The Best K-Dramas Of All Time, Ranked (2025)

25 years ago, K-dramas wouldn't be seen by many international audiences, but South Korean television has gone international in a big way thanks to streaming services, and some of the best K-dramas of all time can be viewed all over the world. Just because a series is a K-drama doesn't mean the show features solely dramatic storylines. The classification is given to series produced in South Korea, but they can run the gamut of genres from romantic comedy to thriller to fantasy, making for some drastically different content.

K-dramas are a huge trend that isn't stopping anytime soon and for good reason. K-dramas have taken over streaming platforms like Netflix thanks to the popularity of shows like Squid Game, and fans are hooked, binging series after series. Some shows take romance and comedy to a new level that isn't seen on American television, combining soapier aspects with slice-of-life story ideas. On the flip side, there are unique thrillers that have viewers' hearts racing with each passing episode. The best K-dramas include a huge variety of television.

40 Forecasting Love And Weather (2022)

Human Relationships Are Compared To The Weather

Forecasting Love And Weather

K-Drama

Romance

Forecasting Love and Weather is a South Korean drama series that aired in 2022. The show follows the lives and careers of employees at the Korea Meteorological Administration, focusing on their complex romantic relationships and professional struggles. Starring Park Min-young and Song Kang, the series explores themes of love, ambition, and the unpredictable nature of weather, both literal and metaphorical.

Cast

Andrew Grace , Harrison Xu , Keisuke Hoashi , Will Choi , Lee Sung-wook , Nara Yun , Park Young-soo , Ren Hanami

Release Date

February 12, 2022

Seasons

1

Rom-coms are one of the most prevalent genres among K-dramas. This newer entry into the genre takes a unique approach to telling its story. It’s a workplace drama to an extent as it surrounds those who work for the National Weather Service of South Korea. It uses the weather conditions they experience and forecast as a metaphor for changing relationships though, which makes for a great way for the audience to connect the workplace themes in the episodes to the relationship drama playing out as well.

The series stars K-drama veterans Song Kang and Park Min-young as colleagues who fall for one another right after one of them gets promoted to be the boss in their division. Their characters also share a unique history in that their exes cheated on them and married one another - and both work in the same building. The drama and the weather themes make for a unique entry into the genre.

39 While You Were Sleeping (2017)

Three People’s Lives Are Intertwined Thanks To Visions Of The Future

While You Were Sleeping

Fantasy

Comedy

Drama

While You Were Sleeping is a South Korean drama series that aired in 2017. The show stars Bae Suzy and Lee Jong-suk and revolves around a young woman who can foresee future events in her dreams and a prosecutor who works to prevent these premonitions from coming true. The narrative intertwines elements of romance, fantasy, and legal drama.

Cast

Bae Suzy , Lee Jong-suk , Jung Hae-in , Lee Sang-Yeob , Ko Sung-hee , Sin Jae-ha , Kim Won-hae , Hwang Young-hee

Release Date

September 27, 2017

Not to be confused with the American romance movie of the same name, While You Were Sleeping has more to do with premonitions during dreams than it does a love interest in a coma. Suzy Bae, who has starred in a slew of K-dramas, stars here as a journalist whose dreams act as visions of the future.

The woman wakes up one day to find that her new neighbor is someone she’s seen in her premonitions. After they meet, the neighbor (Lee Jong-suk) also starts to have visions of the future, including his new neighbor falling to her death. As it turns out, all three of the main characters in the series (Jung Hae-in also stars) have premonitions because of an incident all three were involved in years earlier. The supernatural storyline combined with a growing romance makes the series incredibly compelling.

The series was nominated for 11 SBS Drama Awards, winning five of them. While You Were Sleeping also won Top Excellence Award for Korean Drama at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

38 The King’s Affection (2021)

A Young Woman Disguises Herself As Her Twin Brother

The King's Affection

TV-PG

Drama

Romance

Cast

Park Eun-Bin , Kim Ro-Woon , Nam Yoon-Su , Byungchan , Bae Yoon-kyoung , Jung Chae-yeon , Choi Myung-bin , Hao Feng

Release Date

October 11, 2021

Creator(s)

Lee So-Young

Inspired by the manhwa Yeonmo, The King’s Affection aired on television in South Korea and was distributed internationally by Netflix at the same time. Many K-dramas have had similar distribution models in recent years.

