There have already been thousands ofK-dramasmade since 2020, anda lot of them are a step up from the previous decades. This was made possible due to streaming services producing and funding various new projects forSouth Koreanshowrunners, with each seemingly having a pretty hefty and enviable budget. So far, there have been some brilliant K-dramas and some great ones, and talking about only ten is much harder than it seems.
The tenbest K-dramas of the 2020s—so far—have several things in common: great critical acclaim, a universally positive audience reception, and better writing than ever before. Some are dramas, someromantic comedies, and othersaction. Whether they were inspired by real life or completely fictional, these ten K-dramas have stood out from the rest since 2020.
10’My Liberation Notes' (2022)
Stars: Lee Min-ki, Kim Ji-won, and Lee El
My Liberation Notesis considered one of the best-written K-dramas ever, not just one that came out during the 2020s. The reason for this is the showrunners' (and the actors') ability to capture everyday struggles, loneliness, and the yearning for connection and meaning.The show has a uniquely meditative pace that never gets boring or slow; the writing offers relatable characters capable of deep introspection and with emotional arcs. This slice-of-life drama is also highly underrated but deserves all the love and attention.
My Liberation Notesis about three siblings: Ki-jeong (Lee El), the eldest sister and researcher; Chang-hee (Lee Min-ki), the second child and only brother, and supermarket management employee; and Mi-jeong (Kim Ji-won), the youngest child and corporate designer.The three live in a rural area near Seoul and commute to the big city, where they head out to their unfulfilling jobs, all three feeling trapped by the monotony of their lives. Their lives are upended when a stranger and family friend (Son Suk-ku) appears. This drama resonated with people and was evenrecommended by Gong Yoo.
My Liberation Diary
9’It’s Okay to Not Be Okay' (2020)
Stars: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, and Oh Jung-se
Mental health is an increasingly widespread topicin K-dramas, and viewers can see a veil being lifted over the past five years. K-dramas before would be very romanticizing and gloss over some glaring issues with their leads, contributing mostly to the Korean Wave and an increase in popularity. However, since 2020, it seems COVID had a huge impact on everyone, andmore and more K-dramas tackle the emotional toll of the pandemic, mental health problems, and marginalized members of society.It’s Okay Not to Be Okayis a highly praised and beloved K-drama that stands out for its bold and artistic exploration of mental health, trauma, and healing.
It’s Okay Not to Be Okayfollows the selfless caregiver in a psychiatric ward, Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), who lives and cares for his older, autistic brother, Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se). Gang-tae meets a famous children’s book writer who has antisocial personality disorder, Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji), and their lives intertwine because of Sang-tae. All of these characters are memorable and complex;the show itself is bold because of its fairytale-like approach to visual stylejuxtaposed with the dark emotional territories the protagonists often delve into.It’s Okay Not to Be Okayis one of the best and most unique K-dramas out there.
It’s Okay Not To Be Okay
8’Little Women' (2022)
Stars: Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, and Park Ji-hu
The charmingKim Go-eunhas had a great start to the 2020s, starring in some brilliant K-dramas and movies.Little Womenis one of her best shows,a thrilling and suspenseful drama thattakes a classic novel and reinterprets itfor modern audiences in a way only Korean showrunners could.Little Womenis a masterfully crafted mystery thriller with a pretty intricate plot that you could only read in aJo Nesbøbook. The cinematography is stunning, and the ensemble delivers compelling performances, includingUhm Ji-wonas one of thedarkest K-show villains you’ll ever see.
Little Womenfollows the Oh sisters, who grew up in poverty with greedy parents. Free of their parents, the three sisters, with the eldest, In-joo (Kim), start fending for themselves. In-joo and the second sister, In-kyung (Nam Ji-hyun), financially support their youngest sister, In-hye (Park Ji-hu), who is a high school student.In-hye spends time with her best friend, Hyo-rin, who is the daughter of influential and wealthy parents; In-kyung and In-joo start losing In-hye little by little, and when they dive deeper into the family’s secrets, the sisters realize there are numerous skeletons in their closet.
