Riding the Korean Wave: 25 Must-Watch K-Dramas

With the debut of KBS (Korean Broadcasting System), the first Korean public broadcaster, K-dramas ushered in a new era. Up until the early 1960s, when television distribution was still limited and military control of show content was strictly enforced, dramas were nothing like the beloved family entertainment they are now. The first South Korean television drama ever to air was Backstreet of Seoul in 1962 and more started popping up once the government removed the prohibition on broadcasters receiving revenue from advertisements in 1969.

Thanks to those like Love Ambition, K-dramas became more and more varied as the 1980s came to an end. When new TV networks emerged and governmental censorship and limits were relaxed in the 1990s, broadcasters began investing money in drama productions.

K-dramas started to be sold overseas, once South Korea’s cultural industry was liberalized and the military dictatorship ended. The Korean wave officially began with this.

Here’s an inventory of 25 distinguished K-dramas that sparked the cultural phenomenon.

First Love (1996)

Still hailed as one of the highest-rated K-dramas ever made, First Love is a passionate love story that also emphasizes the bonds of family in a dynamic setting, and is often deemed the initial phase of the Korean wave.

Brothers Sung Chan-woo (Bae Yong-joon) and Sung Chan-hyuk (Choi Soo-jong) struggle to make ends meet as a farming family living in the country. Lee Hyo-kyung (Lee Seung-yeon) is the object of their shared affection. Chan-woo attempts to escape Hyo-kyung, discovering she’s dating his brother. Also, her mafia father is dead against her relationship with Chan-hyuk.

After an abrupt accident that paralyzes Chan-hyuk, Chan-woo enters the mafia’s underworld network bent on exacting revenge from Hyo-kyung’s family for the misery he and his family have endured.

Autumn in My Heart (2000)

Starring Song Seung-heon, Song Hye-kyo, and Won Bin, Autumn in My Heart remain a pioneering work in the Korean melodramatic television series—the first installment of the drama series Endless Love. I like how it melds emotional conflicts, strained familial relationships, illness, physical pain, and grief in a way that complements the characters, who put up with adversities.

The plot hook is introduced when Jun Seo mistakenly switches his sister and another newborn in this hospital. Their upbringing in the same hamlet is then brought into the plot. Eun Seo (Song Hye-kyo) has a decent life, compared to Shin Ae (Han Chae-Young), raised by a single parent. Later, following an accident necessitating a blood transfusion, it is revealed that Eun Seo and Shin Ae were switched at birth and thus brought back to their respective homes.

Years later, Eun Seo and Shin Ae cross paths at a hotel, and Jun Seo (now Song Seung-heon) makes an excellent living out of his work. After a chance encounter, Eun Seo is identified as his long-lost sister, and despite their status quo collapsing, the siblings fall in love.

Jewel in the Palace (2003)

Jewel in the Palace, centered on one’s single-mindedness, Korean Confucianism, and Korean culture, was the top show throughout its run, ranking it as the 10th highest-rated Korean drama.

K-dramas such as this reinforced social hierarchy and the younger generation’s deference towards their elders. As a woman in a patriarchal society, Seo Jang-geum (Lee Young-ae) faces significant challenges but prevails through her moral principles and respect for authorities, eventually becoming the first female royal physician in Joseon history.

Full House (2004)

Lee Young-Jae (Rain), a high-nosed movie star, despises Han Ji-eun (Song Hye-kyo), a struggling writer. Did he then ponder how things would transpire? No. Unbeknownst to him, fate had other plans for Ji-eun and him: it turns their lives, throwing them in “Full House,” shuffles the deck, and compels them to comply.

In the iconic Full House, love-hate relationship play a pivotal role. The Korean wave was largely driven by this mega-hit series in 2004, as it gained momentum during its airing. What is it about Full House that particularly draws me in? A masterful rendering of nuanced emotions is central to director Pyo Min-soo’s approach to the drama title.

Ji-eun’s only remaining memory of her deceased parents is Full House. She spent her formative years living there, which recalls her fondest memories. Young-Jae purchases it, viewing Full House as one of love—he intends to call it home with his significant other. But fate decrees that they must share the property via a contractual marriage after unexpected events. The two parties persist, overcoming roadblocks to find love in the end.

My Lovely Sam Soon (2005)

My Lovely Sam Soon—with Kim Sun-ah, Hyun Bin, Jung Ryeo-won, and Daniel Henney—became the Korean equivalent of Bridget Jones’s Diary. One of the best-rated K-dramas ever, the romantic comedy was a staggering success. It took home honors, including the Grand Prize for TV at the coveted Baeksang Arts Awards and the Grand Prize at the MBC Drama Awards for Kim Sun-ah, who headlined at the time for her titular role.

