TheK-dramahas exploded in popularity lately and opened the doors for more international content to see mainstream success, with some offerings from South Korea now being recognized as masterpieces around the globe. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Viki continue to release some of thebest K-dramas of all time, ensuring there is no shortage of bingeworthy K-dramas for fans to watch. As a rule, K-dramas can be any genre, ranging from romantic comedies to dark thrillers, offering variety to old fans and new audiences.
Even within that creative freedom, however, some K-drama series stand a cut above the rest for the care and craftsmanship put into the project. The most impressively well-planned and impeccably executed K-dramas are considered masterpieces that withstand the passing of time. These K-dramas havewell-crafted characterizations, impactful storytelling, a well-paced plot, and thought-provoking conflicts. As such, compelling K-dramas can leave a mark on audiences for years.
My Love From The Star
Cast
My Love From The Star is a South Korean television series that follows the story of Do Min-joon, an alien who landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. As he nears his return to his home planet, he encounters Cheon Song-yi, a top Hallyu star, and begins to develop feelings for her. The series explores themes of love, destiny, and the inevitable clash of two very different worlds.
My Love from the Staris a charmingromantic comedy K-dramathat tells the tale of an alien who landed on Earth in 1609 and was subsequently stranded on the strange new planet. The alien Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun) can blend in with humans due to his human-like appearance. Meanwhile, the arrogant and conceited actor Cheon Song-yi becomes Min-joon’s neighbor and drags the alien into unpredictable situations, and the bond between the two grows. In a typical romantic comedy style,Min-joon and Song-yi are star-crossed lovers with a deadline for their romance, as Min-joon is planning to return to his home planet.
My Love from the Staris a beautiful and emotional romantic comedy K-drama filled with drama and suspense. The characters, Song-yi in particular, have hidden depths to them that are exposed throughout the series, making the lovable characters feel realistic. The introduction of intriguing mystery plot lines ensures thatMy Love from the Staris a thrilling romance-filled adventure.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a South Korean television series directed by Jung Ji-hyun. Set amidst the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the series follows the lives of a fencer and a reporter as they navigate love and ambition. Starring Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk, the show delves into themes of resilience and growth as the characters strive to achieve their dreams in a time of uncertainty.
Twenty-Five Twenty-Oneis a beautiful and heartwarmingromantic K-dramathat aired on tvN and quickly became one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history.Twenty-Five Twenty-Onetells thestory of a young couple as they struggle to manage their romance and career.
Flashbacks to 1998 tell the story of two young people whose lives are changed by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) is a fencer whose dreams are impeded by the financial crisis while Baek Yi-jin’s (Nam Joo-hyuk) family loses all of their riches. Sparks fly when Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin meet, but the couple drifts apart over the years and eventually break up in bitter fashion.
Twenty-Five Twenty-Oneperfectly encapsulates the beauty and nostalgia of young love and first loves.
Twenty-Five Twenty-Onecements itself as a masterpiece K-drama series due to the show’s focus on the characterization of the two leads and supporting characters.Twenty-Five Twenty-One’sendingis a bittersweet farewell to the relationship between Na Hee-Do and Baek Yi-jin. The heartwarming romance may be a sad and realistic end, butTwenty-Five Twenty-Oneperfectly encapsulates the beauty and nostalgia of young love and first loves.Twenty-Five Twenty-Onecaptures what it feels like to be young and enamored, and the stunning setting and cinematography add to the beauty of the romance.
Guardian: The Lonely And Great God
Guardian: The Lonely And Great God is a 2016 South Korean television series following the lives of a modern-day goblin and his human bride. Portrayed by Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, the show delves into themes of immortality and destiny as the goblin seeks to end his eternal existence. The series blends romance, fantasy, and drama, winning acclaim for its unique storyline and strong performances.
Theromantic fantasy drama Korean dramaGuardian: The Lonely and Great God,also known asGoblin,is a uniquely dramatic love story.Guardian: The Lonely and Great Godfollows Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) who is betrayed by his king, murdered, and then cursed to become an immortal goblin. After living for more than 900 years, Goblin craves eternal rest, and his immortality can only be ended once the Goblin’s bride pulls the sword out of his chest.
5 Ways Goblin Is The Best K-Drama (& 5 Better Alternatives)
Goblin is undoubtedly one of the most popular K-Dramas around, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best.
High school student Ji Eun-Tak (Kim Go-eun) is Goblin’s bride and has the ability to see ghosts and summon the Goblin. Eun-Tak and Goblin’s bond develops as they spend time together. While Eun-Tak originally did not know it was her responsibility to remove the sword from Goblin’s chest and end his immortal life, she eventually learns the truth about their fate andstruggles with completing her duty to kill Goblin after they fall in love.
