K-dramas are, at this point, more of a lifestyle choice, and less of a genre you watch once every other month. Some people pick up hobbies, some people start businesses on the side, and some people embark on the quest to find the next bingeable drama (I sincerely hope you’ve apologized to your sleep schedule.)
With so many different titles dropping each month, it can feel as though the universe is telling you to abandon all responsibilities and dedicate your life to watching beautiful people fall in love, chasing demons or serial killers. Tempting, yes, but totally impractical.
Instead, here are ten K-dramas you can watch right now on Netflix, Viki Rakuten, and more, so whether you’re in the mood for crime, comedy, romance, or even a dose of the paranormał, they’re an excellent place to start… or spiral.
Second Twenties (2015)
Second Twenties is one of those dramas that sneaks up on you—you go into it expecting a midlife story, and before you know it, you’re cheering for a woman you don’t know in real life. The show follows 38-year-old Ha No-ra who reclaims her life after putting her dreams on hold for nearly two decades, while being trapped in a dissolving marriage (disclaimer: her husband is.. frustrating, to say the least) and putting everyone else first. What makes Second Twenties so watchable is its blend of midlife crisis comedy and coming-of-age warmth, without trying to be profound; it isn’t interested in pitying No-ra, it’s rooting for her throughout.
The drama keeps things breezy but quietly sneaks in emotional depth. If you’re looking for high-stakes twists like in The Guest, then this drama may feel a bit too slow-paced. If you’ve ever fantasized about a do-over (be it in school, career, or life in general) and liked the “reinvent yourself” vibes of movies like The Intern, then you’ll love this. Personally, I love how the drama reminds you that starting over in life doesn’t have an expiration date—though I still refuse to retake any math classes, no matter how inspiring the message may be.
Tunnel (2017)
If you’re the kind of person who wants a juicy mystery thriller with a sci-fi twist, then Tunnel is your show. It follows Gwang-ho, a 1980s detective who accidentally time-travels into present day Seoul while chasing a serial killer, only to realize the murders never stopped (because apparently catching a killer in your own decade is too easy). He teams up with officers who don’t appreciate his vintage swagger, as he navigates modern policing (and you know, using a mobile phone correctly.)
Tunnel is the kind of show that confidently blends its tones; it’s gripping and emotional with moments of pure awkwardness and fish-out-of-water humor, but it never loses sight of the darker murder-mystery procedural. The pacing is tight with real stakes without veering off into 500 subplots, and the characters are surprisingly layered, which makes you invested in their arcs. Compared to The Guest, which jumps into total horror territory immediately, Tunnel is more accessible; it’s intense, but not “sleep with the lights on” intense, if you know what I mean. If you enjoyed Signal (which is considered the gold standard of time-traveling police shows), you’ll love this underrated gem.
Love in Contract (2022)
Love in Contract is one of those shows that sounds unhinged when you describe it, but when you watch it you end up thinking, “You know what? This works.” Choi Sang-eun is a professional wife-for-hire whose clients “marry” her to avoid nagging families, societal pressure, and being single in a judgemental world, until unintended feelings nudge their way into her strictly business life (I know, it’s delightfully chaotic!) Yes, the premise does require a generous suspension of disbelief, similar to Busted!, but I’ll allow it, because Love in Contract just wants you to have a good time.
It’s a little absurd, but surprisingly easy to recommend to anyone, with its dry humor and oddly relatable and self-aware protagonist. For anyone who loves romantic comedies, slow burn relationships, and love triangles with a heroine who looks like she just walked out of a skin care commercial (seriously, what is Park Min-young’s skin care routine?), this drama checks all of the boxes. If you liked the playfulness of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim you’ll find Love in Contract on the same spectrum.
Witch at Court (2017)
If you’re tired of watching legal dramas that follow the script, and want something with more bite, then you’ve come to the right place. Witch at Court delivers bite alright, along with sass, and a lead character who doesn’t bat an eye about bending the rules, and that’s the best part about it; it lets our lead character prosecutor Ma Yi-deum be flawed, morally flexible, and sharp-tongued without punishing her for it. The show does lean a bit into the melodrama (which good K-drama doesn’t?) but the energetic courtroom scenes and brisk pacing constantly keep things interesting (and it’s such a refreshing change to see a legal drama without monotone old-school prosecutors.)
Yi-deum doesn’t care about being liked, and that makes her extremely likable. As fiery as she is, Yi-deum comes with a tragic backstory, giving her character a duality that gives the audience a deeper look into why she is the way she is. Though The Killing Vote is also essentially a “justice must be served” sort of drama, it’s more grim when compared to Witch at Court, which uses satire and attitude. If you liked Lawless Lawyer or How To Get Away With Murder, you’ll enjoy Witch at Court.
The Guest (2018)
If you want a K-drama that fully commits to horror (no “mysterious happenings at the abandoned lodge” but actual “your worst nightmare just showed up”), then The Guest is your stop. It follows a trio—a psychic, a priest, and a detective—teaming up to find a malevolent spirit. Tonally, this drama is completely different from the other entries on this list; it’s dark and unsettling, with a thick, unnerving atmosphere. The Guest is for viewers who want horror that doesn’t just rely on consistent jump scares; it builds dread slowly and on purpose, and each jump scare feels earned.
