The best Korean series, From Crash Landing on You to Squid Game

In recent years, we have seen the growing interest of the global audience in various Korean collections. Stay with helpbestlife to introduce some of the best Korean series.

It cannot be denied that we are currently witnessing the increasing popularity of works from the world of South Korean cinema and television. It is enough to remember just a few years ago how the film Parasite created a stir or how the compound game series took the pulse of social networks. This question has occupied your mind: what has caused the popularity of Korean dramas? These dramas can present entertaining stories to the audience without staying away from the real issues. The feeling of abandonment in a world of comedy and love captivates the viewer. It is a world that seems unafraid to seem particularly sincere or go down a mostly heartbreaking path in expressing its characters’ emotions.

When you are looking for the sweetest combination of romance and drama genres, or you like to spend your free time watching several well-made television works that pay attention to social and cultural issues and real-life concerns, it is better to ignore Korean series. Do not throw

The best Korean series

40.100 Days My Prince series

• Genre: action, historical, romance
• Director : Lee Jong-jae and Nam Sang-woo
• Actors : Kyung Soo Do, Nam Ji Hyun and Jo Seung Ha
• Publication year: 2018
• Number of seasons and episodes: One season with 16 episodes
• Average rating of 100 Days My Prince on IMDB: 7/8

The story of My Hundred Day Prince romance series is about Prince Lee Yul, who suddenly disappears. One hundred days later, the crown prince returns to the palace, but what happened to him is unclear. But we know that the prince who lost his memory lived an everyday life. Also, in these hundred days, love entered the prince’s life, and he married one of Chosan’s daughters. As a result, he brought his wife to the palace.

My 100-Day Prince series is a historical work that focuses on issues such as corruption, social inequalities, dirty political conspiracies, and abuse of power by officials. As a result, if you are a fan of the historical genre and have yet to have the chance to watch this series, you should join the strange story of this prince.

39. Law School series

• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Director: Kim Seok-Yeon and Christian Ko
• Actors : Myung Min Kim, Kim Bum, Hye Yong Ryu
• Publication year: 2021
• Number of seasons and episodes: currently, one season with sixteen episodes
• Average scores of Law School on IMDB: 8

If you don’t enjoy romantic stories but instead delve into the world of crime, don’t miss watching the Law School series.

This series was so popular during its broadcast that it took the top spot on the Netflix rating list. Although the story of this series is not about the love life of high school kids, and it should use sharper language to tell its story, we still see its delicate storytelling. In this collection, dealing with real issues is prioritized over romantic relationships. Instead of getting involved in trivial and superficial issues, the story’s heroes have entered the path of legal problems. Through this, they point out the flaws in the Korean justice system.

38. Memories of the Alhambra series

• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director: Anne Gil-Ho
• Actors: Park Shin Hye, Hyun Bin, Jin Wong Min
• Publication year: 2018
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• Average scores of Memories of the Alhambra on IMDB: 7/8

In Alhamra’s Diary series, we meet a character named Yoo Jin-woo, who leaves for Spain for a business trip after an unpleasant experience. Pursuing business issues leads him to meet a girl named Jung Hee, and the two unintentionally get involved in a series of mysterious events.

Al-Hamra’s memoirs are well-made dramas with a relaxed and captivating atmosphere. The combination of story elements, mysterious atmosphere, and the presence of humor make watching this work memorable. In addition, we must remember this series’s impressive soundtrack, which matches every moment’s mood. Of course, the audience did not like the end of this work, and rumors were raised about it. However, it is still possible to mention the Al-Hamra Diaries series as one of the best K-drama series.

37. Angel’s Last Mission: Love series

• Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
• Director: Lee Jung-sub
• Actors : Hye Sun Shin, Myung Soo Kim, Dong Geun Lee
• Publication year: 2019
• Number of chapters and episodes: one season – 32 episodes
• Average rating of Angel’s Last Mission: Love on IMDB: 7/7

The story of the last mission of the Angel of Love series is about a careless angel named Dan who always gets into trouble. To return to heaven, he must find the true love of a ballerina named Lee Yeon-soo, but this mission is challenging. The situation becomes more complicated when he falls in love with a lonely ballerina.

The Last Mission of the Angel of Love is a romantic, imaginative, and pleasant story depicting forbidden but attractive love. Perhaps one of the strong points of this series is the female character, which removes the typical clichés of K-drama works and shows a strong and independent woman who, despite all the hardships and problems, prefers to face life’s challenges by himself instead of relying on others.

