Best Korean Dramas (50 Must Watch)
by itaws88 | created - 01 May 2017 | updated - 22 Mar 2019 | PublicMy favorite *** not in any particular order
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- On TV
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
60 min | Drama, Fantasy, History
Korean melodramatic adaptation of Chinese drama Startling by Each Step (2011) follows a woman who travels back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea whenever a total eclipse of the sun took place.
Stars: Lee Joon-Gi, Lee Ji-eun, Kang Ha-Neul, Nam Joo-Hyuk
Votes: 5,152
2. Heirs (2013)
55 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After a chance encounter in LA, two teens from different social backgrounds reunite at an exclusive high school attended by Korea's über rich.
Stars: Lee Min-Ho, Park Shin-Hye, Kim Woo-Bin, Kim Ji-Won
Votes: 7,631
3. Kill Me, Heal Me (2015)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A love story between the son from a wealthy family who has 7 personalities Cha Do Hyun (Ji Sung) and Oh Ri Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) who becomes his secret psychiatrist.
Stars: Seong Ji, Hwang Jeong-eum, Kim Hee-Jung, Shim Hye-jin
Votes: 3,835
4. Healer (2014–2015)
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
An old murder incident involving a group who ran an illegal broadcasting station brings together different people - a mysterious errand guy "Healer" who possesses disguise and fighting ... See full summary »
Stars: Ji Chang-Wook, Park Min-Young, Tae-mi, Jeong Gyu-Su
Votes: 6,010
5. My Love from Another Star (2013–2014)
Not Rated | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Do Min-Joon, an alien that came to our planet 400 years ago, will be able to return to his planet in 3 months, but when he meets famous actress Chun Song-Yi, all the centuries he spent distancing himself from humans come to an end.
Stars: Jun Ji-Hyun, Kim Soo-Hyun, Park Hae-Jin, Yoo In-Na
Votes: 9,070
6. Master's Sun (2013)
62 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Tae Gong Sil has the ability to see ghosts, but their constant demands of help make her life impossible, until she meets Joo Jong Won, handsome CEO that measures everything with money, since when she touches him, the ghosts disappear.
Stars: Hyo-Jin Kong, So Ji-seob, Seo In-Guk, Yoo-Ri Kim
Votes: 3,874
7. Haereul poomeun dal (2012)
TV-Y | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
The story of the secret love between Lee Hwon, a fictional king of Joseon, and Wol, a female shaman. Wol was born as Heo Yeon Woo, the daughter of a noble family who won the love of the ... See full summary »
Stars: Mi-seon Jeon, Mi-kyeong Yang, Eung-soo Kim, Eun-pyo Jeong
Votes: 1,856
8. Boys Over Flowers (2009)
TV-14 | 70 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Poor girl attends the elite Shin Hwa High and is bullied by the leader of F4 (the four richest boys). He becomes attracted to her; however, she has a crush on his best friend. Whom will she choose?
Stars: Ku Hye-Sun, Lee Min-Ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum
Votes: 9,097
9. You Are Beautiful (2009)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Go Mi-Nyu, a girl about to become a nun, is asked to cover for her indisposed twin brother, Mi-Nam, who's on the verge of becoming a k-idol. To do so, she disguises herself as a boy and joins A.N.Jell, a really popular boy band.
Stars: Park Shin-Hye, Keun-Suk Jang, Yong-hwa Jung, Hong-ki Lee
Votes: 3,973
10. Princess Hours (2006)
TV-Y | 60 min | Comedy, Romance
Love, tradition, and politics collide when a spirited young art student is betrothed to the crown prince of South Korea.
Stars: Yun Eun-hye, Ju Ji-Hoon, Ji-Hyo Song, Bool-am Choi
Votes: 2,315
11. Mischievous Kiss (2010)
66 min | Comedy, Romance
Fate brings polar opposite high school classmates (one obsessively attracted to the other, the other indifferent to all advances) to live under one roof. Is romance possible?
Stars: Jung So-Min, Kim Hyun-joong, Tae-Sung Lee, Hye-Young Jung
Votes: 2,889
12. Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
TV-Y | 70 min | Comedy, Drama, History
In the Joseon era, Kim Yoon-hee masquerades as a boy to earn a living as a book transcriber. Her family's dire circumstances and the encouragement of a noble's son finally drive her to attend Sungkyukwan University, forbidden for females.
