K dramas’ ultimate charm is changing the entertainment trend worldwide. Heart touching characters, excellent acting skills, original soundtrack, Amazing storyline have won the hearts of the audience worldwide. The availability of all OTT platforms has brought entertainment content at the fingertips of netizens. This trend has led to a growing interest of worldwide content watchers towards the Korean drama industry.
The popularity of Korean web series on OTT platforms is pretty obvious. Korean drama series are among the new trends in Indian netizens. Since the past decade, K-drama watchers have grown drastically, if we analyze the streaming service like Netflix and Viki (specifically for Korean drama). If your vision recently caught a glimpse of the fascinating screenplays & craving for more, then keep reading; we have brought a catalog listing of the best Korean drama web series, which will make you think that there is a beautiful euphoria world too. Here we are with the top 20 mixes of the latest and classical Korean dramas of recent and the past decade.
Top 20 Killer Korean Drama According to Internet Movie Database(IMDB) in Year Wise Chronological Order.
1. It’s Okay Not To Be Okay (2020)
- Comedy Drama Romance
- Director: Park Shin Woo
- Writer: Jo Yong
- Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Park Jin Jo, Oh Jeong Se, Park Gyuyoung, Park Jin Jo, Kim Joo Heon
- IMDb: 8
- Platforms Available: Netflix
Romantic comedy It’s Okay Not To Be Okay is the story of two lonely hearts Moon Kang Tae & Go Moon Young, who doesn’t have time for love and all. Moon Kang Tae is a health community worker, and Go Moon Young is an eminent children story writer. The dilemma here is that Go Moon young is dealing with Antisocial personality disorder & Moon Kang Tae has his other troubles to deal with. Things start changing in their lives when they met each other in a psychiatric ward and fall in love. Completely unaware of love, will their love story reach a suitable conclusion?
Awards For her splendid role Seo Ye Ji won the actress of the year title at the brand of the year awards & won the best artist award at the Asia artist awards in 2020.
2. The Flower Of Evil (2020)
- Mystery Romance Thriller
- Director: Cheol Gyu Kim
- Writer: Yoo Jung Hee
- Cast: Lee Joon Gi, Chae Won Moon, Choi Dae Hoon, Hyun Woo Seo, Gi Ae Nam, Kim Soo Oh
- IMDb: 7
- Platforms Available: iQIYI, Viki and ViuTV
Baek Hee Sung & Cha Ji won are the happily married couple. Baek Hee Sung posses every characteristic of an ideal husband as he is hardworking, caring who takes care of his family the best way he can. Still, the foundation of their euphoric world staggers when some heart jinxing incidents come during the investigation in the sight of Cha Ji Won who is a promising homicide detective secretly. What is the secret, and what will happen to their blissful world as she knows something about him?
In 2020, Lee Jon Gi won the best artist & Asia celebrity title at the Asia awards.
3. Itaewon Class (2020)
- Drama Romance
- Director: Kim Seong Yoon
- Writer: Kwang Jin
- Cast: Park Seo Joon, Kim Dami, Kwon Nara, Yoo Jae Myung, Ahn Bo Hyun, Kim Dong Hee
- IMDb: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
- Platforms Available: Netflix
The story begins with a high school picturesque featuring protagonist Park Sae Ro Yi. During the blissful day of high school, Things change when Park Sae Ro Yi heat the story by smashing Jang Geun Won, who was bullying a classmate. After smashing him, he faces threatening consequences as he refuses to apologize to Jang Geun Won. His refusal costs him the restriction from school, and his dad is fired from the job as he was working in the chain of restaurants in possession of Jang Geun Won’s father. Soon after the incident, antagonist Jang Geun Won viciously kills Park Sae Ro YI’s father. The real call to action begins after this incident when Park Sae fiercely beats Jang Geun and faces arrest for assault and violation of rules. What will happen next? What will he do? This is the debut series of the production company “Showbox.”
Awards Itaewon class won the best OST award by MAMA awards in 2020.
4. Crash Landing On You (2019)
- Comedy Romance
- Director: Lee Jeong Hyo
- Writer: Park Ji Eun
- CAST: Son Ye-Jin, Jung Hyun Kim, Hyun Bin, Ji-Hye Seo, Yang Kyung Won
- IMDb: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
- Platforms Available: Netflix
The story of Crash landing on you starts when Seri, who was paragliding in North Korean regions thrown away by a ferocious tornado. Completely unaware, she lands in North Korea DMZ, which is strictly prohibited for South Korean citizens. Things move ahead when she meets Ri Jeong Hyeok, the officer in charge, patrolling in the area. Ri Jeong Hyeok was a good-hearted man.
