Best KDramas on Netflix Right Now – Whether you agree or disagree, Netflix has effectively caught the soul of the Korean film industry by providing an endless stream of Korean dramas, movies, and documentaries. Not only are many of them exclusive to Netflix, but the majority of them have previously gone unnoticed due to factors such as limited availability or restriction to Korean television, among others. The wait appears to be over, as there are more than 40 distinct Korean television dramas that can be binge-watched on Netflix US.
The Korean television industry, like Korean movies, has developed over the years, with show creators going into other genres such as crime, horror, and so on, in addition to the regular comedies and teenage romance dramas, which continue to be the most popular genres in Korean television. Everyone is aware that Netflix has a large selection of K-dramas. However, not all viewers are aware of which are worthwhile of their time. As a result, we are here to assist you. Here’s a selection of incredibly good Korean dramas on Netflix that you can watch right now:
20. Nevertheless, (2021)
‘Nevertheless,’ a South Korean television drama series starring Han So-hee, Song Kang, and Chae Jong-hyeop, is based on a popular webtoon of the same name. It was created by Kim Ga-ram and Jung Won and centred around two people with rather opposing personalities who meet by happenstance and wind up in a hyper-realistic romance. Park Jae-eon, a young man, is no longer interested in meaningful partnerships and prefers to flirt with girls whenever possible. However, a girl named Yoo Na-bi has an odd charm that draws Park to her, and the two end up in a friends-with-benefits relationship.
19. Cinderella and The Four Knights (2016)
Eun Ha Won (Park So-dam) is a clever and athletic high school student who is frequently bullied by her stepmother and stepsister in this modern-day Cinderella. She works part-time to save money for education. Ha Won encounters a rich elderly man one day who gives her a job as a live-in caretaker at a gigantic estate occupied by three attractive guys — billionaire cousins and spoiled heirs to the substantial Kang family fortune. This show is light and breezy, full of harmless fluff that could be enjoyed as a form of escapism. The characters are amusing, stupid, and engrossing.
18. Was It Love? (2020)
Noh Ae-Jung (Song Ji-Hyo) is a tough cookie; she’s a single mother who hasn’t dated in 14 years. That changes dramatically when she meets and is wooed by four guys with vastly diverse personalities. Oh Dae-oh is a handsome man with questionable morals, Ryu Jin is handsome and wealthy but a little pathetic, Goo Pa-do is frightening yet intriguing, and Oh Yeon-woo is a charming younger man. Ae-Jung has a past with three of them, whom she was close to before to her pregnancy. The “who’s the baby daddy” theme has been done and dusted, yet this show makes it seem new and exciting. The performers have all performed admirably, and even the supporting characters have been fully fleshed out. It’s suitable for a one-time viewing.
17. One Spring Night (2019)
After a fortuitous encounter one night at the drugstore, prim librarian Lee Jeong-In and pharmacist and single father Yu Ji-ho feel the pull of a mutual desire, which quickly blossoms into full-fledged love. Ji-ho, the handsome, charming, intellectual, and kind man, is falling over heals in love with Jeong-In, but she comes with baggage (and a boyfriend she no longer loves). ‘One Spring Night’ is a serious and sober narrative of what an actual adult relationship looks like in modern-day Korea, not a young romance revelling in euphoric first love. Darkly realistic subjects such as adultery are treated in an artistically subtle manner, and the protagonists are shown as flawed, at times selfish individuals. There will be no hilarity here (the kind that is so prevalent in Korean dramas).
16. Boys Over Flowers (2009)
‘Boys Over Flowers,’ one of the most popular K-dramas of all time, is a rite of passage for all Korean drama initiates and a great crowd-pleaser. A rich, spoiled, and entitled brat meets a poor and nice girl who refuses to bend down to him like the other students at his exclusive school, and he is immediately charmed. She, on the other hand, prefers his pal. Even though this drama is the king of stereotyped characters and cliche scenarios (the rich guy even pays for a makeover), it is undeniably captivating. This performance is just simple gobs and loads of fun, with a lively tune that will burrow itself into your skull. It does become a little theatrical and, to be honest, ludicrous near the conclusion, but you can disregard it.
15. My Mister (2018)
‘My Mister’ is a storey about love, but not the kind you may anticipate. A stoic 40-something man and a burdened, emotionally locked off 20-something lady create an ambiguous but wonderful bond. They soothe each other’s shattered souls and begin to recover together via warm companionship. Their relationship is charming and chaste, and you find yourself cheering for them wholeheartedly. This is a unique drama in comparison to its contemporaries, and it is well worth seeing.
