The k-drama genre is uncharted territory for some Netflix users, but it has a lot of great content that is available for people to watch. Figuring out what drama to watch first can be difficult, but that is why I am here as a guide. Here are five Korean dramas that are binge-worthy on Netflix!
- “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”
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“It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” has a very complex storyline and the character development is astounding. Ko Mun-yeong is a children’s book author who encounters Moon Gang-tae when she comes to read her book to children at a mental health facility. Gang-tae works at the facility and they have an encounter that piques Mun-yeong’s interest and leads her to be infatuated with him. This infatuation leads her to insert herself into the lives of both Gang-tae and his brother Sang-tae who lives with him. Her presence is not welcome, to say the least, and it brings a lot of conflicts and unearths buried memories. This K-drama centers around a lot of individual growth and introspection while still demonstrating that every person has someone who will care for them despite their flaws. This drama will tug on the audience’s heart as they watch this journey towards friendship and love. I personally loved this drama because all of the characters were very blunt to the point of rudeness, the characters were not afraid to cross lines that they shouldn’t and the use of sarcasm is unparalleled.
- “Crash Landing On You”
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“Crash Landing On You” is the perfect K-drama to watch if you enjoy a good forbidden love story. The drama centers around Yun Se-ri who is a South Korean businesswoman who ends up in North Korea after a paragliding accident. She is discovered by Ri Jeong Hyeok, who is a North Korean soldier. He decides to help her return to South Korea without detection and temporarily hides her. Se-ri finds herself having to adapt to North Korean society for her own survival, and in the process of doing so, she develops new friendships with some interesting characters. She also falls in love. This drama is absolutely hilarious, action-packed and the love story was brilliantly written. Tears dropped from my eyes quite a few times while watching this show, and managing to get me so emotionally invested that I’d cry is impressive, to say the least.
- “My First First Love”
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“My First First Love” centers around a group of young adults who all end up living together due to a series of unfortunate events. Yun Tae-o lived alone in his grandfather’s house until three of his friends landed on his doorstep needing a place to stay. The group of four has to figure out how to coexist with each other while also grappling with how to move forward with their careers, do well in school and move forward in their romantic relationships. This drama is light-hearted, entertaining and has plenty of love triangles.
- “Itaewon Class”
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“Itaewon Class” centers around a man named Park Saeroyi who goes on a quest for success and revenge after landing himself in prison for attempted murder. With a lot of hard work and effort, he eventually opens a pub called DanBam which he struggles to build into a corporation that rivals the biggest food corporation in South Korea, Jangga Co. The determination that Saeroyi exhibits is admirable and he endures so many traumatic events throughout the show. It was very frustrating watching numerous bad things happen to him at the hands of people that were seemingly untouchable, but watching his journey was inspiring. Not only is this a story that shows why it’s important for everyone to always pursue their dreams, but it also shows the importance of friendship and love as well.
- “Cinderella and the Four Knights”
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“Cinderella and the Four Knights” is about a high school student named Ha-won who ends up living with three rich cousins after being hired by their grandfather. The three cousins have always been at odds and the grandfather hoped that her living with them would improve their relationship. Ha-won has to figure out how to navigate living with three men who all seem to be interested in her while also finding a way to improve their relationship. This drama is a romantic comedy and each person that watches will definitely have a different guy that they are rooting for Ha-won to be with romantically, but that’s a part of the fun. The anguish of not knowing whether she would end up with the guy I wanted her to be with ate at me and kept me invested in the show until the very end. I will say I was not happy with her ultimate decision, but the show was still fantastic!
These shows are all amazing, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them. If any of the titles caught your eye be sure to check them out on Netflix!