Here are my Top 10 Dramas of 2020.  The year gave us plenty of good dramas but for me, these 10 are the best.  Hope you enjoy the list!  Let’s hope that 2021 brings us even more fun and exciting dramas to enjoy.

Here are my top 10 favorite kdramas of the first half of 2020 (January-June).  I took a little extra time to watch some that appeared on other people’s lists that I hadn’t watched yet.  Some made it and some didn’t.  But for me, these 10 are the best.  Hope you enjoy the list.  Before we know it, it will be time to evaluate the whole year.  In this time of COVID-19, I have been happy to have kdrama to keep me company.

Hospital Playlist

“Hospital Playlist” is another gem brought to us by the same director and screenwriter that are responsible for The Reply Series.  It is a medical drama with plenty of doses of comedy laced throughout.  The story follows five friends who met early in medical school.  The chemistry between the whole cast is amazing and each of the characters is engaging in their own stories.  “Hospital Playlist” is well-balanced and sincere.  My only complaint is that it ends with a “To Be Continued” in Season 2, coming in 2021. 

Itaewon Class

“Itaewon Class” is a groundbreaking kdrama in the way it addresses sensitive subjects like racial inequality and gender issues.  The cast is diverse and talented and the show focuses on subjects like love, revenge, and friendship. Park Sae Ro Yi had his life and dreams crushed when his father was killed in a hit and run and Sae Ro Yi was sent to prison for attacking the man who did it. 

Now,  years late, Sae Ro Yi is determined to get his life back.  He and a ragged crew of friends decided to open a restaurant.  If you like a feel-good success story with lots of drama along the way, this one is a great choice.  Whether you are a seasoned kdrama fan or just starting to become a fan, this drama should not be missed!

Crash Landing on You

“Crash Landing on You” has been extremely popular among kdrama fans.  This romantic drama is unique in that it is filmed half in North Korea and half in South Korea.  The story is about a rich heiress from South Korea who is involved in a paragliding accident that drops her into North Korea.  She meets and falls in love with a North Korean officer who agrees to help her find her way home.  The romantic chemistry is intense, and the friendships that form are heartwarming.  This is a great show for anyone who appreciates a touching romance with some beautiful scenery along the way. 

The King:Eternal Monarch

Lee Min Ho is back from his military service, starring in his first role in almost 3 years. ” The King:Eternal Monarch” is a fantasy romantic drama about a king who accidentally travels into a parallel universe.  If you are looking for a good romantic drama with a storyline that keeps you on your toes, this is the one to choose.  But this isn’t a fluffy rom-com.  It requires some attention to details, as they bounce back and forth between the universes.  Parallel worlds open the door for some great dual roles.  Woo Do Hwan was a definite fan favorite for his two completely different characters.

Romantic Dr. Kim 2

Romantic Dr. Kim has been a favorite of mine, so I was thrilled when they announced a sequel.  And even though I was sad to see the starring doctor roles change to new characters, I was not disappointed with Romantic Dr. Kim 2.  A group of talented young doctors find themselves working under the eccentric Dr. Kim at a small, country hospital.  Will his mentoring skills help them to develop into the doctors they have the potential to become?  This series focuses more on the doctors themselves than the patients or cases, although we do get to meet some of the patients along the way.  Romantic Dr. Kim 2 is a story about teamwork, love, and friendship in the face of challenging circumstances. 

I’ll Go To You When the Weather is Nice

I feel like “When the Weather is Nice” is a seriously underrated drama.  Some fans complained that it was too slow-moving.  But for me, this one felt like relaxing down into a warm bath.  It’s a sweet story, with great character development.  Park Min Young is a reserved young woman who leaves her busy life in Seoul and returns to her small hometown in the country.  Being hurt too many times, she is determined to guard her heart from any more pain.  But as she rekindles relationships with some of the people in her town, she gets a chance to do some healing and maybe even experience love.

When My Love Blooms

“When My Love Blooms” reminds me of “Love Rain”.  Twenty years ago, this couple found first love together, but life cruelly broke them apart.  Now, they meet again and are given a second chance to make their relationship work.  Ji Soo is a 40 year old single mother struggling to make ends meet.  Is it too late for her to finally find her true love?  The story shifts between their lives now and the story of how they first fell in love in college, played by two sets of actors.  For fans, this means we actually get two love stories for the price of one; now and then.  This isn’t a fast paced plot but the story of forgiveness and second chances is optimistic and encouraging. 

Extracurricular

This Netflix Original is definitely not your usual kdrama.  There are only 10 episodes, but it is intense from start to finish.  “Extracurricular” is the story of a high school student, Oh Ji Soo, who is on his own in the world.  He is a model student who pays his way by running a protection agency for prostitutes.  When Bae Gyu Ri, a rich classmate, finds out what Ji Soo is up to, she demands that he let her in on it.  But she continues to push the limits and put them into more and more danger.  So if they can’t find a way to break the cycle, they may not make it out alive.  If you like edgier dramas this one is a must-see.  The two leads are amazing and their story will keep you on the edge of your seat  all the way through. 