Little Women
7’Hospital Playlist' (2020–2021)
Stars: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Jung Kyung-ho
Hospital Playlistis one oftheessential K-dramas you should watchat least onceto both understand the world of South Korean series and understand how newer K-dramas win over so many people. It’s a beloved healing drama,known and revered for the incredible warmth it exudes, even at times when it’s brutally realistic and delving into the complications of adulthood. The characters are relatable, and the cast has incredible chemistry; the soundtrack is just an additional touch that makes things perfect.
Hospital Playlistfollows the daily lives and enduring friendship of five brilliant doctors in their 40s. They have been friends since they attended medical school in 1999.Navigating the joys, sorrows, and challenges of working in the same hospitaland playing together in a band makes their experiences charming and lovable.Jo Jung-sukandYoo Yeon-seokare just two of the five actors portraying the friend group, with each being more famous than the previous.Hospital Playlistis a comfort show you must see.
Hospital Playlist
6’Vincenzo' (2021)
Stars: Song Joong-ki and Taecyeon
Thegenre-bendingVincenzotook people by surprisebecause it’s one of thosedramas that seem dark and compelling at first glance but then end up being darkly comedicand charming, too. The topic is serious, and its villain is one of the best on Korean TV, though even the titular hero, Vincenzo, is more of an anti-hero than a heroic character.Song Joong-ki, an action starand acting veteran by now, embodies Vincenzo in a stylish and surprisingly heartwarming performance (surprisingly, since he’s a mafia enforcer).
Vincenzofollows the Korean orphan, Joo-hyung, who is adopted by an Italian family and taken to Italy. There, his parents die, and he’s taken in by the local mafia boss. Growing up to become the boss' consigliere, he is sent back to Seoul to retrieve a hidden stash of gold located under a building.He gets unwittingly caught up in a fight against a corrupt and ruthless conglomerate, delivering justice in his own, morally ambiguous way.Taecyeondelivers some of the funniest and darkest moments inVincenzo, a show that will win you over without you even noticing it.
5’Extraordinary Attorney Woo' (2022)
Stars: Park Eun-bin
Extraordinary Attorney Woois, likeIt’s Okay Not to Be Okay, a revolutionary K-drama in one crucial aspect—its lead is a neurodivergent character, Woo Young-woo, an attorney with autism. However, Young-woo’s autism is a highly functioning kind, as she has high intelligence and photographic memory, meaning she doesn’t represent all the individuals on the spectrum. Still, she was written in a sensitive and gentle way, as a character who still has big obstacles to overcome. The legal cases she works on are clever, and the overall message emphasizes empathy and understanding.Extraordinary Attorney Woowas a cultural phenomenon.
The show, as mentioned, follows Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), a brilliant rookie attorney with autism. She graduated from university with high praise, but her autism deters law firms from hiring her untilthe CEO of one of the biggest Seoul-based law firms, Hanbada, hires her. Young-woo has colleagues who get used to her honest personality, but she also learns how to adapt and work with people. Park Eun-bin delivers an exceptional and beautiful performance as Young-woo.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
4’D.P.' (2021–2023)
Stars: Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, and Kim Sung-kyun
D.P.is one of thebest shows of the 2020soverall. Taking it out of the K-drama box is essential, asD.P., short for Deserter Pursuit, shows incredible stories based on and inspired by real-life experiences.D.P. wasessential for understanding the Korean mandatory military servicefor both domestic and international audiences, since there wasn’t a lot of talk of soldier mistreatment before. It was based on a webtoon byKim Bo-tongand then adapted for television by Kim and directorHan Jun-hee; both were inspired by their time in military service.