Though it can feel like the drama is pure horror (and it is), when you pull the layers back, it’s also about exploring trauma and faith, which makes this show that sticks with you long after the credits roll. If you’re easily rattled and prefer lighter supernatural content (like Hotel del Luna), then this might be a lot. I wouldn’t recommend younger viewers watch The Guest because it can be intense and graphic (think exorcisms, possessions, psychological terrors), so I think this show is best watched only by mature viewers. Where Tunnel has some eye-widening moments, The Guest says “absolutely not,” kind of like The Exorcist, which I respect.
Business Proposal (2022)
If The Guest left you checking under your bed for monsters at 3 a.m. (I’m sorry but that’s the worst possible time to watch a horror drama, but anyways!) you’ll want to cleanse your palate with something light like Business Proposal. The story is about a woman who accidentally ends up on a blind date pretending to be her friend, only to discover that the man across from her is her company’s CEO. Yep, cue the office chaos, enemies-to-lovers trope, and a fake dating plot you don’t need a single brain cell to follow (and needless to say, there are no possessions here, only CEO-induced butterflies.)
Business Proposal knows what it is—a classic, sweet rom-com where you’re yelling at the screen but secretly shipping the leads. The plot is predictable and the stakes are so low you can practically jump over them, but who cares? That’s part of the fun. If you want a romantic comedy with more emotional stakes, then Welcome to Samdal-ri might be a better fit. But if you’re someone who enjoys watching effortless, cozy, and low-stress movies, like Set it Up, then Business Proposal is right up your alley. If you’ve never watched a K-drama before, this can be a great entry point.
The Killing Vote (2023)
The Killing Vote has the kind of premise that’ll have you hooked from episode one. The drama follows a masked vigilante who conducts nationwide “votes” to determine whether certain criminals deserve death—and if the public says yes, the vigilante delivers. Meanwhile, we have the police scrambling to stop a killer who says he’s merely following democracy. I know, riveting right? The Killing Vote is compelling and bold, while balancing social commentary with thriller pacing; some reveals land beautifully, while others could have used a bit more work, but regardless it’s the kind of show that asks the uncomfortable questions about justice, morality, and power, while also giving you enough tension to clench your jaw for 12 episodes straight (I can confirm this firsthand.) The show is fast-paced, so if you’re looking for a comparatively slower-paced legal drama, then Witch at Court could be the right show to watch instead. If you love social thrillers or vigilante-justice angles, like Taxi Driver, then The Killing Vote is the perfect next choice.
Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023)
After some of the more thrilling entries on this list, it’s a bit of a relief to once again talk about a slow, atmospheric comfort watch like Welcome to Samdal-ri. The slice-of-life drama is about a successful photographer whose career collapses, forcing her to return to her hometown where she meets her childhood love once again (and we all know where this is heading, don’t we? It sounds like a plot of a Hallmark movie, yes!) This is a small-town drama done right, it’s warm and thoughtful (and refreshingly unhurried, bringing your heartbeat right down after The Killing Vote.)
There’s no over-the-top drama, just real people navigating real problems. Where Second Twenties is about reinventing your life, Samdal-ri is about rediscovering it. They both have the same pulse, but Samdal-ri feels sunnier. If you’ve ever returned home after being away for a long time, this drama captures the “needing it more than you realized” feeling perfectly. So if you want to escape to a coastal town with a lovable and quirky community, like in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, look no further than Welcome to Samdal-ri.
Busted! (2018-2021)
Okay, so I have to confess, Busted! isn’t a traditional K-drama in the strictest sense, but I just couldn’t keep it off the list. It’s pure entertainment, and I’ll tell you why. A quirky team of detectives come together to play fictionalized versions of themselves to solve a case-per-episode, while untangling an overarching mystery that unfolds throughout the season. If you’re someone who loves variety shows where the cast solves puzzles and challenges together, but wished they had an ounce of a storyline, that’s where Busted! steps in.
There’s nothing like Busted! on this list; it operates in a variety show format, but masquerades as a mystery show, and that’s what makes this show unique. Though the mystery parts of the show are scripted, the cast’s interactions are largely unscripted, making it pure, unserious fun. The cast chemistry (and celebrity cameos) is fabulous, and it’s very clear that they’re having a wonderful time. The episodes themselves are wildly addictive, and I was surprisingly invested in the mysteries and plot twists as well, and not just the antics. It’s as if Running Man was mixed with Knives Out (only with more giggling, and less logic.)
The Heirs (2013)
We’re taking this one back to the early-2010s with The Heirs. With privileged kids, angst, and the kind of family dysfunction that money definitely does not fix, fans of melodrama will find that in troves here. Some parts feel dated, and others have aged like milk (you know, the cliches, classism, the “he stares at her and therefore must be in love with her” stuff), but it’s the kind of luxurious escapism that only a K-drama can deliver. Lee Min-ho leads the pack as the brooding-heart-of-gold heir (with a killer wardrobe!)
The drama is glossy but made watchable with its iconic soundtrack. If you’re a fan of dramatic wealthy-teen romance which highlights that “rich kids have problems too,” then The Heirs should be next on your list. Where Business Proposal is modern and more polished, The Heirs runs on nostalgia, drama, and is sometimes unintentionally funny (one of the side characters is so hilarious, I found him to be the highlight of the show.) If you liked classic teen dramas with love triangles, like Boys Over Flowers or Gossip Girl, then you’ll probably love The Heirs.
