Korean dramas are South Korean series typically consisting of 16 episodes which are enjoyed by many worldwide. The number of Korean Drama fans is increasing day by day, and so is the number of Korean dramas, so it can get a little tough to choose one that you might want to watch especially if you have just started watching them.
So, if you are new to Korean Drama or just looking for some recommendations, then look no further because we have curated the perfect list for you. Below is a list of 40 Korean Drama that is going to swell your heart with happiness by the end of each one and is going to leave you wanting more.
1. Extraordinary You (2019)
Extraordinary You is a 2019 South Korean Drama which follows the story of a high school girl Eun Dan Oh who suffers from a heart condition due to which she might not be able to live for too long. One day, Eun Dan Oh finds out that the world that she lives in isn’t real but is in fact a comic book and she is just an extra character in somebody else’s story. So, she decides to change her fate and become the main character of the story with the help of a mysterious character.
The rest of the drama follows Eun Dan Oh as she tries to find the mysterious character, finds other people who have also realized that they are a part of a comic book and falls in love. Extraordinary you is a heartwarming and humorous drama that is going to make you fall in love with Korean Dramas.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki, Voot, Amazon Prime Video
2. Hospital Playlist (2020)
Hospital Playlist is one of the most popular Korean Dramas of Netflix and has 2 seasons. The first season was released in 2020 while the second one was released in 2021. The series follow the story of five friends who met 20 years ago in 1999 during a party at their undergrad university. They now work at the same hospital and often sing together as a band.
The series follows the five friends as they work together at the hospital, saving some people’s lives while saying goodbye to others. Hospital Playlist is a fun, light-hearted, and humorous tale of five friends who met by coincidence which will brighten up your dull and tiring days.
Where to watch: Netflix
3. Reply series
Reply series are South Korean drama series which are distributed in three parts, Reply 1997 released in 2012, Reply 1994 released in 2013 and Reply 1988 released in 2015. Each series can be watched as individual dramas as they are not inter-connected and tells different stories. Reply 1997 tells the story of a girl Shi Won and 5 other high school students as they meet for their high school reunion and their story moves back and forth between their high school days back in 1997 and current year 2012.
Reply 1994 follows the story of six university students who live together at a boarding house in Sinchon, Seoul. The boarding house is owned by a couple who have a daughter and the story revolves around the six people and her in two different timelines, one in 1994 and the second in 2013.
Reply 1988 follows the story of five friends who have lived together on Ssangmundong all their life. The series follow their lives as they go through each day and confide in each other. Each Reply series will make you feel at ease by the end of it.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
4. Hometown Cha Cha Cha (2021)
Hometown Cha Cha Cha is a 2021 South Korean drama series following the story of Yoon Hye-jin, a dentist who moves to a sea side town Gongjin due to a conflict in her previous job and Hong Du-sik, an unemployed guy who does odd jobs and is loved by his town peers. Du-sik is called Officer Hong by the town people since he helps everybody whenever they need his help and when Hye-jin moves in, he also helps her.
Hometown Cha Cha Cha is a beautiful story of Hong Du-sik and Hye-jn as they get to know each other and fall in love. The series received a lot of love by viewers due to its beautiful cast and storyline
Where to watch: Netflix
5. Father is strange (2017)
My Father Is Strange follows the Byun family which consists of father Byun Han Soo, his wife Na Yeong Shil, three daughters and a son who live happily and in peace. One day, a guy named Ahn Joong Hee appears at their doorstep and claims to be Han Soo’s son.
The rest of the series follows the family as they try to figure out where the weird guy came from and why he is claiming to be Han Soo’s son while he lives with them.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
6. Crash Landing on You (2019)
Crash Landing On You is a 2019 South Korean Drama about a rich heiress Yoon Se Ri as she is testing the durability of one of her recently launched clothes by going paragliding in them. An incident causes Yoon Se Ri to crash land in North Korea where she meets an army officer Ri Jung Hyuk who helps her in getting back to South Korea without getting caught.
