The world of Korean dramas is a foreign and cute place. The South Korean entertainment industry is slowly growing to worldwide dominance, equally Kpop, Korean movies similar Parasite and Minari , and Korean television series take the world by storm.

The term Korean drama, or Kdrama, refers to almost any Southward Korean fictional television series, no matter the subject field or genre. That includes one-act, romance, sci-fi, horror, you name it. Nearly of these television receiver series are based on webcomics, a class of storytelling similar to comics that originated in Republic of korea. You should generally expect a love story no thing the genre (relieve mayhap horror), and the same actors are in pretty much everything. Fair warning, almost all Korean dramas have quite outlandish premises, simply that'south honestly what makes them so good. You lot just have to learn how to accept the strange and unexpected and go along for the ride.

Recently, Netflix has become the get-to place to detect the best Kdrama offerings for US audiences, with many shows beingness labeled every bit Netflix Originals. This partnership, every bit well as the overall shift to streaming, has also changed the business and construction of Kdramas, equally previously, pretty much all Kdramas were around 16 episodes long and one flavor only. Although Korea and their media is still generally conservative, the international audience is definitely shifting perspectives to be more than inclusive and representative of all types of people.

In social club to assist you lot jump headfirst into this new and expanding expanse of tv set, here are 28 of the best Korean dramas available to sentinel on Netflix, both original and not.

Editor'southward Note: This list was most recently updated on March 2022 to include The Silent Body of water, The Heirs, and All of Us Are Dead.

The Silent Sea

the-silent-sea-netflix
Image via Netflix

Manager: Choi Hang-yong

Writer: Park Eun-kyo

Cast: Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, Lee Joon, Kim Sun-young, Kim Si-a, Lee Moo-Saeng

A sci-fi horror series fix in space, The Silent Ocean follows a crew as they become investigate an abandoned research facility where a tragedy took place. With the mission to retrieve valuable samples that might lead to the creation of more h2o, a vitally important and expensive resource at present in the future, the crew heads into unknown terror when they enter Balhae station. With Bae Doona and Gong Yoo leading this bandage, you already know it's going to be expert. Full of mysteries and twists, The Silent Sea is totally bingeable with its revelations and betrayals scattered generously throughout a dystopian story. — Therese Lacson

The Heirs

the-heirs-k-drama

Directors: Kang Shin-hyo, Boo Sung-chul

Writer: Kim Eun-sook

Bandage: Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Ji-won, Kang Min-hyuk, Kang Ha-neul

While it may not be the freshest accept on K-Drama, this star studded cast created 1 of the most watched Korean dramas on the planet. Substantially a Cinderella story (or fifty-fifty a Gossip Girl story), Park Shin-hye plays Cha Eun-sang, a regular girl who gets mixed up in the business of a agglomeration of heirs to rich and affluent families. Main amid them is the Kims. As the daughter of the alive-in housekeeper, she lives at their abode and is enrolled into their high school. There she meets Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho), the scion of the family, and the two fall in beloved despite the odds. Both Lee and Park were coming off of big projects at the fourth dimension The Heirs came out and this quickly became a massively popular show. A perfect time capsule of what Korean dramas were trying to accomplish back during the 2010s. — Therese Lacson

All of U.s. Are Dead

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Directors: Lee JQ and Kim Nam-su

Author: Chun Sung-il

Cast: Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-immature, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo, Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Byung-chul, Lee Kyu-hyung, and Jeon Bae-soo

Based on the webtoon Now at Our School by Joo Dong-geun, All of Us Are Dead is a zombie horror series well-nigh high school students who notice themselves caught in the center of a virus outbreak. After an accident leads to a zombie virus being unleashed at a South Korean high school, the students are left to fend for themselves cut off from the outside earth by the government. With no supplies and no fashion to get assist, the students must rely on each other and whatever resources they tin find to survive this mortiferous situation. While it is primarily a horror story, the show also addresses a number of social bug. Gory, intense, and well-crafted, All of United states of america Are Dead has already become one of Netflix'due south most popular shows since its release in January 2022. - Remus Noronha

Hellbound

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Image via Netflix

Author: Choi Kyu-sok

Director: Yeon Sang-ho

Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jeong-min, Won Jin-ah, Yang Ik-june

