Top 20 Must-Watch Korean Dramas from Early 2024

The first half of 2024 has thrilled K-drama enthusiasts with numerous new releases. From heart-wrenching romances to thrilling mysteries, this period showcased the best of Korean entertainment.

The industry’s evolution has led to K-dramas reaching new heights in quality. These dramas feature engaging narratives, stellar performances, and impressive production values.

Several standout dramas have gained significant popularity and acclaim. Their compelling plots and well-rounded characters connect with viewers, blending traditional Korean elements with modern storytelling.

This roundup highlights the best K-dramas of early 2024. Whether you crave an emotional rollercoaster, suspenseful journey, or lighthearted comedy, these top picks are must-watches.

1. Marry My Husband

“Marry My Husband” (2024) follows Kang Ji Won’s troubled marriage to Park Min Hwan. His selfishness and overbearing mother worsen their relationship.

Ji Won bears the financial burden and manages all household duties alone. Min Hwan remains jobless and in debt.

Ji Won learns she has terminal cancer. She catches her husband cheating with her friend, Jung Soo Min.

A fatal confrontation unfolds, leading to Ji Won’s death. Miraculously, Ji Won wakes up ten years earlier.

Determined to rewrite her fate, Ji Won orchestrates a marriage between Soo Min and Min Hwan. She investigates her colleague Yoo Ji Hyeok’s growing feelings and hidden secrets at work.

Aired: Jan 1, 2024 – Feb 20, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Park Min Young, Na In Woo, Lee Yi Kyung, Song Ha Yoon
Streaming Platform: Prime Video

2. My Happy Ending

Seo Jae Won has a near-perfect personal and professional life. She is the CEO of a successful furniture company and a social media influencer with over a million followers. She hires designer Yoon Teo as her company’s general manager of design.

In her personal life, Jae Won has a loving husband, Heo Soon Young, and a lovely child. Soon Young is warm-hearted and prioritizes his family above all else.

Kwon Yun Jin, a fellow university art department graduate, is struggling with a divorce and a fading art career. Reconnecting with Jae Won, she becomes envious of Jae Won’s life. Jae Won’s world soon changes as she faces betrayal and hidden secrets.

Aired: Dec 30, 2023 – Feb 25, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Jang Na Ra, Son Ho Jun
Streaming Platform: Netflix, Viki

3. Knight Flower

Cho Yeo Hwa has been a widow for 15 years, belonging to the kingdom’s most prestigious noble family. By day, she is a devoted widow, rarely leaving her home.

At night, Yeo Hwa becomes Hero, a masked saviour of the helpless. During her nocturnal activities, she encounters Park Soo Ho, a senior officer in the Capital Guard.

Soo Ho quickly realizes that Hero and Yeo Hwa are not what they seem. Their paths intertwine, uncovering hidden truths and challenging their perceptions of each other.

Aired: Jan 12, 2024 – Feb 17, 2024
No of Episodes: 12
Cast: Lee Ha Na, Lee Jong Won, Lee Ki Woo, Kim Sang Joong
Streaming Platform: Prime Video, Viki, Apple TV, KOCOWA

4. Captivating the King

“Captivating the King” follows Kang Hee-soo’s quest for revenge against Yi In, a man she once loved. Set during the Qing Dynasty’s invasion of Joseon, Yi In is taken hostage.

Yi In befriends Prince Rui to negotiate for Joseon. The King’s illness causes a succession crisis, with rival factions vying for power.

Yi In returns amid suspicion and meets Kang Hee-soo, disguised as a baduk player. She uses her winnings to ransom hostages.

After the King is poisoned, Yi In claims his brother wishes him to succeed. He ascends the throne, executing his opponents.

Three years later, Hee-soo returns as Mongwoo, seeking revenge. Yi In suspects her motives but allows her close.

Their relationship deepens as Hee-soo schemes to make Grand Prince Munseong the King. Yi In reveals Hee-soo’s father is alive and working for him.

Hee-soo ultimately protects Yi In from an assassination attempt. Yi In avenges his brother’s death and realizes Hee-soo’s true identity and feelings.

Aired: Jan 21, 2024 – Mar 3, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Jo Jung Suk, Shin Sae Kyeong
Streaming Platform: Netflix

5. Doctor Slump

“Doctor Slump” follows Yeo Jeong Woo, a top plastic surgeon whose life changes after a medical mishap. His once-perfect life spirals into uncertainty.

