Korean dramas have always been a big deal, but in this era of the streaming service boom, they seem to be moving at a breakneck speed. There are so many new ones coming out every week that it can feel like you’ve seen them all already!

And while some may consider this excessive exposure as a negative thing, I think it is actually a good thing for the industry and the viewers.

It shows how much demand there is for these stories and for the characters within them, which creates more opportunity for people to find their next favorite show.

As such, we wanted to make your job easier by narrowing down the list to only the most popular Korean TV shows. Here are our 10 favorites!

Note: These shows do not include films or short format content (like OSTs and music videos). They are strictly written pieces of television.

Also note that if you see a link below what category this movie/show fits into, you can click through to read an article about that genre! For example, here's an article about top action movies.

So let's dive in and see what makes these shows special. After all, writing is what really matters anyway.

To Tell You The Truth

This show follows the formula of most romantic comedies: two people who have never seen each other before are thrown together in an intimate setting, which is very difficult.

They spend time getting to know each other and testing the waters as to if they should be more than friends, then finally decide whether or not to take things further. It’s a nice way to tell stories that resonate with viewers.

In this case, the story is about a guy who has been lying to his best friend for years – he doesn’t want her to find out that he isn’t totally heterosexual.

He pretends to like women but only dresses up for them and sometimes even kisses them when their hands go down his pants. When she does something that makes him uncomfortable (like asking if he likes girls), he denies it and says that he’s straight.

Now that his secret is exposed, he needs to come clean and tell her what really happened, but he’s too scared because he might lose her friendship forever. He feels ashamed and guilty so he tries to distract himself from thinking about it by focusing on work and family.

However, his conscience won’t let him forget so he decides to do something he’s wanted to do for a while: confront her about everything.

Stop Living Your Life

A kdrama is not a new show, nor is it even necessarily a Korean show. But what sets these shows apart from others is their incredible depth. They are designed to give you lots of things to think about and discuss.

Many viewers develop relationships with certain characters by identifying with them or understanding who they are. This can be because the character is an likeable person, or because they relate to someone else in the story, or both.

These stories typically focus on one theme that readers can apply to themselves or other people in real life. These themes tend to be love and friendship, family, career and self-awareness, among many more.

Series with longer lists of awards and fan meetings have become famous around the world.

Reply 1997

Reply 1994’s Reunions are some of the most beloved events in Korean television history, with many fans waiting for years to see their favorite characters again. The same can be said for one of TV’s longest running series: Reply 1997!

Korean dramas typically last around two hours and twenty minutes per episode, making it hard to keep up with all of the storylines. This is especially true when some episodes focus more heavily on stories that have already been told, or ones that require an extended flashback.

This is what makes Series 2 of Reply 1997 so special! Not only do we get new scenes with our favorites, but we also get several full length flashbacks (which are very popular in kdrama).

In these long, involved sequences, we learn about the characters’ past relationships and children, as well as how they met and why their romantic bond has lasted this long. They may even reunite after finding out something important about each other!

While not every storyline in the show is considered “significant,” there are at least five moments where the audience really gets invested. These include:

When Hong Seung Woo meets Kang Kyu Han for the first time.

Hong learns that his father was married before he died, which sets off a chain reaction that reveals who his mother is.

Kyuhan tells him she loves him, and then later kisses her.

When The Time Comes

As we reach the end of our list, there are some k-drama trends that have made an incredible impact within the Korean entertainment industry. These types of shows seem to come and go as the market demands them, but they never really disappear completely.

They always stick around for at least two main reasons. First, they offer something unique that other shows don’t. Their stories and themes appeal to different people which is why many still love them years later.

Their second reason is that most audience members develop strong attachments to certain characters. This sometimes leads to discussions about who people think should win or what favorite scenes mean to them.

And while it may sound cliché, I can attest to how powerful these conversations can be.

The Crown

The Crown is an American period drama that originally aired from February to May of 2019. It was broadcast by Netflix in most countries around the world. The show is set in the early 1980s during the last years of British monarch Elizabeth II’s life.

In the story, we follow Queen Elizabeth (played with great charisma and conviction by former Beatle Helena Bonham Carter) as she faces multiple scandals and crises while trying to preserve what little legitimacy and credibility her reign has left.

As such, The Crown is not only focused on telling its audience how much the monarchy has been discredited but it also explores why people still respect the institution and if anyone really cares about the queen.

Although there are several dramatic plot lines being constantly unfolded across different episodes, one of the main stories line is the rise and fall of Prince William (Ben Daniels). He goes through many changes due to his position within the royal family and his desire for power.

His storyline is arguably the most interesting part because it is completely ambiguous. You can either watch him grow into a powerful individual or you can be fascinated by his ambition to become king.

The fact that both outcomes occur makes for an engaging watch. Another important character is Princess Charlotte (Sophie McShera), who becomes increasingly influential throughout the series. She is portrayed with great strength and maturity, which adds even more value to the episode.

Bad Guys Of Korea

All too often, we see bad guys in kdrama that are just plain annoying! They are always acting like jerks or they may even be racist or discriminatory towards other characters of color. Their behavior is sometimes so egregious that it makes us dislike them or even feel sorry for their character.

There’s an episode of One Day where Jin Seo Hee (played by Kim Myung So) has to go into hiding because she framed someone for her murder. While she is trying to stay low key and unnoticed, she notices some shady activity going on at her house and confronts the owner about it.

He calls her crazy and says that he will take care of everything himself since she can’t. She then breaks down crying and confesses what she did but he doesn’t believe her until she shows him a letter proving his guilt. At this point, he gets angry and tries to kill her!

This scene was very disturbing to watch as it portrayed a very real situation where people would falsely accuse others of crimes and get away with it. It also showed how much these individuals value themselves more than anyone else which is another reason why most people don’t trust them.

Another example comes from The Great Pretender when Hae Chul (Ji Hyun) pretends to befriend Eun Bi (Kim Ji Won).

The Villain In The Movie

A villain is an integral part of any movie, they do not simply show up in the scene with their logo painted on their car and then disappear. They are typically characterized as someone who wants something from the protagonist or people around them, therefore trying to hurt, destroy, or take advantage of them.

The most famous villains in cinema history are Darth Vader, Lex Luthor, Norman Bates, and Hannibal Lecter. All of these characters had a goal that was outside of moral boundaries, which made it hard for the audience to feel sorry for them.

Korean TV dramas have become very popular worldwide, so many people have seen at least one before. Many think that all Korean drama heroes are overachieving students or professional shavers, while the romantic plot lines are cliché. However, there are some stories that go beyond this. There are cases where the hero is in a totally legitimate situation until things get out of hand and the villain shows their true colors.

Stranger Things

Stranger Things is one of the most popular TV shows right now, with its incredible fan base that continues to grow every week. The show follows eight teenagers in the 1980s who are suddenly thrust into an otherworldly mystery.

The characters develop relationships with each other as well as with their surroundings, creating an immersive experience for viewers. A major theme of the show is how people use perception and deception to gain power over others, which is very appropriate in our society where media influence is constantly rising.

Stranger Things was inspired by both Stephen King novels and films like What’s Love Got To Do With It? and E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, both of which feature teens searching for answers after experiencing supernatural events.

It also takes inspiration from true stories, such as Jody Williams’s book Mindf*ck (which some of you may have read here) and Steven Spielberg's film Poltergeist. Both of these works focus heavily on how childhood trauma can lead to paranormal activity later in life.

The show deftly weaves together suspense, horror, and comedy, making it a perfect fit for any viewer.