36. Run On series

• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director : Lee Jae Hoon
• Actors: Si Wan Yim, Shin Se Kyung, Sooyoung Choi
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• The average score of Run On on IMDB: 4.7

The fascinating series “Continue” is about the former star of the sports world who, after meeting a film translator, deviates from the predetermined path of his life and follows the song of his heart for the first time.

As we said, one of the charms of Korean collections is their attention to real issues and challenges that ordinary people face at different levels. Continuing series also follows such a storyline and, at the same time, offers an attractive combination of comedy, drama, and romantic adventures to the audience.

The multifaceted nature of the characters, the actors’ performances, and the storyline of this work are among the reasons for the series’ popularity. On the other hand, the story’s progress may seem slow in the early parts of the series. Still, gradually, we see that it reaches its appropriate rhythm. On the other hand, we recommend you watch this work to deal with some of the taboos of Korean society and break the structure in this field.

35. Touch Your Heart series

• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Director: Choi Ji Yeong and Park Joon Hwa
• Actors : Lee Dong Wook, Sang Woo Lee, Song Yoon Soon
• Publication year: 2019
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• The average score of Touch Your Heart on IMDB: 7.6

The Nawash Qalbat series tells the love story of a lawyer and a first-class actress. Being involved in a scandal puts the Actress under pressure, so she takes a break from the acting world for a while. However, when the opportunity to make up for the past mistake is provided, he works as a secretary in a law office.

The story of the Nazash Qalbatt series is simple, and even at first glance, you may feel that its theme is repetitive. However, the creators of this work tried to have new words to say and hear while telling this repeated story. In general, this is a romantic drama with a calm and lovely atmosphere that tries to show the audience that each of us, as a member of society, has responsibilities that we should not ignore. It also shows us that we will not always win the field and failure is a part of life, but it is essential to learn from our mistakes and failures and try to make up for them.

34. Sky Castle series

• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Director: Joo Hyun Tak
• Actors : Lee Dong Wook, Sang Woo Lee, Song Yoon Soon
• Publication year: 2018
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• The average rating of Sky Castle on IMDB is 8.5

The satirical drama Sky Castle shows how South Korea’s upper classes and affluent strive to achieve their goals, even if their success means destroying the lives of others. In other words, they do not understand that the end does not justify the means; instead, they step on the hopes and dreams of others to achieve their desires.

You may have also noticed that in many South Korean movies or television works, a lot of attention is paid to the criticism of society’s problems, and the creators are looking for the cultural development of their culture. As a result, most of the characters in the story struggle with the everyday problems of society regardless of their material status. The Asman Castle series has also dealt with the heavy pressures that wealthy class parents put on their children to bring more fame and wealth to the family by passing prestigious degrees. Along with that, we see the growth of characters and the change in their life patterns, which is done to break social barriers and create the right culture.

33. Dream High series

• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Director : Lee Ong Bok
• Actors: J. Oops. Park, to Suzy, Kim Soo Hyun
• Publication year: 2011 to 2012
• Number of chapters and episodes: 2 chapters – 32 episodes
• The average score of Dream High on IMDB: 7.6

The story of the Ruaya Boland series is about six hardworking and committed students studying art. This collection tells the story of their efforts to achieve their big dream of becoming stars in the Korean music industry. Of course, it is clear that this is a challenging path, and there are many ups and downs ahead of them.

Royai Boland series is an entertaining work full of attractive and catchy music due to its general atmosphere. It is a high school drama that deals with the issue of friendship. Meanwhile, it focuses on loyalty, setting goals, and trying to follow dreams. So, if you want an entertaining work mixed with excitement and music, don’t miss watching this beautiful drama.

32. Record of Youth series

• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director: An Gil Ho
• Actors : Bo-Gum Park, Sodam Park, Woo-Seok Byun
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• Average score of Record of Youth on IMDB: 2.7

The history of youth is about those who try to make way for themselves in the world and achieve their dreams. Meanwhile, this world always judges people based on criteria that have no role in their selection.

If you have watched the History of Youth series, you must have noticed its flaws. Of course, we must remember that the filming of this series, like many movies and television works of that era, was affected by the Corona pandemic. As a result, the production team was forced to give in to some issues, which ultimately affected the final quality of the work. However, The History of Youth is a beautiful and entertaining drama that takes the viewer on a journey on the roads of life and shows that trying to achieve dreams may be difficult, but it is worth it. Deep characterization is one of the highlights of this series, which makes the viewer identify with them and think about the memories of their youth.

