If you’ve never had a chance to watch a Korean drama, aka K-drama, till now, then let me show you this amazing and addicting world. K-dramas have a variety of genres. Whether you’re into romance, comedy, fantasy, action, or drama there’s something for everyone. The advantage of the K-dramas is they won’t keep you along for five or six seasons, you will get everything you need in about between 13-16 episodes. (But of course, some dramas have and NEED 🙁 second seasons!!)
I have been watching Asian dramas over years but Korean dramas I do not even remember when I started!! It has been my lifestyle and comfort zone because in this stressing, tiring and hectic life we should at least recharge ourselves with fancy K-dramas, right?
So let me open the door for my must-watch K-dramas suggestions for you 😊
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin) (2016)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-Eun, Lee Dong –Wook, Yoo In-Na
OST: [도깨비 OST Part 1] 찬열, 펀치 (CHANYEOL, PUNCH) – Stay With Me MV
As the third highest-rated k-drama in Korean television history, Goblin is not just a drama it’s a phenomenon in Korea and it is my favorite K-drama I have ever watched! 😊.
There’s Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), a Goblin and protector of souls who is the landlord of the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-Wook), in charge of taking gone souls. Sick of being immortal, Shin spent his long, lonely years for searching his human bride, the only person who can end his life. Then there’s cute mortal high school student Ji Eun-Tak (Kim Go Eun) who struggles the most. Eun-tak summons the goblin by chance, and Eun-tak has to do choices. This drama has the most beautiful and dramatic storyline, soundtrack, and cinematography. Prepare to fall in love with the story and cast as well.
GUARDIAN: THE LONELY AND GREAT GOD (GOBLIN) – OFFICIAL TRAILER | Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook, Kim Go Eun
Crash Landing on You (2019)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Cast: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-Jin
OST: OST: [사랑의 불시착 OST Part 4] 백예린 (Yerin Baek) – 다시 난, 여기 (Here I Am Again) MV
This is kind of a modern script of Romeo and Juliet. The story is basically about a South Korean billionaire and CEO who meets a North Korean Special Forces Unit Captain when she “crashed” lands in North Korea after getting stuck in a hurricane as she was paragliding. There are many plot twists and while all this happening they start to fall in love with each other but there is a North Korean officer who has evil plans for them.
Crash Landing on You | Official Trailer #1 | Netflix [ENG SUB]
Descendents of the Sun (2016)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Action
Cast: Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo
OST: [MV] CHEN(첸)XPunch(펀치) – Everytime l 태양의 후예 OST Part.2
We can’t talk about the best Korean drama of all time without mentioning Descendants of the Sun. The drama is about a special forces captain (and a female doctor who fall in love while supplying aid in a country that is facing an earthquake and civil unrest.
P.s.: Main leads are actually married in 2017 following the show, but divorced two years later 🙁 I am trying to forget that part 🙁
Descendants of the Sun – Trailer | Song Joong Ki & Song Hye Kyo’s 2016 New Korean Drama
Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Episodes: 25
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Cast: Ku Hye-sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Sang-bum, Kim Joon
OST: Stand by me- SHINee
Boys over Flowers is an old phenomenon for nearly everyone. It’s about a working-class girl who gets involved in the lives of a group of rich and arrogant young boys at her high school. The boys are called F4. It is based on the comic series of the same name by Yoko Kamio. If you’re into the bad boys (I mean who can 😊), this one’s for you. There are also Chinese and Thailand versions of it if you want to check 😊
Boys Over Flowers 꽃보다 남자 – Fanmade Trailer.
The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)
Episodes: 20
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
Cast: Jun Ji-hyun; Lee Min-ho
OST: LYn(린) _ Love Story (The Legend of The Blue Sea(푸른 바다의 전설) OST Part.1)
The series centers on the love story of Shim Cheong, aka her name kinda means” stupid” in Korean but Heo Joon-Jae gave this name to her since she does not have name 😊 isn’t it so cute? (Jun Ji-hyun), a mermaid, and Heo Joon-jae (Lee Min-ho), a con-artist. Basing on rebirth, destiny, and unrequited love, their story is sorted with the parallel story of their Joseon-era incarnations, the mermaid, Se-hwa, and town head, Kim Dam-ryeong. I do not wanna spoil you but you should definitely watch this drama one of the bests!
