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.