Her unassuming looks, outgoing personality, and unadorned qualities defied gender stereotypes and K-drama heroines, radically boosting her appeal to a wide audience.

Princess Hours (2006)

A cultural hit that fueled the Korean wave and gave rise to spin-offs, musicals, and remakes, Princess Hours had Yoon Eun-hye, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Jeong-hoon, and Song Ji-hyo. It was the tenth most-watched K-drama of 2006.

Shin Chae-kyeong (Yoon), a typical high school art student, is shocked to learn one day that she must marry Crown Prince Lee Shin (Ju), a schoolfellow. Despite her refusal, Chae-kyeong feels obliged for valid reasons. Just as she’s struggling to get used to her grumpy husband, the traditions, duties, and palace life, Lee Shin’s cousin and second-in-line to the throne, Prince Lee Yul (Kim), walks into the picture, triggering a love triangle.

In a setting where status and powerplay prevail and where customs and values seem to devalue love and emotion, Lee Shin and Chae-kyeong remain true to their growing feelings for each other and unite eventually.

Coffee Prince (2007)

Choi Han-kyul, the heir to a chaebol (Gong Yoo), employs (only) handsome men to work in his family’s café. A tomboy mistaken for a guy named Go Eun-chan (Yoon Eun-hye) lands a job there. She manages to act fraudulently to keep up her job, but as Han-kyul begins to feel something for her (unaware of reality), things spiral out of control.

Boys Over Flowers (2009)

The middle-class Geum Jan-di (Koo Hye-sun) runs into trouble with the formidable F4, led by the pompous, arrogant Gu Jun-pyo (Lee Min-ho), at the posh Shinhwa High School in Boys Over Flowers—the precursor of Korean high school drama, propelling the Korean wave and kicking off superstar Lee Min-ho’s career.

The drama deftly rocked the established order and sparked a cultural revolution, inspiring Korean men—and Asian men, incidentally—to model their looks after the F4 boys. Adopting the image of the “Kkothminam,” or pretty boy or flower boy, they began experimenting with metrosexual fashion, dressing vibrantly and wearing makeup.

Playful Kiss (2010)

Despite receiving low reviews in South Korea, Playful Kiss went on to become a global hit. Indeed, after its finale, a longer commemorative version was posted on YouTube just for this purpose. 

Playful Kiss isn’t quite lighthearted. It’s a pretty serious one that keeps you interested despite its “romance” and “comedy” parts involving a girl who is constantly made fun of by a guy. Her character development in the later episodes, her strength—regardless of how submissive—and, most importantly, the way she makes it difficult for the egotistical, grumpy guy to succumb to her feelings work best.

We see the consequences of interactions between two personality types: an egoistic, popular Baek Seung-jo (Kim Hyun-joong), who disparages and ignores a naive, average Oh Ha-ni (Jung So-min), who romanticizes him still. They experience tension from the moment she writes him a love letter, which considerably chagrins him, and it intensifies when she’s forced to move in with his family.

After making several attempts to persuade Seung-jo, Ha-ni eventually gives up on him due to his severe and unforgiving nature and consents to marry her classmate Bong Joon-gu (Lee Tae-sung). As a result, worried that he might lose her, Seung-jo gets restless and resolves to win her back.

Dream High (2011)

A shared dream of a group of teens at a reputed performing arts school to become idols lies at the heart of this series. Along the way, they realize the real essence of friendship, love, and life.

The 2011 KBS Drama Awards saw Dream High win honors, including Best Supporting Actress for IU, Best New Actor and Popularity Award for Kim Soo-hyun, Best New Actress for Bae Suzy, and Best Couple Award for Kim and Suzy. In Lucerne, Switzerland, Dream High received recognition at the Rose d’Or, a worldwide entertainment television festival ceremony, the next year. It was the first Korean production to win the Golden Rose in the youth category.

Dream High rose to prominence as an ideal teen musical drama courtesy of its unique fusion of storytelling, poignant moments, and an OST chock-full of beautiful songs.

Reply 1997 (2012)

With a time-shift between their past as 18-year-old high school students in 1997 and their present as 33-year-olds at their high school reunion dinner in 2012—where one pair will announce their marriage—Reply 1997 relates to the lives of six friends. As the first installment of the Reply series, it likewise captures the fervent fandom that flourished in the 1990s, when K-pop had only begun expanding in notoriety.

A popular choice among viewers, the series is praised for being heartfelt, authentic, funny, and one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television history, starring Jung Eun-ji as Sung Shi-won and Seo In-guk as Yoon Yoon-je.

