If you’re not watching Korean dramas, better known as K-dramas, then you’re missing out in several ways. First, there’s the big-picture, cultural impact to consider: K-dramas and K-movies have become a worldwide phenomenon, and if you’re going to be a pop culture connoisseur/productive denizen of the entertainment-loving internet—and you’re here, so you obviously are both of those things—then you need to be versed in all things K-drama. And then there’s the more important reason to watch Korean dramas: They are addictive and amazing, and you’ll thank yourself for adding them to your pop culture diet.
Known for their interesting storylines and intense (if sometimes predictable) plot twists, Korean dramas can go from cheeky, sappy rom-coms to swoon-worthy romances to heartbreaking stories that’ll make you cry to “WTF, what was that?” in a heartbeat. That variety is exactly what keeps viewers coming back for more. Here, we’ve listed the 70 best-ever K-dramas to watch, grouped by the most popular genres—and if you’re well versed in the more established K-dramas, consult our list of the best new Korean shows on Netflix in 2024. (And if you’re looking specifically for the all-time best K-dramas on Netflix, best K-dramas on Viki, best Korean dramas on Hulu, best Korean dramas on Prime Video, best K-dramas on Tubi, or best Korean reality shows? We’ve got you covered there too.)
‘All of us are Dead’ (2022)
This heart-racing zombie thriller offers another unique spin on the genre, following a group of high school students as the zombie apocalypse comes to their school. The kids are left on their own as their classmates quickly return, and we see how they handle the survival challenge while also getting storylines of parents and politicians handling the virus outside the school. The most interesting part is how classic high school tropes (crushes, bullies, etc.) are twisted into thrilling plots.
‘D.P’ (2021-2023)
This brutally realistic drama stars Jung Hae-in as An Jun-ho, following the young man as he enlists in the South Korean army as part of his mandatory military service. After his basic service, during which he struggles with the ritualistic hazing and “survival of the fittest” culture of bullying, he lands a spot in the Deserter Pursuit unit, where he’s sent to catch soldiers who’ve gone AWOL. The stories of the deserters are intense, with the drama shining a light on mistreatment in the armed forces.
‘Happiness’ (2021)
This modern zombie drama is full of surprises at every turn, starting with being one of the few dramas to acknowledge the COVID-19 pandemic. Officer Yoon Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo) has been dreaming of having her own apartment when she gets the chance to move into a high-rise with her high-school friend, Detective Jung Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik). Soon after they move in, an infectious disease sweeps the country, with those infected getting a craving for human blood. The apartment building ends up quarantined, with Sae-bom and Yi-hyun trying to keep the peace among the eccentric tenants.
‘Healer’ (2014-2015)
In this action drama, Ji Chang-wook plays the “Healer,” a night courier who messengers illegal items and does whatever the client needs—as long as it isn’t murder—with the help of a genius hacker. When he crosses paths with tabloid writer Chae Young-shin (Park Min-young) and successful reporter Kim Moon-ho (Yoo Ji-tae), all three learn that they’re connected in several ways. Come for the intricate plot, stay for some serious romance.
‘Moving’ (2023)
This innovative, decades-spanning drama is the best superhero series that Disney has released in years. (Sorry, MCU.) It follows a group of super-powered parents with ordinary jobs (played by Zo In-sung, Han Hyo-joo, Ryu Seung-ryong and Kim Sung-kyun), who have passed their abilities down to their high-school aged children (Go Youn-jung, Lee Jeong-ha and Kim Do-hoon). The intricate plot jumps between the parents’ backstories, including their involvement with the shady government operatives who may have had a hand in creating them, and the present-day storyline where Frank (Ryu Seung-bum), a vicious Korean-born American spy operative, begins hunting down both generations of heroes.
‘Parasyte: The Grey’ (2024– )
In this horror invasion drama, based on the popular Japanese manga Parasyte, a species of larva-like aliens arrive on Earth and begin taking over human bodies. Supermarket clerk Jeong Su-in (Jeon So-nee) encounters one of the parasites when she’s attacked on the way home from work, but instead of being killed, the alien invader heals her wounds and takes up residence in her head, taking control only when Su-in is threatened. As Su-in becomes a target of Team Grey, an elite squad tasked with eliminating the alien threat, she has to figure out how to survive by co-existing with the monster in her head.
‘Pyramid Game’ (2024)
A dystopian thriller centered on brutal school bullying, Pyramid Game (based on a webtoon of the same name) depicts a fictional hierarchy within an all-girls high school. When transfer student Seong Soo-ji (Kim Ji-yeon) arrives in class 2–5 of Baekyeon Girls’ High School, she discovers that her classmates take part in a popularity poll that determines who’s at the top of the social structure and who’s at the bottom. The poor soul dubbed an outcast becomes the class’s punching bag until the next poll. When Soo-ji finds herself at the bottom, she becomes determined to abolish the game and goes toe-to-toe with queen bee Baek Ha-rin (Jang Da-ah).
‘Signal’ (2016)
This acclaimed crime drama is set across time, with detectives from the past and the present solving mysteries based on well-known criminal cases in Korea. In 2000, elementary student Park Hae-young (Kim Hyun-bin) witnessed the kidnapping of a young girl, whose body was later discovered. 15 years later, Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon), now a criminal profiler, discovers a walkie-talkie that lets him communicate with Detective Lee Jae-han (Cho Jin-woong), who is working on the kidnapping case in 2000. The two cops, along with 2015 detective Cha Soo-hyun (Kim Hye-soo ), team up to solve cold cases over time, including how they ended up as unlikely partners in the first place.
‘Squid Game’ (2021– )
If you haven’t yet checked out Squid Game, then here’s one more recommendation: This edge-of-your-seat Korean thriller on Netflix is worth a look. In the viral hit, a group of characters in serious debt sign up to play a series of children’s games for a chance at 45.6 billion won (about $38 million). The catch? If the players lose at Tug of War or Red Light, Green Light, they die. (For fans eagerly awaiting season 2, here’s everything we know so far.)
‘Sweet Home’ (2020–2024)
If you enjoyed Korean movies like The Call and #Alive, you’ll be able to stomach the gruesome monsters at the center of Sweet Home. The multi-season drama follows a depressed loner (Song Kang) who moves into a new apartment complex after the death of his family. After he begins to witness frightening things in the building from some of his odd neighbors, the building’s survivors have to band together to survive a monster apocalypse. If you’re a peek-over-the-blanket-type person when watching horror shows, we’d advise you to tune into this during the daytime.
Cre: Marie Claire