The Legend of the Blue Sea – Trailer 2 | Lee Min Ho & Jun Ji Hyun 2016 Korean Drama
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017)
Episodes: 16+1 special episode
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Crime
Cast: Park Bo-young; Park Hyung-sik; Ji Soo
OST: 마마무 (MAMAMOO) – Double Trouble Couple (힘쎈여자 도봉순 OST)
Another highly rated K-drama, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is all time fav for who is in love with romantic k-dramas. It’s mainly focusing on Do Bong-soon who just wants to make a video game with herself as the main character and become a delicate and elegant woman, the ideal type of her crush, policeman In Guk-doo. But Bong-soon, like all the women in her family past, was born with superhuman strength.
This strength leads her the job as a bodyguard to rich, super handsome, I mean Park Hyun Shik we cannot say nothing he is my first crush 😊, heir and CEO of gaming company Ahn Min-hyuk. I don’t wanna spoil you guys so I am not gonna say more just watch and enjoy their silly, cute and fun love story!
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon | Trailer | Watch now on Netflix
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Sports. Coming-of-age
Cast: Lee Sung-kyung; Nam Joo-hyuk; Lee Jae-yoon; Kyung Soo-jin
OST: You & I – Kim Jong Wan (김종완) Weightlifting Fairy OST
At first, this drama seems like a typical school/college drama. But it carries much deeper issues like body positivity, parental issues, eating disorders, and social pressures on young people but of course, while facing this we have also the romantic side of life in this drama!
The story is about a group of college athletes who are following their dreams, experiencing and chasing love in the process, and getting mature every step of the way. Kim Bok-joo, a talented weightlifter, wants to success in her career but at the same time, he has to deal with boyfriend, school, and friend problems. Such a refreshing easygoing drama to watch!
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Book Joo (Official Trailer)
W: Two Worlds (2016)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy, Thriller
Cast: Lee Jong-suk, Han Hyo-joo
OST:Park Bo Ram(박보람) _ Please say something, even though it is a lie(거짓말이라도 해줘요)
The story is about an author of a very popular webtoon called W who goes missing when her comic artist father goes missing, she tries to find her father from clues in his room. A bloody hand from her father’s webtoon grabs her hand and the next thing she knows; she is on the rooftop of a hospital next to a man with stab wounds.
I cannot say more! This k-drama was puzzling and exciting! You should definitely have a try!
W – Official Trailer | Lee Jong Suk & Han Hyo Joo 2016 New Korean Drama
Suspicious Partner (2017)
Episodes: 40
Genre: Legal, Crime, Romantic-Comedy
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Nam Ji-hyun, Choi Tae-joon
OST: Cheeze – How about you (Suspicious Partner OST)
The drama is about Noh Ji-wook (Ji Chang-wook), a prosecutor, and Eun Bong-hee (Nam Ji-hyun), a prosecutor trainee, and why and how will they work together on a mysterious case including a sneaky psychopath murderer. After some time, they will realize how deeply connected they are to their past.
Love in Trouble (Suspicious Partner) (Trailer w/ Eng Subs)
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim
Episodes: 16
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cast: Park Seo-Jeon, Park Min-Young
Ost: GFRIEND(여자친구) _ Wanna Be (김비서가 왜 그럴까) OST
In This drama, Secretary Kim who works very hard for her corporate handsome Chairman of the company, one day decided to resign from her position after working hard for 9 years in the company, and this news affects and confuses the Chairman but he decided to do everything to make her stay by his side. It will “maybe” turn out that they have the same memories back then when they are child.
So much to say but again don’t wanna spoil of course so I will hold myself!!
WHAT’S WRONG WITH SECRETARY KIM – OFFICIAL TRAILER [Eng Sub] | Park Seo Joon, Park Min Young
There are of course a lot of dramas to mention but these are not only K-drama 101 series but also my favorites too! Hope you can enjoy my list 😊 If you wanna recommend me some new Korean dramas, I mean 2022, cause i have been watching Chinese dramas lately so it would be great to come back home! Thank youuu 😊
