We all know the overwhelming feeling of having too many options. That includes movies, books, games and everything in between.
When you start a new genre – whether that’s anime or Korean dramas – you want to ease yourself into it, test the waters before diving in headfirst.
I know the feeling. I started by watching Boys over Flowers in 2010 and have been hooked on to kdramas ever since. You only really need that powerful first drama that’ll make you want to delve into the world of Korean dramas even more.
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If you’re a complete beginner, there are plenty of kdramas that are easy to watch, fun, and will have you kicking your feet. Here are 10 Korean dramas you need to see, from My Love from the Star to True Beauty. Keep reading for these suggestions.
Crash Landing on You (2019)
The first on our list of Crash Landing on You. This is a classic drama that has received rave reviews for anyone who has seen it. This beloved drama centers around our main protagonist on Yoon Se-ri, a South Korean heiress who, while paragliding, accidentally crashes into North Korea due to a freak storm. Following the unfortunate event, she meets Ri Jeong-hyeok, a North Korean army officer who, despite his duty to report her, decides to protect her from the authorities.
Descendants of the Sun (2016)
Next up is Descendants of the Sun (2016). The story follows Yoo Si-jin, a special forces captain, and Dr. Kang Mo-yeon, a skilled doctor, who meet under intense circumstances while both are stationed in a fictional war-torn country. The pair fall in love but their profession makes things complicated. Yoo Si-jin’s dangerous job puts him in harm’s way, while Mo-yeon grapples with her desire to help people in a place ravaged by conflict. It’s an intense but well-worth a watch.
Boys Over Flowers (2009)
This drama is the one that started it all for me. Boys Over Flowers is about Geum Jan-di, a high school girl from a poor family. One day, she’s sent to deliver laundry to Gu Jun-pyo, who mocks her – but she doesn’t back down. Jun-pyo and his group, F4, continue to make fun of her at school, but Jan-di remains unfazed. This confuses Jun-pyo, but at the same time, he’s intrigued by her. The more time they spend together, the more his feelings for her start to grow. This drama is definitely a must-watch.
My Love from the Star (2013)
My Love from the Star is a fantasy drama. It follows an alien named Do Min-joon, who has lived on Earth for 400 years, forced to conceal who he really is. His life is turned upside down when he meets a stunning actress named Cheon Song-yi. With their life now intertwined, Do Min-joo battles with whether he can trust her enough to reveal his true identity. This is a fun watch.
True Beauty (2020)
This Korean drama is all about challenging beauty standards. True Beauty follows a high school girl who wears makeup to cover her imperfections after being bullied at her old school. But as she moves away and meets new friends and a romance, how long can she keep her true identity a secret? This drama is one of my favorites, thanks to the strong male and female characters and the dynamic romance. It stars Moon Ga-young, Hwang In-yeop, and Cha Eun-woo.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo is about Kim Bok-joo, a college weightlifter who excels in her sport but finds it difficult to balance her life as well as self image. This series deals with Boo-joo navigating love, friendship, and her athletic career. The cast includes Lee Sung-kyung as Kim Bok-joo, Nam Joo-hyuk as Jung Joon-hyung, and Lee Jae-yoon as Jung Jae-yi.
Itaewon Class (2020)
Itaewon Class is a relatable drama about finding yourself in your 20s. The story revolves around the main protagonist, Park Sae-ro-yi (played by Park Seo-joon), a young man who opens a bar-restaurant in Itaewon. He hires a team of staff members and grows close with them. A significant part of the plot focuses on Sae-ro-yi’s battle against a powerful corporation, as he strives to overcome the odds.
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017)
Do Bong Soon is a small woman with extraordinary superhuman strength. Tasked with protecting a CEO as his bodyguard, she navigates hilarious situations, budding romance, and thrilling action sequences. It stars Park Bo-young as Do Bong Soon, Park Hyung-sik as Ahn Min-hyuk and Ji Soo as In Guk-doo.
Reply 1988 (2016)
Reply 1988 is a heartwarming coming-of-age drama set in the late 1980s. It follows a close-knit group of friends and their families, as they navigate teenage hood and friendship.
Secret Garden (2010)
Secret Garden is a cool K-drama about a cold-hearted CEO, Kim Joo-won, and a down-to-earth stuntwoman, Gil Ra-im, whose lives are thrown into chaos when they unexpectedly swap bodies. Kim Joo-won navigates life in Ra-im’s body, and it’s not long that he begins to fall in love with her.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
Moon Gang-tae is a caretaker at a psychiatric hospital, and Ko Moon-young, a popular but emotionally troubled children’s book author. After their paths cross, they confront past traumas and learn to slowly heal over time.
Kill Me, Heal Me (2015)
Kill Me, Heal Me follows Cha Do-hyun, a chaebol heir with dissociative identity disorder, as seven distinct personalities emerge from his childhood trauma. Oh Ri-jin, a first-year psychiatrist, works to help him integrate his fractured selves, while secrets from his past and a growing romance complicate his path to healing.