10 Greatest K Dramas you will love to BINGE

K DRAMA

Korean dramas, often lovingly called as “K-dramas”, are like a rollercoaster ride through a whirlwind of emotions. With a blend of romance, drama, comedy and supernatural elements these K dramas captivate your mind with their plot twist and mind-blowing performances.

Do you know that between 2019 and 2021 the viewership numbers for TV series produced in South Korean went up by a staggering 200% in the U.S market. And this craze is not just restricted to south Korean T.V series; today the American audiences is widely consuming content made in Asia. Movies, music and anime have captured the attention of young Americans to a great extent.

Every year OTT platforms are bombarded with hundreds of stories and personally it gets a bit confusing as to which series one should watch or SKIP. With the ongoing craze of South Korean series we bring you the greatest K dramas for your unlimited entertainment.

Here is a list of ten K DRAMAS that you shouldn’t SKIP and why!

1. SIGNAL (2016)
2. CRASH LANDING ON YOU (2019-2020)
3. HOSPITAL PLAYLIST (2020-2021)
4. KINGDOM (2019-2022)
5. ITAEWON CLASS (2020)
6. STRANGER (2017-2020)
7. FLOWER OF EVIL
8. THE GUARDIAN: THE LONELY AND THE GREAT GOD (2016-2017)
9. VINCENZO (2021)
10. DEATH’S GAME (2023)

SIGNAL (2016)

This story is about a female kid who is kidnapped on her way to school. At a time, Park Hae Yeong, who is an elementary school student, witnesses this girl being taken away. A few days later it is reported that she is found dead and the detectives couldn’t find the perpetrators.

Cut to fifteen years later, Hae Yeong, who is now a police officer and a criminal profiler. One day, he finds a walkie talkie which connects him to detective Lee Jae Han who is in the past. Spooky right? This discovery leads Hae Yeong on a journey to solve cold cases over the time. If you love watching crime series then this show is a must watch. In fact I was amazed by the unique blend of science fiction and paranormal elements the writers brought in a storyline like this.

While Signal is an intriguing mystery drama it has some very dark and sad themes. So before you binge this series keep in mind that it is a serious drama with murder, suicide, rape etc. as it’s backdrop. The direction and cinematography is phenomenal from first to last episode and the actors do full justice to their parts. With just 1 season and 16 episodes Signal is my top recommendation for a crime thriller. It stars Lee Je-Hoon, Cho Jin-Woong and Kim Hye-soo in lead characters.

CRASH LANDING ON YOU (2019-2020)

After a devastating paragliding accident, a renowned company owner Yoon Se-ri finds herself trapped behind enemy lines i.e. North Korea. She meets a military captain Ri Jeong-hyeok and discovers the hardships of living in North Korea. Over the time she falls in love with Captain Ri, who gives her shelter and helps her to return back to South Korea secretly.

The comedy and romance between the lead characters is enjoyable and refreshing. Hyun Bin who plays the North Korean Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok is heroic and he stands out in all scenes. Son Ye Jin as Yoon Se ri is impressive and at no point I felt like she over did her character. This romantic K drama is tightly constructed and even the sub plots are enthralling. Yoon Se-ri’s family struggling to hide disappearance of company’s CEO, Ri Jeong-hyeok tackling North Korean state department officers and his fiancée high ranking political father, all these plots keep you hooked to this series.

Crash Landing on you isn’t a typical romance drama and this is what make is so special. I mean it’s a romance in middle of a chaos. You’ll thoroughly enjoy the comedy and the breathtaking cinematography. With 1 season and 16 episodes, this series is available on Netflix.

HOSPITAL PLAYLIST (2020-2021)

A story about five doctors who have been friends since they entered medical school in 1999. Hospital Playlist revolves around the lives of these doctors and the daily drama they’ve to encounter at the hospital. Written by Lee Woo -Jung and directed by Shin Won-ho this medical drama stars Cho Jung-seok (DON’T DARE TO DREAM, OH MY GHOST), Yoo Yeon-seok (MR. SUNSHINE, REPLY 1994), Jung Kyung-ho (PRISON PLAYBOOK, BEATING AGAIN), Kim Dae-myeung (MISAENG), and award-winning musical actress Jeon Mi-do.

