The best part about the K-drama world is that it’s ever-evolving and genre-heavy; that’s why anyone can find a show to their liking and enjoy themselves. From heart-wrenching romances to edge-of-your-seat thrillers, here are the ten greatest K-dramas you can binge in one week, ranked by how addictive they are.
10
‘My Liberation Notes’ (2022)
My Liberation Notes may not be ideal for beginners because it’s a slow burn. Yet, its meditative, philosophical, slice-of-life nature also feels like a high-quality entry point into the world of K-dramas, though this one’s a rare breed. A slow burn might sound counterintuitive for a binge, but the relatable characters and great acting actually make it effortless to keep going; you’ll find yourself so deeply invested in these characters’ small victories that you won’t even notice the time. Viewers love this show because it resonates with an almost hidden collective desire for unconditional acceptance.
My Liberation Notes follows the three adult siblings, Ki-jung (Lee El), Chang-hee (Lee Min-ki), and Mi-jeong (Kim Ji-woon), who live in the suburban village of Sanpo, an hour and a half away from their Seoul workplaces, and are stuck in an exhausting daily routine. Eldest daughter Ki-jung desperately wants love but finds herself approaching 40 with little relationship experience; Chang-hee’s romances crumble because of missed trains and distances; and Mi-jeong quietly battles depression and looks for meaning when she decides to take a shot with her father’s mysterious employee, Mr. Gu (Son Suk-ku). You will “worship” the series by the time you’re done—and you’ll get this reference very quickly.
9
‘Stranger’ (2017–2020)
Stranger was so critically acclaimed that it earned a rare second season, which is an exception in the K-drama world. Both seasons are exceptional and reveal something new about the system they’re dissecting, revolving around corruption in the world of public prosecutors and the highest ranks of the police. The show’s setup makes every detail matter, allowing viewers to solve the cases alongside the protagonists. Despite 32 episodes in total, you’ll find yourself hitting “next episode” before you know it.
Stranger is a crime thriller show that follows Hwang Si-mok (Cho Seung-woo), a prosecutor unable to experience emotions due to a childhood operation, and the highly intuitive police officer Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doona), who team up to solve a case. What begins as a murder investigation unravels into a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the prosecution and police, and the unlikely duo must navigate a world where no one can be trusted. Their dynamic provides just enough warmth and charm to balance the dark subject matter; it’s not romantic, or at least not in the truest sense of romance, but it’s interesting to watch two fairly awkward people find themselves in each other and seek justice and truth no matter what.
8
‘Taxi Driver’ (2021–Present)
Image via SBS TV
Taxi Driver isn’t just pure adrenaline television, but it’s an incredibly satisfying watch for anyone who feels a sense of injustice in the real world. The show introduces a new case every two or three episodes, each inspired by real-world injustices, from workplace bullying to sexual abuse, giving satisfying resolutions while building an overarching narrative. The show’s action sequences are cinematic, and the team, led by South Korean action star Lee Je-hoon, that plans their vengeance for others, is a healthy and enjoyable balance of humor and heavy subject matter.
Taxi Driver follows Kim Do-gi (Lee), a former Special Forces officer whose life was shattered by his mother’s brutal murder. After going through a period of depression, he joins Rainbow Taxi, a seemingly ordinary cab company that runs a secret revenge service for victims who have been failed by the justice system. Do-gi, along with a team of other trauma survivors—a hacker, mechanics, and a mysterious CEO—uses his elite driving skills and combat training to punish criminals who have evaded justice. Lee did the majority of his own stunts, and the show’s souped-up taxis were custom-made to resemble something straight out of Mission: Impossible or Batman; it’s prime television and a satisfying binge-watch with three seasons so far.