The rest of the series follows the duo as they fight, reconcile and end up falling in love before parting their ways but not for long. Crash Landing on You is one of the most popular and most loved Korean Dramas of all time.
Where to watch: Netflix
7. Hello, Me! (2021)
Hello, Me! is a 2021 South Korean drama about self-love and finding yourself. It follows the story of a 37-year-old women Ban Ha Ni, who lacks confidence due to her temporary position at work and doesn’t have much luck with guys either. One day, her 17-year-old self who is the opposite of her current personality appears in front of her to remind her of how she used to be and what kind of life she wanted to live as a 37-year-old.
The rest of the series follows the 17-year-old Ban Ha Ni as she helps the 37-year-old Ban Ha Ni in finding herself and in taking ahold of her life again. Hello, Me! will make you rethink about your own current life and make you question whether you are living it at the fullest or not.
Where to watch: Netflix
8. School 2017 (2017)
School 2017 is a South Korean series about the struggling lives of school students. Ra Eun Ho is a cheerful 18-year-old girl who wants to be a webtoon artist but is treated unfairly at school due to being poor. One day, an incident causes people to think that she is the Student X who wants to get rid of the discriminatory side of their school.
The rest of the series follows Ra Eun Ho and the school director’s son Hyun Tae Woon, a guy with a troubled past, as they get tangled in each other’s lives and work together to set their corrupt school system straight.
where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
9. Descendants of the Sun (2016)
Descendants of the Sun is a 2016 South Korean series which id one of the highest rated and highest grossing series of all time. The series follows two polar opposite people Kang Mo Yeon, a surgeon and Yoo Shi Jin, a special forces army officer as they get stuck at a war zone together and learn from each other.
The series follows the pair as they work through their differences and help each other into becoming a better versions of themselves while also falling in love. Descendants of the sun will leave you craving a connection like Mo Yeon and Shi Jin’s.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki, Hulu
10. Who Are You: School 2015 (2015)
Who Are You: School 2015 is a South Korean high school drama. The series follows the story of a poor girl Lee Eun Bi who lives in an orphanage and is often bullied by her classmate. Eun Bi has an identical twin Go Eun Byul who attends the most prestigious school of Seoul and is famous there but one day, Eun Byul mysteriously disappears. Now, Eun Bi finds herself pretending to be Eun Byul with no memories of how she got there.
The rest of the series follows Eun Bi as she pretends to be Eun Byul and tries to recollect her memories while also figuring out what happened to Eun Byul.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
11. My Mister (2018)
My Mister is about a middle aged man Park Dong Hoon who works as an engineer for his junior from college. His life is tiring for him as he has to take care of his ill grandmother while also supporting his two unemployed brothers. His life takes a turn when he receives a bribe from someone which was seen by an employee of the company, Lee Ji An.
The rest of the series follow Par Dong Hoon as he helps his brothers to stand on their feet and also solves the mystery behind the mysterious bribe.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
12. Our Beloved Summer (2021)
Our Beloved Summer is a heartwarming and comedy series about two ex-lovers who reunite and fall in love again. It follows the story of two chaotic teenagers Choi Ung and Kook Yeon Soo who are forced to do a documentary together. While filming the documentary, they fall in love but due to some circumstances, they break up.
Years later, they are told to be in front of the camera again which leads to chaos, reconciliation and ultimately, love. Our beloved summer is the type of series which will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. This drama received high praise by its viewers due to the feel-good factor.
Where to watch: Netflix
13. Moment at Eighteen (2019)
Moment at Eighteen follows the story of Jun Woo as he is transferred to a new school with the false accusation of bullying others at his previous school. This causes Jun Woo to become closed off and not accept anybody’s kindness at his new school.
But, on the first day of school, he meets a girl named Soo Bin who melts the wall around his heart and stays by his side even when he is accused of stealing at his new school. The rest of the series follows Jun Woo and Soo Bin as they work together to clear Jun Woo’s name and bring the real culprit in front of everybody while also falling in love.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
14. Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine follows the story of Eugene who returns to Korea from the U.S. as a military officer. In 1871 when Eugene was young, he was born into a house servant’s family and had travelled to the U.S. during Shinmiyangyo. After returning to Korea for a mission, he falls in love with Go Ae Jin, an aristocrat’s granddaughter who is promised to be married to someone else.
