Entertainment

The Ultimate List For Your Next K-Drama Binge

T he entertainment value of the best Korean dramas to watch is way too high for you to miss! The past few years have brought the rich world of Korean cinema to the global stage, with masterpieces like Parasite and Squid Game keeping people around the world at the edge of their seats. Despite being in a language very few non-Koreans speak and understand, Kdramas have a charm that makes viewers forget about the thin line of subtitles at the bottom of the screen. Their touching storylines, realistic characters, epic dialogue, and marvelous humor can transport us to a world far from our own, making us lose ourselves within the stories presented.

From crime-busting detective stories to light-hearted rom coms, epic thrillers, and more, Kdramas have the power to keep us on our toes- making us cower in our seats, long for a whirlwind romance, and even shed a few tears while we’re at it! If you’re looking for some entertaining flicks, below is our carefully-curated list of some of the best Korean dramas to watch to keep you going through these cold wintry nights.

Kill Me, Heal Me (2015)

This 2015 romantic-comedy medical drama hybrid is an absolute classic. The story revolves around Cha Do Hyun, who seems like the typical heir to a wealthy corporate family at first glance, except there’s a twist. Do Hyun lives with undiagnosed Dissociative Identity Disorder and meets a psychiatric resident, Oh Ri Jin, who helps him through his healing journey. The drama beautifully inculcates the story of Do Hyun’s past and familial trauma with an epic storyline, heart-warming love story, and mind-boggling plot twist, all within 20 episodes.

While some moments in the drama can be triggering to watch (viewer discretion is advised), the writers have also woven in some cry-with-tears worthy comedy bits that’ll have you bending over with laughter. The drama does a great job of bringing to light issues that are generally stigmatized in Korean cinema (mental illness, familial abuse, and adoptive families), and the star-studded cast (Park Seo Joon, Ji Sung, and Hwang Jung Eum) put on spectacular performances. With a delightful combination of many heart-wrenching, hilarious and swoon-worthy moments all in one, Kill Me, Heal Me is one of the absolute best Kdramas to watch.

Signal (2016)

If you’re into murky stories of crime, thrill, and suspense, Korean cinema never disappoints. Signal is a police procedural thriller series laced with fantasy elements that’ll keep you on your toes.

Loosely based on the infamous Hwaesong serial murders that terrorized Korea in the 1980s and 90s, the drama follows the journey of a cold-case criminal profiler in 2015, who partners with a detective in 1989. Staying in touch through a mysterious walkie-talkie, the two work together to try and solve a number of strange serial murders spanning three decades. The two get caught up in a twisted and dangerous game with time, fighting against all odds to come out of it alive. The drama has received international acclamation and also walked away with Best Drama, Screenplay, and Actress awards in Korea’s 2016 Baeksang Art Awards.

Crash Landing On You

Korean romantic comedies take the crown when it comes to light-hearted, feel-good dramas to take your mind off things. Crash Landing On You is a global fan-favorite and one of the best Kdramas to watch during the holiday season.

A crash-landing accident takes influential Chaebol South Korean heiress onto dangerous North Korean grounds and into the arms of Lee Jyeongheok, a North Korean army soldier. What transpires next is an epic tale of drama, struggle, survival, country, and love that (literally) transcends all boundaries. The on-screen chemistry between the two leads, Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin, is unmatched and takes the drama to another level entirely. With a sweet romance and plenty of gush-worthy scenes that’ll have you swooning on your couch, this drama is an easy and entertaining watch if you’re looking to kill time.
While the world of Kdramas is too vast to explore within the scope of this blog, these three classic dramas are some of the best Korean dramas to watch and a great start if you’re looking to dip your toe within the expanse of Korean cinema. Crash Landing On You is the perfect sweet tale if you want a feel-good series, while the other two are epic thrillers perfect for the mystery-loving audience.