Though I’m not a fan of medical drama but when I watched this series I was completely flattered. The reason this series works so well is because of the great writing and the awesome chemistry between the five leads. This series stays away from the typical hospital politics and drama and focuses more on the human connection between patients and doctors.

After getting together at Yuji Medical Center, these friends resurrect their old college band and promise to work on one song a month to keep their passion alive. A light hearted show which I love to re watch any given day. If you simply want to enjoy the weekend or an evening after a hectic schedule, Hospital Playlist will definitely cheer you up as it did me. With 2 Seasons and 24 episodes you can watch this series whenever you’re feeling a bit low or you need some sunshine in your life.

KINGDOM (2019-2022)

A historical period drama set in 16th century where shortly after the King is taken ill, a mysterious plague starts to threaten the nation. Lee Chang, the King’s illegitimate son starts to investigate the strange illness, only to find himself caught in the middle of deadly zombies who are annihilating the Kingdom of Joseon. And while trying to stop the zombie menace he is fighting his political opponents from seizing the throne.

The characters in this series are well written, the concept of zombies in medieval era is simply mind blowing. Seriously whoever came up with this idea deserves an award. Furthermore the political rivalry in the kingdom and the family drama makes this series a masterpiece.

If you’re a fan of period drama and horror genre, then I strongly suggest you watch this K drama. In terms of visual aesthetics, Kingdom is absolutely a treat to watch. Amazing cinematography, writing, direction, costumes, make-up, everything is bang on. Considering this was Netflix’s first original Korean series, it got great reviews from the audiences worldwide. With 2 Seasons and 13 episodes this series is a must for horror fans.

ITAEWON CLASS (2020)

Staring Park Seo-Joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung, and Kwon Nara this series is a revenge drama with a bit of romance as a subplot. After an accident which kills Park Sae- ro-yi father, he is enraged to take revenge for his father’s death. He attempts to kill Jang Geun- won, the son of Jangga group’s founder; who happens to be the killer. However, this attempt leads him to imprisonment and years of misery. After his release from prison, Park Sae-ro-yi opens a street bar in Itaewon, while seeking a revenge on the family who was responsible for his father’s death.

Iatewon class is more than your usual revenge drama. It is a melting pot of culture and religion. Vibrant nightlife, discos, gay bars, pubs, restaurants and amazing international cuisine is just a regular day in this series. The writers have done a fab job of blending issues like manslaughter, a capitalistic conglomerate, racism and transphobia into the storyline.

This story of an underdog going against a big corporation is well executed and it keeps you entertained till the end. With 1 Season and 16 episodes this Korean series is one of the highest viewed and best K-drama of 2020.

STRANGER (2017-2020)

Hwang Shi Mok is a prosecutor, who has no sense of empathy due to a brain surgery he had in childhood. Now he is investigating a strange murder case with a brave female cop Han Yeon Jin. As they begin to unravel the mystery they are faced with corrupt government officials, and people who don’t want the truth to come out in open. This crime series is fast paced and it doesn’t drag in any episodes.

Cho Seung- woo does a fabulous job of portraying a characters with a disability and Bae Doona who I’d say is the soul of this series, makes this high intense crime drama entertaining. Special mention to the writer Lee Soo- Yeon for focusing on the story and the social dynamics of the surroundings. In both the seasons you get to witness the twisted side of police force, prosecutors and the elite businessmen who are scourge of society. This is well written script with no loose ends.

Cinematography, Direction and music are all great and they successfully build up the tension in this intense drama . Anyone who loves a thriller, I highly recommend this series. If you haven’t watched it yet you’re surely missing a great show.

FLOWER OF EVIL

Again a crime drama on the list. What’s so special about this one? Well it keeps you guessing till the end. Baek Hee- Sung has hidden his past and identity from his wife Cha Ji-won. They are a loving couple with a beautiful six year old daughter. The happy family starts to crumble when Cha JI-won who is a homicide detective, begins investigating unsolved murders. In this process she is confronted with a strange reality about her husband.