14. Oh My Ghost! (2015)
Na Bong-sun (Park Bo-young) is a shy girl with low self-esteem who sees ghosts of the dead due to a shaman (mediator) ancestor. She works as an assistant cook at a trendy restaurant and is constantly chastised by her extremely attractive employer for sleeping the entire day away. The ghosts keep bothering her at night, which is why she is constantly fatigued. One day, the ghost of a dead virgin girl takes possession of Bong-sun and pledges to leave her alone and move on if she completes the unfinished task of losing her V-card. What the girls – both dead and alive – don’t expect is for them to fall in love with the same man – Bong-charming sun’s employer, who is delightfully taken aback by the abrupt change in Bong-bashful sun’s demeanour. The show is mostly cute and entertaining, but it also delves into some serious territory dealing with death and grief. Overall, a good film with some outstanding performances.
13. Our Beloved Summer (2021)
‘Our Beloved Summer,’ created by Kim Youn-jin and Lee Na-eun, is a romantic-comedy show written by Lee Na-eun. Choi Ung and Kook Yeon-soo, former lovers who separate ways and vow never to meet again, are at the centre of the series’ tangled love-hate relationship. However, after a video they shot in high school becomes viral, their producer friend brings the couple together for additional content. As the novel progresses, the couple is confronted with their conflicted feelings for one another while attempting to deal with their current situation as professionally as possible.
12. A Korean Odyssey (2017 – 2018)
Seon-mi, a young girl with the ability to see ghosts and demons, frees an eternal being from his prison after he swears to guard her whenever she calls. Only, he turns out to be a rogue and snatches Seon-memories mi’s of his name before fleeing. Years later, they re-encounter one other and, in a disastrous twist, fall in love with each other. However, the previously immortal Son Oh-gong is on a mission to regain his immortality, and in order to do it, he must consume the flesh of a “Sam-jang,” who turns out to be his girlfriend. So their romance will end in one of two ways: Oh-gong eating her flesh to acquire immortality, or Seon-mi killing him while he is mortal. ‘A Korean Odyssey’ is filled with mystery and grandeur, as well as a hauntingly riveting romance between the leads.
11. Something in the Rain (2018)
‘Something in the Rain’ follows a 30-year-old lady and a man much younger than herself, the 20-year-old younger brother of her childhood best friend. Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin) and Joon-hee (Jung Hae-in) re-acquaint after he returns from the United States after three years apart and progress from friends to lovers, despite their attempts to suppress their feelings as unsuitable. But, in this charming storey, love knows no age, and they eventually come out with their relationship, much to the surprise and displeasure of many around them. In a parallel plot, this show addresses delicate issues such as workplace sexual harassment. Watching shows like these teaches you a lot about South Korean culture and social customs. Pouring your own drink first before refilling your colleague’s or senior’s glass, for example, is considered impolite and a serious social faux pas in Korea.
10. Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Eugene Choi, who was born a slave in Joseon but escaped to the United States in 1871, returns to Hanseong (the historical name for Seoul) as a member of the United States Marine Corps. He meets and falls in love with an aristocrat’s daughter, but she is already promised to a nobleman she does not love in a match planned by her father. A fierce Samurai assassin who is also in love with her vies for her attention. In the midst of all the amorous complications, Eugene uncovers the Japanese ambitions to invade and colonise Korea. He immediately becomes embroiled in the war for the Joseon Dynasty’s sovereignty, spearheading the revolt against the Japanese Empire. This show is well-known for its excellent cinematography as well as a well-written and well-acted storyline (written by Kim Eun-sook who is known for penning epic fantasy dramas). The fight sequences are truly magnificent, deserving of a wide screen. Because the drama is set in the actual Joseon era, the clothing and language are extremely important and have been done beautifully. If you enjoy historical or period films and dramas, ‘Mr. Sunshine’ is a definite must-see.