Stars: Park Min-Young, Yoo-chun Park, Yoo Ah-In, Song Joong-Ki
Votes: 1,288
13. Rooftop Prince (2012)
65 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Crown Prince Yi gak finds that he has been transported from Chosun Dynasty to modern-day Seoul. He meets Hong Se Na, who bears a striking resemblance to his dead wife, and is determined to ... See full summary »
Stars: Yu-mi Jeong, Han Ji-min, Tae-Ri Lee, Yoo-chun Park
Votes: 2,153
14. My Girl (2005–2006)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
With a perpetually indebted father, Joo Yoo Rin learned to lie on the spot and get herself out of tricky situations, which gets Seol Gong Chan, a rich heir to a company, to hire her to impersonate his long lost cousin.
Stars: Lee Da-hae, Lee Dong-Wook, Lee Joon-Gi, Si-yeon Park
Votes: 1,428
15. Shining Inheritance (2009)
70 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After losing her father Go Eun-sung's stepmother kicks her and her autistic brother out of the house. Shortly after her brother is kidnapped. Eun-sung now has to look for her brother while also trying to find a job in order to survive.
Stars: Han Hyo-joo, Lee Seung-gi, Chae-Won Moon, Soo-bin Bae
Votes: 697
16. My Princess (2011)
65 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Kim Tae-hee plays Lee Seol, an ordinary college student who finds out she's a princess and the great grand daughter of the Korea's last Emperor. But life can be complicated for a princess in this funny, quirky melodrama.
Stars: Song Seung-heon, Tae-hee Kim, Park Yejin, Soo-young Ryu
Votes: 770
17. Cunning Single Lady (2014– )
55 min | Comedy, Romance
Na Ae-ra (Lee Min-jung) and Cha Jung-woo (Joo Sang-wook) got married young. Ae-ra wanted to have steady life but Jung-woo business led them to lots of debt and hard work so she broke off ... See full summary »
Stars: Lee Min-Jung, Sang-uk Joo, Gyu-ri Kim, Seo Kang-Joon
Votes: 776
18. All About My Romance (2013– )
Comedy, Romance
A conservative government party member falls for the fiesty young leader of an upstart liberal party in this Korean romantic comedy.
Stars: Shin Ha-kyun, Lee Min-Jung, Hee-soon Park, Chae-Ah Han
Votes: 69
19. Protect the Boss (2011)
TV-Y | 65 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After a long stretch of unemployment No Eun Seol lands a job as secretary to Cha Ji Heon the youngest son of a rich family. However her secretary duties go beyond the ordinary, helping her boss cope and function in normal society.
Stars: Nae-sang Ahn, Gi-soo Byeon, Hwa-yeon Cha, Kang-hee Choi
Votes: 573
20. The King 2 Hearts (2012)
65 min | Action, Drama, Romance
The crown-prince of South Korea is forced to work alongside a female North Korean military officer. Political and emotional complications lead to an uneasy marriage engagement.
Stars: Lee Seung-gi, Ha Ji-Won, Jo Jung-Suk, Jason-Patrick Taylor
Votes: 1,100
21. Goddess of Fire (2013– )
Drama, History, Romance
A Historical drama about Yoo Jung, also known as Jung Yi, the first female potter in the Joseon Dynasty and regarded as the dojo of Shintaro porcelain. 'Yoo Jung' is based on the real ... See full summary »
Stars: Moon Geun-young, Sang-yoon Lee, Kim Bum, Keon-hyeong Park
Votes: 86
22. My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010)
60 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Chae Dae Wong, an aspiring actor, unwillingly releases a Gumiho, a legendary nine-tailed fox, from her centuries-old prison. He runs away terrified and ends up injuring himself badly, but she saves his life and asks to stay by his side.
Stars: Shin Min-a, Lee Seung-gi, Min-woo No, Park Soo-Jin
Votes: 2,504
23. Lie to Me (2011)
Comedy, Drama, Romance
A woman, jealous when her friend steals her first love and marries him, lies that she is married too. The lie ensnares a hotel president who goes along with the lie for his own reasons. Will the lie become reality?