Hyena

Yoon Hee Jae and Jung Geum Ja are both lawyers.  But while Hee Jae has used family connections to work his way up the ladder in a top law firm, Geum Ja has has to take any small case she can get at her private law office.  Because of this, Geum Ja has learned to do anything it takes to win.  In this case, anything includes starting a relationship with Hee Jae to steal important case information.  When her victories start to get noticed by Hee Jae’s firm, the two are forced to work together.  And now Hee Jae is determined to find out how much of their relationship was actually a lie.  “Hyena” is a fast paced legal drama and Geum Ja’s character is a strong female lead who is a joy to watch. 

The World of the Married

Unfortunately, this drama doesn’t stream on either Viki or Netflix, but it was so highly reviewed that I went looking for it on other platforms.  “The World of the Married” is not your usual optimistic story of life and marriage.  Some fans claim this one is just more realistic.  I truly hope most of you don’t live in a reality quite this traumatic, but it does make for good tv. 

Ji Sun Woo is a woman who has it all.  She is a successful family doctor in a loving marriage, who is raising a son.  But one day she finds out that her perfect world was all just a big lie.  Her husband is having an affair with a younger woman and she is the last one to know about it.  Anger leads her down an extreme path of anger and revenge, and none of their lives will ever be the same. 

In case you haven’t heard, the west is being soaked by the Korean wave.  Groups like BTS and Blackpink are showing up on Billboard charts and doing collabs with some of pops biggest stars.  Parasite came in and swept the Oscars.  So maybe you’re new to kdrama and wondering what all the fuss is about.  Well, you’re in luck because Netflix has also jumped on to the kdrama wagon.  So you can explore the genre without having to find Korean specific streaming sites.  There are plenty of great ones available, but these are my 10 personal favorites.  They are in no particular order.  I had a hard enough time narrowing it down to 10, with all the great options.  I didn’t have the heart to rate them as well. 

Boys Over Flowers (2009)

25 episodes

My first pick has to be Boys Over Flowers.  This is my all-time favorite kdrama and it is a classic.  This series is great if you are looking for the roots of where kdrama began.  It includes lots of classic kdrama tropes and scenarios.  It’s been around 10 years already, so you won’t find amazing effects or cinematography.  But it is a story about love and friendship that is timeless.  It is about a girl named Jan-Di, whose family owns a dry cleaner shop.  She gets a scholarship to one of the most prestigious high schools in Korea.  Joon-Pyo, the most powerful boy in school, falls in love with her, but it will be a fight if they want to stay together. With the help of his best friends, known as the F4, Joon-Pyo will do everything to protect Jan-Di and give them a future together.

Because This is My First Life (2017)

16 episodes

If  you’re looking for a show that is a more serious drama, this one is a great choice.  Because This is My First Life is a romantic drama about life as a 30 something in Korea.  Se-Hee and Ji-Ho become housemates through a misunderstanding.  Each one holds the key to the others’ financial stability.  Se-Hee owns the apartment that can give Ji-Ho a home.  Ji-Ho can pay half of the mortgage that Se-Hee needs to keep his dream of being a house owner alive. They enter into a contract that will benefit both of them. This is not an exciting drama.  It is slow moving and character driven.  It examines the concepts of love and relationships in our current society.  The acting is intense and emotional and their journey is beautiful.  I highly recommend this one.

Strong Girl Bong-Soon (2017)

16 episodes

For the rom-com lover with a appreciation for over-the-top humor, this one is a great start.  Strong Girl Bong-S00n (Also known as Strong Woman Bong-Soon) is a light-hearted romantic comedy about a girl named Bong-Soon, who has superhuman strength.  Her dream is to design a video where she is the main character.  So she is thrilled when she is hired as a body guard for Ahn Min-hyuk, the CEO of a major gaming company.  As she spends time with the CEO, she gets a chance to give her input on his newest game.  And of course, as they spend time together, their relationship begins to develop into something much deeper than boss and employee.  The slap stick humor approach to the villians gives it the comic book feel that is appropriate for a story about a girl who is essentially a superhero. 