9. Prison Playbook (2017)
PD Shin Won-ho (of ‘Reply’ fame) works his inimitable magic once more with the dark comedy ‘Prison Playbook.’ The plot revolves around Kim Je-hyuk, a well-known baseball star who is ready to make his professional debut in the American major leagues. His life takes a dramatic turn before he can sign with the Boston Red Sox, and he ends up in prison for fighting up a man who was attempting to sexually abuse his sister. During his one-year prison sentence, Je-hyuk meets and befriends numerous inmates doing time for a variety of offences, but the convicts are more than just criminals. The drama delves deeper into the lives of the inmates and guards who work there, as well as the unique friendships they create. There are so many beautifully written characters that you just want to root for them and look at them like they’re actual beings who matter rather than society’s bad apples to be discarded. I became engrossed in the storey of each and every individual — the frightening long-timer, the heroin addict, the cocky jail guard, and the low-life goon who nearly killed Je-hyuk his first week in. But that’s what PD Shin is known for: making you care about the characters so much that you don’t want the drama to stop.
8. Crash Landing on You (2019 – 2020)
Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), a South Korean fashion heiress, finds herself crash-landed in North Korea after a strange paragliding mishap blasts her off course in this amusing romantic dramedy. Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin), a member of North Korea’s strong political family, discovers the out-of-bounds Se-ri and conceals her from the authorities. The two star-crossed lovers fall hard for each other as he supplies her with a safe haven and devises a plot to smuggle her back to South Korea. However, their fates do not appear to be matched because Jeong-hyeok is already engaged to another woman (whom he agreed to marry purely out of a deep sense of duty). ‘Crash Landing on You’ is as clever as they come, with the banter between the characters leaving you in splits. The writing is fast-paced and expertly combines romance and comedy with action and politics. Completely, completely, wonderfully binge-worthy.
7. The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)
This is a mind-bender that will keep you guessing with each episode. The storey of ‘The King: Eternal Monarch,’ written by renowned fantasy writer Kim Eun-sook, may be a little too confusing to make sense of straight away, but it’s convoluted in the best possible manner (any Christopher Nolan fans here?). The Emperor of the modern-day Kingdom of Corea, Lee Gon (played by a deceptively attractive Lee Min-ho), discovers that there is an alternate reality that can be accessed by utilising a magical flute that opens a portal between the worlds. He unintentionally travels into modern-day Republic of Korea and falls in love with homicide detective Jung Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun). Things get complicated when they find there are doppelgangers in each parallel world, and the homicidal villain, Lee Gon’s evil uncle who wants the throne, is assembling an army of doppelgangers he transported from the Republic of Korea to The Kingdom of Corea with the promise of a better life. While things may not make sense as they happen (which can be irritating), trust me when I say that it all comes together in perfect clarity in the end, and it is entirely worth it. This drama is epic on many levels.
6. Itaewon Class (2020)
‘Itaewon Class,’ based on a webtoon of the same name, is placed among the top 10 highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history. And it is absolutely deserved. Park Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon) is an ex-convict who was expelled from high school for hitting a bully and later served three years in prison for attacking the same bully since the boy’s aggressive driving had resulted in the death of Park Sae-ro-father. yi’s Park Sae-ro-yi operates a bar-restaurant in Itaewon seven years after being released from prison. Sae-ro-yi, together with his restaurant’s obviously psychopathic boss and the hardworking workers, aspires to build a successful business and eventually a chain of eateries. But, in order to advance in the food industry, he must compete with a massive food conglomerate. This play about defying society standards and attaining one’s aspirations is both inspiring and moving. It’s heartwarming and real, with a pretty good soundtrack.
5. Kingdom (2019 – present)
‘Kingdom,’ Netflix’s first original Korean series, is one of the few K-dramas to carry a lengthy storyline that spans numerous seasons. Typically, Korean dramas are completed in 16-20 episodes. However, despite the fact that ‘Kingdom’ has had two seasons (with a third on the way), it does not feel “draggy” because there is so much storey to tell. The plot of the drama, set in the Joseon era, revolves around Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon), who is forbidden by the Queen from meeting his father, King of Joseon. His stepmother just informs him that the King is unwell and unable to see anyone. The Prince decides to look into the King’s illness and the source of it. It turns out that there is a plague that resurrects the dead as ever-hungry cannibalistic creatures (so, zombies). In addition to defending his rightful claim to the throne, the Prince must now fight and kill zombies. And we all know (thanks to films like ‘Train to Busan’) that Korean zombies are swift and frightening. This one is so high on our list because of the sheer pleasure it gives. Take note, Hollywood: this is how zombies are done.
