This psychological thriller delves into the complexities of human nature, the pursuit of justice, and the blurred lines between good and evil. The series starts when a serial killer resurfaces after 20 years and mirrors a series of murders from the past. Detectives Lee Dong-sik and Han Joo-won work together to catch the killer. As they delve deeper into the case, they are also faced with their own inner demons. The series has been praised for its exceptional cast and compelling storytelling.

A remake of the 2012 film Masquerade, this K-drama tells the tale of Joseon King Yi Heon and jester Ha Seon. As they almost look identical, Ha is brought to the palace to replace the King. Throughout the series, we see Ha grapple with questions about his real identity and the nature of his assumed one. The drama also highlights power struggles and manipulations that took place during that time.

Singer-songwriter IU plays Lee Ji-an in this 2018 drama. Lee is impoverished and in debt as she struggles to care for her sickly grandmother while working a temporary job. She develops an unlikely bond with her supervisor Park Dong-hoon. Throughout the series, we see the duo help each other as they go through trials in their lives. Starring alongside IU is Parasite’s Lee Sun-kyun, The Legend’s Lee Ji-ah and Come and Hug Me’s Jang Ki-yong.

Along with a star-studded cast, which includes Doctor Slump’s Park Shin-hye and Big Mouth’s Lee Jong-suk, this 2014 series has been praised for its captivating plot. The series begins with a misreported fire accident that ruined protagonist Choi Dal-po’s family. Following the incident, he gets adopted by Choi’s grandfather Choi Gong-pil. Dal-po and In-ha enjoy a close friendship until Dal-po learns that In-ha’s mother was the reporter who destroyed his family.

Years later, In-ha is a reporter with Pinocchio syndrome, a condition that causes her to hiccup when telling lies; while Dal-po is a taxi driver. They cross paths once again when Dal-po decides to become a reporter hoping to get justice for his family. 

This 2019 series stars The King’s Affection’s Kim Seok-woo, Sky Castle’s Kim Hye-yoon and Memories of the Alhambra’s Lee Jae-wook. We follow Eun Dan-oh, a 17-year-old high schooler with a heart condition. When she discovers she’s actually a minor character in a Korean webtoon, she decides to create her own fate instead of following the one written for her.

This 2011 series follows Shin Ji-hyun who leads a blissful life. Just as she’s about to marry her fiancé Kang Min-ho, she gets into a car accident leaving her in a coma. She gets visited by The Scheduler who gives her a second chance at life but at price. She’s given 49 days to find three people outside her family who would cry genuine tears for her. She takes over the body of a convenience store worker to accomplish this task. The series stars boyband Guardian’s Jo Hyun-jae, Crash Landing on You’s Seo Ji-hye and Queen Seondeok’s Lee Yo-won. 

Extraordinary Attorney Woo was first released back in June 2022 and was quickly praised for its compelling storytelling, social commentary and strong character development. Park Eun-bin who plays Woo Young-woo in the series also won us over with her stellar portrayal of a lawyer on the autism spectrum. The series follows Woo as she tackles various challenges in the courtroom and beyond. Starring alongside Park is The Glory’s Kim Hieora, Uncanny Encounter’s Kang Ki-young and Hospital Playlist’s Ha Yoon-kyung.

Set during the Chosun Dynasty, when Korea had a hierarchical and male-dominated social structure, this K-drama is based on a true story about Seo Jang-geum, the first woman to be the supreme royal physician of her time. The historical drama sees Seo as a low-class girl in a male-dominated society overcoming social discrimination to become the King’s physician. The K-drama stars Lady Vengeance’s Lee Young-ae, He Who Can’t Marry’s Ji Jin-hee and When I Turned Nine’s Lee Se-young.

Set in the 1990s, the series follows Sung Shi-won who reminisces about her school years with her friends at a high school reunion. As the series moves between past and present, we see Sung as a teen who idolises the seminal boyband HOT while living with her five friends. The drama focuses on a time in the ’90s when idol groups were taking centre stage and the K-pop industry was blossoming. Jung Eun-ji stars as Sung and playing alongside the Miss Night and Day actress are Doom at Your Service’s Seo In-guk and W’s Lee Si-eon.

