10 Of The Best Korean (K-Drama) Series On Netflix
Image Source: X
Squid Game isn’t the only K-Drama on Netflix. It has had audiences in a chokehold since it dropped back in 2021, but there are plenty of other South Korean-made series on the streaming platform to get your teeth into before season 2 lands this year. Here are ten of the best.
10. 'Black Knight' - 6.4/10 IMDb
Image Source: Heaven of Horror
A Mad Max-esque dystopian drama. Korea’s levels of pollution have reached so high, that people exist on oxygen delivered, Jason Statham style. The concept is simple, but there’s a lot crammed into the 6 episodes, and not just the multitude of weapons that lead, Kim Woo-bin manages to wield. Stylistically, the Black Knight looks great, the CGI is credible, and they make black face masks look like a fashion accessory. The show is based on a webtoon of the same name created by Lee Yun Kyun. You’ll never dare give an Amazon delivery driver sass again.
RELATED:
9. 'Mask Girl' - 7.3/10 IMDb
Image Source: Netflix
This show will appeal to Black Mirror fans. Its twisted humor and thrillingly dark storyline have everything. It stars Korean Singer Nana as an office worker who is so insecure about her looks that she creates Mask Girl. A masked online persona who can do and say the things that she can’t in real life. It does get particularly real in places, the stalking and sexual assault some viewers may find hard to watch, but the violence isn’t gratuitous. Everything is there for a reason. Mask Girl has received a nomination for this year’s Critics Choice Awards.
8. 'Dr Slump' – 7.4/10 IMDb
Image Source: Netflix
A back-to-basics, no-frills romantic comedy for anyone who loves tropes. It’s the enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine pairing, which will send most romance fans spiralling. Both main characters are high-achieving rivals, working as doctors. But as tragedy strikes them both, they find themselves reaching out to each other for support. It stars Park Shin-hye, (Miracle in Cell No.7, The Heirs) and Park Hyung-sik (Happiness, The Heirs) whose performance is buzzing with chemistry. Watch with a hot drink, blanket, and someone to cuddle.
7. 'All Of Us Are Dead' - 7.5/10 IMDb
Image Source: Wallpapers.com
Who doesn’t love zombies? Set in a Korean High School, the series is a cross between The Walking Dead and Battle Royale. All of Us Are Dead doesn’t hold back gore, violence, and limbs snapping in the wrong direction. This isn’t for the faint of heart. Don’t expect this one to get you contemplating the meaning of life, but director Lee Jae-kyoo gives a masterclass in creating a monster feature. The jump scares are timed to perfection.
6. 'Beef' – 8/10 IMDb
Image Source: TV Insider
This show was made with the help of A24, the same studio that just dropped Hazbin Hotel onto Amazon Prime. The series was created by Lee Sung Jin, a Korean/American writer for Marvel’s The Thunderbolts.
Amy Lau (Ali Wong) and Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) nearly collide in a supermarket car park. The road rage spills over from the car into each other’s lives. They go about systematically destroying each other, starting with pranks like weeing on a toilet floor and escalating into life-or-death situations. It’s a witty script, with fantastic acting performances. Both Wong and Yeun walked away with Prime Time Emmys for their parts. Lee Sung Jin also took home writing and directing Emmys. Beef also picked up three Golden Globes and a whole host of other accolades. Beef is a K-drama/US production, so if you are just dipping your toe into South Korean shows after watching Squid Game, this is a perfect follow-up.
5. 'The Glory' – 8.1/10 IMDb
Image Source: TV Insider
The writer, Kim Eun-sook switched genres, ditching the witty rom-coms that made her famous for this clever revenge thriller reminiscent of Lady Vengeance. The Glory is about Moon Dong-eun’s plot to take down her high school bullies. The revenge takes plenty of twists and turns, and Park Yeon-jin, the violent mean girl, doesn’t go down without a fight. The Glory has claimed a whole host of awards including ‘Best Drama’ at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Seoul International Drama Awards. It’s insanely watchable, and there’s a reason both its stars have gone on to take the K-Drama scene by storm. If you haven’t seen this yet, then add it to your playlist.
4. 'Kingdom' – 8.3/10 IMDb
Image Source: Netflix
This unexpected cross-genre series was Netflix's first original Korean Drama. At first look, it seems like a traditional 16th century period piece, full of political intrigue with the Royal Household at the centre. And then…..zombies.
It’s a little jarring at first, but it soon descends into a creepy and engaging horror. It still retains the cinematic beauty of the period, showing Korean culture off in all its splendour. But there are also gangs of people with flesh hanging off their faces trying to eat everyone.
There’s a heavyweight cast to watch out for, Bae Doona from Joon-ho's The Host and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Ryu Seung-ryong from Miracle in Cell No. 7, Kim Sung-kyu from The Outlaws and Kim Hye-jun from Saturday Night Live Korea.
3. 'The Bad Good Mother' – 8.4/10 IMDb
Image Source: Netflix
One of the highest-rated cable TV shows in South Korea’s history, helmed by the two stars of The Glory, Ra Mi-ran and Lee Do-hyun, this was always going to be on Netflix’s syndication list.
The story follows a mother as she tries to re-raise her son after an attempt on his life has reset his brain back to the age of seven. The first time around, it didn’t go so well. Choi Kang-ho lost his father at a young age and his mother’s strict ethos meant he grew into a cold calculating prosecutor who isolated himself from the ones he loved. The amnesia gives them both a second chance. The Good Bad Mother is a heart-warming generational tale with wide appeal.
2. 'Under The Queen’s Umbrella' – 8.4/10 IMDb
Image Source: What’s On Netflix
A historical period drama full of intrigue and betrayal. The epic set and costume design make this series a feast for the eyes. When the Crown Prince falls ill, the other sons have to fight it out for the title. But there’s concubines with their eye on the prize, and an unfriendly dowager looking to take the Queen down. Veteran actress Kim Hye-soo plays the lead role of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, most famous in Korea for wearing a revealing black dress to the Dragon Film Awards in 1993, one of the years she took home the best actress award.
1. 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' – 8.6/10 IMDb
Image Source: TV Insider
A hilarious series about Woo Young-woo, a newly hired lawyer at one of Seoul’s biggest law firms. There’s just one twist, she’s also on the spectrum. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of Asperger's Syndrome that you’ll find in any language, backed up by the accolades that actress Park Eun-bin won for the role (including Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year). Woo has to conquer struggles every day, such as the revolving door into the office, and the grandiose, like protecting the national heritage of Korea in a case. All while having a major fixation on whales. The Extraordinary Attorney Woo is charming, funny, and thought-provoking. It’s well deserving of its high rating.
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