How would people react if giant demons started beating people to decease in the streets and publicly "condemning people to hell" for all to meet? Badly! Really badly! Have you lot seen the history of the human race?? That's the cadre premise of Hellbound, a bleak, very brutal exploration of faith and contagious social hysteria that would pair similar fine sacramental wine with Midnight Mass ; Netflix'due south other ponderous and petrifying 2021 tale of religion gone wrong. Directed by Train to Busan helmer Yeon Sang-ho , Hellbound is a slower, more solemn affair than his breakout Korean zombie moving picture, but it shares his knack for using genre storytelling to inquire unanswerable (and unthinkable) questions near the nature of humanity without flinching. - Haleigh Foutch

Squid Game

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Epitome via Netflix

Creator: Hwang Dong-hyuk

Bandage: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon

You've definitely heard near this ane, in fact, there's a good chance information technology'southward the show that brought you lot here! Netflix'southward 2021 original Squid Game charted an immediate and unprecedented climb to the top of Netflix'due south nigh-watched lists, becoming a social media awareness and water libation talking betoken. And for good reason, it's a clever spin on familiar genre archetypes with an exceptional cast that makes for an irresistible rampage-watch. Gear up across 9 episodes, the serial follows 456 debt-ridden contenders through a serial of deadly children's games for the hope of a life-irresolute jackpot for whoever survives. Action-packed, horror-tinged, and threaded through with rich character drama, Squid Game can be a flake of a bleak bummer, but in a serial exploring the pitfalls of capitalist excess and the people information technology leaves behind, that's kind of the bespeak. And like all peachy genre allegories, it never forgets to lace those themes into its endlessly engaging thrills. - Haleigh Foutch

Crash Landing on Yous

crash-landing-on-you
Paradigm via Netflix

Writer: Park Ji-eun

Manager: Lee Jung-hyo

Cast: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun

Probably the almost popular Korean drama on Netflix to appointment is a love story between a Northward Korean soldier and an heiress from Due south Korea called Crash Landing on You . Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) is a young, beautiful, and supremely wealthy woman who decides to get paragliding ane weekend. She gets caught in a tornado that brings her over North Korea, where she lands. Trying to escape getting caught by Due north Korea, Se-ri is protected and hidden by Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin).

While Jeong-hyeok attempts to help Se-ri and smuggle her dorsum to South Korea, the two can't deny their growing feelings for one another. Every bit the ultimate Romeo and Juliet, Jeong-hyeok and Se-ri's chemistry is amazing, and because the actors started officially dating after shooting the drama, this isn't a surprise. Crash Landing on You is the quintessential Korean rom-com serial, and then it's definitely a great series to innovate you to the genre.

Vincenzo

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Image via Netflix

Writer: Park Jae-bum

Managing director: Kim Hee-won

Cast: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-bin, TaecYeon

In Vincenzo , Song Joong-ki plays a Korean man who was adopted by an Italian family equally a child and raised in Italia equally part of a mafia family unit. After his adoptive male parent dies, the homo'southward biological son attempts to kill Vincenzo, leading him to flee back to Seoul, Southward Korea, where he has a stash of gold hidden under an former flat building. Unfortunately, Vincenzo has no easy access to the golden unless he tears down the building, and in that location'due south a community of people who live in that location.

At the same fourth dimension, a corrupt business called Boom-boom Group illegally takes over the edifice, leading Vincenzo to team up with the talented, strong-willed lawyer, Hong Cha-immature, played past Jeon Yeo-bin, who wants to take downwardly the company for personal reasons. Vincenzo is office action, role drama, and function romance, and altogether a tin can't-miss show.

Record of Youth

record-of-youth
Image via Netflix

Author: Ha Myung-hee

Director: Ahn Gil-ho

Cast: Park So-dam, Park Bo-gum, Byeon Woo-seok, Kwon Soo-hyun

One type of series that South Korean tv excels at is the coming-of-age drama, or any story centering around a group of young adults finding their place in the globe. Record of Youth is a great choice for new fans of 1000-Dramas, especially given the fact that the cast is led past none other than Park So-dam, who many volition recognize for her office every bit Kim Ki-jung in Parasite , the daughter of the scammer family who pretends to be an art teacher.

Record of Youth centers around 3 young people, ii models and a make-upwards artist, involved in the mod manner industry in Korea. The show follows the general storyline you'll find in most romance Korean dramas, just the actors in the cast assist elevate the series and create characters that yous want to stick around with.