He provides her a place to rest and secretly helps her to get back to Sorth Korea. Magic sparks when Seri and Ri Jeong Hyeok fall in love with each other despite the nationality rivalries. After that, to indulge in the local culture, she learns about the north region’s various cultural practices from Ri Jeong Hyeok’s fellow soldiers and native village women. On the other hand, conspiracies are waiting for her in his place as she announced the successor by his wealthy fathers, and her disappearance has been kept a secret. What’s happening there? Why his family hasn’t disclosed the news? What’s going on there?
Awards For the noticeable work, Son Ye Jin won the best actor award by APAN awards.
5. Hotel Del Luna (2019)
- Drama Fantasy Horror
- Director: Oh Hwan
- Writer: Hong Mi-ran, Hong Jung Eun
- Cast: Lee Ji-eun [Jang Man-wol] Yeo Jin-goo [Gu Chan-sung], Shin Jung Keun,Bae Hae Seon, Pyo Ji Hoon, Jo Hyun Chul.
- IMDB: 8.3
- Platforms Available: Netflix
South Korean fantasy HOTEL DEL LUNA showcases a supernatural place with a supernatural secret. Don’t think that this is an ordinary place for ordinary purposes, but it is where people come under special circumstances. Hotel Del Luna looks different in the daylight and extremely different at night.
The normal-seeming staffs are the ghosts and souls trapped because of their unfulfilled desiderates, which are an obstacle in their roads to salvation. The only human exception made in the hotel Del Luna is the general manager to cover the human management activities at the venue. The sole reason for the Hotel Del Luna present situation is a sin committed long ago. What was the sin? And will Hotel Del Luna be ever free from that sin?
Awards KDF awarded Hotel del luna the best achievement awards in 2019.
6. Arthdal Chronicles (2019)
- Drama Fantasy History
- Director: Kim Won Suk
- Writer: Kim Young Hyun
- Cast: Joong Ki Song, Kim Ji Won, Ok Bin Kim, Jang Dong Gun, Sa Bong Yoon, Do Hoon Ki
- IMDB: 8.4
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Naver
Mythical tale Arthdal chronicles depict the story of Eun Som on Arth’s historical land with a prophecy that he will bring disaster in Arthdal land. He was born and raised in the hardships of his mother’s endeavors and came to Arthdal, where Ta gon is the despotic war machine and the most powerful person of the realm. Ta Gon is living with a vision of being the first king of Arthdal. On the other hand, Same as Eunsom, the successor of the Wahan tribe, Tan ya is born by facing hardships throughout her life. Still, at an unexpected point, she realizes her purpose and makes a vision of being a powerful politician. What’s going to happen in Arthdal? Will disaster come, and how are they going to deal with that?
Awards For his fascinating role, Joong dung won the actor of the year award at the Asia artist award. The Series also won the title of the most anticipated drama of 2019 at Korea’s first brand awards.
7. My Mister (2018)
- Drama, Family
- Director: Kim Won Seok
- Writer: Park Hae Young
- Cast: Lee Sun Kyun, Lee Ji Eun, Park Ho San, Song Sae Byuk, Lee Ji ah, Kim Young Min
- IMDB: 1
- Platforms Available: Netflix
My mister depicts the story of 40 years old engineer Park Dong Hoon and his attorney wife, Kang Yoon Hee. His life is not so happening because he has two unemployed brothers Sang Hoon and Gi Hoon, and on the other hand, his wife Kang Yoon is having an affair with his current boss, Do Joon Yeong, who was a junior in college but now his current boss. On the different side, Lee Ji Ahn’s story is shown who is facing huge debt and left alone by every person with a surprising responsibility to look after her grandma. Things change when they both come together to solve each other’s past scars and fall in love with each other.
Awards My mister received the best drama, best screenplay award by Baek sang art awards in 2019 & actress Lee Ji Eun won the Top Excellence Actress in a Miniseries by APAN Star awards.
8. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (2018)
- Romantic Comedy
- Director: Park Joon Hwa.
- Writer: Baek Sun Woo, Choi Boo Rim
- Cast: Park Min Young, Park Seo Joon, Lee Tae Hwan, Pyo Ye Jin, Kang Ki Young, Hwang Chan Sung.
- IMDB: 8.1
- Platforms Available: Netflix
What’s wrong with secretary Kim features the sour-sweet bases of the lives of Kim Mi So and Lee Young Joon. Lee Young Joon is the CEO of a huge multinational company in which Kim Mi So has been his extremely talented secretary for the past nine years. Things start changing when Kim Mi So puts the news of her resignation in front of the company. This is the story of his efforts because Lee Young Joon does not want to let her go at any cost and will anything in his power to keep her by his side. Will Lee Young Joon succeed in his mission? The story is based on Jung Yoon’s novel of the same name, which was officially released in 2013.