31. Strangers from Hell series

• Genre: crime, mystery, horror
• Director: Lee Chang Hee
• Actors : Si Wan Yim, Lee Dong Wook, Rae Hyung Cha
• Publication year: 2019
• Number of chapters and episodes: one chapter – 10 episodes
• Average rating of Hell Is Other People on IMDB: 7/8

Strangers from Hell series is a crime work with a mysterious and scary mood. The story is about the life of a crime writer who, after moving into an apartment with ghostly residents, gets involved in unpleasant events and is disturbed.

Only some people are aware of the popularity of horror films among audiences. The horror genre is one of the most famous film and television genres, so the general interest in horror series is not strange. In the meantime, the Strangers from Hell series managed to do a difficult and admirable task by maintaining the series’ rhythm and constantly injecting fear and tension into the viewer. As a result, it is not unexpected to say that this work is one of the best Korean series in the horror genre.

30. The series Because This Is My First Life

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• Director : Nam Sang Woo and Park Joon Hwa
• Actors: Lee Min Ki, Jung Somin, Esom
• Publication year: 2017
• Number of seasons and episodes: One season with 16 episodes
• Average rating of Because This Is My First Life on IMDB: 1/8

In the series Because This Is My First Life, we meet Ji Ho, a young single woman who works as a writer’s assistant. Ji Ho is a strong and determined woman, but time and time again, her strength and endurance are challenged. When Ji Ho is forced to move house, he is forced to find a roommate, where he meets Se.

Because this is my first life, the Jovanpasand series has put its hands on a clichéd topic. However, K-drama proves again that it is possible to recreate a repeated theme differently and unpredictably and still captivate the audience. As always, in this collection, we see references to the big problems of Korean society, especially the pressures that society and parents have brought on young people and made life bitter for them. Also, since the film’s characters are familiar people from the same culture. As a result, the viewer can communicate well with them and the storyline, and this issue is one of the reasons for the popularity of this series.

29. The Uncanny Counter series

• Genre: action, fantasy, horror
• Director: Yoo Seon-dong
• Actors : Byung-Gyu Joo, Jun Sang Yoo, Se Jung Kim
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• The average score of The Uncanny Counter on IMDB: 8

K-Drama may be best known to modern audiences for its rom-coms. Still, the world of Korean entertainment encompasses a variety of genres that are worth checking out. The science fiction series Wonder Hunters is one of these works.

The mood of this work is as if we are witnessing a combination of series such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Warehouse 13”. The main characters of the story all have special abilities that they use to hunt demons. However, suppose you meet one of them during the day. In that case, it’s no different than millions of ordinary people going about their everyday lives. The hunters also work at a noodle shop during the day to stay hidden.

28. Love Alarm series

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• Director: Lee Na Jung and Kim Jin Woo
• Actors : Kim Soo Hyun, Sung Kang, Ga Ram Jung
• Publication year: 2019
• Number of chapters and episodes: 2 chapters – 14 episodes
• Average scores of Love Alarm on IMDB: 6/7

The story of the love warning series is told in a world where an application warns people when they encounter the phenomenon of love and being in love. In the meantime, we get to know the character of Kim Jojo, who is experiencing young love and has to deal with the hardships and adversities of life.

The Love Warning series quickly attracted the audience’s attention with the actors’ brilliant performance and excellent rhythm. As it is clear, the target society of this collection is primarily teenagers. For this reason, the creators of this work have paid more attention to the problems of today’s teenagers and young people and have investigated them. Among these problems, we can mention the influence of social media, experiencing feelings such as jealousy, constantly comparing one’s life with others and family problems. Since Love Alert is a high school drama, it may initially seem trite. But in the heart of this seemingly simple and insignificant story, there are great lessons for this age group, which especially warns them about addiction to social networks.

27. Extracurricular series

• Genre: Drama, Crime
• Director: Kim Jin-Min
• Actors: Kim Dong-hee, Park Joo-hyun, Dabin-jung
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of chapters and episodes: one chapter – 10 episodes
• Extracurricular average scores on IMDB: 7.6

In the extracurricular series, we meet a high school student named Ji Soo, who faces double life problems. On the one hand, he is an exemplary student; on the other hand, he is involved in crime. But the situation breaks down when one of his classmates discovers his secrets.

The intense plot of the extracurricular series is one of the outstanding strengths of this work. At the same time, the creators of this work tried to distance themselves from the typical stereotypes of high school dramas and use a new language to express their story. Another attraction of this work is how the creators choose characters. In such a way, the storyline does not try to blame or condemn the characters for their choices in life; instead, it shows the audience how the prevailing conditions of society can lead people to make suitable or wrong choices.