During this period, he reconnects with Nam Ha Neul, a former academic rival. Ha Neul, now an anesthesiologist, questions her monotonous life.

Their paths converge at their lowest points, leading to a deep emotional connection. They support each other through their crises.

Jeong Woo and Ha Neul find solace and happiness together. Their relationship prompts them to reconsider their priorities and pursue a more fulfilling life.

Release Date: Jan 27, 2024 – Mar 17, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Park Hyung Sik, Park Shin Hye
Streaming Platform: Netflix

6. Queen of Tears

“Queen of Tears” centres on Hong Hae-In, the heiress of the Queen’s conglomerate, and her husband, Baek Hyun-Woo, the legal director. Despite living in the same house, their marriage is strained.

After a blissful start, their relationship deteriorates over three years. Miscommunication and in-law issues lead Hyun-Woo to seek a divorce.

Hae-In’s ex, Yoon Eun-Sung, returns, sparking Hyun-Woo’s jealousy. Meanwhile, Man-Dae’s mistress, Moh Seul-Hee, conspires with Eun-Sung against the Queen’s family.

The family hides after Man-Dae’s heart attack. Despite divorcing, Hae-In and Hyun-Woo reconnect, battling Hae-In’s worsening illness.

They defeat their enemies and reclaim their empire. Hyun-Woo and Hae-In find their happy-ever-after.

Aired: Mar 9, 2024 – Apr 28, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Ji Won
Streaming Platform: Netflix

7. A Shop for Killers

“A Shop for Killers” follows 19-year-old Jeong Ji-An, who inherits a perilous shopping mall. Elite assassins target her after her uncle Jeong Jin-Man dies mysteriously.

Jin-Man, a mercenary for Babylon, saves civilians, clashing with the psychopathic Bale. Bale seemingly dies in an explosion but returns for revenge.

Bale and Babylon target Jin-Man and his family, killing his relatives. Jin-Man saves Ji-An and raises her with tough love, teaching her survival skills.

In college, Ji-An learns of Jin-Man’s suicide. She discovers his secret shopping mall dealing in illegal goods and services.

Ji-An, helped by allies, confronts assassins and kills Lee Seong-Jo, her mother’s murderer. Jin-Man returns, having cheated death, as the season ends.

Aired: Jan 17, 2024 – Feb 7, 2024
No of Episodes: 8
Cast: Lee Dong Wook, Kim Hye Joon
Streaming Platform: Disney+, Hulu

8. A Killer Paradox

“A Killer Paradox” follows Lee Tang, who is pulled into a life of crime after accidentally killing a man. The series is now streaming on Netflix.

Lee Tang, a college student, works at a convenience store and dreams of going to Canada. One night, he kills a man in self-defence.

Tang panics and leaves the scene, but a blind woman, Seon Yeo-ok, blackmails him. Unable to pay, he kills her too.

Tang discovers Seon Yeo-ok was also a murderer. He is haunted by guilt but continues to kill evil people.

Tang meets Roh Bin, who wants him to work together to bring wrongdoers to justice. Bin believes Tang has a superpower and supports his mission.

Aired: Feb 9, 2024
No of Episodes: 8
Cast: Choi Woo Shik, Son Suk Ku
Streaming Platform: Netflix

9. Wonderful World

“Wonderful World” follows Eun Soo-Hyun, who loses her son to a car accident. She kills the driver in revenge and goes to prison.

Soo-Hyun, a psychology professor, and her reporter husband Kang Su-Ho had a happy family with their young son, Gun-Woo. Tragedy strikes when Gun-Woo dies in a car accident.

The driver, Gwon Ji-Woong, gets a light sentence due to political ties. Devastated, Soo-Hyun kills Ji-Woong and serves seven years in prison.

Ji-Woong’s son, Gwon Seon-Yul, seeks revenge on Soo-Hyun. He deceives and torments her, causing havoc in her life.

Eventually, Soo-Hyun and Seon-Yul realize they have a mutual enemy. They join forces to take down the person who ruined both their lives.

Aired: Mar 1, 2024 – Apr 13, 2024
No of Episodes: 14
Cast: Kim Nam Joo, Cha Eun Woo
Streaming Platform: Disney+

10. Pyramid Game

“Pyramid Game” stars Bona as Sung Soo-Ji, Ryu Da-In as Myung Ja-Eun, and Jang Da-A as Baek Ha-Rin.

