The 15 Best Korean Dramas to Binge-Watch in 2023 with your friends, family & loved ones:
Top Korean Dramas to Binge-Watch
Vincenzo
If you’re searching for anything that falls somewhere between “K-Drama” and “Mafia Drama,” then Vincenzo is the program for you. Song Joong-ki plays Vincenzo, a Korean man adopted by an Italian mafia family and nurtured in the mob life in Italy. When his adoptive father dies, Vincenzo is forced to flee to Seoul by his adopted brother.
My Name’
In this gripping thriller, Ji-woo (Han So-hee) goes out to revenge the death of her father, who was involved in the criminal underground. She adopts a new identity as a police officer, working with her father’s former colleague, Choi Mu-jin (Park Hee-soon).
Signal
This detective thriller is set in two timeframes, with investigators from various eras forming a cold case team to solve cases based on real-life crimes. Criminal profiler Park Hae-Young (Lee Je-hoon) and detective Cha Soo-hyn (Kim Hye-soo) collaborate with Lee Jae-han (Choi Jin-woong), a detective from the year 2000, to solve heart-wrenching mysteries and thrills.
Healer
Ji Chang-wook stars as the “Healer,” a night courier who couriers illicit products and does anything the customer needs—as long as it isn’t murder—with the assistance of a brilliant hacker. When he meets tabloid writer Chae Young Shin (Park Min-young) and successful reporter Kim Moon Ho (Yoo Ji-tae), the three discover that they are linked in a variety of ways. Come for the convoluted narrative, but stay for the intense romance.
Crash Landing on You’
Yoon Se-ri, a South Korean heiress, is caught in a storm while paragliding and is thrown into North Korea. Se-ri then encounters Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok, a member of the North Korean aristocratic family and Captain of the North Korean Special Forces. Captain Ri finally devises a strategy to return Se-ri to South Korea with the assistance of his team, but not before they all face the challenges that come their way—and then some. This drama combines romance and humour to tell the story of two star-crossed lovers. It is presently the most popular tvN drama and the second most popular Korean drama in cable television history.
Business Proposal’
Because of its funny romances (and a viral kissing clip), this 2022 rom-com drama has been the year’s biggest success so far. Shin Ha-ri (I.O.I.’s Kim Se-jeong and The Uncanny Counter’s Ahn Hyo-seop) works as a food researcher for a corporation that has recently received a new president, Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop). When her affluent BFF (Seol In-ah) begs her to spoil a blind date for her, the date turns out to be Tae-moo. The morning after their terrible date, Ha-ri receives a phone call: Tae-moo wishes to marry her!?! Their amusing courtship, as well as the second lead romance, will undoubtedly win your heart
Descendants of the Sun
If you’ve torn through Vincenzo and want to spend more time with Song Joong-ki, check out the acclaimed drama that made him part of the Hallyu Wave. This acclaimed drama follows Captain Yoo Si-jin (Song) of the Korean Special Forces as he falls in love with surgeon Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-ko).
Boys Over Flowers’
Males Over Flowers is a classic adolescent drama about a bunch of popular/privileged/not-so-nice males at Shinhwa High School. The F4 gang bullies others to get their way—until a working-class girl called Geum Jan-di arrives on scholarship at the school and stands up to the lads.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo
This drama features one of the most endearing leads and the sweetest friends-to-lovers tale. Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung), a college weightlifter practicing for the Olympics, meets Jung Joon-hyung (Nam Joo-hyuk), a swimmer rehabilitating from a psychiatric condition at the same school. The two sportsmen begin as hesitant friends, but seeing them fall in love provides some amusing and heartwarming moments.
Her Private Life
Park Min-young’s rom-com drama is a charming story of love and fangirling. Sung Deok-mi (Park), an art gallery curator, leads a secret life as a Shi-an fan page administrator. She devotes her life to her profession and family, while keeping her fangirl activities hidden for fear of being judged. Ryan (Kim Jae-Wook) becomes the art director of Deok-mi’s gallery one day, and he quickly organizes a celebrity display including Shi-an. Ryan becomes interested in Deok-mi as she strives to keep her private life hidden.
Run On’
The plot: Ki Seon-gyeom, a star sprinter turned sports agent, meets Oh Mi-joo, who does movie subtitle translations, and Mi-joo feels they were meant to be together. The plot revolves around their blossoming romance, as well as some powerful minor characters. Mi-joo is portrayed by actress Shin Se-Kyung (from Rookie Historian), and Seon-gyeom is played by Im Si-Wan (from Strangers From Hell), so if you recognize either of these actors, you should give this show a go.
Legend of the Blue Sea’
This fantasy romance drama follows the relationship of a con artist and a mermaid who meet and fall in love. Shim Cheong (played by the skilled and gorgeous Jun Ji-hyun) pursues her boyfriend Heo Joon-jae (Lee Min-ho) to land, unaware that she is a mer person. The tale juxtaposes the two’s Joseon-era personas, town chief Kim Dam-ryeong and mermaid Se-hwa, against the present day. What does this signify for their present counterparts? Will Shim Cheong and Joon-jae suffer the same fate?
The Glory, Part 2
Moon Dong-eun (Song) becomes increasingly darker as she meticulously plans her life after graduating from high school in order to exact revenge on her bullies. Park Yeon-jin (Lim) and her companions tormented Moon psychologically and physically back in the day, but they don’t appear to feel any remorse. Moon has returned to get her retribution, and she is vicious. While Yeon-jin is her major target, she is also on the lookout for other bullies. Nobody knows who will be the next victim.
Delivery Man
This 2023 Genie TV original K-drama puts a comedic and romantic take on the fantasy genre, following a young cab driver, Seo Young-min (Yoon), who is given with the unusual ability to see ghosts. As fate would have it, he finds up accepting ghost passengers and assisting them in fulfilling their final request. In one such case, he picks up Kang Ji-hyun (Bang), a female ghost with no recollection of her earthly existence. She is mysteriously unable to exit the cab and therefore finds up joining Seo in his quest of fulfilling wishes, as they jointly pursue a serial murderer.
Love To Hate You
Yeo Mi-ran (Kim) is a skilled and competitive attorney with the Gilmu Law Firm, which focuses on matters pertaining to the country’s entertainment sector. She is highly career-oriented and has no desire for a personal connection. Nam Gang-Ho (Yoo), the most popular and gorgeous actor, shares her disbelief in love and has trust difficulties with women. What happens to these people’s views as they become close?