My Daughter Seo-young’s Lee Bo-young stars as Jang Hye-sung in this 2013 drama. After a difficult childhood, Jang becomes a pragmatic and jaded public defender. Her life takes a turn when she meets Park Soo-ha, a high school senior with the ability to read the minds of others. After finding out that their paths crossed during their childhood, they work together to use unconventional methods to solve cases. Starring alongside Lee is Big Mouth’s Lee Jong-suk and Secret Garden’s Yoon Sang-hyun.

Doctor Slump’s Park Shin-hye plays twin siblings Ko Mi-nyeo and Ko Mi-nam in 2009’s You’re Beautiful. At the beginning of the series, we learn that the siblings grew up in an orphanage. As Mi-nyeo is set to be a nun as a young adult, she is asked to cover for her twin brother Mi-nam who’s about to become a Korean idol. She reluctantly agrees to impersonate her brother and joins the popular boy band A N Jell.

This 2005 romcom K-drama sees Scent of a Woman’s Lee Dong-wook starring as Seol Gong Chan alongside Hotel King’s Lee Da-hae, who plays Joo Yoo-rin. When Seol meets Joo, he realises that she has connections to his long-lost cousin that his grandfather has been looking for. Joo agrees to help Seol by pretending to be his long-lost cousin, but their feelings for each other get in the way.

Boys of Flowers’s Lee Min-ho plays a talented MIT graduate Lee Yoon-sung in this 2011 K-drama. Based on the Japanese manga series of the same name, City Hunter follows Lee as he works at the Blue House. We see as Lee plans revenge on five politicians responsible for his father’s death. While this is happening, Lee also falls in love with bodyguard Kim Na-na, despite being warned not to do so.

East of Eden follows the family of two coal miners Shin Tae-hwan and Lee Ki-chul. In the process of inheriting the coal mining company Taesung Group, Shin kills Lee. Following this incident, Shin also seduces nurse Yoo Mi-ae, who he brushes away later. In the hospital, we see the wives of Lee and Shin giving birth to sons. Driven by her hatred and anger towards Shin, Yoo switches the two sons in the hospital, transforming both their fates.

Based on the iconic 2001 South Korean film of the same name, this K-drama is set during the Joseon dynasty and follows Gyun Woo, a respected scholar, known as Joseon’s National Treasure, who is tasked to educate the mischievous Princess Hye Myung. Throughout the series, the duo navigate their tumultuous relationship and gradually develop a deep bond amidst challenges posed by royal life and external threats. The classic drama explores themes of love, duty and societal expectations while maintaining a light-hearted tone.

This drama centres on Moon Gang-tae, a caregiver at a psychiatric ward and Ko Moon-young, a successful but antisocial children’s book author. As their lives intertwine, they confront their emotional wounds and traumas, leading to personal growth and deeper connections. The series has received critical acclaim for its unique storytelling and its sensitive portrayal of mental health issues. It was also one of the most popular K-dramas on Netflix in 2020.

Set in the Joseon Dynasty, this historical drama follows Kim Yoon-hee, a smart young woman who disguises herself as her brother to attend Sungkyunkwan University, a prestigious university that prohibits female students. Kim navigates academic challenges while keeping her true identity a secret. While doing so, she forms close relationships with fellow students Lee Sun-joon, Gu Yong-ha and Moon Jae-shin. The series combines romance, comedy and social commentary, highlighting themes of gender equality and friendship. It has also received critical acclaim for its engaging script and strong performance.

This 2016 K-drama is inspired by a historical tale about a mermaid from Korea’s Joseon period, blending fantasy, romance and comedy together. The drama stars Kingdom’s Jun Ji-hyun and Boys over Flowers’s Lee Min-ho and tells the story of a mermaid and human. The chemistry between the lead actors has been widely praised, contributing significantly to the show’s popularity. 

Loved for its unique storyline and exceptional acting, the drama follows Cha Do-hyun, a wealthy heir suffering from dissociative identity disorder and psychiatric resident Oh Ri-jin. Cha secretly hires Oh in hopes of treating his disorder. Themes such as trauma, identity and healing are exposed throughout the series. It stars The Devil Judge’s Ji Sung, Gyeongseong Creature’s Park Seo-joon and Oh My Ghost’s Kim Seul-gi.

This romantic comedy-drama follows Kim Hye-jin and her childhood friend Ji Sung-joon. After a reversal of appearances and fortunes, they meet again as adults and reconnect. Throughout the series, we see various comedic and heartfelt moments between the duo. When the show first aired, it gained popularity for its relatable themes of self-acceptance and the complexities of love and friendship. The series also stars a-list actors Itaewon Class’s Park Seo-joon and Kill Me, Heal Me’s Hwang Jung-eum.

