So you just binged “Squid Game” in one night. You’re still recovering from episode six and can’t look at a set of marbles the same way. Don’t worry. We were all there. If “Squid Game” was your first Korean drama, you may be wondering what else Korean entertainment has to offer and we’re here to help kickstart your K-drama addiction.
Other than being spoken in Korean, K-dramas are a bit different from Western television shows. K-dramas are often only one season with the standard being around 10-20 episodes. This means that you are almost always guaranteed a complete story with all loose ends tied up by the end. But, fair warning, this also means they are extremely binge-worthy. Here are some of our best picks that have the stellar action, thrill and drama you saw in “Squid Game.”
Kingdom
Zombie fan anyone? Even if you’re not a fan of the zombie genre, this show may change your mind. Released in 2019, “Kingdom” is a horror and thriller period drama. It is set in the Korean Joseon Dynasty, around the sixteenth century, and begins with rumors that the king is dead. We follow the Crown Prince as he comes across a plague that seems to bring people back from the dead. The prince and his allies fight to control the spread and uncover the truth behind the plague. The series goes beyond the typical zombie flick; its strength is that it’s a riveting period piece that features betrayal and political corruption under the circumstances of a zombie apocalypse. “Kingdom’s” storytelling and characters come first and the incredible action sequences come second.
Vincenzo
Before “Squid Game,” “Vincenzo” was the most talked about Korean drama of 2021. The show revolves around Vincenzo Cassano, a consigliere for an Italian mafia family. After conflicts with the new leader of the Cassano family, Vincenzo flees to Korea to retrieve 1.5 tons of gold hidden in the basement of Geumga Plaza — occupied by some unique tenants and owned by the corrupt corporation Babel Group. Vincenzo eventually teams up with Hong Yoo-Chan, a headstrong attorney, to take down the ruthless Babel Group. With “Vincenzo,” you will get revenge plots in true mafia fashion, some courtroom drama and Song Joon-ki in an endless variety of suits.
Sweet Home
If you’re ready to jump into another 10-episode Netflix original thriller, “Sweet Home” should be your next binge. We enter a world where humans turn into monsters and begin trying to wipe out humanity. The main character, Cha Hyun-soo had recently moved from his home into an apartment after a family tragedy. As chaos and terror fall upon the world, Hyun-soo and his neighbors fight to survive. The series will definitely grip you from the beginning and remains rooted in the storylines of its complex characters.
Extracurricular
Now, how about a high school drama with a twist? “Extracurricular” centers around Oh Ji-soo, a high school student at the top of his class, who turns to running an illegal prostitution business to pay for college. Bae Gyu-Ri, on the other hand, comes from a wealthy family. When she learns of his business, Ji-soo is forced to let her join. If you’re looking for a different take on the high school teen drama, this series is perfect.
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay
Unlike some of the other dramas on our list, “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” or 사이코지만 괜찮아 (which directly translates to “Psycho but it’s okay”) is a romantic drama. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less exciting. The main character, Moon Gang-tae takes care of his older brother who has autism and works as a caretaker in a psychiatric ward. He crosses paths with an antisocial children’s book writer and the two begin to uncover the secrets that tie them together. This drama is aesthetically beautiful and is accompanied by an equally beautiful soundtrack; however, the highlight of the series is the stellar performances from the actors that will most definitely move you to tears.
Save Me
So far we have zombies, monsters and the mafia, but how about a story of a corrupt religious cult? This drama from 2017 has 16 episodes and also stars the female lead from “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay.” Im Sang-Mi and her family move to a suburb where a religious cult with a large number of followers holds lots of power. Within the cult lies dark secrets oblivious to their devoted followers. Sang-Mi and her family fall into the trap of the cult and after three years there, she encounters an old classmate. After their meeting, the classmate grows determined to save her. The longer you watch, the more you can’t turn away from this gut wrenching drama.
Signal
Finally, our last pick is a fantasy police drama from 2016. The year 2016 is often cited by K-drama fans as the year that released the best K-dramas and “Signal” is no exception. For the past fifteen years, detective Cha Soo-Hyun has been looking for her long-lost mentor. She’s been assigned to lead a team to investigate cold cases. Through a special walkie-talkie, the criminal profiler on the team then begins to solve these cold cases with the help of a detective from 1989, who is Cha Soo-Hyun’s lost mentor. They begin to solve cases in the past and present that trigger unintended consequences.
The success of “Squid Game” comes only two years after Bong Joon-Ho’s Oscar-winning film, “Parasite.” If these two prove anything, it’s that Korea produces amazing entertainment with gripping stories. And there’s a whole world of K-dramas to dive into, so take your pick. Like Bong Joon-Ho said in his Oscar acceptance speech, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”