The series is set during South Korea’s Joseon dynasty when twins are considered bad luck. When twins are born to the royal family, an order comes down to kill the female child, but their mother has her sent out of the palace to keep her alive. Years later when the prince dies, the lost daughter is discovered by their mother as a maid in the palace and takes her place among the royals - disguised as her brother.

The King’s Affection was nominated for a slew of awards across South Korea, winning six at the KBS Drama Awards. Han Hee-jung also won Best Writer for the series at the Seoul International Drama Awards. It’s also the first K-drama to win an International Emmy Award (for Best Telenovela).

37 Goblin (2016-2017)

A Cursed Man Becomes An Immortal Goblin

Goblin (2016)

TV-14

Drama

Sci-Fi

Comedy

In this fantasy romance series, a centuries-old guardian seeking to end his immortality meets a student with a mysterious destiny and forms an unexpected alliance with a grim reaper. Their interconnected fates unravel as they navigate themes of love, loss, and destiny.

Cast

Jo Hyun-sik , Gong Yoo , Kim Go-eun , Lee Dong-wook , Yoo In-na , Yook Sung-jae , Lee El , Kim Seong-gyeom , Kim Byung-chul , Jo Woo-jin , Yeom Hye-ran , Jung Young-ki , Choi Ri , Choi Woong , Kim Ki-doo , Kim Chang-hwan , Yoon Da-young , Go Bo-gyeol , Park Kyung-hye , Kim Min-young , Han Seo-jin

Release Date

December 2, 2016

Creator(s)

Kim Eun-sook , Lee Eung-bok

Also called Guardian: The Lonely And Great God, the series falls under the category of supernatural K-dramas. It follows a man who is branded a traitor and killed during the Goryeo period. Instead of simply dying, however, he is cursed with immortality. Instead of becoming bitter about his fate, as he becomes a Goblin, he begins to use his abilities to help the people he crosses paths with. That’s not the show’s whole story though.

Here, the Goblin ends up crossing paths with a young woman who can see ghosts and a Grim Reaper. Their lives all intertwine as the show slowly reveals that their meeting is more destiny than chance. The supernatural elements blend well with romance, a story of friendship, and history.

The series was hugely popular when it originally aired in South Korea, becoming one of the most-watched television shows at the time. It also earned a huge number of nominations from award shows in South Korea and across Asia. Goblin won four Korean Cable TV Awards, two Baeksang Arts Awards, and five Korea Drama Awards.

36 Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

A Modern Woman Ends Up In Korea’s Past

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

TV-14

Drama

Fantasy

Action

Romance

After a total solar eclipse, a 21st-century woman is transported back to the Goryeo Dynasty. Trapped in the past, she finds herself stuck in the center of attention of the royal princes, struggling for power - and her heart. As she continues to spend time with the princes, she must now carefully wade through their feelings, knowing the looming fates that history holds for them.

Cast

Lee Joon-Gi , IU , Kang Ha-neul , Nam Joo-hyuk , Ji Soo , Yoon Sun-woo

Release Date

August 29, 2016

Creator(s)

Hua Tong

Inspired by a Chinese novel, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is one of many K-dramas that gives the audience a peek into Korean history. A woman attempts to save a drowning child, but when she comes to the water’s surface for air, she’s no longer in the modern day, but instead in the Goryeo era. That’s a huge way to kick off the time-traveling element of a K-drama. While time travel is a trope used across several genres, this time, it’s being used for a tragic love story.

The story involves the modern woman getting caught up in the politics of the time. She finds herself surrounded by the princes of the era, developing feelings for one and ending up in a relationship with another.

When the series initially premiered, ratings weren’t huge, and critical reviews were mixed, which made some believe that the series wouldn’t be a success. As the broadcast rights were sold outside of South Korea, however, the popularity of the series grew in leaps and bounds. The series ended up winning seven SBS Drama Awards and was nominated by several other organizations for awards.