D.P.follows newly enlistedJun-ho (Jung Hae-in), a rebellious and just soldier who immediately gets pulled into a circle of bullying among his peers. His observation and deduction skills help him get noticed by the “deserter pursuit” unit’s captain, Park (Kim Sung-kyun), who pairs Jun-ho with the witty and charming Corporal Han (Koo Kyo-hwan).The two must find soldiers who escape their mandatory service, along the way uncovering systemic issues and brutality that led them to flee. The show has outstanding performances and deals with brutal and heavy themes in a direct but sensitive way.
3’Moving' (2023)
Stars: Zo In-sung, Han Hyo-joo, and Ryu Seung-ryeong
Movingisperhaps a bit underrated, flying under the radar as aDisney+original. Not many people were aware that Disney was funding its own K-dramas, but these shows proved to be among the best in the past few years.Movingwas written byKang Fullas a comic book, which he later developed into the 20-episode series. This drama is, simply put, epic and ambitious, but it worksso well. It perfectly blendssuperhero action, espionage thriller elements, and an emotional family dramathat spans generations. The visual effects are brilliant, the characters are given equal attention and development, and the ensemble delivers some of their best work, including veteransZo In-sung,Han Hyo-joo, andRyu Seung-ryeong(among so many others).
Movingis divided into three parts. The first part follows students of Jeongwon High School, Bong-seok (Lee Jung-ha), Hui-soo (Go Youn-jung), and Gang-hoon (Kim Do-hoon), who are learning how to develop and control their superpowers. The second part shows their parents and former superhero spies, Doo-sik (Zo), Mi-hyun (Han), and Jae-woo (Ryu). The third part is an epic battle of parents and students against the conspirators that want to capture the high schoolers.It’s bonkers, relentless, and incredibly beautiful.
2’The Glory' (2022–2023)
Stars: Song Hye-kyo, Park Sung-hoon, and Lee Do-hyun
The Glorywas probablythe most-talked-about K-drama in 2022, since it was first controversial for its brutal portrayal of high school bullying, a big problem in South Korea (though most societies are likely guilty of this); later, it became controversial becauseone of the actresses portraying a bully wasuncovered to have been an actual bullywhen she was a student. The chaos ofThe Gloryjust contributed to the series becoming iconic; it’s not, however, just a show followed by controversy. It’s a masterfully crafted revenge thriller thatcaptivates viewers from start to finish.
The Gloryfollows Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo), a woman who was bullied in high school so brutally that she dropped out and vanished from the city. She is now posing as a teacher, havingcome back with a meticulously planned revengeagainst her former tormentors and bystanders who did nothing to help her or stop them.Song delivers a career-defining performance, embodying a cold fury and an unwavering resolvethat compares only toPark Chan-wook’sLady Vengeance. The atmosphere in the show is tense throughout, and you can’t help but cheer for Dong-eun, who embodies antihero-like qualities.The Gloryis unforgettable.
1’Squid Game' (2021)
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-jun, and Lee Byung-hun
Is it surprising at all thatSquid Gameis the best K-drama of the 2020s—so far? Sure, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and some fans would rather place their personal favorite here, butSquid Gametook the trowel and cemented Korean shows into a permanent position across the globe. Also, it’s just good—very good. Social commentary on capitalism, debt, desperation, and class differences combined with an intense thriller, bordering even on horror? Revolutionary, though"death game" topics aren’t completely new.Squid Gamewon international acclaim,including nods from the Emmys, Golden Globes, and the SAG Awards.
Squid Game, for those who don’t know,opens with Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), a divorced father with a massive gambling debt. Gi-hun meets a mysterious Salesman (Gong Yoo), who invites him to a tournament with a grand cash prize. Gi-hun joins the tournament and realizes he’s joined by 455 other cash-strapped individuals.The tournament consists of old-school children’s games, but failure means death.Squid Gameisending with its third season in June 2025, so there’s still time tobinge-watch it in a weekendand get to know the characters of the best K-drama of the past five years.