The rest of the series follows Eugene and Ae Jin as they struggle to keep their differences aside while also unfurling a scheme by Japan against his country. Mr. Sunshine is a pg-13 series so anybody can watch it.
Where to watch: Netflix
15. Terius Behind Me (2018)
Terius Behind Me also known as My Secret Terrius is a 2018 South Korean Drama about a black ops agent Kim Bon as he goes into hiding after the love of his life dies during a secret mission. Beside his house, lives a single mother Go Ae Rin with her two children and he decides to help her in taking care of them while also figuring out the reason for her husband’s mysterious death.
The rest of the story follow Kim Bon and Go Ae Rin as they try to find the cause of their loved ones deaths while also getting caught up in a huge conspiracy.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
16. True Beauty (2020)
True Beauty follows the story of Jugyeong, a girl who has always been bullied for her looks. Having enough of mean comments and the bullying, she decides to learn makeup skills and as she enters her new school, everybody wants to be her friend because of her beauty. She becomes popular and isn’t bullied anymore.
The rest of the series follows Jugeong trying to hide her true self from her classmates while negotiating with a guy who sees her without her makeup. True Beauty tells people that beauty isn’t everything and that the right people will love you no matter how you look.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Viki, Apple TV
17. The Heirs (2013)
The Heirs follows the story of a young heir Kim Tan of Empire Group who is sent to the U.S. by his elder step-brother as a part of a plan to take over the company. Kim Tan doesn’t care about the company and thus, doesn’t mind staying in the U.S. but one day, he runs into Cha Eun Sang who is a poor girl from Korea looking for her sister in the U.S. and starts to fall for her.
The rest of the series follows Kim Tan and Cha Eun Sang as they return to Korea and he finds out that Eun Sang is the daughter of his housemaid. The Heirs is a perfect drama for someone who is looking for high school drama with a humorous plot and lovable characters.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Prime Video, Viki
18. Welcome to Waikiki
Welcome to Waikiki is a 2018 South Korean comedy series about three very different friends with big dreams as they open up a guest house in Itaewon but have no clue about how to run it. They just want to use the money earned through the guesthouse to sponsor their upcoming film.
The series follows the three friends as they struggle to run the guesthouse with some trouble along the way. Welcome to Waikiki is a perfect drama to watch with your family and children. It will make you laugh so hard, your stomach may start to hurt.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Viki
19. Oh My Venus (2015)
Oh My Venus is a 2015 South Korean show about a girl Kang Joo-eun who looked like a goddess when she was in high school and had every guy fawning over her while every girl was jealous of her. But everything changes when she grows up and gains weight. Her long-time boyfriend breaks up with her and she ends up fainting in an airplane due to the pressure caused in her stomach by her corset.
Soon, she decides that she has had enough and decides to lose weight by training with the best personal trainer in South Korea Kim Young Ho. Meanwhile Kim Young Ho is a famous personal trainer who is trying to keep a low profile due to an incident but decides to help Joo-eun when she finds out who he is and promises to keep his identity a secret in exchange of Young Ho training her.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki, Apple TV
20. Cinderella and The Four Knights (2016)
Cinderella and The Four Knights is a Korean take on the classic tale of Cinderella. It follows the story of Eun Ha-Won, a poor girl who lives with her step-mom and step-sisters and does odd jobs to pay her school’s tuition fee. One day, she is hired by a rich, spoiled guy Hyun Min as his date for his grandfather’s fifth wedding. The wedding doesn’t go as Hyun Min had planned when Ha Won hits him and storms out of there. Hyun Min’s grandfather decides to hire Ha Won to discipline his four grandsons who live together in a mansion.