The series begins with Sung Soo-Ji transferring to Baekyeon Girls’ High School. She quickly gets entangled in the brutal popularity ranking system of Year 2, Class 5.

Soo-Ji scores a zero, starting at the bottom and becoming a target of school violence. The episode also reveals the mastermind behind the game.

Will Soo-Ji climb to the top of the pyramid or bring down the game altogether?

Aired: Feb 29, 2024 – Mar 21, 2024
No of Episodes: 10
Cast: Bona, Jang Da A, Ryu Da In
Streaming Platform: Viu

11. Branding in Seongsu

So Eun Ho is the oldest intern at a marketing agency, known for his cuteness and youthful look. Living life as a ‘YOLO’ enthusiast, he unexpectedly starts his internship and clashes with his boss, Kang Na Eon.

Kang Na Eon, a workaholic, is the youngest marketing team leader and a legend in the industry. She climbed the corporate ladder, sacrificing friendships and love for success. Her life changes dramatically after an incident with Eun Ho, whom she initially found foolish.

Following an unexpected kiss, the two enemies swap bodies, leading to unforeseen developments in their lives.

Aired: Feb 5, 2024 – Mar 14, 2024
No of Episodes: 24
Cast: Kim Ji Eun, Lomon
Streaming Platform: Viki

12. Flex X Cop

Flex X Cop follows Jin I-Soo, a chaebol brat turned police officer. Wrongfully arrested for beating up a criminal, he becomes a special cop to save the police’s image.

Jin I-Soo joins the Violent Crime Investigation Team 1 at Gangha Police Station. The team includes leaders Lee Gang-Hyun, Choi Kyung-jin, and Park Jun-young.

Using his wealth and resources, I-Soo helps solve tough cases and gradually wins over his teammates. His father, running for mayor, faces trouble when a body is found on their premises.

I-Soo’s father withdraws from the mayoral race, and I-Soo discovers the hidden cause of his mother’s death. As his family falls apart, his police team supports him through the crises.

Aired: Jan 26, 2024 – Mar 23, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Ahn Bo Hyun, Park Ji Hyun
Streaming Platform: Disney+

13. Lovely Runner

Lovely Runner captures audiences’ hearts with its blend of time travel, emotions, and heartfelt narrative based on “Tomorrow’s Best.” The story centres on Ryu Sun-Jae, a stressed celebrity, and Im Sol, his devoted fan.

Im Sol, a 34-year-old wheelchair user, is transported back in time to change Sun-Jae’s tragic fate. The plot alternates between the modern entertainment world and a sentimental high school environment from fifteen years ago.

In the present, Im Sol mourns Sun-Jae’s unexpected suicide. In her grief, she activates Sun-Jae’s old watch, which takes her back to 2008.

She vows to save Sun-Jae from his untimely death by attending his high school and altering his future.

Aired: Apr 8, 2024 – May 28, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Byun Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon
Streaming Platform: Viki

14. The Atypical Family

The Bok family, possessing superpowers, faces modern problems limiting their abilities. Matriarch Man-heum sees the future but loses her dreams due to insomnia.

Her son, Gwi-ju, can travel back in time but is depressed after his wife’s death. His teen daughter, I-na, reads minds but keeps it a secret.

Man-heum’s daughter, Dong-hee, once flew but is now unable due to obesity. Scam artist Do Da-hae saves Gwi-ju and targets the Bok family for their wealth.

She drugs Man-heum, who believes Da-hae’s massages restore her dreams. Man-heum sets Da-hae up with Gwi-ju, hoping she can regain the family’s powers.

Da-hae’s intentions change as she bonds with Gwi-ju and I-na. The truth about the scam is revealed, leading to a confrontation and eventual alliance to protect the family.

Aired: May 4, 2024 – Jun 9, 2024
No of Episodes: 12
Cast: Jang Ki Yong, Chun Woo Hee
Streaming Platform: Netflix

15. Love for Love’s Sake

Myungha, a dissatisfied 29-year-old, drinks heavily at a bar with a friend. His friend shares that his romance novel will be adapted into a video game, but Myungha sympathizes with a lonely supporting character, Yeowoon.

