Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now (December 2023)

The world of Korean dramas is a strange and beautiful place. The South Korean entertainment industry is slowly growing to worldwide dominance, as Kpop, Korean movies like Parasite and Minari, and Korean television series take the world by storm. The term Korean drama, or Kdrama, refers to almost any South Korean fictional television series, no matter the subject or genre. That includes comedy, romance, sci-fi, horror, you name it. Most of these television series are based on webcomics, a form of storytelling similar to comics that originated in South Korea. Fair warning: Almost all Korean dramas have quite outlandish premises, but that’s honestly what makes them so good. You just have to learn how to accept the strange and unexpected and go along for the ride. Recently, Netflix has become the go-to place to find the best Kdrama offerings for US audiences. In order to help you jump headfirst into this new and expanding area of television, here are the best Korean dramas available to watch on Netflix, both original and not.

Can’t find what you’re looking for here? Check out our list of the best shows on Netflix and the best romantic K-Dramas.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated December 2023 to include Strong Girl Nam-Soon and Daily Dose of Sunshine.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

Strong Girl Nam-Soon

Rotten Tomatoes: 44% | IMDb: 6.6/10

Strong Girl Nam-Soon is a fascinating sequel series to Strong Girl Do Bong Soon that centers on a mysterious young woman named Gang Nam-soon (Lee Yoo-mi) who comes to Korea in search of her birth family, only to discover her lineage of super-strong women. Co-starring Kim Jung-eun as Hwang Geum-joo and Kim Hae-sook as Gil Joong-gan, Strong Girl Nam-Soon weaves generational drama seamlessly through the fast-paced crime mystery storyline.

Many K-Dramas include a romantic element, and Strong Girl Nam-Soon is no different, but the series stands out with a blend of comedy and action leaning on the familial foundation. Strong Girl Nam-Soon entertains by ensuring a balance of mysterious twists through the detective storyline, as well as allowing the main character to uncover family secrets as the season progresses.

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Daily Dose of Sunshine

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.3/10

Daily Dose of Sunshine is a South Korean web series now streaming on Netflix. The story follows Jung Da-eun (Park Bo-young), a nurse in the Psychiatry Department at a hospital. She takes great care to make sure that her interactions with her patients are — you guessed it — doses of sunshine. Because Da-eun is suddenly transferred to this new (and much more difficult) part of the hospital, she faces lots of bumps in the road as she attempts to help her patients.

The story also includes Dong Go-yun (Yeon Woo-jin), who is a proctologist at the hospital, as well as Song Yu-chan (Jang Dong-yoon) as Da-eun’s closest friend, and Song Hyo-shin (Lee Jung-eun), the chief nurse of the Psychiatric Department where Da-eun works. Daily Dose of Sunshine is based on the life of Lee Ra-ha, a former nurse whose stories inspired the show. The program is directed by Jae-gyu Lee (The Trio Stars).

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The Silent Sea

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 6.9/10

A sci-fi horror series set in space, The Silent Sea follows a crew as they go investigate an abandoned research facility where a tragedy took place. With the mission to retrieve valuable samples that might lead to the creation of more water, a vitally important and expensive resource now in the future, the crew heads into unknown terror when they enter Balhae station. With Bae Doona and Gong Yoo leading this cast, you already know it’s going to be good. Full of mysteries and twists, The Silent Sea is totally bingeable with its revelations and betrayals scattered generously throughout a dystopian story. — Therese Lacson

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Doona!

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 7.2/10

When former pop superstar Lee Doo-na (Bae Suzy) and the unexceptional Lee Won-joon (Yang Se-Jong) end up as unlikely roommates, an even more unlikely romance begins to blossom in this heartfelt series written by Jong Yoon-ha. Based on Min Song-ah’s The Girl Downstairs, Doona! excels in both comedy and romance, with all the best assets of a well-worn genre illustrated throughout each of Doona!’s episodes. Director Lee Jeong-hyo has a clear, keen eye for the chemistry of central pair Bae Suzy and Yang Se-Jong, with the two carrying the weight of the show’s story without ever dropping a beat. – Jake Hodges

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Nevertheless

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.1/10

Starring the beloved Song Kang, Nevertheless was an instant hit with audiences worldwide. Fresh off a rough breakup, art student Yu Na-Bi (Han So-hee), has turned into a cynic who no longer believes in love. But when she meets the intoxicating Park Jae-eon (Song Kang), she’s unable to resist his magnetic pull and flirtatious charm. An emotionally unavailable commitment-phobe in his own right, Jae-eon isn’t interested in a relationship. He’s there for a good time, not a long time. The pair embark on a tentative friends-with-benefits relationship. Both help each other heal from their pasts and fall for each other the more they get to know each other.

