35 Korean Dramas on Netflix for Newcomers

Best Korean Dramas on Netflix (for 2022)

Is it really possible to learn Korean by watching Korean dramas on Netflix?

Yes, it is!! Spicing up our Korean studies with a pinch of Netflix IS possible.

Although watching TV is not usually considered a productive activity, we can assure you the contrary.

Not only will it help with your listening skills, but you can also learn new vocabulary, practice reading with subtitles, discover some slang and expressions, find out more about the country’s culture… and so much more!

There are numerous genres when it comes to K-Series; Romance, Action, Fantasy, Family, Legal, Sci-Fi, Horror and the list goes on.

TOP TIP #1 – I highly recommend dividing each episode into few segments in order to write down any new vocabulary, expressions and phrases down in order to memorise and utilise it later onwards.

Make sure you rewind and rewatch as much as you need to when you do not fully understand, I mean we are paying for subscription every month for a reason, right!?

TOP TIP #2 – Instead of using English subtitles, try putting on Korean subtitles and read out loud as you watch and focus in each segment. This way, you will be able to practice your Hangul reading as well as making sure the dialogue that you’ve heard is fully understood. 

If this is too advanced for you, how about having two lines of subtitles: the first in Korean and second in English (or any other language of your choice)?

One of our favourite plugins does just that, check out the Chrome Extension Language Learning with Netflix. Not only does it provide you with two lines of subtitles, but you can also highlight any word to see it’s pronunciation, translation and more.

Without more ado, let’s move on to the hottest Korean dramas on Netflix that you must watch right now! 👇

14 of the Best Korean Streaming Platforms 🍿

Where to watch Korean dramas? That is definitely a question we all asked ourselves! We listed 12 of the best Korean streaming platforms for you.

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SQUID GAME (2021)

If you haven’t heard about this Korean drama, where on earth have you been! For it’s about time you do!

Squid Game is THE 2021 sensation, on its way to become Netflix’s most watched show ever!

Quoting Fortune, “Squid Game is a survival thriller set in modern-day Seoul, where destitute people are lured into playing simple children’s games to win money — or die trying.”

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

EXTRACURRICULAR (2020)

To pay for his school fees a high school student enters the world of crime. His double life is threatened when some of his classmates start to get curious about his secret.

NOTE – In 2020, Extracurricular was the 9th most-watched of all Korean dramas on Netflix.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

PARTNERS FOR JUSTICE (2018)

An excellent but bad-tempered forensic doctor teams up with a rookie prosecutor from a wealthy family to solve cases.

Partners for justice is a two seasons Kdrama. Episodes were originally 70 minutes long, but they were reformatted to be 35 minutes each.

That is why there is so many episodes instead of the usual 16.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

SIGNAL (2016)

Communicating via a walkie-talkie that transcends time, a profiler from 2015 and a detective from 1989 join forces to tackle crimes and injustice.

NOTE – The drama was inspired by real events in South Korea.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

SISYPHUS (2021)

A genius engineer tries to uncover the truth about the death of his older brother.

A mysterious woman from the future travels back in time to help him save the world from imminent danger.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

VAGABOND (2019)

Cha Dal-gun takes care of his orphaned nephew. The young man decides to go on a trip to Morocco but dies in the plane crash.

Dal-gun goes to Morocco to attend the funeral and recognises someone from the plane his nephew was on.

Despite the news declaring the incident as a structural failure, he realises it is not, and embarks on a heated journey with an operative of the NIS to try and uncover the truth.

NOTE – Vagabond was on top of the Kdramas searches all the way through its finale, gaining an increasing of popularity over time.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

COMEDY

HELLO, ME (2021)

37 year old Bahn Ha-ni feels miserable and unhappy about her life, when her 17 year old self appears in front of her to demand change.

NOTE – Hello, Me is based on the 2011 novel Fantastic Girl by Kim Hye-jung.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

KKONDAE INTERN (2020)

“A condescending ex-manager starts over as a rookie at a new company, where his former intern-turned-current boss is out to return the coffee-run favours.”