Ha Won moves in with the cousins and what follows is pure chaos which will make you laugh out loud for sure. Cinderella and the four Knights is perfect for those who like fairy tales like Cinderella and are looking for a light hearted comedy series.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
21. Mr. Queen
Mr. Queen follows the story of Jang Bong-hwan who is a top-notch chef and works in the Blue House. After an accident, he ends up in the body of a young queen Kim So Young of the Joseon period. Meanwhile, Kim So Young’s husband is the current King Cheol Young but doesn’t have much say in the decisions made because the previous Queen controlling his every move.
The rest of the series follows Kim So young as she tries to figure out how to get back in his own body and also helps King Cheol Young in taking control of the realm.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Viki
22. Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Boys Over Flowers is a 2009 South Korean series based on the Japanese manga of the same name. It follows the story of a poor girl Geum Jan Di who stays bright and cheery despite her circumstances. One day, while visiting a prestigious school only meant for elites, she saves a guy from committing suicide and gets a sports scholarship in the school. She struggles to fit in at the new school and when she meets F4, the most troublesome and spoiled boys of the school, she is miserable.
The rest of the series follows Jan Di trying to fit in, make new friends and staying away from F4 but that seems impossible when a member of F4 doesn’t want to stay away from her. Boys Over Flowers is perfect for those people who love watching shows with love triangles, poor-rich love stories and drama.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki, Hulu
23. Angel’s Last Mission: Love (2019)
Angel’s Last Mission: Love is a 2019 South Korean drama series that follows the story of a Prima Ballerina Lee Yeon Seo who is arrogant and proud of her career but it all comes crumbling down when she is met with an accident. She loses her parents and the ability to trust anyone since everybody tries to take advantage of her for the inheritance money left to her by her parents.
Meanwhile, Kim Dan is a bright and optimistic Angel on earth who is tasked with a mission to find true love for Yeon Seo in order to return to Heaven. The rest of the the series follows Kim Dan as he fights to stay calm while helping the arrogant Yeon Seo while also melting her heart.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
24. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017)
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is a comedy drama released in 2017. It follows the story of Do Bong Soon who is gifted with superhuman strength like other women of her family before her. As she is fighting some gangsters who attack her, Ahn Min Hyuk who is the CEO of Ainsoft watches the whole thing and asks her to be his bodyguard.
Now, working as Min Hyuk’s bodyguard, Bong Soon accompanies him everywhere he goes. The rest of the series follows a love triangle brewing between the two and Bong Soon’s childhood friend and a police officer In Guk Doo. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is filled with adorable characters, packed with action and humorous scenes.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney Plus
25. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo follows the story of Kim Bok Joo who is a hardworking female weightlifter. One day, she runs into Jung Jae-yi and gets smitten to him. She tries to be more feminine in front of him but gets laughed at by Jung Joon-hyung, her childhood friend and a swimmer at the same university.
The rest of the series follows Bok-joo as she tries to impress Jae-yi and Joon-hyung as he falls in love with her. Weightlifting fairy Kim Bok-joo is one of the highest-grossing dramas and is loved by a lot of people. This Korean Drama is perfect for those who love sports and love combinations.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Viki
26. Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020)
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol follows the story of a naive girl Goo Ra Ra who wants to be a pianist, but after her father dies, she goes bankrupt and decides to take a trip with the money she has. While on the trip, she is met with an accident and breaks her arm. Sun Woo Joon, the person because of whom Goo Ra Ra broke her arm, feels guilty since she doesn’t have anyone to take care of her and decides to take her to his house.
The rest of the series follows the charismatic and cheerful Goo Ra Ra as she slowly heals her arm and sneaks into Woo Joon’s heart. Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol is a comedy and romantic series which will fill your heart with joy.
Where to watch: Netflix
27. Five Enough (2016)
Five Enough follows the story of a widowed guy Lee Sang Ta who lives with his in-laws along with his two children and doesn’t expect to fall in love with anybody else again. Sang Ta works as a marketing leader in a company where Ahn Mi Jeong also works. Ahn Mi Jeong is a single mother of 3 children whose husband cheated on her 3 years ago and now lives alone with her children.
