South Korea has always been a hub of quality entertainment. The success of Squid Game (which has just become Netflix’s most-viewed series ever) isn’t a fluke. It’s the culmination of years of fresh, innovative content slowly, but steadily, making its way to western audiences who are desperate for new perspectives.
Besides K-Pop, K-Dramas have always been South Korea’s biggest export in the Hallyu Wave. The limited series range from romantic comedies and slice-of-life stories to political thrillers and historical horrors. These shows are innovative, unique, and worth watching.
10 A Group Of Civilians Try To Survive A Zombie Invasion In Sweet Home
Sweet Home follows a group of people trying to survive a zombie apocalypse from their barricaded apartment building. The show is based on the highly successful webtoon of the same name and premiered in late 2020 as a Netflix Original. It quickly gained attention for its superb acting, engaging action scenes, and dramatic storylines.
Soon after its release, Sweet Home climbed to the third spot on American Netflix’s top ten, a first for a South Korean show on the platform. The horror series also received praise for its high-quality visual effects, which were handled by the same company behind big-budget productions such as Game of Thrones and Avengers.
9 Vincenzo Has Some Of The Best Action On Korean TV
Hallyu star Song Joongki is a Korean-Italian mafioso in Vincenzo. The crime drama follows Vincenzo as he escapes to Seoul after an altercation with his brother and subsequently attempts to recover one of his adopted father’s companies. It first aired on the Korean network tvN before receiving an international weekly broadcast on Netflix in early 2021.
Vincenzo is known for its dark comedy and thrilling action, which earned the show the tenth highest rating for a cable series in its country of origin. It also includes a large cast of prolific actors and guest stars including boy group 2PM’s Ok Taecyeon and BIFF Actress of the Year Jeon Yeobeen.
8 Crash Landing On You Explores Unique Subject Matter In A Touching Way
Crash Landing on You was a huge cultural phenomenon when it premiered in late 2019. The romantic dramedy tells the story of Yoon Seri, an heiress who accidentally crash lands in North Korea and meets Ri Jeonghyeok, a North Korean army captain. Together, they try to find a way to safely transport her across the Demilitarized Zone.
Crash Landing on You explores the differences and similarities between both Koreas, aided by the direct input North Korean defectors had on the script. The series received multiple accolades for its acting—with particular praise to the main actors’ chemistry—its depiction of North Korean everyday life, and its heartwrenching storylines.
7 Itaewon Class Follows A Group Of Misfits Set On Revenge
Based on the eponymous webtoon, Itaewon Class unites a group of social outcasts with a common purpose: to get revenge on Jangga Group’s founder, Jang Daehee. It stars Park Seojoon, who’s known for his roles in successful dramas such as Hwarang and What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.
Itaewon Class was the most searched K-Drama of 2020 and obtained an average viewership of three million Korean viewers during its first broadcast. The series discusses South Korea’s social and monetary inequality and various taboo topics in the country, including racism and gender discrimination.
6 Korea Fights To Gain Its Independence In Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine is the most critically acclaimed historical K-Drama of the last few years. The twenty-four-episode series was applauded for its cinematography, acting, and costume design, but received flak for its portrayal of key historical events.
Set in the early 1900s when Korea was under the rule of Imperial Japan, Mr. Sunshine explores the Korean opposition’s activities to gain their political independence. It stars elite actor Lee Byunghun—who most recently appeared as the Front Man in Squid Game—as Eugene Choi, a Korean ex-pat who returns from the US and falls in love with Taeri, a secret member of the Righteous army.
5 Kingdom Mixes Zombies With Political Intrigue
A perfect blend of historical drama and horror, Kingdom adds a zombie outbreak to the political and social struggles of the Joseon era. Princess Hours lead actor Ju Jihoon and Sense8 actress Bae Doona portray the main characters Prince Lee Chang and Seobi, respectively.
The historical thriller was Netflix’s first original Korean series, becoming an immediate success that led to the production of a second season in 2020 and a special episode in 2021. Kingdom has received much praise for its management of various genres, its bold sociopolitical messages, and its creative storytelling.
4 It’s Okay Not To Be Okay Is An Honest Conversation About Mental Health
It’s Okay Not To Be Okay follows Moon Gangtae, a psych ward nurse who takes care of his autistic brother, and Ko Moonyoung, an antisocial children’s stories author who falls in love with him. The sixteen-episode series was the highest-rated Korean romantic drama on Netflix in 2020 and won several awards.
It’s Okay Not To Be Okay discusses mental health and mental disorders in a more personal, approachable way, with the series’ depiction of autism being lauded for its accuracy and respectful approach. The acting, cinematography, and costume and set design were also praised as the best elements of the show.
3 Five Doctors Have The Time Of Their Lives In Hospital Playlist
Written and directed by the creative team behind the Reply trilogy, Hospital Playlist is a lighthearted medical drama about five doctors who have known each other since medical school, and their adventures working at the same hospital. Its two seasons were highly successful in Korea, with the second season averaging three million viewers an episode.
Actress Jeon Mido’s won several newcomer awards for her portrayal of Dr. Chae Songhwa, a neurosurgeon and the only female character in the main group of friends. Hospital Playlist is also known for its soundtrack, which includes various covers of Korean music hits by current K-Pop stars and other members of the cast.
2 Two Spies Try To Expose A Conspiracy In Vagabond
Popular actor Lee Seungi and former MissA member Suzy star in Vagabond, a 2019 action series about a stuntman-turned-spy who goes undercover to investigate the suspicious plane crash that killed his nephew. He teams up with Haeri, a National Intelligence Service agent who is also investigating behind the scenes.
Vagabond was expected to debut in 2018 but was pushed back a year due to a pending deal with Netflix. Despite the delay, the series became one of the most anticipated and successful dramas of the year, topping the list several times until the premiere of its explosive final episode.
1 Prison Playbook Explores The Daily Lives Of Convicts
A sixteen-episode commercial hit, Prison Playbook tells the story of Kim Jehyuk, a star baseball player who finds himself locked behind bars after defending his sister from an attempted assault. It stars Park Haesoo, known internationally for the role of Sangwoo in Squid Game, and Jung Kyungho, who also appears in Hospital Playlist and Crash Landing on You.
Prison Playbook is a black comedy, mixing the disturbing with the comical in ways that feel raw and real. It also explores male friendships, the merits and faults of the Korean prison system, and the day-to-day life of a convict. The series remains in the top twenty highest-rated Korean drama on cable television almost four years after its debut.
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