When the Camellia Blooms (2019)

20 episodes

If you can’t get enough of romantic drama, but like a little thriller mixed in to keep things exciting, this is for you.  This is a newer romantic drama that came out at the end of 2019 and is a netflix original.  When the Camellia Blooms is a unique mix of romance, comedy, and thriller that gives a well-rounded and realistic story.  Six years ago, Dong-Baek was the only survivor of a mass murderer, who disappeared after she escaped.  She is a single mom, which is unusual in kdrama land.  She is also the owner of the only bar in her neighborhood, The Camellia, where the local men gather to unwind.  Yong Sik grew up in the neighborhood but has been living and working in Seoul.  He is transferred back home and immediately fell for Dong-Baek.  But Dong-Baek’s life has not been easy and her heart has been closed for a long time.  Yong Sik will have to be very convincing if he is going to win her over.  I can’t say enough about this amazing cast.  The leads are quirky and engaging and their story is full of hope amidst the struggles of life.

Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)

16 episodes

This one is pretty classic romantic comedy, for the fan who is looking for something a little closer to our western style.  Another netflix original of the rom-com variety.  Eun-Ho and Dan-Yi have been friends since childhood.  In a rash of bad luck, Dan-Yi has recently become divorced and a single, unemployed mom.  Her once promising career as a copywriter was abandoned to raise her daughter, but now she needs to find a way to support herself.  She sends out countless resumes, but is rejected every time.  In desperation, she lies on an application for a prominent publisher.  She is delighted when she gets the job, until she finds out that it is the firm where Eun-Ho works.  She begs him to keep her secret and allow her to stay at the company. As they spend increasing amounts of time together, their relationship grows and deepens.  This is a cute and fun story that is well-written.  There are lots of sweet scenes that will put a smile on your face.

The Reply series (2012, 2013, 2015)

16, 21, and 20 episodes

The Reply series is great if you are fond of  retro/nostalgic themes.  I’m going to cheat here and add these three as a single choice.  All three shows follow the same general theme and even have some crossover moments between them.  They are dramas that focus around love, family, and friendship.  Each one takes you back in time to reminisce about the pop culture of the title year, while falling in love with the characters.  It’s easy to see why this series has been so popular both in Korea and with international fans.  There is plenty to laugh along with, but the story never loses heart.  It also offers a lot of insight into Korean culture.  So if you are new to kdramas, these shows can be very enlightening.

Mr. Sunshine (2018)

24 episodes

History buffs have to check out this amazing historical drama.  Not everyone loves the sweeping, tragic style of the kdrama historical series, but I recommend at least giving one a try.  And this is a great one to choose.  Eugene is a Korean who emigrated to the US when he was young.  Now, as a US military officer, he is sent back to his home country.  Once there, he learns the Japanese are planning to colonize the country.  He also runs up against a group of local rebels, and falls in love with the mysterious noblewoman, Ae-Shin.  This is not a happy, uplifting series, but it is exciting and the cinematography is beautiful. 

Stranger (Also known as Secret Forest) (2017)

16 episodes

For all you crime detective lovers out there who couldn’t care less about romance dramas, this is a winner.  Stranger is the story of Hwang Shi-Mok, a prosecutor who had a surgery as a child which left him unable to experience emotion.  One day at a crime scene he meets police officer Han Yeo- Jin.  Some may say that she experience too much emotion.  As a team, they find balance as they work to capture a serial killer.  In the process, they also uncover a major corruption scandal taking places in the very organizations they are supposed to represent.  A special bonus, if you like this show, is that season 2 is scheduled to air in June and bring back the original leads. 

Something in the Rain (Also known as Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food (2018)

16 episodes

Another drama for those of you who take your romance seriously.  Yoon Jin-Ah is  a single woman in her 30’s.  Her track record with relationships leaves something to be desired.  But then she bumps into her best friends’ little brother, Seo Joon-Hee.  He has been studying abroad and she hasn’t seen him in years.  But this grown up version of the boy she knew immediately tugs at her heart strings. But their family history and their age difference are major hurdles that will have to be overcome.  Can love triumph over social and family pressure?  Also, if you like this one, and more specifically the lead actor, Jung Hae-In, I definitely recommend One Spring Night as well.  They were similar enough in style to only list one, but they are both adorable.  Is that breaking the rules?  Maybe, but sometimes rules need to be bent a bit.  Don’t you agree?

Crash Landing on You (2019)

16 episodes

Crash Landing on You is a good balance of romantic comedy and drama, if you prefer  little of both.  It is driven by a unique and interesting storyline.  Yoon Se-Ri is a South Korean heiress.  A paragliding accident forces her to land in North Korea.  There she is discovered by Ri Jung-Hyuk, a North Korean army officer.  Worried for her safety if she is captures, he tries to help her return home.  But as they spend time together, they both begin to wish there was a way to bridge their differences and stay together.

So, there it is.  My top 10 favorites.  I should say that there are some popular shows that I haven’t had the chance to watch yet;  Kingdom, My Country, and Vagabond to name a few.  But these recommendations should get you started.  The rest of the exploration is up to you.  There are plenty of good ones to choose from.  Leave a comment and tell me about your favorites.  I would love to hear about them.