My 7 Must Watch K-Dramas

Recently, K-dramas have become increasingly popular in the Western media, which allows for a bigger audience to watch shows and movies that feature different languages, settings, and people. Compared to American television, K-dramas are, in my opinion, more wholesome, especially the romantic ones. I’ll admit that my standards have never been higher after watching Korean romance dramas; I can never look at American romance the same way again!

As an avid K-Drama viewer, I have compiled a list of my top K-Dramas that I have watched. So, if you ever wanted to get into K-Dramas and looked for recommendations, look no further! Below, I have included my favs from different genres such as horror, LGBTQ+, romance, and more to suit everyone’s taste. Note that they’re not ranked!

All of Us Are Dead(2022)

• Released more than two years ago, it remains my favorite thriller/zombie K-Drama out there! It’s available on Netflix as it is a Netflix original series.

• A group of high school students try to survive a zombie outbreak all on their own. Trapped in their school with zombified classmates at every turn, these newfound friends must fight to find a way to escape.

• There were many shock factors and plot twists that made me yearn for a new episode after one would end. It’s full of heart-racing moments, sad character deaths, and developing friendships (and possibly relationships).

• It was renewed for a second season months after its release, which is expected to come out this year! Let’s just say “excited” is an understatement, as the first season ended with a cliffhanger.

Move to Heaven(2021)

• This has to be one of the most underrated K-dramas to exist! It’s a Netflix original series with a heartfelt and emotional story about how great or sad life can be.

• A recently deceased father and his son, who has Asperger’s syndrome, run a trauma cleaning business called “Move to Heaven,” in which they had to clean the spaces of people who have passed. Without his father to help him, his uncle is forced to assist his nephew with the family business. Throughout their work, they discover the untold stories of the dead and help their loved ones find peace and closure.

• The uncle was heavily resistant at first, but through this way of helping was he able to come to peace with his dark past. The same goes for the son, who in the end has achieved acceptance that his father is dead.

• This honestly was the saddest K-drama I have watched so far. With only 10 episodes, the story of the main characters and the characters who have passed away are beautifully told. If you want to have a good cry, I 100% recommend this show; every episode was a sobfest, especially the last one.

Train to Busan(2016)

• This is a Korean movie, or a K-movie if you will, however, I thought it was best for this movie to be included in the list, and you’ll see why once you watch it. It’s also a thriller/zombie genre and available on Netflix.

• On a seemingly normal day, a group of passengers take the train from Seoul to Busan, only to realize that a zombie outbreak has occurred. The movie focuses on a father and his young daughter as he and a group of other passengers join forces to protect their loved ones.

• Now, I’m not going to lie, there are some scenes that had me heated since morality started to come into question. Greed, selfishness, and lack of compassion start to fester on the majority of survivors on the train, whereas a few people still hold on to their moral compass to help others. This goes to show the reality of how people would behave in situations like this.

• But overall, the movie has good, emotional moments and many action scenes. The ending of the movie, however, has to be the saddest ending I have ever seen in my life. Every single time I rewatch this movie, I can’t help but cry my eyes out at the end. If you’re curious, watch the movie to find out!

The Eighth Sense(2023)

• Released just last year, this show remains one of my favorites for many reasons, from the cinematography to the complex love story of the two men. It’s an indie film, so there are limited streaming options, however, it is available on Rakuten Viki.

• It follows the relationship between a male freshman and a male senior in university, where the beginning of their relationship starts at a surfing club. As they get closer, they start to open up about their vulnerabilities, and rely on each other. Their love story isn’t as simple as you may think: many shocking, sad events begin to unfold and their resilience to push through tests their relationship.

• I love how mental health issues are a big part of the show. One of the main characters has depression, in which throughout the show we are able to see his therapy sessions. The other character is struggling with the concept of belonging, and with each other, they’re able to deal with their struggles. Episode Six was a rollercoaster of emotions for the viewers, including me.

• The show highlights one’s journey of self-discovery as its overarching message not just to tell a story, but to also connect with the viewers who also feel alone or lost in life. It resonated a lot with me, and maybe it will for you too!

Finally, I am going to move into some honorable mentions that I have not yet watched, but know a lot about from a friend. Happy watching!

2521(2022)

• A love story blooms in 1998, where two people end up falling in love. During this time, South Korea is dealing with the IMF crisis, which impacts both of their lives drastically. The story covers a couple of years into their friendship and relationship, where lots of life events, fights, and arguments ensue. It has a sad ending, where they meet each other again on TV in 2022, both living great lives, but not together. This K-drama depicts how life is not always perfect, and the reality is that mistakes will happen, and you’ll have to live with regret and find ways to forgive yourself.

Flower of Evil(2020)

• A perfect, normal family isn’t what they seem to be, especially the father who has a “killer” past and is living under a stolen identity. What’s crazier is that his wife is a detective on the hunt for him without knowing the “killer” is her own husband. After being found out, the husband is confronted by the police and wife. However, the person whose identity he had taken comes back for revenge and shoots him while protecting his wife. They fall off a cliff, and it ends with the husband having amnesia with no memory of his wife, daughter, or past.

The Glory(2022)

• A satisfying revenge story about how years ago in high school, a girl was severely bullied and abused by her five classmates, which resulted in mental and physical scars. Even her own mother neglected her. Now as an adult, she decides to seek revenge, a plan she had in the making ever since high school. With the help of a partner, she got her revenge by psychologically torturing her bullies and ruining their lives. It ends with most of her bullies in jail, lives ruined, and some dead by accusing one another. I have to say, I enjoy seeing successful revenge stories.

• kdrama
• Korean Dramas
• Korean Entertainment
• korean show