There is no such thing as too manyKoreandramas. What was once the soap opera ofSouth Koreahas now grown intoa genre that overcomes language barriers and unites viewers from all corners of the globe. Thanks to the Hallyu Wave and the rise of K-pop fandoms, Korean content has also received the same amount of huge fandom.
Despite its name,K-Dramais an umbrella termfor a variety of genres— with some of them even being blended to create a unique story. Whether it’s afantasyromancethat takes on a time-travel arc, or a simple, coming-of-age story that recounts the tenderness of everyday life, there’s always a K-Drama made for everyone.Without further ado, here are the greatest K-Dramas of all time, according toIMDb.
20’Dream High' (2011–2012)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
At the elite Kirin High,six musically gifted students chase their dreams of becoming K-pop stars. From privileged prodigies to rural newcomers, each student comes from a unique walk of life — only united by their penchant for the arts. But in this institution, what matters more is your ability tosteal the spotlight.
With the rise of K-pop these days,Dream Highshows the harsh reality of idol training, showing how background and privileges affect access to opportunity.And yet, no matter the circumstances, these students persevere with the talent they have. Ifcoming-of-age tales were a musical,Dream Highwould fit the box perfectly.
Dream High
19’Princess Hours' (2006)
In a fictional modern-day monarchy,ordinary art student Chae-Kyung is suddenly married to Crown Prince Lee Shin through an old royal pact. Though they bicker constantly, feelings grow amid palace politics and unfinished business. Jealous exes and returning exiled royals complicate theirhappily ever after.
Fans ofThePrincess Diariescould relate to Chae-Kyung navigating the tricky customs and politics of the modern monarchy as a once ordinary civilian, which often leads herself to awkward situations.A re-imagined tale of Cinderella,Princess Hoursis a beloved classic in the world of early K-Dramas.
Princess Hours
18’Light Shop' (2024–)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
A mystical lighting store hidden in a dark alleydraws in strangers burdened by grief. Inside, they discover it’sa limbo-like spacebetween the living and the dead, run by a cryptic shopkeeper. Each visitor must confront personal traumas andpain from their past.
Touching on themes of loss, memory, and redemption,Light Shopis a show about second chances told with supernatural suspense.More importantly, it goes to show that even in the darkest moments when grief feels all-too consuming, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel (or at the shop).
Light Shop
17’My Name' (2021)
Yoon Ji-Woo enters the criminal underworld to avenge her father’s death. Handpicked by a crime boss,she infiltrates the police force as a mole, relying on her modes of deception and violence. Side by side with a headstrong detective,she leads a double lifewithout drawing a line.
Brutal fight scenes, weaponized trust, and unexpected loyaltiesform with every revelation.Ji-Woo’s combat skills aren’t just for show. When words fail, each punch and kick expresses her internal rage and grief. Raw and explosive,My Namedrives home how deeply loss shapes a person prepared for anything.
16’Winter Sonata' (2002)
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Childhood sweethearts Joon-sang (Bae Yong-joon) and Yoo-jin (Choi Ji-woo) are torn apart by a haunting accident –until he returns a decade later with no recollection of their love. As memories surge and heartbreak is revisited, their eventual reunion is far from joyful.
Amnesia might sound likea silly storyline trope, but in this case,it’s used to genuinely explore lost time and all the “what ifs” that could’ve happenedif not for the accident. Holding each other in the snow, lingering glances, and haunting piano crescendos,Winter Sonatasetsthe tone for modern K-Dramaswith slow-burning passion and tear-soaked resolutions.
Winter Sonata
15’A Shop for Killers' (2024–)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Jeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun)inherits her late uncle’s shopping mall and stumbles into its hidden truth: it’s a front of an elite assassin network.Trapped in a plot ofcovert contracts and parental lies, she must fight to survive while uncovering her uncle’s legacy.
A high-octane thrillerpowered by merciless missions, betrayals, and surprising self-discovery in the face of death,A Shop for Killersis bound to get audiences on the edge of their seats as Ji-an battles ghosts from her past and present.
A Shop for Killers
14’Squid Game' (2021–2025)
Neon-streaked arenas of moral decay and greed, all while the rich watch participants fight to the death for their sick pleasure. InSquid Game,every coin clink drives contestants to do the unspeakable,reflecting the hopelessness of a corrupt society.
Squid Game
Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits with deadly high stakes: a survival game that has a whopping 45.6 billion-won prize at stake.
13’Itaewon Class' (2020)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Park Sae Ro-yiopens DanBam bar in Itaewonto dismantle the restaurant empire that ruined his family. Recruiting an unlikely person – a transgender chef, ex-gangster, and diverse friends – they pursue justice through perseverance.
Itaewon Classis more than just a story of revenge –it deals with race, identity, and privilege with frank honesty, fueled by the lead’s character for empowerment through unity. They battle corporate sabotage, social prejudice, and personal traumawith grit and heart.
Itaewon Class
An ex-con opens a street bar in Itaewon, while also seeking revenge on the family who was responsible for his father’s death.
12’The Glory' (2022–2023)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) endured horrifying school bullying that destroyed her teenage world and any prospect of normal life. Years later, a much more mature and assured Dong-euninfiltrates her aggressors' lives intargeted acts of psychological revenge. Her sweet, calm demeanor lies with chilling intent as she wrecks her former bullies by dismantling their families, careers, and public reputations.
While the characters are fictional, Dong-eun’s tormentors aren’t caricatures.With rising cases of bullying in South Korea, they’re disturbingly realistic.A masterclass in simmering tension, revenge is a dish best served slow-cooked inThe Glory.
11’My Love from Another Star' (2013–2014)
Min-joon has lived 400 years on Earth as a quiet, aloof professor — until the shining actress Cheon Song-yi bursts into his life. But their growing connection comes with a cost.The longer he stays on Earth, the worse his alien biology weakens.
Defying centuries of solitude and cosmic rules,My Love From Another Staris just aswhimsical as it is heartbreaking.On the one hand, many root for the leading duo’s relationship to prosper. But on the other hand, the physical stakes that come with pursuing Song-yi are beyond his control.