7
‘Hospital Playlist’ (2020–2021)
Hospital Playlist, created by the same team that made Prison Playbook, excels at making viewers fall in love with an ensemble cast. Two 12-episode seasons allow you to watch the entire series in one week, and each episode is long but feels like it flies by. The show effortlessly balances medical drama, friendship moments, and laugh-out-loud comedy; the patient stories will make you cry, while the friendship scenes will make you laugh. It’s the ultimate feel-good indulgence.
Hospital Playlist follows five doctors in their 40s who have been friends since medical school. Lee Ik-jun (Jo Jung-suk) is a brilliant surgeon with an unexpectedly goofy personality; Kim Jun-wan (Jung Kyung-ho) is a tough but secretly soft-hearted cardiothoracic surgeon; Ahn Jeong-won (Yoo Yeon-seok) is a pediatrician who wants to be a priest; Yang Seok-hyeong (Kim Dae-myung) is a shy obstetrics fellow; and Chae Song-hwa (Jeon Mi-do) is the cool, capable neurosurgeon who serves as the group’s anchor. When they’re not saving lives, they play together in a cover band, and the five leads learned to play instruments just for the show. Even their band performances were filmed as the actors were playing, with their covers of classic Korean songs rising to the top of the charts at the time.
6
‘Mr. Queen’ (2020)
Mr. Queen is one of the funniest K-dramas ever made, which adds to its addictive nature. It has a fast-paced 20 episodes, so you’ll probably finish it by the end of the week. The body-swapping premise leads to nonstop fun, and the romance unfolds in the most delightful way. Shin Hye-sun said she would have regretted not doing a role like this one, and though she had always wanted to star in a historical drama and wear Korean traditional clothes, her character forced her to study male mannerisms to depict a man trapped in a woman’s body, a performance that earned her widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades.
Mr. Queen follows Jang Bong-hwan (Choi Jin-hyuk), a modern-day chef who awakens in the body of Queen Kim So-yong (Shin) during the Joseon era after a near-death experience. The queen is supposed to be King Cheoljong’s delicate wife (Kim Jung-hyun), but Bong-hwan has no intention of behaving ladylike. His outrageous behavior throws the palace into chaos, ranging from raiding the royal kitchen and speaking his mind to sparking a feminist revolution. Despite a talented cast, Shin gives a career-defining, scene-stealing performance, seamlessly transitioning from the queen’s proper exterior to Bong-hwan’s brash, modern personality.
5
‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (2020)
The 16-episode series It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a powerful emotional journey. The show’s production design is stunning, from Ko Moon-young’s (Seo Yea-ji) gothic castle and her iconic, custom-made high-fashion looks to the whimsical animations that bring her stories to life. The romance between Seo and Kim Soo-hyun is electric, but the drama’s heart lies in the evolving relationship between the brothers and Moon-young, emphasizing family and found family.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay follows Moon Gang-tae (Kim), a psychiatric hospital caregiver who has to move often to care for his autistic older brother, Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se). Their paths cross with Ko Moon-young (Seo), a hugely successful children’s book author who has antisocial personality disorder. When Moon-young becomes obsessed with Gang-tae and develops an unexpected bond with Sang-tae, the three form an unconventional family and begin to heal their old wounds together. The show won the Best Drama award at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, and its focus on mental health sparked a nationwide debate in Korea about de-stigmatizing psychological disorders.
4
‘Signal’ (2016)
Signal is widely considered one of the greatest Korean dramas ever made, and it seems to have been designed specifically for binge-watching, since every episode ends with a twist that reframes everything you thought you knew. The cases in the show are based on true crimes that plagued South Korea, lending the show a tangible weight that fictional plots cannot always match. The showrunners expertly weave together multiple timelines, creating such tension that you’ll be physically unable to stop watching. The 16-episode series is a masterclass in suspense, and if we’re lucky, we’ll get to watch Season 2 soon enough.
