Crash Landing on You’s explosive international popularity has revived the Hallyu (Korean wave) and has everyone scrambling for what to watch next. We’ve taken upon ourselves, the tough (read delightful) task of watching hours and hours of K-Dramas to shortlist 10 well-made and engaging dramas. So all you have to do now is queue them up and ride the roller coaster of emotions.
Descendants of the Sun
A Special Forces soldier who’s used to taking lives and a surgeon, who’s under an oath to save lives, fall in love. This contrast plays out interestingly through the show as it takes us through the love story of our protagonists. Largely set in a fictional country of Urk, DOTS is the complete package of romance, action, drama, tragedy and comedy. The second leads have an emotional and complex relationship, making this show a wholesome watch.
IMDB rating: 8.4 | Stream on Netflix
Romance is a Bonus Book
Set in a publishing house, popular actor Lee Jong-Suk plays Cha Eun Ho, a young editor at a publishing house, where childhood friend Kang Dan-i, played by Lee Na-young, also ends up working. The duo are old friends and Cha Eun Ho has long harboured a crush on Kang Dan-i, a divorced mother. Will love finally blossom between the two in this? Besides good story-telling, this one is much-watched for Lee Jong-Suk.
IMDB rating: 8.1 | Stream on Netflix
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo
Join our protagonist, a promising weightlifting athlete, as she navigates university life with her friends. This coming-of-age story is filled with hilarious moments of camaraderie and romance. Watch this one for the perfect light-hearted break between two serious shows.
IMDB rating: 8.4 | Stream on Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMIStQUvc7s
My Secret Terrius
An engaging mesh of thriller and comedy, MST is about a secret agent gone rogue, and how his disciplined life is interrupted when he ends up babysitting a pair of siblings. There are also high action chases in Poland, a gang of ‘mommy-cops’, and plastic surgery involved. We’ll leave you with these clues for now. See you on the other side.
IMDB rating: 7.3 | Stream on ZEE5
Itaewon Class
This year’s release, Itaewon Class is an ex-convict’s entrepreneurial story. Park Seo- Joon’s character dreams ambitiously, and the show is about him and his restobar’s team competing hard with a food conglomerate. The vibrant district of Itaewon is home to the queer community in Seoul, and the show does showcase the neighbourhood’s vibe wonderfully. Watch this one to see a different cultural side of Korea.
IMDB rating: 8.2 | Stream on Netflix
Master’s Sun
Tae Gong-Shil is a troubled woman who sees ghosts around her. Interestingly, she discovers that whenever she touches CEO Joo Joon-Wong, the ghosts vanish. A mix of romance, horror and fantasy, Master’s Sun is the story of taking clues from ghosts to find a stolen treasure. The show stars the highly popular So Ji-Sub, and well, isn’t that reason enough to watch it?
IMDB rating: 8.2 | Stream on Netflix
Strong Girl Bong-Soon
This one brings together two of Koreans’ favourite sentiments – cuteness and gore. Born with supernatural strength, our titular lead’s love interest swings between her childhood crush (a handsome cop), and her dashing CEO boss, played by the massively popular Park Hyung-Sik. (We’re yet to see a K-Drama CEO who isn’t drop-dead gorgeous, but hey, we aren’t complaining!) Her love story is set against the backdrop of gruesome kidnappings of women. Watch SGBS to see Bong-Soon use her special powers to rescue her kidnapped best friend.
IMDB rating: 8.2 | Stream on Netflix
My Love from the Star
As you guess from the title, this is a love story between an alien and a human. Yes, Koreans love fantasy and especially, this popular show. An alien stranded on Earth falls in love with a top actress. But his time on Earth (400 years) almost runs out, so what does he do now? Stay back with his true love or go back home? Watch it for Park Hae-Jin, who also stars in Cheese in the Trap.
IMDB rating: 8.3 | Stream on Viu or Netflix
Oh My Venus
We’re saying it as simply as possible – this one has to be watched for So Ji-Sub’s hot bod and Shin Min-Ah’s comic timing. Everything else in the show is a bonus. Oh My Venus uses fitness as the backdrop, as we see Shin Min-Ah’s 30-something character attempt to get back in shape and reclaim her beauty. No points for guessing who happens to be her fitness trainer – there’s blackmail involved!
IMDB rating: 7.8 | Stream on Netflix
Crash Landing on You
If ever a show has cliffhangers at the end of each episode, it’s this one. The impossible love story between a South Korean businesswoman and a North Korean Special Forces captain will have you at the edge of seat since the first episode. Particularly praised for showing authentic North Korean culture and life, CLOY is supported by an excellent script, brilliant acting, and emotional story-telling. Honestly though, our #1 reason is Hyun Bin. There, we said it.
IMDB rating: 8.8 | Stream on Netflix
