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The best Korean drama worthy of a binge-watch.
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Why do people love K-dramas so much?
People love K-dramas so much because they have compelling storylines, high production values, romantic themes, character development, cultural richness, diverse genres, the ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, the chemistry between the lead actors, and shorter period lengths. The combination of these factors makes K-Dramas a unique and enjoyable form of entertainment for a diverse audience.
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The Best Korean Drama
If you’re new to Korean drama, listed below are fantastic entry points for you to start. They are all engaging and binge-worthy, most could even be considered the best Korean dramas of all time.
1. King2Hearts (2012)
Epic is the one word that best describes King2Hearts. Its 20-hour-long episodes have edge-of-your-seat action, suspense, mystery, romance—good!
No episode is boring as every installment presents an engaging plot that propels the story forward and contributes to making the whole narrative amazing. Both the political and romantic plots are equally outstanding.
If you must know, I binge-watched the entire thing in two days. Yes, I didn’t get much sleep, but it was all worth it in the end.
Mini Plot
South Korea is under a constitutional monarchy. Its immature and arrogant crown prince falls in love with a North Korean Special Forces officer and needs to get his act together as he rises to power as King. Villains complicate these life-changing events, creating a more compelling saga.
Watch it here.
2. Something About 1% (2016)
Something About 1% is a sweet, romantic Korean drama.
Mini Plot
In order to stay in his grandfather’s good graces, privileged and arrogant businessman Lee Jae In enters into a dating contract with simple and down-to-earth school teacher Kim Da Hyeon for a short period. Opposite in many ways, they clash on many turns. Constant proximity, though, leads these two to develop feelings for each other.
Why Watch It
What makes this Korean drama a gem is its straightforward storytelling and swoon-worthy plot.
It is aware that it’s romance-driven and stays true to it throughout by focusing on telling a romantic tale. Unnecessary side plots don’t sidetrack it.
The romance is lovely and mature. The leads talk things out and do not resort to frustrating misunderstandings, so enough drama time is devoted to them being sweet to each other.
Watch it here.
3. Coffee Prince (2007)
Coffee Prince is another good Korean Drama.
Mini Plot
A girl gets mistaken for a boy by her boss and co-workers and has to continue the charade to keep her job. She and her boss fell in love with each other, the latter all the while thinking he was falling in love with a man.
Why Watch It
What makes this drama a keeper and a classic that stands the test of time is the fantastic chemistry between the leads and their believable acting. The romance is swoon-worthy because of those.
It also doesn’t hurt that it’s hilarious, and the friendship and dynamics among the cast are heartwarming and fun.
4. Secret Garden (2010)
Secret Garden is the drama that got me hooked on Korean dramas. It isn’t my first K-Drama (short for Korean drama), but it was the one that made me a devotee. Many consider it a classic and I agree.
Mini Plot
Gil Ra Im (Ha Ji Won, King2Hearts) is a stuntwoman who is pursued by an arrogant and quirky CEO, Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin, Crash Landing on You). Conflict ensues from the fact that they’re of different social classes. Both resist the attraction at first, but eventually fall for each other despite many obstacles.
Why Watch It
Secret Garden has a tight narrative, smart dialogue, good acting, laugh-out-loud scenes, and a fantastic musical score. Even with some element of fantasy that requires you to suspend disbelief, the writer managed to pull everything together and wrap it all up in a solid, wonderful ending.
5. Fated to Love You (2014)
Fated to Love You is the Korean drama that gave me so many feels. It made me fall in love, tore at my heartstrings, and glued my broken heart back again with its beautiful ending.
Mini Plot
The leads, who were strangers to each other, accidentally got pregnant, so they had to marry each other. The male lead, though, resented this because he already had a girlfriend he loved. And so begins a sad and thorny journey for these two.
Why Watch It
The romance, even if sad at some points, was beautiful. The leads’ acting was spot-on. The musical score is beautiful as well. Overall, it was well-made and didn’t drag at any point.