Itaewon Class

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Image via Netflix

Writer: Jo Gwang-jin (webcomic and show)

Director: Kim Sung-yoon

Cast: Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung, Kwon Na-ra, Ahn Bo-hyun

The beginning drama on this list based on a webcomic (although don't worry, there will be more), Itaewon Grade is a drama based in the hipster, super-pop surface area of Seoul chosen Itaewon (retrieve Soho or the Eastward Village in Manhattan). Park Seo-joon plays Park Sae-Ro-Yi, the owner of an upwards-and-coming restaurant in Itaewon chosen DanBam. When he was in high school, Sae-Ro-Yi got expelled for punching a privileged kid named Jang Geun-won (Ahn Bo-hyun), whose father owns a powerful company chosen Jangga Grouping. This kickstarts a series of events that lead to Sae-Ro-Yi's father'due south death, followed by a seven-year plan for revenge.

Itaewon Grade is an extremely pop drama both in South Korea and internationally, and it accurately depicts the various experiences of young adults right now. It is also the first mainstream Yard-Drama to feature a transgender character, played past Lee Joo-young, signifying a major shift in attitudes for the historically conservative country.

Police School

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Image via Netflix

Author: Seo In

Director: Kim Suk-yoon

Bandage: Kim Myung-min, Kim Beom, Ryu Hye-young, Lee Jung-eun

A newer Netflix series, Law School focuses on a group of students and professors at Hankuk University Law School. When a police force professor is constitute dead and former prosecutor and professor Yang Jong-Hoon (Kim Myung-min) is arrested for the offense, the other characters work together to uncover the truth of what really happened and prove Professor Yang's innocence.

You can certainly depict similarities between Law School and How to Get Abroad with Murder , every bit the Korean drama focuses on law students putting their schooling to the examination to help out their professor. At the aforementioned time, there are plenty of smaller storylines happening as well, like a mysterious connection between a superlative-tier student named Han Joon-hwi (Kim Bum) and the professor who is killed. If you want a serious drama with a cardinal mystery, Law Schoolhouse is a bully selection.

It'due south Okay to Not Be Okay

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Paradigm via Netflix

Writer: Jo Yong

Managing director: Park Shin-woo, Jung Dong-yoon

Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Oh Jung-se

Information technology's Okay to Not Be Okay is a modern romantic drama that stands out from the crowd due to its portrayal of an adult on the autism spectrum. The serial stars Kim Soo-hyun as Moon Gang-tae, an orphaned young human who works equally a caregiver at a psychiatric infirmary. He spends near of his life taking care of his older brother, Moon Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se), who has autism. The two brothers accept lived a lonely life, constantly moving around, ever since Sang-tae witnessed their mother'southward murder years before.

One solar day, Gang-tae meets a adult female named Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji), a children'due south author who has antisocial personality disorder. After realizing that the two accept crossed paths before in the past, Moon-young develops a small obsession with Gang-tae and follows him around. Every bit Moon-immature, Gang-tae, and Sang-tae spend more fourth dimension together, they begin to open upward about their trauma and heal. The series features a general romance story, merely it shines through its portrayal of Sang-tae and his human relationship with his brother. Sang-tae exhibits typical "spectric" traits, as they are called, and the show presents a relatively accurate and compassionate portrayal of an individual with autism.

The Uncanny Counter

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Image via Netflix

Writer: Yeo Ji-na, Yoo Sun-dong, Kim Sae-bom, Jung Do-yoon

Director: Yoo Lord's day-dong

Cast: Jo Byeong-gyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong, Yeom Hye-ran

If you want a superhero-fashion story, look no further. The Uncanny Counter is the story of So Mun (Jo Byeong-gyu), a kind, intelligent boy who has a walking disability equally a effect of a tragic car accident he was in every bit a child, which killed both of his parents. One day, And then Mun is possessed by a spirit that grants him the ability to banish demons that escape the afterlife. He joins a squad called the Counters, which includes Mo-tak (Yoo Jun-sang), Ha-na (Kim Se-jeoung), and Mae-ok (Yeom Hye-ran), who fight together against a rising threat of evil in the area. It gets fifty-fifty more than complicated for So Mun when he finds out that his parents' deaths weren't accidents later on all, and an evil spirit was involved.