35 Healer (2014-2015)

A Young Reporter Ends Up In Danger Following A Story

Healer

TV-14

Comedy

Action

Crime

An incident took place 30 years ago involving a group of friends who ran an illegal broadcasting station. Now three people, an illegal courier called “Healer”, a reporter from a second-rate news website and a famous journalist are on a journey to discover the truth about what happened in 1992.

Cast

Ji Chang-Wook , Park Min-young , Tae-Mi , Yoo Ji-tae , Kim Mi-kyung , Woo Hee-Jin , Oh Gwang-Rok , Park Won-sang

Release Date

December 8, 2014

Today, Park Min-young is one of the best-known K-drama actresses. She’s become known for romances, but many of her K-dramas feature romantic storylines without being straight-up romances. Healer is one of those as it’s also an action-thriller.

Here, the actress plays a young reporter who finds herself in a strange new position. Healer (Ji Chang-wook) who is actually an illegal courier, has been assigned the job of protecting her. That’s unusual for her because she works for a tabloid news site that isn’t known for having a stellar reputation. As she begins investigating an incident from the 1990s that might connect with modern-day murders, she grows into a more respected reporter.

The series was nominated for five KNS Drama Awards, winning three of them. Actors in the series were also nominated for two APAN Star Awards. Ji Chang-wook and Park Min-young won Best Couple while the show also won Best Korean Drama (Melodrama) at the DramaFever Awards.

34 One Spring Night (2019)

A Single Dad Finds Love

One Spring Night

Romance

Drama

Cast

Jung Hae-in , Han Ji-min , Kim Jun-han , Yi-An Ha , Won Hee Lee , Lim Seong-eon , Joo Min-Kyung , Seung-hwan Song

Release Date

May 22, 2019

Seasons

1

Plenty of K-Dramas feature storylines involving single moms, or more specifically, widowed moms. There is a stigma attached to being a single mom in South Korea that the country has been struggling to get past.One Spring Night, instead, focuses on a single dad and works to destigmatize some of the assumptions about single parents.

Ji-ho (Jung Hae-in) isn’t just a single dad. He’s also a pharmacist with supportive parents and often catches the attention of women until they realize he already has a child. When he and Jung-in (Han Ji-min) cross paths, there’s chemistry between them that only grows. Jung-in has struggled with her independence and the way others see her. Her father has often viewed her as someone he needs to marry off, and Ji-ho treats her like her own person, which she finds refreshing.

33 It’s Okay, That’s Love (2014)

A Love Story Brings Mental Health Awareness

It’s Okay, That’s Love is the rare K-Drama that manages to combine a love story with mental health awareness. The show is known for its steamy romance between its main characters, but it also provides a window into the life of someone who has obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Jae-Yol is a famous writer who is still trying to cope with traumas from his childhood. With OCD and secrets that he’s been keeping, many of the decisions he makes as an adult are informed by things that happened to him as a child. Psychiatrist Hae-soo falls for him, but the two find that their troubles might be more serious than they initially believed. Their romance also connects to the past of other characters, creating for tightly woven narrative that provides fresh takes on old K-drama tropes.

32 Happiness (2021)

A Fake Relationship Becomes Real As Zombies Emerge

Happiness (2021)

Happiness (2021) is a South Korean drama series directed by Ahn Gil-ho. Set in a post-apocalyptic world plagued by a deadly virus, the plot centers around a group of people quarantined in an apartment complex as they navigate survival and psychological challenges. Park Hyung-sik and Han Hyo-joo lead the cast, portraying characters who face moral dilemmas and societal breakdowns while striving to maintain their humanity.

Cast

Han Hyo-joo , Park Hyung-sik , Jo Woo-jin , Lee Jun-hyeok , Park Joo-hee

Release Date

November 5, 2021

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Han Sang-un

In Happiness, Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo) is a police officer who can’t afford her own home, despite working of an elite law enforcement unit. She and her childhood friend Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik) decide to pool their resources and engage in a contract marriage. They can marry, without anyone knowing there isn’t any romance between them (so they say) and share the cost of a new apartment. Their new arrangement becomes dangerous, however, when an infection causes residents of their new building to drink the blood of other humans.