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A Time Called You

Rotten Tomatoes: 60% | IMDb: 7.8/10

Based on the Taiwanese television series Someday or One Day, A Time Called You follows the grieving Jun-hee (Jeon Yeo-been), who is transported back to 1998 into the body of a different person, eventually meeting a man who uncannily resembles her deceased boyfriend. Dropping the typical rom-com style of K-dramas in this genre, A Time Called You finds its rhythm with moments of true suspense and tension, perfectly realized by Yeo-been and Ahn Hyo-Seop’s lead performances. Beautifully shot on location in Jeonju-si and Incheon, writer Choi Hyo-bi plays with the concept of time travel without letting its intricacies overwhelm the heartwarming romance at the core of this story. Intriguingly complex, the narrative moves between time and space in a way that helps to blossom the relationship of the central couple — and of the audience with the story. – Jake Hodges

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King the Land

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 4.6/10

Gently toeing the line between both comedy and drama, King the Land sees Lee Jun-ho’s hotel CEO, Goo Won, disheartened by his involvement in an inheritance war, only for his life to find new meaning through his timely meeting with the ever-positive hotelier Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah). The endearing chemistry of the lead couple fuels the comforting narrative fire from creator Cheon Sung-il, who takes a well-worn rom-com genre and finds its best assets, utilizing them throughout the series. King the Land’s gentle, flowing narrative is accompanied by a wonderful soundtrack, showcasing artists such as Punch, Minseo, and Gaho, that seamlessly partners the growth of the show’s central romance. Positively uncomplicated, King the Land is a hit for a reason, with Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ha’s sparkling chemistry a particular highlight.

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Mask Girl

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Mask Girl adapts the popular Naver webtoon created by Mae-mi and Hee-se about a bored young woman who is tired of her mundane office life and dons a mask to become an internet streaming personality. Unfortunately, she attracts the wrong attention, sending her life down a deep rabbit hole filled with murder, mysteries, and multiple personas. The limited series is not just visually stunning — it makes the ambitious choice to have the lead be played by three distinct actresses throughout the run to embody the different personas of Kim Mo-mi: Lee Han-byeol, Nana, and Go Hyun-jung.

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Bloodhounds

Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Bloodhounds is a fist-pumping, breakneck action crime drama from South Korea with masterful fight choreography and acting. The series follows Kim Geon-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Hong Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi), two young boxers who get deeply in over their heads with a notorious loan shark, forcing them to use skills to dive deeper into the criminal underworld to pay off their debts. Though the friendship between the main two stars and the menacing performance of Park Sung-woong as the terrifying loan shark are enough to keep your butts in the seat, the stunning action and cinematography throughout the show are what takes it to the next level, making it an instant classic. – Tauri Miller

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Celebrity

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.4/10

Celebrity is a South Korean mystery thriller starring Park Gyu-young (The Devil Judge) as Seo Ah-ri, a social media influencer whose lust for stardom attracts more than just attention — he must also navigate jealousy and vitriol from her fellow influencers. But that is just the tip of the iceberg as a conspiracy begins to unfold around her that threatens her life — and, more importantly, her celebrity status. The series is a sensational look into the pressures of being a public figure in Seoul’s highly competitive influencer industry with a great visual aesthetic that balances the bright colors of a glamorous lifestyle with the dark and isolating underbelly that lurks beneath the luxury. – Tauri Miller

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The Good Bad Mother

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 8.2/10

The Good Bad Mother is an uplifting drama about second chances that starts in a pretty dark place but soon journeys into an endearing tale of reconciliation. Choi Kang-ho (Lee Do-hyun) is a coldhearted attorney who suddenly gets his memory wiped in an accident that regresses him back to the mind of a child. Unable to take care of himself, he moves back to his hometown to live with his estranged mother, Jin Young-soon (Ra Mi-ran), who sees this as a second chance to be the mother she always wanted to be. The development of the relationship between the and his mother is quite touching, conveying themes surrounding unintentional harm when wanting the best for someone and fighting for love being worth the pain.

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Queenmaker (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Queenmaker is a gripping political drama co-created by Oh Jin-seok and Moon Ji-young. Like a Korean Scandal, Queenmaker follows a talented fixer who, after a crisis of conscience, leaves her successful position with a powerful business conglomerate for the world of politics, determined to make a headstrong civil rights attorney into the next mayor of Seoul — and take down her former employer in the process. Starring Kim Hee-ae as Hwang Do-hee, the brilliant image-maker, and Moon So-ri as Oh Seung-sook, the « rhino of justice » human liberties lawyer, Queenmaker captivates by balancing riveting storytelling with genuine talent. – Yael Tygiel

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Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.6/10

Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a South Korean teen series set in the late 1990s, allowing creators Jung Jee-hyun and Kwon Do-eun to build a fictional story on the foundation of real events. Twenty-Five Twenty-One stars Kim Tae-ri as an ambitious high schooler and a fencing prodigy named Na Hee-do. Co-starring Nam Joo-hyuk, the series follows how the 1997 IMF crisis impacted these young people, following Na as she is forced to move schools. At her new school, she meets Baek Yi-jin (Joo-hyuk), a young man determined to rebuild his life after the economic crisis disrupted his family and their wealth. Twenty-Five Twenty-One deftly explores the fallout of a historical moment while building an exciting and charming romance. – Yael Tygiel

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Crash Course in Romance

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.8/10

Crash Course in Romance is an adorably chaotic South Korean dramedy written by Yang Hee-seung, who worked on the series with director Yoo Je-won. Crash Course in Romance cleverly plays with bittersweet romance tropes to build a universally enjoyable series. The series stars Jung Kyung-ho as Choi Chi-yeol, a math instructor and celebrity at the elite Pride Academy, as well as Jeon Do-yeon as Nam Haeng-seon, a small business owner with a heart of gold who finds herself catching feelings for the famous mathlete. Also featuring Lee Bong-ryeon and Roh Yoon-seo, Crash Course in Romance has a cute and heartwarming first season. – Yael Tygiel

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Our Blues

Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 8.6/10

A drama series with a clever premise reminiscent of a docu-series or reality show, Our Blues explores the individual lives of people who live and work on Jeju Island. Following these individuals’ highs and lows, Our Blues utilizes an innovative omnibus format, allowing the often sweet and bitter moments of the residents’ lives to be highlighted and exposed through multiple varying lenses. Starring Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, and Cha Seung-won, Our Blues creatively depicts the beginnings and ends, as well as moments that can be considered the climax of one’s journey, revealing universally relatable tales about life. – Yael Tygiel

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Under the Queen’s Umbrella

IMDb: 8.5/10

Fans of Game of Thrones, The Great, and even The Crown are sure to love Under the Queen’s Umbrella – a juicy historical drama about a group of people fighting for the throne. The main character in our story is Hwa Ryeong (Kim Hye-soo), a hot-tempered queen attempting to turn her sons into young men fit to wear the crown someday. She’s constantly playing a game of chess with both her family and the people in her court, holding onto power as hard as she can. It’s both beautifully shot and soapy, making it a feast for the eyes and the perfect binge-watch. – Taylor Gates

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Business Proposal

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Meet Kang Tae-mu (Ahn Hyo-seop), a detail-oriented workaholic and the new president of GO Food. Meet Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong), a new researcher at the company who’s crushing hard on her college friend Lee Min-woo (Song Won-seok). Despite having her interests elsewhere, Shin Ha-ri’s best friend Jin Young-seo (Seol In-ah) convinces her to go on a blind date with Kang Tae-mu in her place. When Shin Ha-ri realizes she’s on a date with her boss, though, things get complicated, and she does her best to turn him off. However, when Kang Tae-mu is undeterred no matter what she does while still thinking she’s her friend Jin Young-seo, things get even more complicated. Business Proposal is a sweet and silly K-drama that’s sure to satisfy your rom-com craving. – Taylor Gates

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Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.4/10

If you’re looking for a feel-good watch, look no further than Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Based on the 2004 South Korean film Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong, the series follows Yoon Hye-jin, an intelligent dentist living in the big city. However, when she unexpectedly loses her job, she moves to a small seaside town where she meets Hong Du-sik – a kind man who often works odd jobs. The two have irresistible chemistry, making them a couple that’s impossible not to root for. – Taylor Gates

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All of Us Are Dead

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Based on the webtoon Now at Our School by Joo Dong-geun, All of Us Are Dead is a zombie horror series about high school students who find themselves caught in the middle of a virus outbreak. After an accident leads to a zombie virus being unleashed at a South Korean high school, the students are left to fend for themselves cut off from the outside world by the government. With no supplies and no way to get help, the students must rely on each other and whatever resources they can find to survive this deadly situation. While it is primarily a horror story, the show also addresses a number of social issues. Gory, intense, and well-crafted, All of Us Are Dead has already become one of Netflix’s most popular shows since its release in January 2022. – Remus Noronha

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Hellbound

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb:​​​​​​​ 6.6/10

How would people react if giant demons started beating people to death in the streets and publicly “condemning people to hell” for all to see? Badly! Really badly! Have you seen the history of the human race?? That’s the core premise of Hellbound, a bleak, very brutal exploration of faith and contagious social hysteria that would pair like fine sacramental wine with Midnight Mass; Netflix’s other ponderous and petrifying 2021 tale of religion gone wrong. Directed by Train to Busan helmer Yeon Sang-ho, Hellbound is a slower, more solemn affair than his breakout Korean zombie movie, but it shares his knack for using genre storytelling to ask unanswerable (and unthinkable) questions about the nature of humanity without flinching. – Haleigh Foutch

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