she finds herself falling for Lee Si-woo (Song Kang), a new employee on her team, she realizes that love may be just as difficult to predict as the weather.
Like its Korean title, which translates to “People of the Korea Meteorological Administration: A Tale About the Cruelty of Office Romance,” this drama explores the excitement and pitfalls of workplace romance. K-drama mainstay Park Min-young stars as Jin Ha-kyung, a cold but highly capable weather forecaster who is promoted to the head of her team. Things get complicated, however, when her colleague and ex-fiancé Han Ki-jun (Yoon Bak), who dumped her right before their wedding, continues to work in the same building. Ha-kyung promises herself that she will never date one of her coworkers again, but when she finds herself falling for Lee Si-woo (Song Kang), a new employee on her team, she realizes that love may be just as difficult to predict as the weather.
Her Private Life
Park Min-young stars in this one too, this time as Sung Duk-mi, an art gallery curator who tries to hide her obsession with a K-pop idol from the rest of the world. When she’s not working, she manages one of the biggest fan sites dedicated to K-pop star Cha Si-an (played by rapper Jung Je-won, aka One). Duk-mi immediately clashes with her new boss Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-uk from Voice and The Guest), a famous artist-turned-gallery director who is aloof and indifferent to everyone. But when online rumors that Duk-mi and Si-an are dating make Duk-mi the target of vicious attacks by jealous fans, Ryan and Duk-mi decide to pretend to be a couple to ensure her safety. The series also stars familiar faces from Netflix originals, including Ahn Bo-hyun from My Name and Kim Sun-young from The Silent Sea.
Park Min-young stars in this one too, this time as Sung Duk-mi, an art gallery curator who tries to hide her obsession with a K-pop idol from the rest of the world. When she’s not working, she manages one of the biggest fan sites dedicated to K-pop star Cha Si-an (played by rapper Jung Je-won, aka One). Duk-mi immediately clashes with her new boss Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-uk from Voice and The Guest), a famous artist-turned-gallery director who is aloof and indifferent to everyone. But when online rumors that Duk-mi and Si-an are dating make Duk-mi the target of vicious attacks by jealous fans, Ryan and Duk-mi decide to pretend to be a couple to ensure her safety. The series also stars familiar faces from Netflix originals, including Ahn Bo-hyun from My Name and Kim Sun-young from The Silent Sea.
Love and Leashes
This one’s technically a movie, but still deserves a shout-out. K-pop idols Seohyun (of Girls’ Generation) and Lee Jun-young (from U-KISS) star as Jung Ji-woo and Jung Ji-hoo respectively, two co-workers who enter into a contractual relationship after Ji-woo finds out about Ji-hoo’s penchant for BDSM. Unlike Fifty Shades of Grey, there’s no nudity or sex, but the two leads’ explosive chemistry still results in plenty of sizzling scenes.
Thirty-Nine
Thirty-Nine is a heartfelt romantic drama that follows the lives of three 39-year-old best friends, Cha Mi-jo, Jeong Chan-young and Jang Joo-hee, as they try to navigate work, love and loss. Mi-jo (played by the acclaimed Crash Landing on You star Son Ye-jin) is a smart career woman who was adopted by a caring, wealthy family and now runs her own dermatology clinic. Serendipitous events start bringing her and fellow dermatologist Kim Seon-u (Yeon Woo-jin) closer together. Chan-young (played by the charismatic Jeon Mi-do of Hospital Playlist), an acting coach who once dreamed of becoming an actress, cannot get over her ex-boyfriend Kim Jin-seok (Lee Mu-saeng from The Silent Sea), who is now a married man. Joo-hee (Kim Ji-hyun) works as a cosmetics manager at a department store. Because she’s so shy, she’s never been in a romantic relationship, but that all begins to change when she meets restaurateur Park Hyeon-jun (Lee Tae-hwan).
Thirty-Nine takes a realistic — if at times painful — look at life, love and friendship for those who are approaching middle age. It beautifully illustrates how wonderful life can be, despite its ups and downs, if you have true friends who are willing to do anything for you.
Thirty-Nine is a heartfelt romantic drama that follows the lives of three 39-year-old best friends, Cha Mi-jo, Jeong Chan-young and Jang Joo-hee, as they try to navigate work, love and loss. Mi-jo (played by the acclaimed Crash Landing on You star Son Ye-jin) is a smart career woman who was adopted by a caring, wealthy family and now runs her own dermatology clinic. Serendipitous events start bringing her and fellow dermatologist Kim Seon-u (Yeon Woo-jin) closer together. Chan-young (played by the charismatic Jeon Mi-do of Hospital Playlist), an acting coach who once dreamed of becoming an actress, cannot get over her ex-boyfriend Kim Jin-seok (Lee Mu-saeng from The Silent Sea), who is now a married man. Joo-hee (Kim Ji-hyun) works as a cosmetics manager at a department store. Because she’s so shy, she’s never been in a romantic relationship, but that all begins to change when she meets restaurateur Park Hyeon-jun (Lee Tae-hwan).
Thirty-Nine takes a realistic — if at times painful — look at life, love and friendship for those who are approaching middle age. It beautifully illustrates how wonderful life can be, despite its ups and downs, if you have true friends who are willing to do anything for you.
Something in the Rain
Before Son Ye-jin starred in Thirty-Nine and Crash Landing on You, she made her small-screen comeback in Something in the Rain, an understated love story between a woman in her mid-30s and a younger man. Between breaking up with a cheating ex-boyfriend and putting up with sexist colleagues at work, Yoon Jin-a (Son Ye-jin) just can’t seem to catch a break. But things start to look up when she bumps into her best friend’s younger brother Seo Jun-hui (played by the charming Jung Hae-in), who’s just returned from a three-year stint abroad. Now that Jun-hui is older, Jin-a sees him in a new light, and the two begin a secret romance that is quickly tested due to their age difference.
Something in the Rain deviates from most romantic K-dramas in that it’s slower paced and much more low-key, but it still manages to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. An Indian remake of the K-drama is currently in the works.
Before Son Ye-jin starred in Thirty-Nine and Crash Landing on You, she made her small-screen comeback in Something in the Rain, an understated love story between a woman in her mid-30s and a younger man. Between breaking up with a cheating ex-boyfriend and putting up with sexist colleagues at work, Yoon Jin-a (Son Ye-jin) just can’t seem to catch a break. But things start to look up when she bumps into her best friend’s younger brother Seo Jun-hui (played by the charming Jung Hae-in), who’s just returned from a three-year stint abroad. Now that Jun-hui is older, Jin-a sees him in a new light, and the two begin a secret romance that is quickly tested due to their age difference.
Something in the Rain deviates from most romantic K-dramas in that it’s slower paced and much more low-key, but it still manages to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. An Indian remake of the K-drama is currently in the works.
Nevertheless
Before his bed scenes with Park Min-young in Forecasting Love & Weather lit social media on fire, actor Song Kang appeared in the even racier K-drama Nevertheless, with My Name star Han So-hee. Traumatized after an abusive relationship, Yu Na-bi (Han So-hee) refuses to believe in love. One day, she encounters the flirty and seductive Park Jae-eon (Song Kang), who she later finds out is a fellow art student and hugely popular with other girls. Despite her misgivings about Jae-eon’s character, Na-bi finds herself unable to resist his charms, and the two enter into a friends-with-benefits relationship.