This beloved South Korean medical drama follows surgeon Kim Sa-bu who leaves his prestigious position to work as a doctor in a small town hospital. Nicknamed ‘Hand of God’, Kim mentors young doctors at Doldam Hospital, teaching them life values and the true meaning of being a doctor. The series is known for its intense medical scenes and character development. The cast is filled with a-list actors including The Scarlet Letter’s Han Suk-kyu, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo’s Lee Sung-kyung and Business Proposal’s Ahn Hyo-seop.

This 2021 romantic comedy follows a 999-year-old nine-tailed fox (gumiho) Shin Woo-yeo and a college student Lee Dam. Lee accidentally swallows Shin’s fox bead that allows him to become a human. The duo are forced to live together while seeking a solution. The popular series blends fantasy elements with humour while exploring themes of fate, freedom and challenges of supernatural-human relationships. It has also been praised for maintaining a light-hearted tone throughout the series and the strong chemistry between its leads.

One of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable TV history, Sky Castle follows four wealthy families living in an exclusive residential area. The series focuses on ambitious mothers who go to extreme lengths for their child’s academic success. The drama offers a satirical take on upper-class society and intense exploration of education pressures, family dynamics and the dark side of ambition. Since its release, the series has won multiple awards and has been praised for its realistic portrayal of academic pressure in South Korea. On top of an engaging plot, Sky Castle also features a stellar cast including A Tale of Two Sisters’s Yum Jung-ah, Extraordinary You’s Kim Hye-yoon and The City Hall’s Yoon Se-ah.

This 2017 K-drama tells the story of three young adults whose lives become intertwined once they gain the ability to see the future. Nam Hong-joo is a field reporter who begins having dreams that predict accidents and misfortunes while prosecutor Jung Jae-chan and police officer Han Woo-tak both begin experiencing dreams mirroring Nam’s visions. Han and Jung being working together to prevent future tragedies they see. We also see Nam and Jung as they grow closer and begin a romantic relationship. Look forward to a stellar cast featuring A-list actors including Big Mouth’s Lee Jong-suk, Start-Up’s Bae Suzy and Prison Playbook’s Jung Hae-in.

If you’re a fan of historical dramas and horror, you’ll want to add this K-drama to your must-watch list. Set in the Joseon Dynasty period, the series offers a thrilling blend of political intrigue, action-packed battles and a unique take on the zombie apocalypse. The series sees a mysterious plague that sweeps the kingdom, resulting the deceased becoming relentless flesh-eating creatures that come alive at night. Amidst the chaos, we follow Crown Prince Lee Chang as he uncovers a web of political schemes behind the outbreak while embarking on a journey to stop it. Princess Hours’ Ju Ji-hoon plays the Crown Prince and starring alongside him are Rebel Moon’s Bae Doona, My Sassy Girl’s Jun Ji-hyun and Miracle In Cell No 7’s Ryu Seung-ryong.

For a timeless Korean melodrama that will tug at your heartstrings, Autumn In My Heart follows the lives of Yoon Eun-seo and Choi Shin-ae. The two had been unknowingly switched at birth, resulting in them leading different lives. Yoon had been brought up with loving parents while Choi was raised in poverty. When Yoon gets into a car accident, the duo realise that they had been swapped at birth and return to their original homes. This is the first of director Yoon Seok-ho’s quartet of seasonal K-dramas and features stars like The Glory’s Song Hye-kyo and East of Eden’s Song Seung-heon.

Set during the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE to 935 CE), this historical drama tells the story of a group of young Hwarang warriors. While training to protect the kingdom, we see them discover their passion, love and friendship for each other. The 2016 drama features a star-studded cast, including Itaewon Class’s Park Seo-joon, Shinee’s Choi Min-ho and BTS’s V.

Search: WWW revolves around a trio of friends, Bae Ta-mi, Cha Hyeon and Song Ga-kyeong in their late 30s who work in competitive web portal companies. Through the series, we see them support each other through life’s ups and downs from marital issues to office politics. The popular drama stars A Tale of Two Sisters’ Im Soo-jung, I Can Hear Your Voice’s Lee Da-hee and The Throne’s Jeon Hye-jin.