Stars: Seung-su Ryu, Yun Eun-hye, Yun-hie Jo, Sung Jun
Votes: 1,220
24. You Are My Destiny (2014)
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Romance
A touching Korean drama filled with comedy about a girl who finds happiness, friendship and love in the most unexpected way!
Stars: Jang Hyuk, Jang Na-ra, Choi Jin-Hyuk, Dae-chul Choi
Votes: 1,827
25. Faith (2012)
60 min | Drama, Fantasy, History
When the queen-to-be of medieval Korea is badly wounded, Captain Choi Young uses a wormhole to "heaven," which is actually 21st-century South Korea, to bring back the spoiled Dr. Yoo Eun-Soo who becomes a pawn in a game of human chess.
Stars: Kim Hee-seon, Yoon Kyun-Sang, Lee Min-Ho, Deok-Hwan Ryu
Votes: 2,113
26. The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (2007)
55 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A tomboy, mistaken for a lad, maintains the deception for the sake of employment. The situation becomes complicated when her male boss begins to develop feelings for this "boy."
Stars: Gong Yoo, Yun Eun-hye, Lee Sun-kyun, Jeong-an Chae
Votes: 4,261
27. Dong Yi (2010)
TV-Y | 60 min | Drama, History, Romance
Story a simple maid that rises high in the royal harem as a consort and, ultimately, mother of the Korean king.
Stars: Han Hyo-joo, Julia Lim, Soo-bin Bae, Ran Choi
Votes: 1,230
28. Moonlight Drawn by Clouds (2016)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The unlikely love story between a crown prince and his eunuch.
Stars: Park Bo-Gum, Kim Yoo-Jeong, Chae Soo-bin, Kwak Dong-Yeon
Votes: 2,065
29. She Was Pretty (2015)
60 min | Comedy, Romance
When Ji Sung-Joon was young, he was ugly. As he grew up, he began to have an attractive appearance. When Kim Hye-Jin was young, she was pretty. As she grew up, she became ugly. Ji Sung-Joon tries to find his first love.
Stars: Hwang Jeong-eum, Park Seo-Joon, Jun-hee Ko, Si Won Choi
Votes: 3,640
30. Secret Love (2013)
Drama, Romance
A devoted woman makes the ultimate sacrifice for her boyfriend, only to learn that love doesn't always conquer all. Yoo Jeong (Hwang Jeong Eum) is a sweet, upbeat person who has always ... See full summary »
Stars: Hwang Jeong-eum, Seong Ji, Soo-bin Bae, Lee Da-hee
Votes: 942
31. The Girl Who Sees Smells (2015)
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Detective Tae Ho lost his younger sister to a barcode-murder case and lost his ability to taste, smell, and feel pain. He then meets Oh Cho Rim, the only witness to the murder case who possesses a special sense: she can see smells.
Stars: Yoo-chun Park, Shin Se-Kyung, Jin-Seo Yoon, Min Namkoong
Votes: 941
32. The Innocent Man (2012)
60 min | Drama
Kang Ma-Ru is a promising medical student, until he takes the blame for a crime he didn't commit. When he finds an opportunity for revenge, he takes it, using Seo Eun-Gi. Ma-Ru soon ... See full summary »
Stars: Song Joong-Ki, Chae-Won Moon, Si-yeon Park, Kwang-Soo Lee
Votes: 1,435
33. Descendants of the Sun (2016)
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
This drama tells of the love story that develops between a surgeon and a special forces officer.
Stars: Song Joong-Ki, Song Hye-Kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-Won
Votes: 9,375
34. Hyde, Jekyll, Me (2015)
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Koo Seo-Jin (Hyun-Bin) has two different personalities. One of his personalities is cold like Hyde and the other is sweet like Jekyll.
Stars: Hyun Bin, Han Ji-min, Hee-Sung Kwak, Hyeri Lee
Votes: 877
35. Oh My Venus (2015–2016)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A lawyer in her thirties coming out of a long relationship decides to regain her figure and health after meeting a renowned personal trainer who obsesses with leading a healthy lifestyle after suffering a serious injury in his childhood.
