If you have not watched any Korean drama (aka K-Drama) in your life then you are definitely missing something!
Are you new to K-Drama and willing to change your life for the better?? Then it’s time to dig into some swoon-worthy entertainment.
Let's find out the Top 10 must watch K-Dramas along with some of the Korean buzzwords and dishes which you will come across in this journey. Soon you will understand why you get so excited by mentioning these words and dishes as they will become close to your heart.
Let’s go through a list of disclaimers before you get hooked to K drama,
You will remember your first kiss
You will start obsessing over actors, and your dreams will be hijacked by them
The real world will disappoint you
They eat so deliciously, that your stomach can’t help rumbling
The average runtime of each episode is 50 mins
Moving on, this is my list of Top 10 K-Dramas which will make you fall in love with their culture and
people. The good news is many of these K Dramas are available on Netflix.
1.Crash Landing on you
Adventure, Comedy, Romance
Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin
This is simply the most loved K-Drama I have ever watched and huge thanks to Netflix for
making this K-Drama accessible worldwide.
If it wasn't for the long list of other K-dramas, I must have watched this multiple times.
This show has love, comedy, and differences between North and South Korea.
Hyun Bin has played a perfect North Korean soldier. Son Ye-jin played a wealthy, beautiful but
sad woman who accidentally falls into North Korea after a paragliding accident.
"If you give up on waiting, the pain of loss will kill you. That's why I wait." -Captain Ri
2. Something in the rain
Drama, Romance
Son Ye-jin, Jung Hae-In
You will get to see the struggle of a fully independent woman living in Korean society with so
many constraints. As a woman falling in love with a younger man and as a target of workplace
sexual harassment.
Jung Hae In’s character is very endearing especially when in love and you really feel for him
when things get rough and to see how he deals with his limits of age and position.
A beautiful love story, that makes you wonder what a couple could withstand from the people in
their environment and the society, to keep their love and relationship alive.
The chemistry between the actors is magical. You will fall in love with these characters instantly.
3. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-Ji, Oh Jeong-Se
A beautiful story of love, friendship, and brotherhood.
This show is very different from any typical K- Drama. It conveys the sensitive topic of mental
health and you will be completely hooked after watching the first few episodes.
The series follows a selfless psych ward caretaker and an antisocial children's book writer.
This is actor Kim Soo-Hyun's first lead role in a TV series since he was discharged from the
South Korean military on July 1, 2019.
The New York Times named It's Okay to Not Be Okay one of "The Best International Shows of
2020"
4. Reply 1988
Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance, Friendship
Hyeri Lee, Go Kyung-Pyo, Ryu Jun-Yeol, Park Bo-gum, Dong-hwi Lee,
Hye-young Ryu
This drama will make you nostalgic, it takes you down the memory lane of the simplicity of life
of average people and highlights the connections among families, friends & neighbors.
The story revolves around five friends and their families living in the same neighborhood of
Ssangmun-dong.
The lead characters end up dating in real life too.
5. Descendants of the sun
Action, Drama, Romance, Comedy
Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-Kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-Won
A love story develops between Captain Yoo Shi Jin, from the South Korean Special Forces and
Doctor Kang Mo Yeon, who works as a Surgeon at Hospital in Seoul.
Cinematography is beautiful, storytelling is very effective, beautiful soundtrack and very skilled
actors.
Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-Kyo, who both played the lead roles, married on October 31, 2017.
This drama series is actor Song Joong-ki's first acting role since being discharged from the South
Korean military on May 26, 2015.
6. Hospital Playlist
Friendship, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Music
Jo Jung-Suk, Yoo Yeon-Seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Dae-Myung Kim, Jeon Mi Do,
Hyeon-bin Shin
This is not any typical medical drama. The story revolves around a group of friends as they
embark on hospital adventures involving medicine, music, and relationships.
Instead of having 1 lead character, this show has 5 leading characters, and every character has an
important role to play.
The Hospital Playlist received positive critical feedback. Comparing the series to Grey's Anatomy
and Friends, Ariana Yaptangco of Elle featured it on the list of "The 10 Best K-Dramas To
Binge-Watch On Netflix".
7. Oh My Venus
Comedy, Drama, Romance
So Ji-seob, Shin Min-a
A woman’s journey towards fitness and finding love. Beautiful relationships among the lead
actors and supporting cast as well.
Kim Young-ho, a.k.a. John Kim, is a personal trainer to Hollywood stars. Despite his family's
wealth, Young-ho suffered a devastating illness in his childhood. But he believes living a healthy
lifestyle and exercising is the only way to survive.
Ji-Seob So, who plays Mr. Coach, is amazing. The chemistry between him and our leading lady
leaps off the screen.
8. Touch Your Heart
Comedy, Romance
Lee Dong-Wook, Yoo In-Na, Sang-woo Lee, Sung Yoon Son
After a scandal, an actress is offered a comeback role of playing an attorney. She fakes her
position to become the lawyer's secretary in order to star in a famous writer's drama. Lee Dong
Wook acts quite well as the lawyer who is clueless about dating. Yoo In Ah isn't the most
beautiful actress out there but she plays the character of an actress working as a secretary in a law
firm with a sweet charm and avoids being annoying even when she is acting cute.
9. Guardian: The lonely and the great god
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Gong Yoo,Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-Wook, Yoo In-Na
Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), a decorated military general from the Goryeo Dynasty, is framed as a
traitor and killed by the young king. Years after his death, he is cursed by the Almighty to stay
immortal forever, enduring the pain of seeing his loved ones die as punishment for the soldiers he
killed to protect his country.
One of the best rom-com tv series of all time. Brilliant performances, Storyline is unique and has
its own plot twists.
Kudos to Gong Yoo, Kim Go-Eun, Lee Dong-Wook, and the rest of the cast for their brilliant
performances.
The series was the 3rd highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history at the time it aired.
10. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo
Comedy, Romance
Lee Song-Kyoung, Nam Joo-hyuk
This series is a coming-of-age story about a group of college athletes who are fighting for their
dreams, experiencing and finding love in the process, and growing every step of the way.
The leading couple Lee Sung-Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk are like eye candy to watch. The
carefree life of the youth and the passion in our hearts. This is definitely a must-watch for all.
Korean Buzz words
Korean | English | Korean | English |
Chingu | Friend | Bogo sipeo | I Miss You |
Oppa | An Older Brother | Gamsahabnida | Thank You |
Annyeonghaseyo | Hello | Gwaenchanh-ayo | I am fine |
Sa-rang-hae | I love you | saengsineul chukadeurimnida | Happy Birthday |
Aigo | Oh dear\OMG | Mi-ahn-hae | I'm sorry |
Joahae | I like you | Abeoji | Father |
Jinjja | Really | Eomeoni | Mother |
namja chingu | Boyfriend | yeoja chingu | Girlfriend |
Korean famous Food & Drink
Korean | English | Korean | English |
Jjambbong | Seafood noodles | Soondae | Korean Sausage |
Ddeokbokki | Rice and fish cakes in chili sauce | Dakgangjeong | Crispy Korean Fried Chicken |
Tteok-bokki | Rice cake | Soju | Soju |