Awards Hwang Chan Sung won the excellence actor & Hallyu star award by Korean Drama award &Actress Pyo Ye Jin won the popular actor award for her role in the Series.
9. Sky Castle (2018-2019)
- Dark Comedy Family Mystery
- Director: Jo Hyun Tak
- Writer: Yoo Hyun Mi
- Cast: Yum Jung Ah, Yoon Se Ah, Lee Tae Ran, Kim Seo Hyung, Oh Na Ra
- IMDB: 8.7
- Platforms Available: Netflix
This K-Drama depicts the luxurious living standards of elite class homemakers of sky castle in a well perfect satirical manner where only wealthy engineers and doctors live. To maintain the same class, they have to secure the foundation of their children’s future, which cannot be anything apart from education. To send their kids to the elite private education hubs, they are ready to take any possible call of action no matter what. This series portrays the high standards of high-class people and their ruthless activities to maintain the image and secure their kids’ future, even if by destroying others. But will they succeed in the race, or what’s going to happen?
Awards The series recorded eight winnings and six nominations under the categorization of best drama series, best direction, best actress, best actress in the support role, best-supporting actor, a best new actress in 2019.
10. Prison Playbook (2017-2018)
- Black Comedy
- Director: Shin Won-Ho
- Writer: Bo Hun Jung
- Cast: Park Hae Soo, Jung Kyung Ho, Hae In Jung, Seo Ji Hoon, Krystal Jung, Jae Myung Yoo
- IMDB: 8.4
- Platforms Available: Netflix
The prison playbook depicts the story of the perfect crime zone focusing on the prison life of Kim Je Hyuk, who was a star baseball player arrested for assaulting a man who was trying to attack her sister sexually. During his initial prison days, he meets his fellow baseball mate Le June Ho, who had left baseball soon after his car accident & that’s after the real thrilling journey begins in prison when he observes various heart thrilling activities acclimatizes himself according to the place. The prison playbook is the first-ever television debut of Park Hae So.
Awards In the year 2018, Park Hae Soo received the best new actor awards by Seoul awards.
11. Defendants (2017)
- Crime Drama Mystery
- Director: Jung Dong Yoon, Jo Young Kwang
- Writer: Choi Soo Jin, Choi Chang Hwan
- Cast: Ji Sung, Uhm Ki Joon, Kwon Yu Ri, Uhm Hyun Kyung, Oh Chang Seok
- IMDB: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Platforms Available: Netflix
The plot showcases the life of Park Jung-woo, who was a successful prosecutor at the Seoul central district. After sleeping happily with the family the previous day, he wakes up at the prison with a declared death sentence. As he had amnesia, he was completely unaware of how he got into prison. Being normal, he tries to find what happened to him as his memory visualization seems real to him. He tries hard to find his memory back and clear his name. What had happened to him? Whatever he is thinking, was it an illusion, or was it real? The suspense thriller Defendants is the mysterious journey of Park Jung Woo to find his life’s missing pieces.
12. While You Were Sleeping (2017)
- Comedy Drama Fantasy
- Director: Oh Choong-hwan
- Writer: Park Hye Ryun
- Cast: Lee Chang-Hoon, Lee Young Eun, Choi Won Young, Oh Yoon Ah, Jung Dong Hwan, Park Joon, Kim Ha Kyun, Song Ok Sook
- IMDB: 8.4
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
A fictional tale while you were sleeping showcase the story of reporter Nam Hong Joo, Prosecutor Jung Jae Chan, Police officer Han Woo Tak who are capable of seeing the dreams showcasing various future encounters. In the start, by her young ability, Hong Jo only has the power to see the future, but later on a strange day, June Jae Chan and Han Woo Tak also come into possession of the same power as they began to see the upcoming future events same as Hong Jo do. After knowing that they all are connected somehow, the trio starts their collaboration by preventing the mishaps before turning them into reality.
Awards For her extraordinary work Bae Suzy won 2nd Asia artist award & top excellence award in the best actress category.
13. Strong Girl Bong Soon (2017)
- Comedy Crime Drama
- Director: Lee Hyung Sik
- Writer: Baek Mi Kyung
- Cast: Hyung Shik Park, Jang Mi Kwan, Ji Soo, Bo Yeong Park, Jae Myung Yoo
- IMDB: 8.2
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Do Bong was born into a family where women had the gift of super strength & the only condition is the power for good. As soon as a woman was born, it would be found in that too. This story depicts Do bong’s life, who wishes to make a video game based on her in the lead role. The story gets fun when Bong gets a bodyguard job because of her super-strength. The luck finds her way as she gets the job as a bodyguard of Ahn Min Hyuk, the CEO of a gaming company Ainsoft. Min Hyuk has received the anonymous threat and been stalked; how will strong girl Do bong save him?