Crush’s Gong Hyo-jin plays single mother Oh Dong-baek in this 2016 romance thriller drama. Living in a small town, she runs bar and restaurant Camellia while taking care of her son. Meanwhile, police officer Hwang Yong-sik (played by Kang Ha-neul) returns to the town to track down a serial killer while falling in love with Oh.

This 2020 drama follows Lim Ju-kyung (played by Moon Ga-young), a high school student struggling with self-esteem issues due to her appearance. She uses makeup as a way to transform herself every day. We see her navigate life together with her friends Lee Su-ho (Cha Sun-woo) and Han Seo-jun (Hwang In-youp). Through its exploration of self-acceptance, societal beauty standards and the impact of superficial judgements, the series beautifully navigates the challenges of adolescence while highlighting the importance of inner confidence and authenticity.

Highly praised for its realistic portrayal of human struggles, the 2018 series follows engineer Park Dong-hoon as he faces challenges at work while coping with a failing marriage. During this time, he encounters Lee Ji-an, a part-timer at his workplace who is burdened by debts and personal struggles. We follow as their lives intersect while they navigate their respective hardships. The series explores themes of empathy, forgiveness and hope, and stars Coffee Prince’s Lee Sun-hyun and singer-songwriter Lee Ji-eun (also known as IU).

Adapted from the British series Doctor Foster, the series follows respected doctor Ji Sun-woo and her husband Lee Tae-oh. Her seemingly perfect world begins to unravel when discovers that her husband is having an affair with a younger woman. The narrative takes unexpected turns throughout the series, keeping us on the edge of our seats. Themes of betrayal, revenge and infidelity are explored in the drama. The production stars My Name’s Han So-hee, Queenmaker’s Kim Hee-ae and Emergency Declaration’s Park Hae-joon.

Based on Jung Kyung-yoon’s novel of the same name, this rom-com stars Itaewon Class’s Park Seo-joon as Lee Young-soon, a vice-chairman of a major corporation, and Healer’s Park Min-young as secretary Kim Mi-so. After having a professional relationship for nine years, the duo starts getting romantically involved once Kim decides to quit her job.

One of the most highly anticipated K-dramas in the 2010s, this series stars multiple A-list actors including Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye and Kim Woo-bin. The series follows a trio of students who have found themselves in a love triangle. As they belong to families with different backgrounds, they learn how to fight against traditional norms held by chaebol families.

Garnering popularity since its release, this historical drama is set in the Joseon era and based on Jung Eun-gwol’s novel of the same name. The series follows King Lee Hwon who pines for his childhood sweetheart, Wol. With romance, sword fights and a thrilling storyline, this drama is sure to keep you entertained through all of its 20 episodes.

This 2016 thriller-fantasy series is sure to keep you on your toes. Based on the 2000 film Frequency, the series follows criminal profiler Park Hae-yeong and detective Lee Jae-han as they solve a mystery from the past. The popular series also features a stellar cast, including Taxi Driver’s Lee Je-hoon, Juvenile Justice’s Kim Hye-soo and Deep Rooted Tree’s Cho Jin-woong.

This high-school drama took the world by storm when it was first released in 2011. The popular series sees a group of students enrolling to Kirin High School of Art in hopes of becoming idol stars. The group get closer as they learn the meaning of friendship, love and life. Dream High stars Hotel Del Luna’s IU, Start-Up’s Bae Suzy, Its Okay to Not Be Okay’s Kim Soo-hyun and Vincenzo’s Ok Taec-yeon.

Starring Smile Again’s Ji Chang-wook, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’s Park Min-young and When Love Bloom’s Yoo Ji-tae, this K-drama follows the story of a decades-old incident involving a group of five friends. The incident brought together the “healer” (Ji), reporter Chae Young-shin (Park) and famous journalist Kim Moo-ho (Yoo). Throughout the series, we see the trio embark on a quest to uncover the truth about past and current murders while constantly blurring the lines between truth and reality.

Princess Hours is a passionate romance story between two lovers, Crown Prince Lee Shin of Korea (Ji Ji-hoon) and his bride, Chae-kyeong (Yoon Eun-hye). The latter is a high school art student who was made to marry the Crown Prince, according to her grandfather’s will. Throughout the series, we see Chae-kyeong learning to adapt to her new life in the palace. The story takes place in a fictitious world, where modern-day Korea is a constitutional monarchy.

