In recent years, audiovisual productions from Korea have invaded the West, drawing the attention of critics, as shown by the statuette for the best film won by Parasite at the 2020 Oscars, and also of the public, as evidenced by the absolute phenomenon that has become Round 6. In the midst of all this success, K-dramas stood out here, conquering their own fans and gaining strength in streaming.
For those who enjoy famous Korean soap operas, we list 10 K-dramas from the Netflix catalog that is unmissable and deserve your attention. Check out these titles below!
1. Nevertheless
Based on a famous webtoon (digital comic popular in Korea), Nevertheless stars Song Kang ( Love Alarm ). The K-drama revolves around two college kids who meet in the Arts department, discover they have a lot in common and become interested in each other. There is, however, a problem: while she was cheated on in her last relationship and no longer believes in love, he is used to a life without commitment.
- Directed by: Kim Ga-ram
- Year: 2021
- Episodes: 10 (1 season)
- Cast: Han So-he and Song Kang
- Link on Netflix
2. My ID is Gangnam Beauty
JTBC’s Korean drama My ID is Gangnam Beauty is also adapted from a webtoon. The title has as its protagonist a young woman tired of being bullied for her appearance and who, therefore, decides to undergo plastic surgery on her face. Her new face, however, becomes a laughingstock at school, until she approaches a boy willing to help her see what her true beauty is.
- Creation: Choi Soo-young
- Year: 2018
- Episodes: 16 (1 season)
- Cast: Im Soo-hyang and Cha Eun-woo
- Link on Netflix
3. Vincenzo
TVN hit, Vincenzo is a Korean drama directed by Hui-Won Kim. In the production, we follow a young Korean lawyer, who since the age of eight was raised by the Italian mafia. After getting away from a betrayal by the criminals, he decides to return to his home country, where, in addition to seeking revenge, he ends up getting in the way of a dangerous cartel and falling in love with a fearless lawyer.
- Directed by: Hui-Won Kim
- Year: 2021
- Episodes: 20 (1 season)
- Cast: Song Joong-ki and Jeon Yeo-been
- Link on Netflix
4. Our Beloved Summer
A title that could not be missing from a list of K-dramas to watch on Netflix, Our beloved Summer earned an 8.6 rating from fans on IMDb. The title follows in the footsteps of a couple of ex-boyfriends who filmed a documentary about their relationship when they were in high school. Now, ten years later, with the documentary having gone viral, they are called upon to shoot a sequel, analyzing their former relationship.
- Directed by: Kim Yoon Jin
- Year: 2021 – 2022
- Episodes: 16 (1 season)
- Cast: Choi Woo Shik and Kim Da-mi
- Link on Netflix
5. Crash Landing on You
One of the highest-rated K-dramas in Korean TV history, Crash Landing on You was originally broadcast on tvN. The series tells the story of a South Korean girl, who has an accident during a relative’s outing and falls into a demilitarized zone in North Korea. Desperate for not being able to be there, she gets help from a local official who hides her and does everything he can to send her back home.
- Creation: Studio Dragon
- Year: 2019-2020
- Episodes: 16 (1 season)
- Cast: Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin
- Link on Netflix
6. Forecasting Love and Weather
K-drama that arrives on Netflix on March 20, 2022, Forecasting love and weather is a romantic comedy that has Song Kang ( Love Alarm ) as the protagonist. The series follows the romance of a couple of meteorologists who work at the National Weather Service of Korea, while also exploring the daily lives, problems and accomplishments of the other employees there.
- Creation: Kang Eun Kyung
- Year: 2022 – current
- Episodes: 16 (1 season)
- Cast: Park Min Young and Song Kang
- Link on Netflix
7. Love Alarm
One of Netflix’s biggest Korean hits, Love Alarm is one of the few series on this list to not have just one season. The production takes place in a society where there is a relationship app that tells you how many people like you within a 10-meter radius. In this scenario, a teenager with personal problems has her feelings messed up when she meets a popular boy who transfers to her high school.
- Director: Lee Na-jung, Kim Jin-woo and Park Yoo-yeong
- Year: 2019 – 2021
- Episodes: 14 (2 seasons)
- Cast: Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram and Song Kang
- Link on Netflix
8. Romance Is a Bonus Book
Netflix original K-drama Romance Is a Bonus Book stars Lee Jong-suk ( While You Were Sleeping ). The title tells the story of a talented and successful writer, who even at such a young age works as editor-in-chief at a publishing house. One day, a jobless and recently divorced publicist, who has a history in her past with the boy, starts working at the same publishing company as him, causing the two to reconnect.
- Creation: Studio Dragon
- Year: 2019
- Episodes: 16 (1 season)
- Cast: Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk
- Link on Netflix
9. A Love so Beautiful
Based on a Chinese production of the same name, A Love so Beautiful is a coming-of-age series. The title follows a group of friends as they emerge from adolescence and into adulthood, focusing on the story of a girl in love with her childhood friend and next-door neighbour.
- Directed by: Seo Min Jung
- Year: 2020 – 2021
- Episodes: 24 (1 season)
- Cast: Kim Yo-han, So Joo-yeon and Yeo Hoe Hyun
- Link on Netflix
10. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Adapted from the feature film Mr Handy, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a 16-episode comedy series. The K-drama has as its protagonist a young dentist who loses her job, after denouncing fraud in the clinic where she worked. Determined to start her life over, she moves from the big city to a coastal region, where she meets and falls in love with a boy who is very dear to everyone and famous for solving all kinds of problems.
- Directed by: Yu Je-won
- Year: 2021
- Episodes: 16 (1 season)
- Cast: Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho and Lee Sang-yi
- Link on Netflix
And, do you recommend any other K-drama to watch in the Netflix catalog? Share your favourites with us!