4. Hospital Playlist (2020 – present)
Even in the K-drama universe, medical dramas are nothing new. A medical drama in which the protagonists are all top physicians in their respective fields of study and have a rocking band together, on the other hand, is novel. ‘Hospital Playlist’ is another piece of art by PD Shin Won-ho (after ‘Prison Playbook’ and ‘Reply Series’) that portrays the everyday lives of doctors and hospital staff at a very basic, human level and delves into the complexity behind seemingly simple and commonplace things. ‘Hospital Playlist’ chronicles the life of five medical school classmates who are still very close at the age of 40. They both work at the same hospital (but in different departments) and perform in the same band on weekends. The five share a relaxed, easygoing vibe that comes from years of friendship. They are sweet and humorous, completely adorable, and extremely talented in both surgery and music (well, apart from the fact that their lead vocalist sucks). Another Netflix Original with a Season 2 scheduled for 2021 (can’t wait!).
3. When The Camellia Blooms (2019)
This is a romantic-comedy-thriller that will have you hooked from beginning to end. It’s a murder mystery with some interesting whodunit turns, and you won’t be able to figure out who the culprit is until the final reveal. The plot revolves around Dong Baek (played by the extremely versatile Gong Hyo-jin), a single mother who starts and successfully runs a bar called Camellia in a restricted neighbourhood where a single woman running an alcoholic establishment is looked down upon. Dong Baek, who appears hesitant at first, is a strong, honest, and resilient lady who perseveres until she has the support of everyone in the community. She also falls in love with Yong-sik (Kang Ha-neul), a do-gooder police officer with an unwavering sense of justice and a smile that can melt any woman’s heart. The show does not hold back when it comes to depicting unpleasant issues such as serial murders and slut-shaming. The serial killer, while a terrifying and malevolent presence throughout, does not detract from the primary couple, who are adorable together. It’s exciting to watch Dong Baek grow from a timid rabbit to a fearsome dragon. Expect a lot of romance and intrigue.
2. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020)
Moon Gang-tae (played by the wildly popular actor Kim Soo-hyun) is a powerful, kind, and kind healthcare worker at the OK Psychiatric Hospital. At home, he looks after his older brother, who is autistic and has a deep fear of butterflies. Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji) is a well-known children’s book author who suffers from an antisocial personality disorder. Both Gang-tae and Moon-young had difficult childhoods and are emotionally scarred. Until they meet, they don’t have many intimate personal relationships. While Gang-tae makes it plain that he has no time for love, Moon-young obsesses over him and goes to hilariously excessive lengths to get his attention. Even when their horrifyingly intertwined past is uncovered, they begin to help and heal each other emotionally. The emotional voyage includes not only the central couple, but also Gang-brother, tae’s whose phobia of butterflies stems from seeing their mother’s horrible murder as a child. The show ‘It’s Okay To Not Be Okay’ has been hailed for its candour and empathy in dealing with mental health concerns, shining a much-needed light on issues that society would rather ignore. This show is more than just a fluffy love storey; it is thought-provoking and deeply moving.
1. Reply 1988 (2015 – 2016)
Precious. Warm. Endearing. Very moving. It’s heartbreakingly gorgeous. And those terms are still insufficient to characterise ‘Reply 1988.’ Without a question, the best K-drama (or drama in any language) I’ve seen thus far. It lacks a singularly defined plot. ‘Reply 1988,’ set in the late 1980s, chronicles the storey of five childhood friends and their families who all live in Seoul’s middle-class neighbourhood of Ssangmun-dong. The show’s main focus remains on the five closest friends, whose bromance will make you cry and laugh all at once and think it’s perfectly normal. The raw slice-of-life approach of this drama is nostalgic and hits near to home, especially when it covers relatable subjects like class inequalities, financial challenges, family dynamics, friendships, coming-of-age issues, and heartfelt matters. ‘Reply 1988’ becomes all too real when it concentrates on prosaic everyday life, such as a single mother’s agony when she finds that the cuts on her son’s face are not the result of school violence, as she assumed, but the result of his poor shaving attempts. PD Shin Won-ho manages to give each and every character so much depth, regardless of how much screen time they get, that they all feel like genuine people, not just 2D supporting characters. The scenes are so entertaining and humorous and charming and serious and tragic that you feel a wide range of emotions while watching. I suppose the best way to characterise ‘Reply 1988’ is as a warm hug. This show has a special place in my heart, and I can honestly tell that viewing it will make you a better person.