Sae-bom and Yi-hyun are determined to protect one another, but the residents in their building prove to be formidable threats to their safety. The more they have to work for survival, the more their feelings grow for one another. A zombie outbreak combined with a marriage of convenience might not sound like a fusion that would work, but Happiness is great at balancing the two ideas to create a unique K-Drama.

31 Go Back Couple (2017)

A Married Couple Goes Back In Time

Go Back Couple

Comedy

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Jang Na-ra , Son Ho-jun , Heo Jung-min , Han Bo-reum , Jang Ki-yong

Release Date

October 13, 2017

Seasons

1

So many K-Dramas that feature romance focus on two people first meeting and falling in love. They don’t typically take a couple having problems in their relationship and work backward. That is exactly what Go Back Couple does though, making for an unusual way to showcase relationship conflict and growth.

Jin-joo (Jang Na-ra) and Ban-do (Son Ho-joon) are married, exhausted, and struggling under their financial burdens. When Jin-joo decides she wants a divorce, her husband doesn’t disagree with her. Neither of them really want to divorce one another, but they’re so frustrated by their circumstances, that they leap to that idea, and then, their egos prevent them from telling one another it’s not what they want.

The day after they decide to divorce, they wake up 20 years earlier in their respective bedrooms as college students, allowing them to see just how their lives have changed, but also, whether their memories have been accurate. The show doesn’t just follow a love story backward but also examines the idea that when someone looks back fondly on their past, maybe they’re looking through rose-colored glasses.

30 The Uncanny Counter (2020)

Noodle Shop Employees Investigate The Supernatural

The Uncanny Counter

TV-14

The Uncanny Counter is a South Korean television series that follows a group of demon hunters called Counters, who disguise themselves as employees in a noodle restaurant to track down and banish evil spirits.

Cast

Jo Byeong-gyu , Yoo Joon-sang , Kim Sejeong , Yeom Hye-ran , Ahn Suk-hwan , Suk Mun , Kim So-ra , Lee Chan-Hyeong

Release Date

November 28, 2020

Main Genre

Horror

K-dramas might be known by modern audiences for their rom-coms, but there’s a wealth of different genres that should be explored. One of those is science fiction. The Uncanny Counter is like if Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Warehouse 13 were combined. There's the hunting of supernatural entities like Buffy, but the containing of entities that could harm people, like Warehouse 13.

The main characters of the series are “counters” who all have special abilities and use them to hunt demons. Specifically, they hunt evil spirits who have escaped the afterlife. By day, however, they keep normal lives and work at a noodle shop for cover. The series centers on their newest recruit, a high school student, though it's very much an ensemble show. Actress Yeom Hye-ran won a Best Supporting Actress award from the Baeksang Arts Awards for her work in the show.

29 Reply 1988 (2015)

A Group Of Friends Evolves

Reply 1988

In 1988 Seoul, five childhood friends navigate adolescence in their tight-knit neighborhood. Deok Sun struggles as the middle child, Jung Hwan fixates on soccer despite newfound wealth, Sun Woo excels academically, Dong Ryong, a lovable geek, faces academic challenges, and Taek, a baduk prodigy, leaves school to go professional.

Cast

Lee Hye-ri , Ryu Jun-yeol , Go Kyung-Pyo , Lee Dong-hwi , Ryu Hye-young

Release Date

November 5, 2015

Main Genre

Comedy

Creator(s)

Lee Woo-jeong

There are actually multiple Reply shows in South Korea, each centered on different characters in a different year, playing into the nostalgia TV audiences have for the past, no matter which country the series is rooted in. Reply 1988, however, has proven the most popular of the bunch with one-fifth of the South Korean population tuning in to watch the season finale live.

It follows a group of five friends and their families in 1988 in a slice-of-life style drama. Those who appreciate series like The Wonder Years, which fuse family dynamics with a coming-of-age story will enjoy it. The five friends, one of whom is female, are the true focal point of the series, but their relationships with their family play a role. One of the mysteries teased throughout the show is just which of her four friends the one teenage girl in the group grows up to marry, giving the show a slightly soapy mystery as well.