NOTE – Kkondae Intern won ‘Best Drama of the Year‘ at the 2020 MBC Drama Awards.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

MAD FOR EACH OTHER (2021)

A man and woman who share the same psychiatrist discover they are neighbours.

The problem? They can’t stand each other and yet, life makes it impossible for them to stay apart.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

STRONG WOMAN DO BONG SOON (2017)

Do Bong-soon has an extraordinary strength, as with all women in her family, but doesn’t really know how to deal with it. 

She found herself becoming the bodyguard of a gaming-company CEO whilst getting in trouble with local gangsters.

DID YOU KNOW – Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon is one of the highest rated Korean dramas ever!

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

THE SOUND OF YOUR HEART (2016)

Based on the longest Korean webtoon series ever of the same name, we follow the ridiculous daily lives of a cartoonist, his girlfriend and his family.

NOTE – You can find the 2018 reboot of this Korean drama on Netflix as well!

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

HISTORICAL

HWARANG (2016)

Set during the turmoil of the Silla period, an elite group of young warriors trained in morals and martial arts find love and friendship.

NOTE – This drama was very popular for its cast, which includes veteran actors (Sung Dong Il, Yoo Jaemyung) as well as younger actors and idols (Kim Taehyung from BTS, Choi Minho from Shinee, Seo Yae-ji…)

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

KINGDOM (2019)

Set during the Joseon Dynasty, a plague resurrects the dead. In the meantime Crown Prince Lee Chang investigates a political conspiracy and rumours of the King’s death.

He finds allies on his journey and in his fight, but the plague adapts and the dead too.

DID YOU KNOW – Kingdom is the first Korean drama produced by Netflix. It was renewed for a second season that will be released at the end of July 2021.

Countries not available.

MY COUNTRY THE NEW AGE (2019)

This story is set during the transitional period between the end of the Goryeo dynasty and the beginning of the Joseon dynasty.

Two friends become enemies following a misunderstanding. They try to protect their country, and the people they love, in their own way.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

QUEEN FOR SEVEN DAYS (2017)

Set during the Joseon period. We follow the story of Queen Sin Chae Gyeong, dethroned from her position by political rivals only seven days after her marriage with the King.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

ROOKIE HISTORIAN GOO HAE RYUNG (2019)

Goo Hae-ryung embarks on a new life as a scholar in the Joseon royal court after hearing about a government post for women historians.

NOTE – The entire production of this drama was financed by Netflix.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

LAW/CRIME

LAW SCHOOL (2021)

At Hanguk University Law School, a professor and his ambitious students embark on an unusual case.

During a supervised mock trial class, a law school professor is found dead at the school.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

STRANGERS FROM HELL (2019)

Yoon Jong Woo travelled to Seoul for an internship.

He finds Eden studio, a cheap and low quality dormitory to live in during his stay.

However his shady neighbours and unpleasant events start to scare him.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

SUITS (2018)

Based on the American series of the same name, we follow the story of Choi Kang-Seok, a renowned corporate attorney, as he hires Go Yeon-Woo, who doesn’t have a law degree but a photographic memory, to help him solve high-stakes cases.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

VINCENZO (2021)

From our friend Wikipedia:

“Vincenzo is a Korean-Italian lawyer for the Mafia. He flees to Seoul after someone attempts to murder him, to try to recover 1.5 tons of gold from the basement of Geumga Plaza, for which he helped a now-dead Chinese businessman hide a while ago.

However, a real estate company under Babel Group has illegally taken ownership of the building.

Vincenzo must use his skills to reclaim the building and recover his fortunes.”

DID YOU KNOW – With great popularity throughout the episodes, Vincenzo is one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

YOU’RE ALL SURROUNDED (2014)

Eun Dae-gu became a detective in order to investigate the murder of his mother 11 years ago.