The rest of the series follows Sang Ta and Mi Jeong as they begin to find love in each other while also struggling to make the in-laws and 5 children come on board. The series consists of 54 episodes that will keep you entertained for a while.
Where to watch: Viki, Amazon Prime Video
28. One Fine Week (2019)
If you had a chance to be somebody else every day, will to take it or leave it? Da Eun is a university student who wishes to be somebody else, and her wish is granted to her. She became a famous singer named Byul and lives as a celebrity. The next day, she lives a luxurious life alongside a celebrity and also sees the downside of it.
The rest of the series follows Byul as she turns into somebody else and experiences life with a different point of view while learning something from it. One Fine Week consists of 10 episodes and is a rollercoaster ride filled with learnings and realizations. It will make you realize that nobody’s life is perfect and that everybody is fighting their own struggles.
Where to watch: Viki
29. Best Mistake (2019)
Best Mistake is a short binge-worthy Korean drama about a girl Kim Yeon Do who is being pestered by a guy from her past and in order to get rid of him, she uploads a photo of a person who she thought was a random guy, but he turns out to be from the same school as her. The guy was none other than the school’s bad boy Ji Hyun Ho who approached her and asked her about the photo.
The rest of the series follows Yeon Do and Hyun Ho as they get to know each other and realize that the rumors circulating around Hyun Ho aren’t true at all and he is actually a good person. Best Mistake consists of 15 episodes which are of 10 minutes each.
Where to watch: Viki
30. EXO Next Door (2015)
Exo Next Door follows the story of a shy 23-year-old girl Ji Yeon Hee who has never dated a guy before. Every time a good-looking guy comes around her, she becomes a nervous mess and blushes badly. One day, she notices that 4 guys have moved into the house right next to hers.
She decides to work part-time there as a cleaner and realizes that the 4 guys are actually members of the boy band EXO, and one of them is her long-lost friend and crush. The rest of the series follows Ji Yeon Hee as she grows out of her shell and becomes an extroverted person while finding herself in a love triangle with two EXO members.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
31. I’m Not a Robot (2017)
I’m Not a Robot is a 2017 South Korean drama about a rich guy Kim Min Kyu who is allergic to humans due to an incident that happened to him in the past. He decides to buy a robot Aji-3 created by Hong Baek Gyun, to have someone to talk to. Hong Baek Gyun made the robot identical to his ex-girlfriend Jo Ji Ah who helps people with shopping while also inventing stuff.
When Aji-3’s battery crashes, Baek Gyun begs Ji Ah to act like the robot and sends him to Min Kyu’s house. The rest of the series follows Ji Ah pretending to be Aji-3 and tries not to get caught. I’m not a robot is a funny and romantic series that is a must-watch for every hopeless romantic.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
32. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (2010)
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho is a 2010 South Korean drama about a Gumiho, a nine-tailed fox, who is freed from a painting that she had been captured in for 500 years by a guy named Cha Dae Woong. While freeing the Gumiho, Dae Woong get’s injured and is saved by the gumiho in exchange for him teaching her how to behave like a human.
As the two get closer, they start to develop feelings for each other and ultimately fall in love. The series follows the love story of a human and a nine-tailed fox.
Where to watch: Viki, Netflix
33. You’re Beautiful (2009)
You’re Beautiful follows the story of a girl Mi Nyu who is about to become a nun but is stopped by the management team of the idol group A.N.JELL. They ask Mi Nyu to act as her brother for a while till he returns from the U.S. Mi Nyu agrees because she doesn’t want her brother’s career to be ruined, and being popular might also increase the chances of finding their mother.
The rest of the series follows Mi Nyu acting like her brother and singing and living with the others guys. You’re Beautiful is a fun series that is perfect for children of any age.
34. One Percent of Something (2016)
One Percent of Something follows the story of an heir Lee Jae In who is handsome and arrogant. To bring his arrogance down a notch, his grandfather came up with a plan. He will have to get into an engagement contract with Kim Da Hyun, a school teacher and the opposite of Lee Jae In, in order to get his inheritance.