Awards For the fascinating role park Bo Yeong won the best actress & outstanding Korean actress awards by international drama awards.
14. Descendants Of The Sun (2016)
- Action Comedy Drama
- Director: Lee Eung bok & Baek sang hoon
- Writer: Kim Eun sook & Kim won Seok
- Cast: Song Joong-ki song, Song Hye-Kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-won, Woo Ri Jo, David Lee.
- IMDB: 8.3
- Platforms Available: Hulu
Descendants of the sun is a perfect illustration for the believers of love at first sight. Yoo Si Jin is the captain at Korean special forces & Dr. Kang Mo Yeon is the surgeon at Haesung Hospital. The real story begins when captain Yoo Si Jin & Dr. Kang Mo Yeon meet at the hospital, and their first eye contact decides their fate. This story depicts the life picture of both of them where on one side, Captain Yoo Si Jin lives by killing people on the other side Dr. Kang lives on the Hippocratic oath of saving the people. What fate has decided for them, and how will they get along as they have a completely different point of view and contradicting perspective?
Awards In 2016, Moon descendants of the sun recorded the massive success of 46 awards in different categories at multiple awards ceremonies.
15. W (2016)
- Drama Fantasy Romance
- Director: Jung Dae Jung
- Writer: Song Jae Jung
- Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Han Hyo Joo, Park Min Ha, Lee Tae Hwan, Jung Yoo Jin, Kim Eui Sung, Park Won Sang
- IMDB: 8.1
- Platforms Available: Viu
Based on the two living worlds, K-drama “W” is based on the protagonist Kang Chul, an intelligent, handsome boy with multiple other achievements in life. He gets popular after winning the 2004 Athens Olympics with his outstanding shooting techniques. But all the fame starts fading out when he is wrongly accused of his family’s death, which is not committed by him. Later he gets released as nothing proves in court. The real call of action begins when Kang Chul decides to find the serial killer and get justice independently. Will he find out. Will Kang Chul find the real killer, or what’s going to happen next?
Awards Series received the best couple award by MBC drama awards and for the fascinating screenplay writer Song Jae Jung won the writer of the year award in the year 2016.
16. Moon lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
- Drama Fantasy History
- Director: Kim Kyu Tae
- Writer: Jo Yoon Young
- Cast: Lee Joon Gi (4th Prince Wang), Sun Woo Yun (9th Prince Wang), Kang Ha Neul(8th Prince Wang), Lee Ji Eun (Go Ha Jin/Hae So), Hye Ran Ji, Seo Hyun, Hee-Jin Woo
- IMDB: 8.6
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Viu
Based on the Chinese novel Bu Bu Jing Xin, the story starts when Go Ha Jin wakes up at a different place, different time as she remembers. She finds herself in the year 941 in the regime of King Taejo in the body of a 16yr old princess of the Wang family Hae So. She was completely unaware of what exactly happened to her, but she starts to indulge herself normally. The chronicle starts showing magic as she develops feelings for the most kind-hearted Prince Wang Wook and later for 4th Prince Wang So, who hides his face behind the mask. After her self realization, she finds herself stuck in some local politics and thinks of herself as a pawn in the play. What’s going to happen next?
Awards For his fascinating acting skills, Kang Ha Neul won the excellence award by SBS drama awards in 2016.
17. Goblin: The Great And Lonely God (2016-2017)
- Comedy Drama Fantasy
- Director: Lee Eung Bok, Kwon Hyuk Chan, Yoon Jong-ho
- Writer: Kim Eun Sook
- Cast: Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook, Kim Go Eun, Yoo In Na, Yook Sung Jae, EL Lee.
- IMDB: 6
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prime
Once an unbeatable military general, Kim Shin is cursed by forever immortality by the lord almighty. The curse can only be broken if the mortal goblin wife helps him to put out the sword. For the past 900 years, the goblin general is seeking his mortal wife. He is tired of living his painful life as he observes people dying and reaching salvation. During his painful life journey, he helps people with his powers and shows a happy face despite his griefing soul. This storyline showcases the comedic life journey of the goblin towards salvation. What will happen next?
Awards In 2017, Gong Yoo, won the best actor award at the annual drama fever awards. The series also won the outstanding Korean drama OST in Seoul international drama awards. Goblin the Great And Lonely God come in the list of best Korean dramas among the content watchers.