Signal follows cold-case profiler Park Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon) as he discovers a walkie-talkie that connects him to a detective from the past, Lee Jae-han (Cho Jin-woong). Through this impossible connection, the two begin to investigate unsolved cases that have plagued Korea for decades, including the real-life Hwaseong serial murders. Joined by Detective Cha Soo-hyun (Kim Hye-soo), Lee’s former protégé, the trio discovers that changing the past has consequences, and some cases are linked in ways they never expected. The game-changing K-drama’s portrayal of cold cases was so impactful that it influenced public opinion in Korea, leading to the reopening of several unsolved cases that had previously exceeded the statute of limitations.
3
‘Reply 1988’ (2015–2016)
Despite having 20 episodes that are as long as a feature film, Reply 1988 is one of the most bingeable shows on the list because you will fall so deeply in love with the cast that their world will become your own. It’s impossible not to become emotionally invested when you see how well the show balances heartbreaking moments and laugh-out-loud comedy; despite its length, you will undoubtedly finish it in a week. Reply 1988 is one of the most popular dramas in Korean cable television history, and it is also credited with igniting the “newtro” (new + retro) boom in Korea, causing widespread nostalgia for the 1980s and influencing fashion, music, and activities across the country.
Reply 1988 takes place in Seoul’s Ssangmun-dong neighborhood during the year 1988. This coming-of-age drama follows five childhood friends, Deok-sun (Lee Hye-ri), Jung-hwan (Ryu Jun-yeol), Sun-woo (Go Kyung-pyo), Dong-ryong (Lee Dong-hwi), and Taek (Park Bo-gum), and their families. The show depicts a pivotal moment in Korean history: the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the rise of democracy, and the rapid modernization that changed the country forever. But, at its core, this is a story about family, friendship, and first love, framed by a mystery that runs throughout the series. The answer isn’t revealed until the final episodes, so you’ll definitely binge-watch it to find out as soon as possible.
2
‘Crash Landing on You’ (2019–2020)
Crash Landing on You was the drama that converted millions of people into K-drama fans during the pandemic, and with good reason. Each of the 16 episodes lasts about 90 minutes, but the pacing is so perfect, and the chemistry between Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin is truly electric; even the supporting cast creates an immersive world that you won’t want to leave. The show’s high production costs were reportedly due in part to the elaborate sets built to depict North Korea, with the production team consulting North Korean defectors and creating an entire village outside Seoul, complete with authentic period details from the 1980s and 1990s to accurately portray North Korean life.
Crash Landing on You follows Yoon Se-ri (Son), a glamorous South Korean heiress who goes paragliding, when a freak storm transports her across the DMZ and into North Korean territory. She literally crashes into Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun), a stoic and handsome North Korean officer from a powerful political family. Instead of turning her in, he takes the risky decision to conceal her while figuring out how to return her home. What follows is an epic forbidden romance full of danger, humor, and a quirky crew of soldiers who form unlikely alliances. It’s entertaining, addictive, and incredibly romantic, so no love story will ever be the same.
1
‘Flower of Evil’ (2020)
Flower of Evil may be the most addictive Korean drama ever made. Lee Joon-gi and Moon Chae-won give career-best performances in a show that reimagines what a thriller should be. Each of the 16 episodes concludes with a great big twist, and the show’s central question of whether one truly knows someone after years of marriage is explored with nuance and emotion. The pacing is relentless but never rushed, finding a delicate balance between thrilling suspense and genuine tenderness.
Flower of Evil follows Baek Hee-sung (Lee), a seemingly perfect husband and father who adores his detective wife Cha Ji-won (Moon) and their young daughter. But Hee-sung is hiding a dark secret: he is Do Hyun-soo, the son of a notorious serial killer who has been on the run for 18 years after being accused of murder. When his wife begins looking into a series of cold cases linked to his past, their marriage becomes an intense cat-and-mouse chase. Lee did almost all of his own stunts and researched serial killer psychology to better understand his character’s motivations and, more notably, how to portray a man who is either a soulless monster or someone a lot more complex and nuanced.