While 2020 hasn’t been the greatest year, it gave rise to many critically-acclaimed and popular K-dramas. If you’re into K-dramas or have been thinking of getting into them, you’ve probably heard of these 2020 shows: “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” “Crash Landing on You,” “Start-Up,” and “Itaewon Class.” While these dramas are mostly worth the hype, there are many more shows that are just as engaging, if not more, but aren’t as internationally-known. Here are some of this year’s best K-dramas that you haven’t heard enough about.
- The World of the Married
-
The World of the Married was the biggest K-drama to come out of the first half of 2020, at least domestically, as it earned one of the highest viewerships in the history of Korean cable television. The show revolves around a family as they fall apart after Ji Sun-woo catches her husband having an affair and is blinded by revenge. The show also delves into the mental wellbeing of their son, as he is caught in the middle of this tense battle. If you’re looking for a more serious and mature show to watch, The World of the Married is a great place to start.
- Once Again
-
Despite being a huge hit in South Korea and receiving insanely high viewerships, Once Again is not well-known internationally. The show follows a family of six, focusing on the four adult children as they each attempt to pick their lives up after facing broken marriages, unemployment, and the stress they’ve caused their parents. What makes this drama so entertaining is its ability to effortlessly switch between light-hearted humor and serious topics. Not to mention, it has many different storylines; you’re bound to fall in love with at least one of them. Once Again is personally my favorite drama out of this list, so I think it’s totally worth a watch!
- Hospital Playlist
-
Hospital Playlist may be the most internationally-known drama on this list, but it doesn’t get nearly the hype that it deserves. It centers around a group of five doctors who have been close friends since medical school, now work at the same hospital, and are in a band together. Lacking the outright dramatism that K-dramas tend to have, this show seems much more natural and ordinary. However, it still succeeds in simultaneously being heartwarming and tear-jerking. Hospital Playlist received so much praise that it’s releasing a second season later this year, which is rare in Korean television. Before the next season comes out, you should definitely give Hospital Playlist a chance.
- Hot Stove League
-
This show, along with Once Again, is probably the least internationally talked-about drama on this list. Despite that fact, Hot Stove League earned high critical acclaim and won many awards, including Best Drama at the esteemed Baeksang Arts Awards show. The plot focuses on The Dreams, a professional baseball team that has been last in the league for years. The team gets a new manager, Baek Seung-Soo, who is determined to win the championship despite lacking experience with baseball. Hot Stove League follows the team’s journey as they try to reach the championship and navigate their new team dynamic. The best part is that you do not have to like baseball to be able to enjoy this show.
- Extracurricular
-
Like Hospital Playlist, Extracurricular is another show that’s somewhat known internationally but isn’t as hyped up as it should be. The show takes place in high school, centering on student Oh Ji-Soo. Ji-Soo lives a double life as a shy model student and a contributor to an illegal sex-trafficking business, which he runs to earn money for his college tuition. However, he is soon caught, further pushing him into a world of crime. Extracurricular is probably the most serious show on this list, but despite the violence in the drama, it is still super interesting to watch as the characters are pushed to engage in illegal behavior due to their desperation to provide for their dreams and future.
- The Penthouse: War in Life
-
If The World of the Married and the 2019 hit drama Sky Castle had a child, it would be The Penthouse: War in Life. The show revolves around the wealthy residents of the Hera Palace, an affluent and exclusive apartment building. The show delves into the corruption of these families, who use their power to maintain their wealth and reputation, bolster their children’s ambitions, and cover up a murder that has happened in their building– in which they are all suspects. Due to it being full of deceit, greed, revenge, and plot twists, this drama is domestically very popular and deservedly so. It’s even releasing a second season later this year! Although the show gets intense and you’ll grow to hate many of the characters, The Penthouse: War in Life is a definite must-see.