Jae In reluctantly agrees and gets into an engagement contract with Da Hyun. The rest of the series follows the duo, who has nothing in common as they work through their differences and creep into each other’s hearts. One Percent of Something consists of 16 episodes and can be watched together with family and children.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
35. Splash Splash Love (2019)
Splash Splash Love is a 2019 time travel drama that follows the story of a high school student Dan Bi who hates mathematics. As the day of her KSAT exam arrives, she finds herself traveling back in time to the Joseon Kingdom due to a mysterious rain shower.
After arriving there, she meets King Lee Do, who loves to learn mathematics and practices it constantly. The rest of the series follows Dan Bi and Lee Do as they find a solution for the drought by working together using mathematics and science while also falling for each other.
Where to watch: Viki
36. Bride of the Century (2014)
Choi Kang Joo is the heir of Taeyang Group, one of the largest conglomerates in South Korea, and is promised to be married to the heiress Jang Ji Kyung. One day, Ji Kyung disappears, and Kang Joo’s parents decide to find someone who looks like her so that nobody can find out about the disappearance or the curse that’s been in their family for a hundred years. According to the curse, the first wife of the eldest son always dies, and that son is Kang Joo.
The rest of the story follows Kang Joo’s parents as they convince Na Doo Rim, a girl from a small village, to act like Ji Kyung while they look for her in exchange for money, and Doo Rim agrees. Will Do Rim melt Kang Joo’s heart and become the new heiress, or will Ji Kyung return before Do Rim and Kang Joo get too close?
Where to watch: Viki
37. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a 2022 South Korean Drama that follows the story of Woo Young Woo, a 27-year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder as she becomes the first attorney with autism. Even though she is treated differently by her colleagues, she shines brightly and doesn’t let them dull her spirits. She works diligently and fights for her clients wholeheartedly.
The rest of the series follows Young Woo as she creatively solves every case, learns to socialize with people other than her best friend, and also finds love. Extraordinary Attorney Woo is heartwarming and inspiring at the same time and a must-watch for everyone.
Where to watch: Netflix
38. Heartstrings (2011)
Heartstrings follow the story of two people, Lee Shin who is the lead singer and guitar player of the band ‘the stupid’ and is only interested in topics concerning music. Meanwhile, Lee Kyu Won is a rich girl who dreams of becoming a great musician so that she can make her grandfather happy.
One day, Lee Kyu Won’s friends convince her to go to a concert with them where ‘The Stupid’ will be playing, and she reluctantly agrees. As she watches Lee Shin singing and playing the guitar, she gets intrigued by him. The rest of the story follows the duo as they get to know each other and the strings of their hearts meet.
Where to watch: Viki
39. Coffee Prince (2007)
Coffee Prince follows the story of Choi Han Gyul, a rich guy who is friend-zoned by his first love but continues to approach her, thinking that someday she might change her mind. Han Gyul’s grandmother wants him to get married and take over their company, so Han Gyul hires a guy, Go Eun Chan, to act as his gay lover to keep his grandmother from setting him up with blind dates. Go Eun Chan is, in fact, a girl dressed as a boy who accepts Han Gyul’s offer because she needs the money to take care of her family.
The rest of the series follows Han Gyul taking over a coffee shop to show his grandmother that he is capable of taking over their company and Go Eun Chan as she works in the coffee shop while pretending to be a guy.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
40. She was Pretty (2015)
She Was Pretty is a 2015 South Korean series about a girl named Hye Jin who used to be cute and rich when she was younger, but when she became a teenager, her family became poor, and she moved in with a friend while working part-time at a store. One day, she gets a text message from her childhood friend Sung Joon whom she hadn’t met in a while.
He asks Hye Jin to meet her, but Hye Jin sends her best friend to meet him instead because she thinks she isn’t pretty enough to meet him. The rest of the series follows Hye Jin as she lands a permanent job and comes to know that her boss is Sung Joon, who has no clue about who she is.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
