The 14 Best Korean Dramas to Binge-Watch to Your Heart's Content
From suspenseful thrillers to delightful rom-coms, these K-dramas are seriously addictive.
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In the mood for an addictive binge-watch? There's no better place to look than a good Korean drama! More popularly known as K-dramas, Korean television has quickly become a global phenomenon over the past decade right alongside the best Korean movies — and now, thanks to streaming services like Netflix, they're easier to watch than ever. Ranging from sappy romantic comedies to action-packed crime thrillers, the very best Korean dramas have everything from highly entertaining storylines to the most swoon-worthy romance scenes — and of course some of the most intense plot twists that make these shows so immensely captivating.
Luckily, to help you pick the best series for your binge-watching sessions, we've rounded up the best K-dramas for you to try right here — including charming romance dramas, stunning period pieces, and even some intense action thrillers with outlandish (yet very entertaining) storylines. The best part of it all is that they're all available to stream on Netflix and Hulu, so you can binge-watch wherever and whenever you want — just make sure to clear your schedule beforehand!
Itaewon Class
One of the most popular K-dramas of 2020, Itaewon Class follows an ex-convict named Park Sae-Ro-Yi who opens up an bar in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood, determined to take down the CEO of a powerful food conglomerate who had a hand in both his father's death and his prison sentence. (Honestly, we're sold already!)
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Crash Landing On You
This wildly popular 2020 hit — which also achieved the title of the second highest-rated cable drama in Korea — offers everything from star-crossed lovers to an engaging plot. A paragliding mishap causes a South Korean woman to crash-land in North Korea, where she's rescued by a North Korean officer who attempts to safely get her back home.
Memories of the Alhambra
If you love a good drama with sci-fi and fantasy elements, Memories of the Alhambra offers a truly irresistible watch with a highly creative plot involving an innovative virtual reality game, a hostel owner who was formerly a talented guitarist and the beautiful backdrop of Spain. Intrigued yet?
Vagabond
For those who love nonstop action and conspiracy plots, Vagabond follows a stuntman named Cha Dal-Geon who embarks on a dangerous investigation after a mysterious plane crash kills his nephew — and ends up uncovering an intricate terrorist conspiracy with the help of National Intelligence Service agent Go Hae-ri.
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When the Camellia Blooms
A single mom opens up a bar named Camellia in a small town, where she becomes the subject of constant gossip and falls in love with the local police officer. But this one's not your typical rom-com — it also features something truly sinister in the background in the form of a serial killer on the loose!
Mr. Sunshine
In this riveting historical drama set during the Joseon Dynasty, a young Korean boy who escapes to America returns to his homeland decades later. Now a captain of the U.S. Marine Corps, he falls in love with a noblewoman who's secretly involved in a network fighting for Korean independence.
Descendants of the Sun
In this 2016 K-drama smash hit, a star-crossed romance ensues between a soldier in the Special Forces Unit and a trauma surgeon. Not convinced yet? The series was actually so popular that it's been translated into over 30 languages — and has even been credited with boosting Korean tourism and culture.
Inheritors (or The Heirs)
Also known by the title of The Heirs, this popular K-drama hit from 2013 follows a group of wealthy, privileged high schoolers fated to take over their family businesses, as they deal with issues in family, romance, school, and friendship. You'll be instantly hooked by the dramatic storylines, intense love triangles and more!
Kingdom
If there's one thing better than a historical drama, it's a historical drama with zombies — which Netflix delivers in this popular 2019 original series set in the Joseon period. A crown prince must save his kingdom from the spread of a mysterious plague overtaking the land, which transforms people into the undead.
RELATED: The 16 Best Zombie Movies to Watch for Halloween and Beyond
Romance Is A Bonus Book
Looking for that classic light-hearted rom-com K-drama? This one from 2019 follows a gifted writer at a book publishing company who meets a former copywriter, who is also a divorced single mother desperate for work. Romance ensues, of course, and the rest is a charming story worthy of an entire book.
Extracurricular
In this recent Netflix K-drama, a model high school student gets involved in a world of serious crime in order to pay for college — but then runs into complications when a classmate discovers his secret double life. This one will have you at the edge of your seat the entire time!
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Signal
For fans of exciting crime thrillers, Signal follows the story of a criminal profiler but has a truly compelling twist: He has a mysterious walkie-talkie that can allow him to communicate with a detective living about 25 years in the past. Can this help each of the men solve their hardest, most unsolvable cases?
It's Okay to Not be Okay
A touching tale of emotional healing is at the center of It's Okay to Not Be Okay, a romantic drama series that follows a caretaker at a psychiatric ward who meets a popular children's book author with an antisocial personality disorder. Praised for shedding light on issues of mental health, this moving series is sure to pull at your heart strings.
Chief of Staff
If you loved House of Cards, you'll definitely enjoy this gripping political K-drama from 2019, which follows the lives of politicians in the National Assembly who attempt to climb up the political ladder — and get involved in scheming, illicit affairs and criminal activity along the way.
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