28 Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)

An Attorney Proves Herself To Her Colleagues

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Extraordinary Attorney Woo follows the life of Woo Young-woo, a young attorney with autism spectrum disorder, who navigates the challenges of the legal profession in South Korea. The series portrays her brilliant legal mind and unique approach to cases, highlighting her struggles and triumphs both in and out of the courtroom. Park Eun-bin stars in the titular role, delivering a poignant and nuanced performance.

Cast

Park Eun-Bin , Kang Tae-oh , Kang Ki-young

Release Date

June 29, 2022

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Yoo In-shik , Moon Ji-won

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a K-drama in the vein of The Good Doctor. While the series is a legal procedural, it’s also about the titular character facing challenges from other characters and the circumstances of their work because they are on the Autism spectrum. It’s become the eighth-highest-rated drama in Korean television history as live audiences tuned in during its run, prompting it to appear on streaming all over the world.

While the titular character has trouble in social situations, she has a photographic memory and a genuine interest in the law, making her a great addition to any law firm. When employers learn about her autism, however, they hesitate to give her a chance. The series has been nominated for a slew of television awards in South Korea and across Asia as a whole. it also earned a 2023 nomination for Best Foreign Language Series at the US Critics Choice Awards.]

27 Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016)

A Coming-Of-Age Rom-Com

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo

Romance

Comedy

Sporta

Cast

Lee Sung-kyung , Nam Joo-hyuk , Lee Jae-yoon , Kyung Soo-jin

Release Date

November 16, 2016

Writers

Yang Hee-seung

Directors

Oh Hyun-jong

This drama is not only a coming-of-age story, but also blends rom-com elements with its sports story, and is inspired by the real life of Olympic gold medalist Jang Mi-ran. The series follows the titular character as she follows her dreams of becoming a collegiate athlete, specifically in the realm of weightlifting. As she does, she falls for her best friend's older brother, but her best friend, who is helping her achieve her dreams, falls for her.

Unlike many of the best K-dramas, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo didn’t see a huge live viewership number. Instead, interest spread, especially among younger audiences, by word of mouth, and it earned the status of a cult hit. That cult status is what has helped it land with international audiences, as did its handful of MBC Drama Awards.

26 Itaewon Class (2020)

A Realistic Take On Revenge

Itaewon Class

Not Rated

Cast

Park Seo-jun , Kim Da-mi , Kwon Na-ra , Yoo Jae-myung , Ahn Bo-Hyun

Release Date

January 31, 2020

Main Genre

K-Drama

Creator(s)

Gwang Jin

Itaewon Class gained mass success when it became available on Netflix in 2020. The show had a well-known cast with the lead played by famous actor, Park Seo-joon.

The show follows Park's character, Park Sae-ro-yi as he tries to create a new life after imprisonment. Park follows in his father's footsteps and opens up a bar-restaurant in Itaewon. The struggles of his past are still prevalent as he tries to achieve success in an industry run by food conglomerates, but doesn't quite have a head for business. The show has plenty of drama, emotion, and even some love.

Where the show has earned the most praise, however, is in being realistic in its portrayals of some of the darker sides of humanity. That includes prejudices against convicted criminals, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from outside nations.

25 Nobody Knows (2020)

A Teacher And Detective Investigate A Cold Case

Nobody Knows

Not Rated

Drama

Crime

Mystery

Cast

Kim Seo-hyung , Ryu Deok-hwan , Park Hoon , Ahn Ji-ho , Jo Han-chul

Release Date

March 2, 2020

Seasons

1

For any crime drama fans, Nobody Knows is the perfect drama to binge-watch. Cha Young-Jin (Kim Seo-Hyung) is a detective who is haunted by the murder of her friend when they were just teenagers. Still guilt-ridden, she vows to find the serial killer who took her friend's life. Years later, she hasn't given up on her investigation. A new murder comes to light and this time Cha Young-Jin won't let the killer get away and will avenge her friend.

It also takes an interesting route in having the detective team up with a local teacher in order to protect vulnerable students. The show goes on an intense ride with a tormented detective looking to end an unsolvable case. While there have been many K-dramas inspired by webtoons over the years, Nobody Knows is actually one of the few to have a prequel webtoon instead depicting why the main character became a detective in the first place.