Myungha wakes up in a high school classroom, transported to the past as his 19-year-old self. He sees a message stating the game has started, with a mission to change Yeowoon’s fate.

Love for Love's Sake — Love for Love’s Sake (Credits: TVING)

Myungha’s first mission is to find Yeowoon, an 18-year-old student-athlete in despair. Yeowoon’s grandma has passed away, and his leg injury hinders his sports scholarship. Myungha rescues Yeowoon from suicidal thoughts.

Myungha tells Yeowoon he was asked by his grandmother to look after him. They bond over ice cream, and Myungha’s kindness improves Yeowoon’s affection level.

Myungha’s new mission is to make Yeowoon like him in 365 days or face deadly consequences. Despite Yeowoon’s guarded nature, Myungha enlists friends to help Yeowoon find happiness again.

Aired: Jan 24, 2024 – Feb 1, 2024
No of Episodes: 8
Cast: Lee Tae Vin, Cha Joo Wan, Oh Min Su, Cha Woong Ki
Streaming Platform: Netflix, iQIYI

16. Wedding Impossible

Na Ah Jeong is a talented actress working as an extra, but she remains unrecognized. Her dating life suffers due to her difficult circumstances.

She has a longtime friend, Lee Do Han, from a chaebol family running LJ Group. Do Han is pressured to marry but has a secret preventing it.

Do Han asks Ah Jeong to pretend to be his wife and daughter-in-law. She accepts, preparing for her first leading role.

However, Lee Ji Han, Do Han’s ambitious younger brother, disrupts their plan. Ji Han wants Do Han to succeed in the family business and tries to stop the wedding, introducing Yoon Chae Won as a potential bride.

Aired: Feb 26, 2024 – Apr 2, 2024
No of Episodes: 12
Cast: Jeon Jong Seo, Moon Sang Min, Kim
Streaming Platform: Viki, Prime Video

17. Love Song for Illusion

The story tells of a King’s fierce obsession and love for an assassin girl. Crown Prince Sajo Hyun leads a double life as a fashion designer while hiding his royal identity. He bears emotional scars from his oppressive father, Sajo Seung. His other personality, Ak Hee, can seduce easily but suffers extreme pain with physical touch.

Yeon Wol, a royal descendant of the fallen Yeon Dynasty, becomes an assassin to avenge her family. She hides her identity and becomes Gye Ra. While trying to kill the king, she falls into a trap and loses her memory.

Aired: Jan 2, 2024 – Feb 27, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Park Ji Hoon, Hong Ye ji
Streaming Platform: Viki

18. The Midnight Studio

In a quiet corner of the city lies a mysterious photo studio for ghosts. Seo Ki Joo, the 7th generation owner, is cursed to run this spectral business. Using a special camera, he captures the last desires of the departed, granting them peace. However, his family’s legacy dooms him to die before the age of 35.

Ki Joo’s life changes when Han Bom, a passionate lawyer, enters the scene. Recently fired for her relentless pursuit of truth, Bom partners with Ki Joo. Together, they seek justice for both the living and the dead.

The studio also employs Assistant Manager Go, who attracts ghostly clients, and Baek Nam Gu, a former cop handling chores. This team balances the living and the dead, uncovering hidden truths for their ethereal clients.

Aired: Mar 11, 2024 – May 6, 2024
No of Episodes: 16
Cast: Joo Won, Kwon Na Ra, Yoo In Soo, Eum Moon Suk
Streaming Platform: Viki

19. Bitter Sweet Hell

The story centres on Noh Young-won, a celebrity psychiatrist, whose life is shattered by her husband Choi Jae-jin’s affair with Lee Se-na. Se-na’s intrusion triggers a series of tragic events, exposing the fragility of their perfect facade.

Determined to confront the truth, Young-won teams up with her mother-in-law, Hong Sa-gang. Together, they tackle betrayal and deception, confronting their vulnerabilities and insecurities.

As they uncover the layers of deceit, they find startling revelations about themselves and their loved ones. Through resilience and determination, Young-won and Sa-gang strive to reclaim their lives, forging a stronger bond and finding redemption.

Aired: May 24, 2024 – Jun 29, 2024
No of Episodes: 12
Cast: Kim Hee Sun, Lee Hye Young, Kim Nam Hee, Yeonwoo
Streaming Platform: Viki