If you’re not watching K-dramas (Korean dramas), what are you doing with your life? Even if you haven’t watched it, I’m sure you’ve heard of Squid Game. The show was a massive hit for Netflix with an unbelievable 1.65 billion hours streamed. Safe to say there’s not shortage of kdramas to watch on Netflix.

Netflix also said that Squid Game’s popularity was a result of the platform’s “binge-watching model” where subscribers can watch the whole season in one sitting. K-dramas are so popular, that Netflix announced that they will be investing over $2 billion dollars in them.

What exactly are K-dramas?

K-dramas are television series made in South Korea. They cover a wide variety of subjects and genres. They include comedy, romance, sci-fi, horror, and more. Many are based on webtoons, a type of digital comic that originated in South Korea, that are usually meant to be read on smartphones. There have also been some American shows that are remakes of Korean shows. The Masked Singer is a remake of Korea’s King of Masked Singer. The Good Doctor also originated in Korea. And it goes the other way as well, as show like Suits, Criminal Minds, and Entourage were adapted in Korea. Most K-dramas, believe it or not, only have one season consisting of typically 16 or 20 episodes.

Why are K-dramas so great?

Where do I start? As someone who has watched a ridiculous amount of K-dramas, I think I’m pretty qualified to answer this question. First of all, the acting on these shows is stellar. From the main characters to the actors with super small roles, these actors can ACT. I absolutely love that there are actors of all ages on these shows. The soundtracks are beyond incredible. Shows have their own original soundtracks that are definitely worth listening to on their own.
Doesn’t look like there’s any slowing of the Hallyu, or Korean Wave, as the global popularity of South Korean music, food, and beauty continue to rise. If you’re ready to ride the Korean wave, I’m going to give you some tips on dipping your toe into the ocean.

Kdramas to watch on Netflix

We all have our favorite genre of shows. Here are the Kdramas to watch on Netflix you might want to watch based on it. I promise you will get addicted. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

• If you love military dramas...watch D.P.

  Jung Hae In, the star of D.P. (Deserter Pursuit) is one of my favorite Korean actors. I’ve seen him in several different shows and his versatility is brilliant. Here he plays a young private whose assignment is to capture army deserters. The show reveals “the painful reality endured by enlistees during their compulsory calls of duty.”

• If you love medical dramas...watch Hospital Playlist

   

  I haven’t watched this one yet, but I’ve heard nothing but praise. If you’re a fan of shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Chicago Med, Hospital Playlist is for you. It’s about five doctors who have been friends since undergrad, stay close and share a love for music while working at the same hospital. Very Grey’s.

• If you love "slice of life" dramas...watch Hometown Cha Cha Cha

   

  Hometown Cha Cha Cha is one of my favorite Kdramas of all time. It’s about a woman who is at a crossroads in life. She’s a dentist and moves to a seaside village to open a practice, and meets a handyman who helps out everyone in the village. In addition to the inevitable love story, meeting the cast of characters from the village will have you falling in love over and over with this heartwarming, funny, and feel-good drama.

• If you love revenge stories...watch The Glory

   

  I haven’t seen this one yet, but I hear it is intense, and incredible. The Glory is about a young woman who dropped out of school when she was bullied. She then plans her revenge, becoming a primary school teacher and taking in the son of the man who tormented her the most.

• If you love music idols and comeback stories...watch Castaway Diva

   

  The star of Castaway Diva is Park Eun Bin. She is my favorite Kdrama actress. I’ve loved her since my very first drama called The King’s Affection. She’s brilliant, and continues to be in this show where she plays a woman who was stranded on a deserted island for 15 years just as she was to meet her favorite singer and embark on a musical career. We get to see her try to get it started again when she is rescued.

• If you love "against all odds" romance...watch Crash Landing On You

   

  For many people, this was their introduction to Kdramas during the pandemic. It’s about a South Korean heiress who accidently paraglides into North Korea and meets an army officer who changes her life. It is so incredibly good and was even better the second time I watched it. Fun fact – the main couple in this show fell in love during filming and are now married with a child. Their chemistry is perfection!

• If you love wacky characters, comebacks, and revenge all in one...watch Itaewon Class

   

  This is the show that prompted the director of The Marvels, Nia DeCosta, to cast Park Seo Joon as Prince Yan. In Itaewon Class, Park plays an ex-convict who opens a bar with an interesting cast of characters. He’s also seeking revenge against the man who killed his father. I LOVED this show. Park Seo Joon is beyond incredible. Once you watch him in this, you have to check him out in one of my other favorites he’s in – What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim.

• If you need a good cry...watch Thirty Nine

   

  I just think about his show and burst into tears. It had me in my feels long after watching it. It wasn’t only sad though. It was heartwarming and actually pretty funny. It’s about three best friends navigating life, love, and loss as they’re about to turn 40.

• If you need a good laugh...watch Mr. Queen

  I don’t think I’ve laughed out loud harder in my life than watching Mr. Queen. It’a about a modern day chef that becomes trapped inside the body of a queen from the Joseon era.

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