24 My Country: The New Age (2019)

Korea's Transitional Period Is Depicted

My Country: The New Age

Not Rated

Cast

Yang Se-Jong , Woo Do-Hwan , Kim Seol-hyun , Jang Hyuk , Kim Yeong-cheol

Release Date

October 4, 2019

Creator(s)

Chae Seung-dae

This 2019 historical drama features an intense and emotional storyline set at the end of the Goryeo period. The show was a limited series that only ran for one season and later became available on Netflix. The show follows two best friends who grow apart as they have different opinions on the direction the country should go in. Intermixed are tales of battle, romance, and trying to find a way to protect the people they care about. Change is imminent as the country starts the transition into a new dynasty.

What's interesting is that for K-dramas with a historical bent, the focus is more often on the Joseon dynasty, so taking a look into the end of the period that preceded it allows for a unique peek into Korean history. The costumes and sets are truly immersive, bringing the audience right in.

23 Descendants of the Sun (2016)

A Love Story Plays Out In The Middle Of War

Descendants of the Sun

TV-14

Cast

Song Joong-ki , Song Hye-Kyo , Jin Goo , Kim Ji-won , Kim Min-seok , Kang Shin-il , Ahn Bo-Hyun , Seo Jung-yeon

Release Date

April 8, 2016

Main Genre

Drama

War dramas can be hit or miss when they’re crafted as a television series. Audiences don’t always have the stamina to watch multiple episodes the way they could watch a single movie. Audiences didn’t run out of steam when Descendants of the Sun aired in 2016 in Korea though with nearly half of the country tuning into the show’s most-watched episodes.

A doctor and a special forces soldier meet and fall in love before going their separate ways, and then finding themselves reunited again in the field. They gain an appreciation for one another’s work and the difficulties they face in their very different lives. Descendants of the Sun is such a popular Korean series that it now has Philippine and Vietnamese adaptations, and it’s won more than three dozen awards from various Asian TV and Media groups.

22 Coffee Prince (2007)

A Love Story Explores Gender Stereotypes

Coffee Prince

TV-Y7

Comedy

Drama

Cast

Gong Yoo , Yoon Eun-hye , Lee Sun-kyun , Chae Jung-an , Kim Chang-wan , Kim Dong-wook , Kim Jae-Wook , Lee Eon

Release Date

July 2, 2007

Main Genre

Comedy

Fans of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night or Amanda Bynes’ She’s The Man will enjoy this iconic Korean series. Coffee Prince sees a young woman dress as a man in order to get work, only to fall for the head of a food empire who doesn’t initially realize she’s a woman. Her boss has led a privileged life and has had his role in the company handed to him and must learn the value of hard work. He also hires the new employee to pretend to be his boyfriend to escape his grandmother's blind date set-ups.

The drama comes from, of course, the two developing feelings for one another, but the truth not coming out right away. After all, part of the premise for the employees at the coffee shop is that they're attractive young men to attract women to spend more money on coffee. During its run, the show’s average ratings saw a quarter of the Korean population tuning in to watch live. It won several Korea Drama Awards and received a remake in the Philippines.

21 Vagabond (2019)

A Plane Crash Is Investigated

Vagabond

TV-MA

Cast

Lee Seung-gi , Bae Suzy , Shin Sung-rok , Moon Jeong-hee , Baek Yoon-sik

Release Date

September 20, 2019

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Yoo In-sik , Jang Yeong-cheol

Vagabond is for fans who love a thriller of a storyline that leaves the audience gasping with every episode. The 2019 K-drama has danger, crime, and a bit of a love story to make things more interesting. A plane crash kills over 2112 civilians, including the nephew of the main character. Determined to uncover the truth, Cha Dal-gun (Lee Seung-gi) embarks on a dangerous investigation, one that will lead him down a dark road of corruption. A covert agent, Go Hae-ri (Bae Suzy) soon becomes part of his investigation.

The series was nominated for a whopping 19 SBS Drama Awards in 2019. It won four of them, including Top Excellence in a Miniseries for both lead actors, Lee Seung-go and Bae Suzy. They also jointly won the award for Best Couple thanks to their work in the series.