My Love from the Star (2013)

My Love from the Star is a profoundly insightful and restorative K-drama. It’s a heart-fluttering romance that surpasses theatrical grandeur, as Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun) sweeps Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun) off her feet.

Min-joon, a trapped-on-earth omnipotent alien, is aghast to see Hallyu star Song-yi living next door. With just three months to go before he returns to his planet, he gets mired in Song-yi’s stormy existence and keeps saving her.

The show achieved unprecedented success thanks to its skillful use of rapid photography and computer-generated action scenes. Its place as an emblem of culture was one of its successes. It brought attention to Korean fried chicken and “Chimaek” (blending “chicken” and “maekju,” a type of beer), Korean language, led to overnight sales of Jun’s clothing, accessories, and beauty items, and the rise in popularity of Korean tourism due to its filming locations.

Healer (2014)

Healer has a unique perspective on life. A 10-year-old 1992 incident brings together a determined reporter, Chae Young-shin (Park Min-young), an esteemed journalist, Kim Mun-ho (Yoo Ji-tae), and an illegal night courier, Seo Jung-hoo, dubbed “Healer” (Ji Chang-wook). As they search for the truth about past crimes and the ensuing murders in the present, they evolve into earnest reporters who resist and battle the media elites.

Though a significant portion of the drama revolves around the characters’ shared history of abandonment, it isn’t a somber tale. The characters’ resilience in the face of a bleak future is admirable. There are 20 episodes bursting with intense action-packed thrills and barely any downtime whatsoever. It’s multi-layered, with each layer unveiling a gripping episode that leads to the next.

Reply 1988 (2015)

Reply 1988 is one of the K-dramas that explores essential Confucian values, such as education, self-cultivation, and the importance of family and community. In the story, five close childhood friends living in Seoul’s Ssangmundong in 1988 are portrayed getting through their rough youth while setting goals for a better future.

We witness the importance of education and hard work in tandem. Together with the characters realizing the value of schooling, the drama highlights the hardships of parents in trying to provide their children with the best education possible.

Descendants of the Sun (2016)

Descendants of the Sun is still an enthralling experience that never fails to stir up nostalgia or the mind’s eye.

It’s an eclectic mix of romance and humor, albeit a Korean action drama one-of-its-kind. The story camps mainly in a conflict-torn Uruk, where Captain Yoo Si-jin (Song Joon-ki), Seo Dae-young (Jin Goo), and the Alpha squad members are tasked with liberating hostages and suppressing terrorism. They work together to conquer setbacks, as do First Lieutenant Yoon Myeong-joo (Kim Ji-won), Doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), and the Haesung Hospital Medical Services staff.

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016)

With a stellar cast and an epic chronicle built on the Hwarang that also revived the flower-boy image, this historical youth romantic K-drama merits all the glory it has gotten thus far.

The Hwarang, or Flowering Knights, an alliance of extremely desirable men, explore love, camaraderie, and more during the downturn of the Silla kingdom. The stellar star cast provides the magnum opus’ unique selling proposition. Along with the leads Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik, and Go Ara, we have more visual delights such as Kim Soo-ho (Choi Min-ho from SHINee), Do Ji-han (Park Ban-ryu), Jo Yoon-woo (Kim Yeo-wool), and Seok Han-sung (V from BTS) appearing in this dramatic expedition and political intrigue.

The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)

Though highly improbable, a fantasy offers a psychological diversion, a coping strategy, and may even serve as a retreat from the harsh realities of life, akin to The Legend of the Blue Sea, a classic fantasy romance that probes the viability of a mermaid from the Joseon era living in modern Seoul.

It follows the romance between Heo Joon-jae (Lee Min-ho), a con artist, and Shim Cheong (Jun Ji-hyun), a mermaid. Reincarnation, forbidden love, and mythology are mainstays of the plot, ingeniously laced together with flashback scenes of their Joseon-era counterparts, Se Hwa (the mermaid) and Kim Dam-ryeon (the town head). 

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God is another gorgeous fantasy K-drama’s rooted in faith, mysticism, mystery, and romance.

Here, an eternal goblin (Gong Yoo) seeks his bride (Kim Go-eun), the one and only who can pull out the (invisible) sword that’s piercing his chest. It’s a flight of fancy—a brilliant one at that—with its beautiful message: a strong desire, endurance, and faith above all lead to what we’re looking for.

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

A young woman who unintentionally finds herself in the Goryo dynasty during a time when rival royal siblings are striving for dominance is the subject of this Korean adaptation of the Chinese novel Bu Bu Jing Xin. Even though what’s happening has a primarily dismal tone, there are tons of heartwarming scenes, especially when Lee Joon-gi and IU’s characters show off their chemistry.