He spies on his boss, believing he is related to the killer. On the way, he learns about his past and identity.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

MEDICAL

DOCTOR JOHN (2019)

Dr Cha Yo-han cannot feel pain in his own body but is very skilled at what he does.

He works with his resident of anaesthesiology Kang Si-young. Together, they try to diagnose and cure patients’ mysterious pains and diseases.

NOTE – The drama is based on the Japanese novel On Hand of God by Yo Kusakabe.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

DOCTOR PRISONER (2019)

From our friend Wikipedia:

“A skilled doctor is forced to quit working at a hospital after being accused of medical malpractice. He starts working in a prison with the goal of acquiring enough connections to take his revenge.”

DID YOU KNOW – Doctor Prisoner won ‘Outstanding Korean Drama‘ at the 14th Seoul International Drama Award.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

DOCTOR STRANGER (2014)

Not to be confused with the previous entry given the similar names!

As a child, Park Hoon and his father are tricked into going to North Korea. Unable to go back, he trains with his father to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.

He falls deeply in love with Song Jae-hee and tries to go back to South Korea with her, but ends up going alone.

In South Korea, he finds work at a hospital and there, meets a woman that looks exactly like Jae-hee, but claims to not know him.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

DR ROMANTIC (2016)

Kim Sa-bu is a triple-board certified surgeon that relocated to a provincial hospital to teach young doctors, after having a traumatic incident.

DID YOU KNOW – The drama was so popular it was renewed for a second season which aired in 2020.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

GOOD DOCTOR (2013)

Park Si-on is an autistic savant with genius-level memory and keen spatial skills. He eventually enters the field of pediatric surgery as a resident, where he is given six months to prove himself capable.

NOTE – The series received a plaque by the Korea Association of the Welfare Institutes for the Disabled in recognition for creating awareness about autism and how socially challenged individuals can contribute to society. Remakes of this show were made in the US (2017), Japan (2018) and Turkey (2019).

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

ROMANTIC

DESCENDANTS OF THE SUN (2016)

From Netflix: “After a chance meeting in a hospital, an ardent soldier falls for a gifted surgeon. Opposing philosophies tear them apart, but fate has other plans.“

NOTE – The drama received so many awards, Wikipedia has a whole page dedicated to it.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

IT’S OK TO NOT BE OK (2020)

Ko Moon-young is a children’s book author with an antisocial personality disorder. Moon Gang-tae is the caretaker of his brother, who has an autism.

They meet in the hospital where Moon Gang-tae works and slowly develop their feelings for each other as their healing journey begins.

NOTE – The theme of this K-drama is a quite sensitive subject which is not widely discussed in Korea: ‘mental health’. The show was so well-made that The New York Times named this series one of “The Best International Shows of 2020”.

Countries not available.

MR SUNSHINE (2018)

Eugene Choi who was born into slavery. He escapes to the United States after 1871, where he becomes a Marine Corps officer.

Returning to Korea for a mission, Eugene meets and falls in love with an aristocrat’s grand-daughter, but is faced with lots of challenges.

DID YOU KNOW – This drama was acclaimed for its cinematography and story-telling. However, it was at the same time criticised for inaccurate portrayal of historical facts.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

MY LOVE FROM THE STAR (2013)

Do Min-joon comes from another planet. He arrived in 1609 during the Joseon Dynasty, and unable to go back, stays for the next 400 years living under many identities.

Do Min-joon becomes the neighbour of Cheon Song-yi, a famous actor.

With only a couple months away from his return trip to his original home, Do Min-joon realises that Cheon Song-yi looks exactly like her first love from 400 years ago.

NOTE – This drama was so successful, it was said to have set new trends in fashion and makeup. It was also credited for contributing to the Korean wave.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

WHEN THE CAMELLIA BLOOMS (2019)

Dongbaek is a single mother.

When a potential new love enters her life, she finds ways to defy the social stigmas surrounding her.