This 2013 K-drama tells the story of Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun), an extraterrestrial alien who landed on Earth in 1609. 400 years on, Do is still on earth and has fallen in love with famous actress Chen Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun). The duo starts a loving relationship and start to experience life’s ups and downs together.

The second part of season-themed drama series, Endless Love, this 2002 K-drama follows Jung Yu-jin (Choi Ji-woo) and Kang Joon-sang (Bae Yong-joon). The duo met in high school and soon after, Kang gets into a car accident and passes away. Years later, Jung runs into a man who looks just like Kang. The series quickly gained popularity after its release and had garnered a large female following.

This K-drama series is no stranger to Hyun Bin fans—after all, the South Korean star had gained widespread recognition for his role as Hyun Jin-heon in this drama. The 2005 romantic comedy series follows the story of Kim Sam-soon (Kim Sun-a). As Kim’s life takes a turn for the worse, she meets Hyung Jun-heon. Throughout the series, we follow the duo as they go through life together.

This romance K-drama follows childhood sweethearts Jung Seo (Choi Ji-woo) and Song Joo (Kwon Sang-woo). When the duo gets separated, and Jung suffers amnesia, Song takes it upon himself to make her remember again.

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A romance K-drama, Full House centres around Han Ji-eun and Lee Young-jae as they learn to love and live with each other in a loveless marriage. The series stars The Glory’s Song Hye-kyo as Han, a free-spirited woman; and Ghost Doctor’s Ji Hoon-jung as Lee, a selfish actor.

Another Hyun Bin classic, this 2010 fantasy rom-com series sees Hyun star as rich CEO Kim Joo-woon. The drama follows Kim as he falls in love with a stunt woman, Gil Ra-im (Ha Ji-won). The series takes a comedic turn when the duo magically switch bodies.  

One of the most recognisable K-dramas from the 2000s, Boys Over Flowers is based on a Japanese manga of the same name. The series revolves around a group of rich boys, F4, and a lower income girl. The immensely popular series stars The Heirs’ Lee Min-ho, Hearts of Nineteen’s Koo Hye-sun and Law School’s Kim Bum.

This historical romance drama takes place in the late 19th century, before the Japanese occupation of Korea. The series follows Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), a young boy who escapes to the US during the 1871 Shinmiyangyo (Korean Expedition). Years later, he returns to Joseon as a United States Marine Corps officer and falls head over heels for an aristocrat’s granddaughter, Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri).

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Better known as Goblin, this 2016 series stars Squid Game’s Gong Yoo, Cheese in the Trap’s Kim Go-eun, and Secret Garden’s Yoo In-na. The Korean series follows a dokkaebi, a Korean goblin played by Gong. Accused of being a traitor, he was doomed to immortality as a goblin. The only way to save himself is through Ji Eun-tak, a human bride played by Kim.

Attracting a new wave of Korean drama fans, this Netflix K-drama series was an instant hit when it was released in 2019. Here, we follow Secret Garden’s Son Ye-jin as she portrays a wealthy CEO who lands in North Korea after a paragliding accident. There, she makes friends with army captain (Hyun Bin) who helps her hide.

Taking us back to the late 1980s, this nostalgic series is set in Seoul and focuses on the lives of a five families and their children. The series tells a story about the ups and downs of the friendship between the quintet during their turbulent teen years. The 2016 series stars Lee Hye-ri, Go Kyung-pyo, Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum and Lee Dong-hwi.  

In case you missed it: Hyun Bin, Gong Yoo and more: 10 Korean celebrities who served in the military

This endearing Korean wartime drama sees captain Yoo Si-jin (Song Joon-ki) and his squad in a strife-torn region of Uruk. Throughout the series, we see Yoo fall in love with first lieutenant Yoon Myeong-joo (Kim Ji-won). The 16-episode drama was a major hit and has received multiple awards including the Grand Prize award at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards.

The 2007 drama follows the romance between a tomboyish woman and a young food empire mogul. The series was an instant hit, thanks to its unique plot and stellar casting, featuring a list actors such as Train to Busan’s Gong Yoo and K-pop girl group Baby Vox’s singer Yoon Eun-hye.

One of the highest-rating K-drama series of all time, this 2017 romantic comedy stars Oh My Ghost’s Park Bo-young as Do Bong-soon, a woman born with superhuman strength. The hit series also stars The Heirs’ Park Hyung-sik and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo’s Ji Soo.

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