6. The Master’s Sun (2013)
If you want some supernatural element in your drama, then The Master’s Sun is the way to go.
Mini Plot
The female lead in this drama can see ghosts, an occurrence only the male lead can stop through skin contact. They find themselves working together to deal with those spirits. They fell for each other in the process.
Why Watch It
Actress Gong Hyo Jin played her character as the ghost-seeing female lead well, even infusing it with much charm. Actor So Ji Sub is perfect as the miserly CEO, the male lead, who didn’t want to get tangled up with her but happily did so in the end.
This drama also has one of the best cinematography I’ve seen. The scene where Ji Sub kissed a possessed Hyo Jin to drive the ghost away while the camera spun around them and singer Yoon Mi-rae’s Touch Love played in the background was really good.
7. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017)
Mini Plot
Do Bong Soon possesses supernatural strength. One day, a gaming executive witnessed this secret strength of hers while she was trying to fight off bad guys. The executive then hires her as his bodyguard. They fall in love while working together and while Bong Soon continues to fight crime.
Why Watch It
What makes this drama unique and interesting is the fantasy element that gives it a refreshing woman-empowerment vibe and provides ample opportunities for suspense and fantastic action scenes. In addition, the romance is cute and would have you melting into a puddle of goo.
Watch it here.
8. Marriage, Not Dating (2014)
Mini Plot
Marriage, Not Dating explores the dating contract trope. Rich guy is tired of his parent’s matchmaking, so he convinces poor girl, who is the complete antithesis of what his parents want for him, to pretend they’re dating. And so the fun begins.
Why Watch It
Marriage, Not Dating has most of K-Drama clichés–rich guy-poor girl, antagonistic in-laws, love triangle, terminal sickness, etc.–but what sets it apart from the rest having similar tropes is that the clichés come with twists.
Second, unlike other romantic comedies, it manages to be hilarious from start to finish. While others get sappy towards the end, this one, however, will have you laughing from the get-go right until the closing credits of the last episode. Even the ending stayed true to its fun and upbeat theme by being silly and unique.
Lastly, the female lead’s character is laudable. She had the backbone to fight back, which is unlike the submissive types we usually see in many K-Dramas.
Watch it here.
9. Crash Landing on You (2019)
Mini Plot
Can a romance between a North Korean and a South Korean have a happy ending? This is the central question that revolves around Crash Landing On You, a drama that takes off (pun intended) when a South Korean rich heiress accidentally crashes and lands on North Korean soil thereby enabling her to meet and fall in love with a North Korean army officer.
Why Watch It
The underlying theme, of course, paved the way to show snippets of North Korean life and its differences from its southern counterpart, which in themselves are interesting to know.
The travails and challenges that faced the two leads’ seemingly impossible love only add to the drama that makes this show engaging. It’s angst-filled because of those, which in turn pave the way for plenty of action and suspense as the two try to overcome their love’s barriers.
On one hand, the angst is tempered by funny comedic scenes. It’s one of the Korean dramas that made me laugh many times.
Moreover, this drama has fantastic cinematography and camera movement.
Lastly, the OST is also good and unforgettable.
Watch it here.
10. Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Boys Over Flowers may not be the most original Korean drama there is (clichés abound the whole thing), but it serves to be experienced if only for the fact that it’s said to be the K-Drama that started the second Hallyu or Korean Wave.
Mini Plot
The story revolves around a rich boy, also the leader of an elite boy group, who falls in love with a poor scholarship student from their exclusive, wealthy school.
Of course, in K-Drama land, two people from different social statuses falling in love is never a good thing (at least for opposing others) and, as expected, becomes a catalyst for several… well, drama.
Why Watch It
This drama is riveting and entertaining primarily due to its angst-filled plot. Trust that you won’t get bored at any point.
Wrap Up
So there you have it: the best Korean drama that you simply cannot miss. Do yourself a favor and watch them.
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Happy watching!
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