There’s also someone in town trying to kill her.

DID YOU KNOW – The drama won a Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

SCI-FI

ABYSS (2019)

Go Se-yeon is a successful lawyer, and Cha Min is her friend, a rich heir to a cosmetics empire.

They die in separate accidents, and are both revived into different bodies by supernatural beings using an “Abyss”.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

ALICE (2020)

Set in the year 2050, Alice is a temporal agency specialising in sending clients back through time to see dead loved ones to find peace and closure.

While investigating a string of murders, a detective is stunned to encounter time travellers.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

REUNITED WORLDS (2017)

Twelve years after his death, a high school senior makes a shocking return to the lives of his broken family and friends.

Problem is, he hasn’t aged. With the assistance of his friends he tries to solve the mystery around his death.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

W – TWO WORLDS APART (2016)

After being pulled into the webtoon world created by her father, a surgical resident gets entangled in a murder mystery involving the story’s hero.

NOTE – This drama won numerous awards and was praised for its unique scenario.

Available in: 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

KOREAN DRAMAS ON NETFLIX – BONUS

ITAEWON CLASS (2020)

Here’s one highly praised by our Korean writer Bom: Itaewon Class.

In early 2020, the webtoon-based drama ‘Itaewon Class’ was the talk of the town with its final episode recording a 17% nationwide audience share.

It became the seventh highest-rated series in Korean cable television history.

Protagonist Park Sae-ro-yi lost his father from a hit-and-run accident. It led him to almost kill his dad’s murderer who is the son of very powerful owner of food conglomerate Jangga Group.

The story starts when Sae-ro-yi comes out of jail after three years as an ex-convict.

He then starts focusing on his mission to take down the Jangga Group with his newly opened bar in Itaewon, hoping to turn it into a massive franchise business in Korea.

This is a classic underdog evolvement tale with interesting and diverse characters, which was unusual in K-series in the past; an ex-convict, a sociopath, a transgender person, an African-Korean and an illegitimate son.

Available in: 🇦🇷 🇦🇺 🇧🇪 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇨🇿 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇭🇰 🇭🇺 🇮🇸 🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 🇱🇹 🇲🇾 🇲🇽 🇳🇱 🇵🇭 🇵🇱 🇵🇹 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 🇸🇬 🇸🇰 🇿🇦 🇰🇷 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇨🇭🇹🇭 🇹🇷 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

There you have it, all Korean dramas on Netflix you need to start with if you are a newcomer in the world of Kdramas!

Our team has watched lots of Kdramas in the past and there’s so many available on Netflix it was very difficult to make a choice.

We truly believe you’ll find at least one or two interesting stories to get you starting on this journey.

Of course, we’d be very happy to hear your opinions about which Korean dramas on Netflix are worth watching. And ultimately which are not!

Let us know in the comments. Don’t forget to also check out our articles about Korean Streaming Platforms and the Korean Alphabet, so you can follow along some subtitles.

And if you can’t get enough of K Dramas, we’ve got more for you right here…

29 of the Best Korean Dramas to Binge Watch This Weekend

Don’t limit yourself to apps and books! Watching TV is also an efficient way to learn! Here is our selection of some of the best Korean dramas to study.

Don’t forget also, if you like these we reckon you’ll also love our list of Chinese dramas on Netflix and also the top Japanese TV shows on Netflix.

Don’t we look after you!

63 Korean Words You Never Knew You Knew!

Did you know you already know loads of Korean words and that’s thanks to the inclusion of Korean Loanwords in the language. Here’s our favourites.

KOREAN DRAMAS ON NETFLIX – FAQ’S

Want More From LTL?

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Want to study Korean in Korea instead? Our Korean courses in Seoul can either be taken in small groups of no more than 5 students or individually for a more tailored experience.

We even offer incredible homestay experiences in Seoul too.

To top it all off, it certainly doesn’t end with Korean. Check out the other languages we teach 👇🏻