Korean dramas, what’s the hype with them? Well…has anyone ever swum the sea for you? Crossed the North Korean border for you? No? That’s because such things only happen in K-dramas, which definitely raises many standards for men to have to live up to!
Among those who now love K-dramas are people who originally judged them without having ever watched them. Many despise K-dramas because they associate them with stereotypes, cultural differences, or they just don’t have the attention span to watch such long series. K-dramas are often 16 episodes, and each episode is an hour long. Korean dramas gained global recognition during the 2010’s for their unexpected plot twists, fashion, and admirable characters.
For those looking to expand your repertoire of genres or just seeking something interesting to watch, below are eight iconic K-dramas favored by die-hard fans.
“Crash Landing on You”— Yoon Se-ri, an heiress from South Korea went paragliding to advertise for her company when a turn of events caused her to land in North Korea. There she met an army officer, Ri Jeong-Hyeok, who helped her hide and safely return to Seoul. Despite their differences, they fall in love. Jeong-Hyeok decided to cross the border for Se-ri to protect her from Jo Cheol-Kang, a corrupt security officer from the North, who has a personal vendetta against Jeong-Hyeok. Because of this, both of their lives are at stake. Will they get their happy ending?
“True Beauty”—– Lim Joo-kyung, a girl who is bullied for her appearance, begs to transfer schools after being humiliated at her current school. Due to family debt, her family has no choice but to move back to their old town. She learns how to do make-up and has an unrecognizable transformation. Just when she thought she had finally resolved her problems, she struggles to hide her true identity. At her new school, she becomes entangled with two boys, Lee su-ho and Han Seo-jun who are rivals. Who does she choose in the end?
“My Demon”— Do Do-hee is the CEO of a major company who is struggling to maintain her position when she ends up meeting Gu-won, an ancient demon. They happen to meet in a freak accident where his powers are transferred to her. In order for Gu-won to access his powers and for Do Do-hee to claim her position, they compromise a fake marriage. Their fake marriage leads to their sincere feelings for each-other and Gu-won slowly regains memories from their past lives where they were once star-crossed lovers.
“Doom at Your Service”—– Tak Dong-gyung is diagnosed with terminal illness, she wishes upon the destruction of the world. Her wish summons Myul Mang who is also Doom personified. She refuses to state her wish again, which causes Doom to offer her a contract where she has 100 days to live. If she does not make a wish by the end of those 100 days, the person she loves the most will die in her place. In a strange turn of events, the person she ends up loving the most will become Myul Mang.
“Weak Hero Class 1”— Si-eun is a high-achieving introverted student whose physical strength is underestimated by his classmates. To combat against ruthless bullies he uses strategic thinking and any available item. Despite the harsh bullying, he becomes good friends with Ahn So-ho, a skilled fighter with strong morals who becomes Si-eun’s protector, and Oh Beom-seok, a wealthy transfer student who struggles to fit in. Beom-seok’s insecurities make him believe So-ho is looking down on him, which leads him down a violent path with a tragic outcome. What will happen now that Si-Eun has lost both of his friends? A highly anticipated Season 2 premiers this spring on April 25.
“Twinkling Watermelon”— Eun-gyeol is a CODA, a child of deaf adults, who dreams of forming a band. After a disagreement with his father, he travels back in time to 1995 where he meets his parents as teenagers. His presence in the past ends up changing the original timeline, causing a different relationship between his parents. In order to complete his interpreted mission, he was sent a helper, Se-kyung. Eun-gyeol saw his mother being neglected, which prevented her from learning her only form of communication, which led him to teach her sign language. However, he was not able to prevent the accident which caused his father to lose his hearing. When Eun-gyeol returns back to the present day, will he be happy with the reality he has created?
“Namib”—Kang Soo-hyeon is a K-pop idol producer who was replaced from her position at Pandora Entertainment. In an attempt to save her career, she decides to help Yoo Jin-woo, a long-term trainee, become an idol while also facing family challenges of her own. Yoo Jin-woo’s insecurities and lack of experience have limited his chances of debuting. Hyeon provides Jin-woo with the materials and support needed for him to achieve his dreams. They form a deeper connection as Yoo Jin-woo begins to attend the same school as her son.
“Twenty Five Twenty One”— Na Hee-Do is an aspiring fencer whose dream is crushed after her school discontinued their fencing team. Baek Yi-Jin comes from a wealthy family that has gone bankrupt and he is now forced to start his life afresh. He begins working multiple jobs to provide for his younger brother and himself. He meets Na Hee-Do while delivering newspapers and they quickly become friends. Hee-Do develops feelings for Baek Yi-Jin, but keeps them hidden due to their age gap. Eventually, Yi-Jin also develops feelings for Hee-Do but their developing careers as a news reporter and a professional fencer challenge their relationship. As the events of September 11th unfold, Yi-Jin is presented with the opportunity to leave South Korea and go to New York, which ultimately leads to their relationship’s end.
Throughout the years Korea has released many compelling dramas one after another and continues to do so. There are dramas for everyone whether you like fantasy, thriller, romance, or comedy. So why not put all differences aside and give one of the listed dramas a try.