The must-watchsupernatural K-dramaGoblin/Guardian: The Lonely and Greatis filled with love, loyalty, and sacrifice.The strong characterizations, intriguing character dynamics, and conflict-heavy plotmakeGuardian: The Lonely and Greata K-drama masterpiece.
Hotel Del Luna
Hotel Del Luna is a fantasy romance television series set in a mystical hotel where the employees and guests are ghosts. The story revolves around Jang Man-wol, the owner of Hotel Del Luna, and Goo Chan-sung, a young and ambitious hotelier, as they navigate love, redemption, and the consequences of their past actions.
Hotel del Lunais a fantasy romance K-drama set in a supernatural hotel that only serves ghosts, with humans only being able to see the hotel in certain conditions. The owner of the titular hotel, Jang Man-wol (Lee Ji-eun) was condemned to the fate and the hotel was bound to her soul to atone for her sins. When Koo Chan-sung (Yeo Jin-goo) is forced to become the new general manager at Hotel del Luna due to his father making a deal with Man-wol, he introduces a stark change in the management of the hotel.
Man-wol and Chan-sung’s opposing personalities cause drama between the duo, and the incredible chemistry between them made the romance enthralling to witness. While the initial episodes ofHotel del Lunasuffered from pacing issues as the show introduced the supernatural elements and lore, the show’s comedy, relationship dynamics, and well-written script is enough to keep audiences invested until the pacing becomes better.
Thesupernatural and fantasy K-dramaHotel del Luna’sexpertusage of background music to build tension and made the paranormal elements feel haunting, instilling a sense of thrill and fear.Hotel del Luna’soriginal plot, intriguing and mysterious characters made it a masterpiece.
Vincenzo
During a visit to his homeland, a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer gives an unrivaled conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice.
The dark crime dramaVincenzostars Song Joong-ki as the titular character, a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer who flees to South Korea after his adoptive brother attempts to murder him. Vincenzo sets off on a journey to retrieve the gold he had stashed and take down a corrupt pharmaceutical corporation, Babel Group.
Vincenzo: 5 Reasons It’s The Netflix K-Drama We Needed (& 5 Ways It’s Typical)
In many ways, the K-drama Vincenzo fits many of the tropes common to the genre, but in other ways, it’s refreshing and like no other series before it.
TheK’drama’s enemies-to-lovers dynamicbetween Vincenzo and the attorney Hong Cha-young (Jeon Yeo-been) is a highlight ofVincenzo, and adds scenes of comedy and levity in the dark thriller K-drama. Themain characters were well-developed and displayed tremendous character growthover the course of the show, while the supporting characters were distinct and interesting personalities that meshed well with the main cast. In addition, the villains inVincenzowere terrifying yet had moments of likability.
Vincenzomanaged theexpertly balance the comedy with the dark violent drama. These elements madeVincenzoa robust masterpiece filled drama, comedy, and thrills.
Crash Landing On You
Crash Landing on You is a romantic drama series that follows a South Korean heiress who accidentally lands in North Korea after a paragliding incident. She encounters an army officer who, despite the political tensions, aids her in concealment, forging an unexpected connection amidst their contrasting worlds.
TheK-dramaCrash Landing on Youfollows the passionate and secret love story between a South Korean businesswoman and North Korean officer. The South Korean chaebol heiress Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) is blown off course while paragliding and crash lands in North Korea. Se-ri is found by a North Korean officer Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) who falls in love with her and attempts to smuggle her back to South Korea. Despite the historical divide between North Korea and South Korea,the two manage to fall in love in the tension-filled setting.
Crash Landing On You’s K-Drama Ending Was Almost So Much Sadder
Crash Landing on You’s bittersweet ending may be divisive, but the romance K-drama’s original ending would have ended in even more tears.
The magical chemistry between Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok is the heart of the romantic comedyCrash Landing on You.The setting of a South Korean woman being hidden by a North Korean man is perfect for causing tension and conflictfor the main characters and makes the K-dramaCrash Landing on Youa thrilling adventure. At the time of airing,Crash Landing on Youbecame the highest-rated tvN series and received critical acclaim for its characterizations and intriguing plot.
Descendants of the Sun
This drama series follows the romance between a dedicated soldier and a talented surgeon, whose differing worldviews test their relationship. Amidst challenging circumstances and life-threatening situations, they navigate the complexities of love, duty, and the unpredictable nature of fate.
