The world of Korean dramas is a strange and beautiful place. The South Korean entertainment industry is slowly growing to worldwide dominance, as Kpop, Korean movies likeParasiteandMinari, and Korean television series take the world by storm. The term Korean drama, or Kdrama, refers to almost any South Korean fictional television series, no matter the subject or genre. That includes comedy, romance, sci-fi, horror, you name it. Most of these television series are based on webcomics, a form of storytelling similar to comics that originated in South Korea. Fair warning: Almost all Korean dramas have quite outlandish premises, but that’s honestly what makes them so good. You just have to learn how to accept the strange and unexpected and go along for the ride. Recently,Netflixhas become the go-to place to find the best Kdrama offerings for US audiences. In order to help you jump headfirst into this new and expanding area of television, here are the best Korean dramas available to watch on Netflix, both original and not.
Can’t find what you’re looking for here? Check out our list of thebest shows on Netflixand thebest romantic K-Dramas.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated July 2024 to include Hierarchy.
‘Hierarchy’ (2024 - Present)
IMDb: 6.1/10
Written byChu Hye-miand directed byBae Hyeon-jin,Hierarchyis a South Korean teen romance series in a similar vein to the international Netflix hitElite. The series is set in a prestigious high school for the top 0.01% of children, who are chosen as students at birth. The series focuses on a group of 18 youngsters at the school, exploring their stories of love, friendship, revenge, and more. The show starsRoh Jeong-eui,Lee Chae-min,Kim Jae-won,Ji Hye-won, andLee Won-jung. Set in Jooshin High School, which prides itself on providing the best high-quality education service in South Korea and where the brightest of children gather. All seven episodes ofHierarchywere released on Netflix on July 15, 2025. The series received mixed reviews but performed much better with audiences. In the week of its release,Hierarchywas second in Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) category. The show went on to top the charts in multiple countries, with over 6 million viewers streaming the series.
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‘A Killer Paradox’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.2/10
A Killer Paradox
Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name byKkomabi,A Killer Paradoxis a dark comedy crime thriller following a young man who is pursued by a relentless detective after accidentally killing a serial killer and embarking on a murder spree where all the victims are evildoers. The show is directed byLee Chang-heeand written byKim Da-min, starringChoi Woo-shikas the killer andSon Suk-kuandLee Hee-joonas detectives.A Killer Paradoxhas received largely favorable reviews from critics, with praise for its editing, direction, and dark sense of humor. In South Korea, the series has been nominated for three Baeksang Arts Awards in the Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best New Actor categories. While the show’s fantastical premise may throw off some viewers,A Killer Paradox’s story is actually quite layered, and it’s never quite as straightforward as you might expect. It’s an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will have you binging through episodes as fast as you can — and you also get to see some great acting, action, and cinematography along the way.
‘My Demon’ (2013 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% | IMDb: 7.8
A pitiless demon becomes powerless after getting entangled with an icy heiress, who may hold the key to his lost abilities – and his heart.
Kim Yoo-jung,Song Kang,Lee Sang-yi,andKim Hae-sookstar in the devilishly entertaining Korean dramaMy Demon. Delightfully honing in on soapy angst while peppering hints of charming supernatural elements,My Demonfollows the blossoming romance between a workaholic heiress (Yoo-jung) and a 200-year-old demon (Kang) determined to exploit human vulnerabilities.
Packed with tension and romance,My Demonis more of a modern romance story than supernatural drama, which allows the demonic aspect of the series to add vivid textures to the plot. With a saturated market, particularly in the K-drama world,My Demonstands apart with an adorable premise that doesn’t need to be too convoluted and absolutely dazzles through the undeniable chemistry between stars Kang and Yoo-jung. -Yael Tygiel
‘Strong Girl Nam-Soon’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 44% | IMDb: 6.6/10
Strong Girl Nam-Soon
Gifted with superhuman strength, a young woman returns to South Korea to look for her birth family - only to be entangled in a drug case that could test her power and strength.
Strong Girl Nam-Soonis a fascinating sequel series toStrong Girl Do Bong Soonthat centers on a mysterious young woman named Gang Nam-soon (Lee Yoo-mi) who comes to Korea in search of her birth family, only to discover her lineage of super-strong women. Co-starringKim Jung-eunas Hwang Geum-joo andKim Hae-sookas Gil Joong-gan,Strong Girl Nam-Soonweaves generational drama seamlessly through the fast-paced crime mystery storyline.
Many K-Dramas include a romantic element, andStrong Girl Nam-Soonis no different, but the series stands out with a blend of comedy and action leaning on the familial foundation.Strong Girl Nam-Soonentertains by ensuring a balance of mysterious twists through the detective storyline, as well as allowing the main character to uncover family secrets as the season progresses.
‘Daily Dose of Sunshine’ (2023 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.3/10
Daily Dose of Sunshine
Determined to provide a ray of light for those under her care, a young nurse navigates the world of mental health and the diverse stories surrounding it.
