Originally published in print September 2020.

With the ‘Korean Wave’ or Hallyu taking over the world right now, it is no surprise that South Korean soap operas, better known as K-dramas, are also becoming increasingly popular. Indeed, Netflix has not only gotten the rights to stream several K-dramas that were very popular in the past, but is also producing their own. K-dramas do a great job of introducing viewers to the small nuances of Korean culture, such as drinking beer with fried chicken, which is called chi-maek, the practise of acting cute to get what you want, known as aegyo, and eating black bean noodles or jjajangmyeon on moving day. Through these dramas we are often introduced to romanticised and stylised versions of what the life of a typical South Korean looks like; their fashion choices, their music tastes and their pop-culture references, along with learning how important a sense of community, social structure and following norms is to the Korean people.

K-dramas are abundant with tropes that become all too apparent when you’re an avid watcher like myself. A classic would of course be the rags-to-riches storyline that makes us want to root for the underdog character through their struggles. There is also the constantly-looming ‘love story’ element in dramas across all genres. Even in a horror drama, you will always find at least two people falling in love. Having trouble knowing where to start in the world of K-dramas? Not to worry, I’ve rounded up a selection of the best starter dramas covering a range of tropes and genres.

For the Hopeless Romantics

If romcoms are your go-to comfort place, then Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo would be a great place to start. This drama tells the heart-warming young adult story of a 20 year old female weightlifter falling in love for the first time with a handsome collegiate swimmer, experiencing a whole different world outside of lifting barbells. It features a strong female lead, a concept being explored only recently in South Korean dramas. Although the feminism isn’t overt, the struggles facing women can be seen in protagonist Bok-Joo doubting her chosen path and wanting to be a ‘normal girl’, even going as far as resorting to lying about what she really does at college from her crush. Coffee Prince is another classic old-time favourite starring arguably the most popular South Korean actor, Gong Yoo (he is my absolute favourite, but I will try to not be biased). The story revolves around the dreams and lives of four people who meet and work together at a café. The lead protagonist, Han-Gyul, who does not want to be tied down and join the family business, reluctantly takes over running the family owned café and meets Eun-chan, a girl with an unpredictable personality who he hires, mistakenly thinking her to be a boy.

For the Thriller Addicts

If nail-biting, sofa-gripping, adrenaline-rushing suspense is more up your alley then not to worry, South Korean dramas have you covered. A personal favourite, Psychopath Diary, would be a great place to start. It tells the story of Dong-Sik, a timid office worker who witnesses a murder and accidentally picks up the diary belonging to the serial killer. Due to a drastic turn of events, Dong-Sik gets into an accident, losing his memory, which causes him to believe that he himself is the serial killer. As a masterpiece produced by Netflix, historical zombie thriller Kingdom should be on the top of your watchlist too. Set during the reign of the Joseon dynasty, it follows crown prince Lee Chang’s journey to discover the truth behind the plague of the undead that is ravaging his kingdom. This drama manages to combine action and suspense with a historical setting, even adding in court politics, to make an entirely entertaining, binge-worthy mix. This is also the only K-drama I have watched, and I have watched way too many K-dramas, that does not have a love story even two seasons in, which is a fresh and rare thing in this world.

For Those Looking for a Good Cry

Another genre that is so well done by South Korea is pure, melodramatic romance. Possibly the most widely watched K-drama of all time; Goblin, fits perfectly into this category. Also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, we follow the story of Kim Shin, portrayed by the ever amazing Gong Yoo, a great general of the past who was cursed with immortal life, becoming Dokkaebi (Goblin) after he was murdered by the king out of jealousy. Tragically, his suffering can only end when he meets his ‘bride’, who will be destined to kill him with a mystical sword. This story of star-crossed lovers, along with an even more heart-breaking story of the second pair, the resurrected King and the Queen (Kim Shin’s sister), has brought most viewers to tears, me included. As such, prepare for it with copious amounts of tissues.You have been forewarned. Chicago Typewriter is another romance, taking place in two drastically different time periods of Korea – the present day and in 1930s Korea under Japanese occupation, a period of extreme political turmoil. It covers the story of three Korean freedom fighters who are resurrected 80 years later. The lead protagonists are Han Se-Ju, a celebrated author in present-day Seoul who has fallen into a slump, Jeon Seol, an ‘anti-fan’ of Se-Ju, and Yoo Jin-Oh, an extremely talented mysterious ghost-writer who offers to help Se-Ju for a certain price. The series beautifully depicts friendship, love and betrayal that spans almost a century and how different the values of these things are in different times. Be prepared to hate the mysterious typewriter, who seems to be the cause of all the misfortune that befalls the protagonists.

Advanced Viewing

The aforementioned dramas should help a complete newbie to get started, but for those who are feeling more confident in exploring beyond, I would recommend looking into the Reply series. A series of three unrelated dramas set in 1988, 1994 and 1997 in South Korea, Reply  follows the lives of a group of teenage friends and how they grew up in these respective time periods, showcasing what life was like for a Korean during those times. The protagonist of each of the three instalments is always a young teenage girl who is shown to mature through various life experiences, and through a love triangle. All three instalments keep us guessing who the husband/father is until the last episode using various tricks, leaving you either ecstatic that the male character you were rooting for all along ended up with the girl, or devastated and wronged that he did not. The Playbook series, also called the Wise-Life series, is another great slice-of-life series that is worth a watch. The first instalment, Prison Playbook, is a drama that depicts the story of prisoners and staff at a small prison. An unlikely drama in the slice-of-life category, it shows the good in people and humanizes prisoners. The second instalment in this series is Hospital Playlist, which details the story of five doctors who met in medical school and have been very close since,and how they ended up working together in the same hospital. This is not like Grey’s Anatomy or House where you have threats of plagues and rare unheard-of diseases, instead it shows a more realistic portrayal of the life of a doctor, the sacrifices they need to make for their job and the reality of having to deal with constant grief. 

Where to Watch

Netflix is the easiest place to find K-dramas nowadays, with all the previously-named dramas (except for Psychopath Diary) available to stream right now. However, for those who do not have a Netflix subscription, I myself have watched all the above-mentioned dramas on other free streaming platforms such as Viki. If you are willing to watch 15 minutes of ads for every 20 minutes of an episode, then Viki is your one-stop shop for all Asian dramas. On the other hand, if you really do not want to waste your time watching ads, and are willing to withstand various pop-ups and questionable software that causes your antivirus to shudder, there are plenty of hidden corners of the internet where K-dramas can be found. I’ll say no more.

There is such a wide variety of K-dramas out there that cover almost all genres, meaning it can get understandably overwhelming. As Oscar-winning Director Bong Joon-ho  famously said, “once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films”. This can be perfectly translated into the experience of watching Korean dramas. At first, it might feel like a world completely unfamiliar to what you are used to seeing in Western media, but by watching the dramas carefully you can gain a deeper understanding into Korean society. So, don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and go beyond this list to explore all that South Korea has to offer through the magical world of K-dramas. Hwaiting! (Best of Luck!)