Another series based on a webcomic, The Uncanny Counter is a stylish, action-packed thrill ride that doesn't pull any punches. With a dark, threatening villain that keeps the squad on border, the evidence maintains a quick pace, while the fantastic interim past the cast adds a deeply emotional side to the story. Despite being advertised as an action fantasy bear witness, you should notwithstanding exist ready to shed some tears when you sentry.

Start-Upwards

start-up
Image via Netflix

Writer: Park Hye-ryun

Director: Oh Choong-hwan

Bandage: Bae Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho, Kang Han-na

Start-Upwards is set in a fictional Korean version of Silicon Valley, where Bae Suzy's character Seo Dal-mi dreams of being the Korean Steve Jobs. Following her passion, Dal-mi gets involved with a start-upwards business and quickly becomes entangled with a complicated dear triangle. Ane young man named Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho) is her beginning love, at present a successful venture capitalist, while Nam Practice-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) is a immature man down on his luck, who Dal-mi thinks is her first dear. This gives Exercise-san the motivation to give his first-up another try, while too attempting to make Dal-mi's mistake a reality. Like Itaewon Class, First-Upwardly presents a new style of life for young people. While taking on the modern industry of start-ups, the show as well gives anybody the classic romance they know they want.

Memories of the Alhambra

memories-of-the-alahambra
Image via Netflix

Writer: Song Jae-jung

Managing director: Ahn Gil-ho

Cast: Hyun Bin, Park Shin-hye, Park Hoon, Chanyeol

A true amalgam of genres, Memories of the Alhambra takes identify mainly in Granada, Spain with a Korean cast. A science-fiction drama of sorts, the series follows the CEO of an investment company, Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin), who travels to Espana in search of the creator of an AR game in development that feels manner likewise real. When game and reality start to blur and someone is killed, Jin-woo, with the help of the developer's sis, Jung Hee-joo (Park Shin-hye), must find the bug in the game and ready it before more than people die.

Memories of the Alhambra is a breath of fresh air for Kdramas due to its setting and innovative premise. While at times the story lacks sense, the concept and execution are spot-on, and honestly, you tin can't aid but fall in love with Hyun Bin.

Sweetness Home

sweet-home-netflix
Image via Netflix

Author: Hong So-ri, Kim Hyung-min, Park So-jung

Manager: Lee Eung-bok, Jang Immature-woo, Park Then-hyun

Cast: Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Si-young, Lee Do-hyun

Based on the webtoon of the aforementioned name, Sweet Home is an energetic, thrilling apocalyptic horror story well-nigh monsters trying to impale everyone and have over the world. No large bargain, right? Song Kang makes a rare appearance in a horror prove, as the player usually sticks to romantic dramas (which y'all will run across later in this list). Kang plays a graphic symbol named Cha Hyun-soo, a traumatized high school student who moves into an apartment past himself after his parents are killed in a auto accident. Unbeknownst to Hyun-soo and the other residents, their apartment edifice happens to be ground zero for a species of monsters hoping for earth domination.

Sweet Home is a great example of the crazy stories that come out of webcomics, which somehow work then well when adjusted to the screen. The serial is dark, bloody, and unpredictable, and a definite win for Netflix.

Run On

run-on-netflix
Paradigm via Netflix

Writer: Park Shi-hyun

Managing director: Lee Jae-hoon

Cast: Im Si-wan, Shin Se-kyung, Choi Soo-young, Kang Tae-oh

Run On is an effortless romance that focuses on the relationship betwixt Oh Mi-joo (Shin Se-kyung), a hardworking movie translator who takes pride in her work, and Ki Seon-gyeom (Im Si-wan), a quondam sprinter for the national team who wants to become a sports agent. The drama is lite-hearted, with not too much action, simply it works well with the story. At that place'southward also a major plotline revolving around gender inequality in the workplace, as another character is disregarded despite being the natural heir of her father'due south company and becoming the CEO of a sports agency all on her own.