Stars: So Ji-seob, Shin Min-a, Sung Hoon, Henry Lau
Votes: 3,450
36. Secret Garden (2010–2011)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A rich young CEO falls for a poor stuntwoman despite class differences, cultural traditions and the man's firmly objecting mother.
Stars: Ha Ji-Won, Hyun Bin, Yoon Sang-Hyun, Sa-rang Kim
Votes: 5,602
37. Mask (2015)
Drama, Romance
Ji-sook facing a hard time because of her father's debts and begin chased by moneylenders. When a series of things happen Ji-sook have to live with Eun Ha's identity (a Woman from elite family) because she look exactly like a Eun Ha.
Stars: Soo Ae, Ju Ji-Hoon, Jeong-hun Yeon, In-young Yoo
Votes: 316
38. The Prime Minister and I (2013– )
Not Rated | Drama, Romance
At 42-years-old, Kwon Yool (Lee Beom Soo) is South Korea's youngest prime minister ever. On top of his reputation of being an honest man of the utmost integrity, he's also a widower who ... See full summary »
Stars: Im Yoon-ah, Beom-su Lee, Yoon Shi-Yoon, Jeong-an Chae
Votes: 313
39. Full House (2004)
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Romance
In a bid to reacquire her childhood home, a free-spirited woman agrees to a sham-marriage with a selfish actor. Their daily lives are complicated by overlapping love triangles and comic misadventures.
Stars: Song Hye-Kyo, Rain, Eun-jeong Han, Seong-su Kim
Votes: 2,986
40. Sassy Girl, Chun-hyang (2005– )
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Chun-hyang is smart and sassy and becomes involved with good looking Mong-ryong. His first love Chae-rin enters the picture. An older man, Hak-do, pursues her. Will they find their way back to each other?
Stars: Chae-Young Han, Hee Jae, Tae-woong Eom, Si-eun Park
Votes: 431
41. Mary Stayed Out All Night (2010)
65 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Wi Mae Ri is the cheerful, pragmatic daughter of a failed businessman who had grown used to being constantly on the move to escape from loan-sharks. She becomes fast friends with the ... See full summary »
Stars: Moon Geun-young, Keun-Suk Jang, Kim Jae-Wook, Hyo-jin Kim
Votes: 695
42. City Hunter (2011)
TV-Y | 60 min | Action, Romance, Thriller
Lee Yun-seong was trained by his father's best friend in order to get revenge on the government for killing everyone in his father's unit.
Stars: Lee Min-Ho, Park Min-Young, Sang-Jung Kim, Ho-jin Chun
Votes: 4,929
43. You've Fallen for Me (2011)
65 min | Drama, Music, Romance
A series of misunderstandings causes Lee Shin, the cocky leader of "The Stupid" and Lee Gyu-won, a student majoring in Traditional Korean Music to start on the wrong foot. Until she sees him performing live, and is immediately captivated.
Stars: Yong-hwa Jung, Park Shin-Hye, Chang-ui Song, Yi-hyeon So
Votes: 1,555
44. Angry Mom (2015)
70 min | Comedy, Drama
This drama is about Jo Gang-ja, a mother who was known as a tough girl in high school. Her daughter Ah-ran is bullied at school and when Gang-ja finds out, she makes it her responsibility ... See full summary »
Stars: Kim Hee-seon, Kim Yoo-Jeong, Hyun-Woo Ji, Ji Soo
Votes: 412
45. Can You Hear My Heart? (2011– )
65 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Can You Hear My Heart features Hallyu stars Kim Jae Won, Hwang Jung Eum and Nam Goong Min in this romantic drama that shows us love in defiance of physical limitations. Dong Joo (played by ... See full summary »
Stars: Jae-won Kim, Hwang Jeong-eum, Min Namkoong, Lee Hye-yeong
Votes: 161
46. Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love (2013)
Drama, History, Romance
Life Of Jang Ok Jung, Later Known As Jang Hee Bin, one of the most famous Concubines of The Joseon Dynasty who was known for her hunger for power.
Stars: Tae-hee Kim, Yoo Ah-In, Geon-ju Lee, Soo-Hyun Hong
Votes: 199
47. Marriage Contract (2016)
75 min | Drama