Top 8 K-dramas to watch on Netflix

There are many original stories that don’t see the light of day with the international audience, but now that’s not the case thanks to Netflix, which has made it possible for viewers around the world to start streaming some of the best shows that are not limited to South Korea anymore.

You might have come across various K-dramas that trend on Twitter once in a while and have become global phenomena by capturing the hearts of audiences around the world with their captivating storylines, relatable characters, and unique cultural nuances. 

Despite its popularity, there are still many new viewers who haven’t gotten into the world of exploring these popular series, even though they are now available to binge-watch just a touch away! So, if you are one of those who want to explore the K-drama catalog on Netflix, then you have taken the right step forward.

Now you don’t have to look any further, as to give you a headstart, we have compiled a list of the top 7 K-dramas that are sure to leave you hooked and wanting more. From romance to action and everything in between, these shows offer something for everyone.

So grab some popcorn and get ready to immerse yourself in the world of K-dramas!

The Silent Sea

The title, “The Silent Sea,” comes from the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon and plays a crucial role in the story, which follows a crewed mission to retrieve samples from a lunar research base. During a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, space explorers try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.

Mostly science fiction, it also blends genres like thriller and mystery. It received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 75% of 12 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.40/10. 

The Good Bad Mother

A tragic accident leaves an ambitious prosecutor with the mind of a child — forcing him and his mother to embark on a journey to heal their relationship. The series beautifully depicts a mother and son who set off in search of true happiness only after everything is ‘reset’ and are expected to leave a deep impression in delightful laughs.

The series was a commercial hit and became one of the highest-rated series in Korean cable television history. It also set a new record for the highest ratings achieved by any Wednesday-Thursday drama in JTBC history. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a 100% score with 11 audience scores. 

Black Knight

The series is based on the webtoon of the same title by Lee Yun-kyun. It depicts a dystopian future where extensive air pollution has become a huge problem after a comet destroyed most of the world and forced the people who are still alive to depend on the elite delivery drivers for survival. 

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a 67% average Tomatometer and a 73% score from the average audience score. The series entered the top 10 charts in various regions on Netflix. 

Queenmaker

“Power and politics make this even more interesting,” as the plot of the show follows Hwang Do-hee (Kim Hee-ae), who was a genius of image-making and controlled the strategic planning office of a conglomerate. Oh Kyung-sook (Moon So-ri), a human rights lawyer who has lived like a weed, is called a rhinoceros and jumps into the election board to make her the mayor of Seoul.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a 100% average Tomatometer and an 89% average audience score.

Crash Course in Romance

The series follows, “A mother with a heart of gold navigates the cutthroat world of private education when her daughter tries to join a celebrity math instructor’s class. The series was a commercial hit and became one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history.”

In the OTT media service drama rankings, Crash Course in Romance secured the top spot for three consecutive weeks. It ranked first with a topical share of 23.8% in the Top 10 of TV Topicality Ranking in the drama division category for four weeks in a row, and on Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a 95% average audience score. 

Business Proposal

This romantic comedy television series is based on the webtoon of the same title written by HaeHwa and illustrated by Narak.

The show follows, “In disguise as her friend, Ha-ri shows up to a blind date to scare him away. But plans go awry when he turns out to be her CEO — and makes a proposal.” The show has received positive feedback for its way of embracing the clichés of the romcom genre and turning them into “slapstick comedy.”

The series was also praised for its way of depicting the issue of molka in South Korea. Moreover, much to everyone’s surprise, the drama was particularly successful in Asia, ranking as the top series in multiple countries, including Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore, while placing at number two in India and Sri Lanka.

Doctor Cha

The show tells the story of a medical graduate turned housewife who decided to return to the medical field and a doctor’s husband who maintains a perfect dual life. He is great at his job, and he is also great at cheating on his wife. The series was a commercial hit and became one of the highest-rated series in Korean cable television history. The series stars Uhm Jung-hwa in the title role, along with Kim Byung-chul, Myung Se-bin, and Min Woo-hyuk. The series has an 80% Tomatometer with five reviews and a 93% audience score with fewer than 50 ratings.

SPECIAL MENTION: See You in My 19th Life 

This upcoming South Korean television series starring Shin Hye-sun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Ha Yoon-kyung, and Ahn Dong-goo is scheduled to premiere this month on June 17, 2023, on tvN every Saturday and Sunday at 21:20 (KST), and it will also be available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.

The plot follows, “Ban Ji-eum is a girl who has been repeating her life through reincarnation for nearly a thousand years and can remember all her past lives. After her eighteenth life is cut short due to a tragic accident, she decides to reconnect with the people of her past life in her nineteenth one.”

Take a look at the official trailer below: 

Let us know in the comments which one of the above-mentioned series you’ll be checking out to binge-watch this summer season.