Favourite Korean Dramas
As I mentioned in my book review of Pachinko, I love Korean dramas, more often known simply as kdramas. There are certain rules that kdramas follow, providing international viewers with insight as to what Koreans value, which I find fascinating. They have often been described as fairytale-esque due to the fact that, as a general rule, justice is served, the guy gets the girl (although victims of Second Male Lead Syndrome may disagree) and there is often an innocence to the main characters who are battling to overcome the cruelty of life and other people.
Still, within that, there is a wide range of genres. The following is my list of my top 10 favourite kdramas.
Solomon’s Perjury (Dec 2016 - January 2017)
In general, these shows aren’t in any particular order, but I do believe that Solomon’s Perjury is one of my all time favourite TV shows. It’s definitely my all time favourite kdrama!
In just 12 hours, we take a deep dive into the lives of a group of high schoolers as they try to figure out just how their classmate died. Where other shows may shy away from intense subjects such as abuse and suicide, Solomon’s Perjury faces them head on, resulting in a show that criticises those who abuse their power and authority, affirms the power of friendship, encourages people to keep living in hope and to seek out the truth with compassion.
I can not recommend this show highly enough. And if any of you are interested in watching it, it’s available on Netflix.
Strong Girl Bong-Soon (2017)
This show is best described as a comedy. Although, like most kdramas, it has a darker plotline that weaves it’s way through it. Do Bong-soon is born to a line of women who have super strength. However, if they misuse that strength, they lose it forever. This premise sets up a 16 episode long show in which Bong-soon learns how to use her strength without abusing it, whilst also trying to figure out love, life and everything else.
This is, for the most part, a fun, lighthearted show. Although, if you are prone to the dreaded Second Male Lead Syndrome (SMLS), prepare to have your heart broken.
This show is available on Netflix.
I Remember You (or Hello, Monster) (2015)
This is the show that really introduced me to the range and ability of my all time favourite actor - Park Bogum. This show falls under the thriller/crime genre with all of the main characters working as police officers, criminal profilers, forensic scientists and lawyers.
Lee Hyun, our male lead, returns to South Korea after a number of years in the States in order to find out the truth of what happened the night his father was murdered and his little brother disappeared. This leads to 16 episodes in which matters of family, morality and love are explored and the question is posed: what is it that makes a monster?
I Hear Your Voice
This show has, in my opinion, a strong blend of romance and intense crime/thriller aspects.
Our leads, Jang Hye-sung and Park Soo-ha are brought together 10 years prior to the events of the show when Hye-sung witnesses the murder of Soo-ha’s father. On the strength of her testimony, the murderer is sent to prison. 10 years later, he is released and vows to get his revenge on Hye-sung and Soo-ha.
This leads to 18 episodes exploring what justice looks like and what it means to live your life with courage.
This show is available on Netflix.
City Hunter (2011)
This show starts explosively with a team of South Korean black ops soldiers being mowed down by their own government after an off the books mission into North Korea. The sole survivor of this massacre disappears into the jungles of Thailand with the new born son of his best friend, vowing revenge on those who betrayed them.
Nearly 30 years later, the son arrives in Seoul with explicit instructions to seek out and kill the five men responsible. What follows is a superhero origin story in which Lee Yoon-sung struggles to walk the line between vengeance and justice, whilst also longing for love and a life that doesn’t involve hurting the people he loves.
He is Psychometric (2019)
I’ll be honest, I never expected this one to become one of my top 10 favourite kdramas - I only started watching it because my one of my favourite kpop artists (GOT7’s Jinyoung) was the star.
It did not take long for me to become engrossed.
The show follows Lee Ahn (Jinyoung’s character) and his friends, Yoon Jae-in, Kang Sung-mo and Eun Ji-soo as they try to find out the full truth behind the fire that killed Ahn’s parents. I can’t really say too much more without spoilers, but I do highly recommend this show!
Encounter (2019)
This is another show starring my favourite actor, Park Bogum. And honestly, it’s a comfort show. Whilst many of the shows I gravitate towards have darker elements to them or are insanely funny, this is a sweet, pure look at what it is to fall in love, and what it takes to make love last.
I don’t have much to say about this one, but if you want to fall in the love, this is the show to watch.
Arthdal Chronicles (2019 - ?)
So, this show wasn’t on my list until today. Mostly because I didn’t watch in until this week. It also isn’t finished as it is on hiatus. Still, I’ve fallen in love with it.
The cinematography is stunning, the characters are complex and relatable, and it took me a long time to figure out who I was rooting for. Actually, no, I knew who I am rooting for to win ultimately from the second episode. It took me longer to work out who I am rooting against and who I am supporting for the time being.
Arthdal Chronicles is perhaps unique of all the kdramas I’ve watched as it is a high fantasy drama set long before any recognisable civilisation existed. In it are explorations of power and scathing criticisms of slavery and abuse of power.
As I said, it’s currently on hiatus, but I recommend you go watch it on Netflix right away. Then you can suffer the wait for more episodes with me.
W Two Worlds
This is another incredibly unique story with a complex world and interesting characters. It is set in modern times, but could probably be described as fantasy? I don’t know a better word for “a comic book character gains sentience and starts fighting for the right to live”. It’s so much fun, with so many twists and turns and that I’m left on the edge of my seat. Despite having seen it before!
10/10 would recommend. And it’s available on Netflix.
1% of Something (2016)
This is another one that is pure, light hearted fun. A remake of a kdrama made in 2003, watching both dramas provides amazing insight into the change in South Korean culture and attitudes towards romantic relationships.
With a relationship that starts off as a contract relationship to appease his peculiar (and rich) grandfather, the two soon find themselves falling in love. This is another great one to watch if you want to see two people falling in love and figuring out how to make it work.
Shoutout
Dramaworld (2016)
This show is not a kdrama, but it absolutely deserves a shoutout in a post talking about my favourite kdramas.
Main character Claire, a major kdrama fan, finds herself sucked into the world of kdramas - also known as Dramaworld. In there, she’s informed that it’s her job to keep this drama from falling apart, or it will be the end of all kdramas, everywhere. Over 10 episodes, we follow Claire as she bumbles her way through this world, and figures out all the rules of Dramaworld: the first male lead MUST kiss the first female lead, if a female faints a male lead WILL catch her, saving a character’s life means they instantly fall in love with their saviour… well, you get the picture.
This show is just a lot of fun, and is clearly written by people who appreciate the world of kdramas.
But don’t watch it until you’ve watched a few kdramas. You won’t get the jokes otherwise.
This show is available on Netflix.
Honourable Mentions
As with last month’s post, there were a few shows I considered, but that ultimately did not make it onto my list. So, I’ve included them here as honourable mentions. They are:
Bring it on, Ghost (2016)
Faith (2012)
Pinocchio (2014) available on Netflix
Kingdom (2019 - ?) available on Netflix
Birth of a Beauty (2014) available on Netflix.
Over to you
Have you ever watched any kdramas? If so, what are some of your favourites?
Let me know in the comments down below!