18. Reply 1988 (2015-2016)
- Family Comedy Romance
- Director: Shin Won Ho
- Writer: Lee Woo Jung
- Cast: Lee Hyeri, Ryu Joon Yeol, Park Bo Gum, Lee Dong Hwi, Go Kyung Pyo, Ryu Hye Young, Choi Sung Won.
- IMDB:1
- Platforms Available: Netflix, ZenTen
Reply 1988 is the teeny tale of five friends Sung Deok Sun, Kim Jung Hwan, Sung Sun Woo, Ryu Dong Ryong, Choi Taek living in the same neighborhood of Ssangmundong of Seoul who thinks that they have some extraordinary problems. Despite all his efforts, Sung Deok consistently low marks & no upliftment in rank is his problem. Kim Jung Hwan wants to become a prominent soccer player. Sung sun woo is the protagonist of the story and the president of the student council.
Ryu dong Ryong is a socially inept person who has wandering attention mostly of girls, and Choi Tak is the last character of the story which left his school to become an eminent Baduk player. Each of the character stories is very well crafted, that the series meets all the entertainment requirements in one package. This story tale focuses on the ups and downs of their routined teenage problems like grades, success, fame, and fun. They make some outstanding memories for their upcoming lives during their ongoing teenage life, but all they want is a road to a convivial future.
Awards In 2016, Ryu Jun Yeol, won the best new actor award at the Baeksang art awards.
19. My Love From Another Star (2014)
- Comedy Drama Fantasy
- Director: Tae you chan
- Writer: Park Ji Eun
- Cast: Jun Ji-Hyun, Kim Soo, Park Hae Jin, Yoo In Na, Seong Rok Sin.
- IMDB: 8.3
- Platforms Available: Netflix
Comedy-drama, My love from another is the story of an alien who comes to earth 400 years ago unexpectedly. During his time on earth, he distanced himself from human beings by keeping himself in the shadows. The story’s magic begins when he meets the ravishing actress Chun song Yi and twists & turns start happening in his life. After some time, he finds out that his current life will end soon as he has only three months left on earth. He doesn’t want to leave earth as he has some weird feeling calling that he doesn’t want to leave now what was the reason what will happen?
Awards The series was a huge hit that won 20 awards and 23 nominations in different categorizations. Kim Soo Hyun won the top excellence actor at the APAN star awards.
20. Boys Over Flower (2009)
- Comedy Drama Romance
- Director: Gi Sang Jeon
- Writer: Yoko Kamio
- Cast: Ku Hye Sun, Kim Joon, Kim Bum, Lee Min Ho, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim So Eun
- IMDb: 9
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prime Video, Zee5
The story takes place at the elite class institute Shinhwa high school, a premium place for people with eminent backgrounds. Geum Jan di belongs to a middle-class family who gets admission to the Shinhwa high school by scholarship after saving a student committing suicide. In school, she meets the most mischievous & popular group of four boys called F4. The leader of F4 is Hu Jun Pyo. The other three group members are Yoon hi hu, So Yi Jung, and Song Woo Bin. Their attitude and status were extravagantly rich and stylish. Geum Jan di time at school gets unbearable because of her class conflicts and her low status. Twist begins when she comes to the F4 bullying list. What’s going to happen next? What will Jan Di do?
Awards Lee Min-ho won the best actor title &Kim Hyun Jung won the best new actor title at the Baeksang arts award in the year 2009. The series also received the best drama award at Seoul international drama award.
These are some refined collections of Korean web drama in the various categories extracted very delicately. The catalog listing covers various categories of widely popular series in Comedy, Fiction, Horror & History, with the ultimate blend of entertainment.
The media giant Indian Express stated that Korean drama series is acting as a bridge between Indian and Korea, which could be observed as the popular Korean drama Descendants of the sun was released in the Indian national language Hindi as well on Zindagi channel in 2017 & According to economic times, soon k-pop and Korean dramas are going to hit the biggest breakthroughs in Indian realms.
Amid the pandemic, a notable growth noted in the Korean content watchers & a new k culture has been introduced in Indian Netizens. Web, Korean dramas series, has successfully gathered worldwide fans in such a short timespan. The wide variety of genres and the fascinating storyline are just incredible. That’s the reason why they have successfully attracted a worldwide audience.
The top 20 Korean drama list is prepared with utmost care to not see any single second without fun. So enjoy the wide variety of Korean dramas and create your zone of entertainment. Hopefully, this Korean web drama list will help everyone find their own choice of a Korean web drama. A watch in these movies is worthy and will create an interesting destination altogether.