Daily Dose of Sunshineis a South Korean web series now streaming onNetflix. The story follows Jung Da-eun (Park Bo-young), a nurse in the Psychiatry Department at a hospital. She takes great care to ensure that her interactions with her patients are — you guessed it — doses of sunshine. Because Da-eun is suddenly transferred to this new (and much more difficult) part of the hospital, she faces lots of bumps in the road as she attempts to help her patients.
The story also includes Dong Go-yun (Yeon Woo-jin), who is a proctologist at the hospital, as well as Song Yu-chan (Jang Dong-yoon) as Da-eun’s closest friend, and Song Hyo-shin (Lee Jung-eun), the chief nurse of the Psychiatric Department where Da-eun works.Daily Dose of Sunshineis based on the life ofLee Ra-ha, a former nurse whose stories inspired the show. The program is directed byJae-gyu Lee(The Trio Stars).
‘The Silent Sea’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 6.9/10
The Silent Sea
During a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, space explorers try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.
A sci-fi horror series set in space,The Silent Seafollows a crew as they go investigate an abandoned research facility where a tragedy took place. With the mission to retrieve valuable samples that might lead to the creation of more water, a vitally important and expensive resource now in the future, the crew heads into unknown terror when they enter Balhae station. WithBae DoonaandGong Yooleading this cast, you already know it’s going to be good. Full of mysteries and twists,The Silent Seais totally bingeable with its revelations and betrayals scattered generously throughout a dystopian story. —Therese Lacson
‘Doona!’ (2023 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 7.2/10
Follows the romance between a freshman college student and an established female pop idol.
When former pop superstar Lee Doo-na (Bae Suzy) and the unexceptional Lee Won-joon (Yang Se-Jong) end up as unlikely roommates, an even more unlikely romance begins to blossom in this heartfelt series written by Jong Yoon-ha. Based onMin Song-ah’sThe Girl Downstairs,Doona!excels in both comedy and romance, with all the best assets of a well-worn genre illustrated throughout each ofDoona!’s episodes. DirectorLee Jeong-hyohas a clear, keen eye for the chemistry of central pair Bae Suzy and Yang Se-Jong, with the two carrying the weight of the show’s story without ever dropping a beat. -Jake Hodges
‘Nevertheless’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.1/10
Nevertheless,
The intoxicating charm of a flirtatious art school classmate pulls a reluctant love cynic into a friends-with-benefits relationship.
Starring the beloved Song Kang,Neverthelesswas an instant hit with audiences worldwide. Fresh off a rough breakup, art student Yu Na-Bi (Han So-hee), has turned into a cynic who no longer believes in love. But when she meets the intoxicating Park Jae-eon (Song Kang), she’s unable to resist his magnetic pull and flirtatious charm. An emotionally unavailable commitment-phobe in his own right, Jae-eon isn’t interested in a relationship. He’s there for a good time, not a long time. The pair embark on a tentative friends-with-benefits relationship. Both help each other heal from their pasts and fall for each other the more they get to know each other.
‘A Time Called You’ (2023 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 60% | IMDb: 7.8/10
A Time Called You
A grieving woman magically travels through time to 1998, where she meets a man with an uncanny resemblance to her late love.
Based on theTaiwanese televisionseriesSomeday or One Day,A Time Called Youfollows the grieving Jun-hee (Jeon Yeo-been), who is transported back to 1998 into the body of a different person, eventually meeting a man who uncannily resembles her deceased boyfriend. Dropping the typical rom-com style of K-dramas in this genre,A Time Called Youfinds its rhythm with moments of true suspense and tension, perfectly realized by Yeo-been andAhn Hyo-Seop’s lead performances. Beautifully shot on location in Jeonju-si and Incheon, writerChoi Hyo-biplays with the concept of time travel without letting its intricacies overwhelm the heartwarming romance at the core of this story. Intriguingly complex, the narrative moves between time and space in a way that helps to blossom the relationship of the central couple — and of the audience with the story. -Jake Hodges
‘King the Land’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 4.6/10
King the Land
Amid a tense inheritance fight, a charming heir clashes with his hardworking employee who’s known for her irresistible smile, which he cannot stand.
Gently toeing the line between both comedy and drama,King the LandseesLee Jun-ho’s hotel CEO, Goo Won, disheartened by his involvement in an inheritance war, only for his life to find new meaning through his timely meeting with the ever-positive hotelier Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah). The endearing chemistry of the lead couple fuels the comforting narrative fire from creatorCheon Sung-il, who takes a well-worn rom-com genre and finds its best assets, utilizing them throughout the series.King the Land’s gentle, flowing narrative is accompanied by a wonderful soundtrack, showcasing artists such asPunch,Minseo, andGaho, that seamlessly partners the growth of the show’s central romance. Positively uncomplicated,King the Landis a hit for a reason, with Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ha’s sparkling chemistry a particular highlight.
