KDramas (Korean dramas) never go out of style! After a long day of work, binge-watching movies and dramas help relieve stress. There is almost certainly something out there to appeal to your tastes, whether you want a classic romance-comedy with two heroines battling for love and life or a fantasy concept drama that takes you on a wild ride of fun and plot twists.
This is your sign if you’ve never watched a Korean drama in your entire life! Listed below are a few recent dramas to spark your interest in what’s on your watch list!
- It’s Okay Not To Be Okay
Moon Gang Tae made it a life goal to begin a new life with his mentally challenged younger brother, Moon Sang Tae, who witnessed their mother’s death with repeated stabs of a butterfly brooch when they were children. Due to this tragic incident, his brother grew up fearful and anxious, causing them to move to different cities and houses every year out of fear of the butterflies that killed their mother.
Sang Tae idolizes and adores children’s book author Ko Mun Yeong. A book signing held by Mun Yeong brought the three protagonists together, but Sang Tae got into trouble when he spotted a child wearing a dinosaur costume, one of his obsessions.
As a result, Mun Yeong, who suffers from a personality disorder, develops an instantaneous interest in Gang Tae and follows him around. They share baggage from the past that unites them into brave healing and acceptance. In this romantic comedy, you’ll see a strong message of self-acceptance and healing.
- The Uncanny Counter
Are you looking for a drama with a pinch of fantasy adventure and a kick of action? Then perhaps this is for you! According to “The Uncanny Counter,” a high school teenager whose parents died in a fatal car accident when he was 11 left him with a permanent injury in his lower limbs.
Having lost both parents in an accident, he was raised by his loving grandfather and an ill grandmother along with his two best friends, one of whom was bullied by a spoiled brat whose family is well off.
In an unexpected turn of events, a powerful spirit named Wi-Gen took over So Mun’s body, transforming him into a Counter — a grim reaper who hunts demons and fights to keep them from stealing people’s souls.
Upon Wi-Gen’s soul entering So Mun’s body, So Mun’s appearance changes drastically, as does his phenomenal recuperation and how other Counters like him taught him how to deal with his newfound superhuman abilities. Prepare for an action-packed plot and tears to be shed; no one is left out in this drama!
- Itaewon Class
Throughout Itaewon Class, you will follow Park Sae Ro Yi’s life as it goes through twists and turns. His dream of becoming a police officer was crushed when he saved his classmate from a bully in high school who, coincidentally, was the son of his father’s boss, Mr. Jang. His miserable situation was made worse when his father lost his job, and an unfortunate accident left him an orphan.
Sae Ro Yi was sentenced to prison when he assaulted Mr. Jang’s son when he learned that he was responsible for his father’s tragic death. Immediately, he pledged revenge by becoming a successful businessman, much wealthier than Mr. Jang.
If you think it’s just another revenge plot, think again! Itaewon Class tackles a lot of social issues other dramas avoid. Upon leaving prison, Sae Ro Yi opened his pub called DanBam, with a staff of people who are outcasts in society: a high school influencer and blogger, deemed a sociopath by her peers; Mr. Jang’s illegitimate son; a fellow ex-convict; a transgender person; an African-Korean “foreigner.”
In terms of past appearance, gender, social status, and how being different creates a void where acceptance is unlikely, DanBam became a home for those regarded as outcasts by society. As long as you have people who believe in you, you can always start over in life.
- Vincenzo
Vincenzo Cassano is an Italian lawyer and consigliere for Don Fabio’s mafia. After Don Fabio’s death, Paolo, his biological son, attempted to kill Vincenzo. He sets out to find gold in the basement of the Guemga Plaza in Korea after his escape. A real estate company belonging to the Babel Group has illegally taken over the building. Vincenzo must use his skills to regain control of the building and regain his fortune.
Afterwards, Vincenzo becomes involved with Hong Cha-young, a lawyer who doesn’t have many morals, to begin with, and who is willing to do anything to succeed as the head of Babel’s legal team. Vincenzo built relationships with tenants of the Geumga Plaza despite being ostracized at first.
The tenants help Vincenzo and Cha-Young in their attempts to bring down Babel Group. A drama filled with legal action, bits of comedy, and romance, Vincenzo leaves you wanting more!
- Law School
As a result of their own experiences, prospective lawyers learn about authenticity, law, and justice. A professor at a renowned law school gets involved in an unprecedented case that involves his students. Yong Jong-Hoon has been a prosecutor in the past, Hankuk University Law School now employs him as a professor. Direct and blunt, he has a habit of launching explicit remarks.
Both Kang Sol and Han Joon-Hwi are first-year law students. Kang Sol barely made it into law school; born into a low-income family, she was raised by a single mother. As intelligent and wealthy students surround her, she initially felt insecure about her family background but slowly realized the weight of the profession she chose.
The university once found a dead professor and arrested Professor Yang as the main suspect. Soon they began searching for the truth behind Professor Seo‘s death and gathering evidence that proved Yang’s innocence.
- Hospital Playlist
If you like medical dramas, you might enjoy this kdrama! Hospital Playlist tells the story of five friends who have been close since attending medical school together 20 years ago. As doctors who specialize in different medical fields, their lives begin in their 40s.
As their only female doctor, Song Hwa is the glue that holds them all together. Ik Joon is always the life of the party in the group, very playful, but he also knows how to comfort his friends. As a lifetime commitment, Jung Won aspires to become a pastor. Seok Hyung is the perfect combination of being quiet yet loving all of his friends deeply. Although he is the playboy “cool guy,” Joon Hwan cares.
If you add this to your watch list, be sure to keep an eye out for their band sessions. Yes! Aside from being full-time doctors, the group formed their band. It demonstrates that no matter how busy we get, hobbies with friends can help us cope.
- Nevertheless
Nevertheless is the latest Korean romantic drama to capture our hearts.The story follows a blossoming relationship between two art classmates, Yu Na-bi (Han) and Park Jae-eon (Song), who likes flirting but thinks dating is bothersome.
They begin a friends-with-benefits relationship despite their different views on love and dating.
However, it is also based on a popular webtoon of the same name. In the world of Korean dramas, romance has always reigned. There are a variety of different genres available—from horror to sci-fi—but romance is the most popular, as they are more fantasy-like rather than realistic, letting its wearers escape reality to indulge in a fairy-tale romance.
With these Kdrama watch lists to look forward to, binge-watching will be worth it. Are there any Kdramas you recommend that aren’t on the list? Please let us know, and we’ll add them to our lists! Enjoy your binge-watching!