Set against the backdrop of a war-torn country,Descendants of the Sunfollowsthe love story between a Special Forces officer and a surgeon as they’re surrounded by danger. Theaction-packed K-dramaDescendants of the Sunfocuses on a captain in the South Korean Army’s special forces, Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki), and the surgeon Dr. Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) as they undertake deadly humanitarian missions.
Thephilosophical differences between the couple as a soldier and surgeon cause tensionbetween the two, but Si-jin and Mo-yeon’s chemistry and love for each other persists. The fun and entertaining central storyline inDescendants of the Sunis impeccably blended with action, drama, and thrills. The masterpiece K-dramaDescendants of the Sunkeeps audiences on their toes with tension-filled action scenes, heartbreak, romance, and shocking plot twists. With a mix of light-hearted humor and tense action,Descendants of the Sunis an emotional roller coaster.
Flower of Evil
Flower of Evil is a South Korean thriller series that follows the story of Baek Hee-sung, a man who hides his dark past and pretends to be a perfect husband and father. However, his life is disrupted when Detective Cha Ji-won, a determined and intelligent detective, begins to suspect him of being involved in a series of mysterious events.
The darkthriller K-dramaFlower of Evilfollows a seemingly perfect family whose life is torn apart after a detective realizes that her husband may be hiding a dark truth. Detective Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won) begins investigating old unsolved murder cases and realizes that her husband Baek Hee-sung’s (Lee Joon-gi) mysterious past might be a murderous one. Moon Chae-won and Lee Joon-gi’s impressive acting highlights the characters' emotions as they navigate the potentially deadly situation.
Flower of Evilis filled with mystery, intrigue, drama, betrayal, and complex plots. Thebone-chilling thriller masterfully builds tension and weaves the intricate plot togetherin a cohesive and entertaining manner.Flower of Evilis one of the best detective K-dramasfilled with intrigue, plot twists, and incredible characters. By using subtle clues throughout the series and shocking plot twists,Flower of Evilensures that themystery remains an engaging, fast-paced thriller throughout the 16 episodes.
Queen Of Tears
Hong Hae-in, the heiress of the prestigious Queens Group, and her husband Baek Hyun-woo, known as the “supermarket prince,” navigate the complexities of their high-profile marriage. While Hae-in exudes a cold and calculating demeanor, Hyun-woo brings warmth and emotional depth to their relationship. Their union, celebrated as the “wedding of the century,” faces a monumental crisis that forces them to reassess their differences and rediscover the strength in their bond.
Queen of Tearsfollows the magical love story of a married couple who learn to rekindle their love and support each other. While most romantic K-dramas start with a young couple meeting for the first time and falling in love,Queen of Tearsstarts with a married couple andexplores the complexities of relationships, marriage, and love. The heart-wrenching K-dramaQueen of Tearshad intense emotional scenesthat could make audiences cry and added depth and dimension to the characters.
Queen of Tearsfocuses on the relationship between chaebol heiress Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won) and Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun) the son of farmers who became a lawyer.Queen of Tearsfeatures an ensemble castthat delivers incredible performances and perfectly portrays the complex emotions. TheQueen of Tearscast’s acting ability elevated the emotionally heartwarming romance show andsolidified the K-drama’s status as a masterpiece.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a South Korean drama series following Moon Gang-tae, a caretaker in a psychiatric hospital, and Ko Moon-young, a children’s book author with antisocial personality disorder. As their lives intertwine, they embark on a journey of emotional healing while grappling with their traumatic pasts. The show explores themes of mental health, relationships, and personal growth.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okayis a heartening and hopeful romantic comedy that beautifully explores the themes of relationships, healing, and mental health. The K-drama follows the diametrically opposed Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) and Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji) as they help each other grow and heal. Gang-tae’s devotion to his autistic older brother Moon Sang-tae is heartwarming to witness. The brothers' bond with Moon-young and the trio’s uplifting scenes are the highlight of the show.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okaystands out from other K-drama with itsusage of visual storytelling and animated scenes to display the inner thoughts and emotions of characters. The use of animation is reminiscent of theCommunityepisode “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas"when Abed (Danny Pudi) begins imagining the world in stop-motion animation tocope with change and feeling abandoned at Christmas. Similarly,It’s Okay to Not Be Okayskillfully uses animation to highlight a character’s deepest thoughts and emotions that they cannot verbalize.
The beautiful relationships between the trio of Gang-tae, Sang-tae, and Moon-young and the creative visual storytelling cementsIt’s Okay to Not Be Okayas the ultimate masterpieceK-dramaseries. Audiences are still searching for the perfect replacement forIt’s Okay to Not Be Okaythat hits the same notes.