The cliffhangers in each episode and the revelation of information gradually until the end left me intrigued. Not to forget the first-rate videography, jaw-dropping sets, and hilarious banters.

The K2 (2016)

The K2‘s initial leg is a little complicated. But one is kept interested by its hero, Ji Chang-wook! He unarguably pulled amazing action scenes, reportedly, without the use of a body double. The actor underwent specialist training to give his character, Kim Je-ha, an extra convincing look. I was drawn in, though, by his portrayal of an unorthodox action hero, whose vulnerabilities made him more attractive beneath that tough exterior.

Ji stars as a former mercenary soldier for the Blackstone private military organization who left Iraq after being falsely charged with killing his lover, Raniya. Upon his return to South Korea, he’s hired by Choi Yoo-jin (Song Yoon-ah), a businesswoman and the wife of presidential contender Jang Se-joon (Jo Sung-ha), to serve as Go An-na’s (Yoona from Girls’ Generation) bodyguard. Je-ha consents in return for the money needed to exact revenge on Park Kwan-soo (Kim Kap-soo), the opposing presidential candidate who carried out Raniya’s killing. But things go south when Je-ha has to decide between defending An-na and fulfilling what he wants.

The K2 had the highest ratings among cable channels during its run. Our attention is held to the very end by its enthralling drama and the swooning romance between Je-ha and An-na.

Mr. Sunshine (2018)

Mr. Sunshine chronicles a native Joseon man, Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), who fled to the United States and joined the Marine Corps as an officer after the Shinmiyangyo (Battle of Ganghwa) in 1871. Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), a righteous army soldier, captures his heart when he returns to Joseon on a mission. But the presence of Ae-shin’s fiancé and their disparate socioeconomic standings put love to the test.

Moreover, the owner of the hotel, where Eugene rests, and a vicious samurai stand in his way while also he becomes a part of the fight for Joseon’s independence and discovers a scheme by the Japanese emperor to attack Korea.

The drama received accolades for focusing on marginalized groups, including women and lower-class people, and its excellent exposition of inconsistencies and optimism within the rapidly changing late Joseon era.

Crash Landing on You (2019)

A chaebol heiress from South Korea crashes into North Korea due to a paragliding mishap; the local special officer takes care of her, and in what ensues, they fall in love.

In the history of cable television, Crash Landing on You rose to become the third-highest-rated Korean drama. Its rendering of an allegory of the necessity for love and harmony between two countries is what defines it as “so good,” in my opinion.

At a pivotal point in the drama, Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) runs towards Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin), who cries, “Stop running!” Despite the military line with the word “peace” painted on it and armed security teams with guns drawn on both sides, the lovers share a tender moment before bidding adieu.

Sweet Home (2020)

Sweet Home hit a home run in its narrative, profound visuals, and special effects, in tandem with jaw-dropping displays and underlying plots. Its carefully orchestrated swollen havoc and crushing thrills served as the first taste of the following seasons, making it instinctively captivating.

In its first installment, Sweet Home is a chamber of horrors when the Green Home apartment’s occupants mutate into vicious beasts, brutally slaughtering humanity. Sucked into the catastrophic events, Cha Hyun-su (Song Kang) starts to feel monstrous impulses inside of him and knows he’s not exempt from the effects. Eventually, he unites with the beast within and takes on the powers of the contracted, transforming into a dominant force.

Squid Game (2021)

A striking mega-smash from creator-writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk, Squid Game grapples with the macabre horrors of capitalism, social injustice, inequality, and economic hardships.

Using a series of twisted, typical Korean children’s games, the series explores the desperate and indebted participants’ bids for survival and enormous prize money in Seoul. The players quickly come to understand that losing every game results in death and that each death adds a huge sum to the final total.

After forming partnerships with other players and enduring the game’s shocks, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) eventually wins on his own, with him opting to turn back rather than leave as the season comes to an end, with openings to be filled in the next.

All of Us Are Dead (2022)

Cybercrime, bullying, and overuse of social media are just a few of the contemporary social issues that are addressed in the raved All of Us Are Dead. In its first installment, after a botched research experiment puts their lives on the line, students find themselves confined in their school and forced to deal with a harrowing zombie apocalypse.

The horrific descriptions of the carnage in the story are said to have alluded to the Sewol Ferry tragedy. On April 16, 2014, the Sewol ferry overturned while en route from Incheon to Jeju in South Korea. Out of the 476 victims in total, over 250 school students were among the 306 passengers and crew members who died, with the Marine Police unable to save them as the ship steadily sank deeper into the ocean.

The enduring image of a sea of bloodthirsty zombie students in All of Us Are Dead is a disturbing yet powerful allegory to the victims who drowned in the sea when the Sewol ferry incident hit.