The storyline is gripping and the twist and turns in this drama is jaw dropping. There were times when I thought that I’ve guessed the perpetrator but then I was blind sided on occasions. The lead actors Lee Joon-gi and Moon Chae-won get to portray an array of emotions and they do this effortlessly. Furthermore, what makes this series entertaining is the direction and writing, I mean it simply uplifts the series to great heights.

Flower of evil is an entertaining crime drama where every episode is full of revelations and still there is much more to it. It is a roller-coaster ride that you may not want to miss.

THE GUARDIAN: THE LONELY AND THE GREAT GOD (2016-2017)

Kim Shin, a decorated military general from the Goryeo dynasty is framed as a traitor and killed by his master, the young King. Years after his death he is cursed by God to stay immortal forever for the sins he has committed as a soldier. Kim shin is now 939 year old immortal goblin who comes across Ji Eun Tak, a cheerful high school student who can see ghosts.

This K-drama is filled with elements like pathos, romance, themes of retribution, forgiveness, and true love. Kudos to writer Kim Eun-sook who has done a great job of blending fantasy and realism in this story. The lead actors Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun look great together on screen and their chemistry shines throughout the show. The scenes are beautifully shot and the locations of South Korea and Quebec add depth to this fantasy K-drama.

If you’re looking for some well constructed fantasy drama filled with laughter then you should definitely watch this series. With 1 Season and 18 episodes this K drama will warm your heart.

VINCENZO (2021)

Vincenzo Cassano is a Korean-Italian mob lawyer and a consigliere of the Cassano crime family. He returns to his homeland Seoul to search for gold he had secretly stashed and to find further money-laundering business opportunities. However, with the corrupt Babel Corporate Group and its cronies dead-set on gentrifying any business opportunities, Vincenzo is forced to band with the locals of a small town in order to take the fight against the tyranny of Babel and secure the Cassano family’s foothold.

This K drama stars Song Joong-ki in the lead character alongside Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Taec-yeon, Kim Yeo-jin, and Kwak Dong-yeon. Where most of the crime drama tend to be serious and intense, Vincenzo stands out with it’s dark comedy, which is smartly written by Park Jae- beom. Action sequence are beautifully choregraphed, costume and styling are top notch, and the characters are well written.

If you want to watch a revenge drama filled with action, drama, dark comedy and good music then this show must be on your list. Thanks to Netflix through which this series gained wide popularity among international viewers, and I hope Netflix continues to bring quality K drama’s on it’s platform.

DEATH’S GAME (2023)

This is a story about a guy Choi Yee-jae who isn’t doing well in life and after years of failure and desperation he decides to kill himself to end his misery. But that’s not it yet, as he attempts a suicide he is confronted by DEATH played by Park So-dam, who punishes him for his life ending decision. The punishment is that he’ll have to live 12 times in different bodies and experience the pain of dying. Isn’t that intriguing ?

With a powerful cast like Choi Si-won, Sung hoon, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Do-hyun, Kim Jae-wook and many more this K drama keeps you hooked in every episode. The action scenes in this series are grand and it feels like you are watching a movie. No wonder the VFX budget for this series was a whopping 3.5 billion South Korean Won!

With 2 parts and 8 episodes this action packed K drama is exhilarating and it keeps you captivated till the end. A must watch for the great cast, power packed action scenes, cinematic style direction and a phenomenal storyline.

CONCLUSION

Over the years the fan following of K drama has gained popularity and this is one the reason why we’ve platforms like Netflix investing heavily in these foreign series. In fact Netflix has started producing K dramas like Kingdom, Vagabond, Mr Sunshine etc. The demand for K drama is rising over the years and it’s about time Hollywood studios up their game.

If you’re looking for some exciting content and want to explore a distinct style of storytelling then these K dramas will surely keep you entertained.

Let us know in the comments which K drama entertained you the most and why?