With the main ii characters, Run On also provides a shut expect at some unique and interesting professions that aren't ordinarily portrayed on-screen. While it might not be every bit exciting and heart-pounding as some others on this listing, Run On is a must-run across for the acting and the soft chemical science between the ii pb characters.

navillera
Image via Netflix

Writer: Lee Eun-mi

Director: Han Dong-hwa

Bandage: Park In-hwan, Song Kang, Na Moon-hee, Hong Seung-hee

If you want to watch something that will pull at your heartstrings, Navillera is the show. Released in 2021 and one of the newest Netflix Original Korean dramas, Navillera stars Park In-hwan as Shim Deok-chul, a retired mailman who just turned 70. Feeling unfulfilled, Deok-chul decides to endeavor and fulfill his dream of condign a ballet dancer. But aside from his late first, another obstacle he faces is his worsening Alzheimer's disease. Ane twenty-four hours, he comes upon a fellow named Lee Chae-rok (Song Kang) practicing ballet for an upcoming competition. While Chae-rok is a talented dancer who loves what he does, he is in a bad fiscal situation and his father is in jail. His mother, who passed away, was a ballerina, and it's one of the few remaining connections he has with her.

When Chae-rok and Deok-chul meet, they go friends and learn from one another, encouraging the other to keep pursuing whatever makes them happy. Navillera is another example of the shifting perspectives in the Korean amusement industry, with the series exploring tough topics of death, old age, Alzheimer'south, and the challenges people can confront regarding gender, class, and historic period when trying to achieve their dreams.

The King: Eternal Monarch

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Paradigm via Netflix

Writer: Kim Eun-sook

Director: Baek Sang-hoon, Jung Ji-hyun, Yoo Je-won

Bandage: Lee Min-ho, Kim Become-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Hyung-nam

The King: Eternal Monarch is written by Kim Eun-sook, the author of Guardian: The Lone and Bang-up God , also known as Goblin. This 2016 series is probably i of the most beloved Korean dramas in South korea, and the one many people utilize to innovate their friends to this world. The newer serial, The King: Eternal Monarch, shares a star with Guardian in Kim Go-eun, who plays the graphic symbol Jeong Tae-eul, a police officer in the violent crimes squad. In this fantasy drama, there are ii alternating realities — 1, the Korea we know today where Tae-eul lives, and the Kingdom of Corea, where Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho) rules as Emperor.

When Lee Gon discovers that he can pass over to the parallel universe, he meets Tae-eul, and you tin probably guess what happens next. While The King: Eternal Monarch isn't as skillful as Guardian, the series is a unique, ambitious story with fantastic acting from the main cast, and a nifty choice for fantasy fans.

Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung

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Image via Netflix

Author: Kim Ho-soo

Director: Kang Il-soo, Han Hyun-hee

Cast: Shin Se-kyung, Cha Eun-woo, Park Ki-woong

A historical romantic comedy that withal manages to explore very serious topics, Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung centers around the title grapheme Goo Hae-ryung (Shin Se-kyung), a noblewoman who becomes one of the starting time four women historians of the Joseon Dynasty. Still single at 26, Hae-ryung already challenges the intense gender roles of the era, and she continues to encourage the independence of ideas and choices for women everywhere. She soon meets Yi Rim, a.m.a. Prince Dowon, (Cha Eun-woo) the heir to the throne whose true passion lies in writing romance novels under a pseudonym.

Through the romance between the two main characters and their story, the show further explores and challenges historical topics of Catholic persecution, censorship, and sexism. Overall, Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung is a hilarious and truly romantic series that manages to feel mod despite the older setting.

My Mister

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Image via tvN

Author: Park Hae-young

Director: Kim Won-suk, Kim Sang-woo

Cast: Lee Lord's day-kyun, Lee Ji-eun (IU), Park Ho-san, Song Sae-byeok

A truly unique Korean drama, My Mister tells the story of a cold woman who has suffered many hardships in her life, who finds sympathy and comfort in the visitor of three brothers who are healing from their own trauma. The series is securely profound and addresses a number of serious topics. The cast is led by Lee Ji-eun, as well known by her phase proper noun IU, who plays Lee Ji-an, a adult female who will do anything to back up her bilious grandmother. She encounters the heart blood brother, Park Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun), when she is hired as a temp worker at his company. A coworker instructs her to find out Dong-hoon's secrets, but soon enough she'south falling for the man, who seems to empathise more about her than anyone she's ever met.

Although it's definitely a tedious-moving story, the astounding acting and remarkably written characters will drag you in and keep you enthralled until the final episode. My Mister is a must-scout, peculiarly if you are a fan of serious dramas.

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