26. Mystic Pop-up Bar series

• Genre: comedy, fantasy, mystery
• Director: Chang Jeon Joon
• Actors: Hwang Jung-eum, Song Jae-yuk, Choi Won-young
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of chapters and episodes: one chapter – 12 episodes
• Average rating of Mystic Pop-up Bar on IMDB: 8

The mysterious bar series is about a young man with a unique ability who works for a centuries-old bar owner, where customers’ emotional problems can be solved by entering their dreams.

The Mysterious Cargo is a warm series with a sincere atmosphere that tells bitter and sweet stories. The story’s overall plot has good stability, and the characterization of this series is admirable. Finally, the experience of happiness and sadness is an integral part of the path of life, as the stories narrated in this work have such a mood. Stories that are encouraging and full of instructive life lessons simultaneously. Overall, the “Mysterious Bar” series is a fascinating work with a powerful beginning and end. This job is worth taking the time to watch at least once.

25. Serial Something in the Rain

• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director : Ahn Pan-seok
• Actors: Son Yik Jin, Jung Hye In, Joo Min Kyung
• Publication year: 2018
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• Average ratings of Something in the Rain on IMDB: 1/8

Something in the Rain is a romantic drama about a single woman who has started a new business with the help of her friend’s younger brother. In the meantime, this meeting and cooperation create a romantic feeling between these two people. A relationship that reawakens the desire to live and experience in a woman.

Something in the Rain series closely examines women’s issues, problems, and many gender stereotypes. The story’s main female character is in her mid-thirties, but she feels she no longer has a chance to enjoy life. The message of this collection is that age is just a number, and we should not let society’s beliefs overshadow our lives. This may have made the story’s primary couple affect the viewer so profoundly. This series has become one of the biggest commercial successes in Korea and was also one of the most famous works in this country at the time of its broadcast.​​

24. The Legend of the Blue Sea series

• Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
• Director: Hyuk Jin
• Actors: Jun Ji Hyun, Lee Min Ho, Lee Hye Joon
• Publication year: 2016
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 21 episodes
• Average rating of Legend of the Blue Sea on IMDB: 1/8

Just as a classic Western fairy tale inspired the Walt Disney Company’s charming animated story, The Little Mermaid, the Legend of the Blue Sea was inspired by a similar Korean tale.

The main story is about a fisherman who catches a mermaid and then throws her back into the sea. However, the mermaid depicted in this show is of a different gender. It is a love story that has found a unique twist thanks to fantasy elements. The popularity of this series reached its peak with the airing of its first two episodes, along with additional scenes. A work that has been nominated for awards in several sections of the SBS Drama Awards and has also won a special prize for Imaginary Drama Actor for Song Dong Il’s brilliant performance.

23. The Heirs series

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• Director : Bo Sang-chul
• Actors: Lee Min Ho, Park Shin Hye, Woo Bin Kim
• Publication year: 2013
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• The average score of The Heirs on IMDB is 7.5

In the Warisan series, we see that after an accidental encounter in Los Angeles, two teenagers from different social classes find the chance to meet again in a unique high school run by a group of rich Korean people.

The storyline of the Warisan series follows one of the common stereotypes of romantic dramas: a handsome and wealthy boy who falls in love with a simple and poor girl. The presence of Lee Min Ho is the main reason for the popularity of this series. However, the audience praised the actors’ overall performance of this work. It brought him awards such as Best Actor and Actress. On the other hand, both the story and the characterization of the Warisan series have good depth and richness. It is a drama that reminds us that we have very little time to experience simple and childlike love, and the world sends us in search of small and big life problems sooner than we imagine.

22. The King: Eternal Monarch series

• Genre: mystery, fantasy, romance
• Director : Bak Sang Hoon
• Actors: Lee Min Ho, Kim Go Eun, Woo Do Hwan
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of chapters and episodes: 1 chapter – 16 episodes
• The average rating of The King: Eternal Monarch on IMDB is 1/8

The story of the Eternal Reign series is about a Korean emperor who enters a parallel world with Omar through a mysterious gate, where he has to deal with a rogue police detective. These two must unite and stop the domination of evil and destructive forces.

Another common cliché in romance is the idea that love is supposed to conquer all odds. As a result, if a work cannot find a way to tell a balanced story that both gives importance to love and adds some excitement to the story by creating twists, it will not get much attention. Fortunately, the King of Eternal Reign series has achieved this, which can be called a successful work. Another reason for the popularity of this series was the presence of Lee Min Ho, who returned to the stage after a while away from the world of movies and series and delighted the audience.

21. The series Navillera series

• Genre: Drama
• Director: Hong Dong Hwa
• Actors : In Hwan Park, Sung Kang, Moon Hee Na
• Publication year: 2021
• Number of chapters and episodes: a twelve-episode season
• Average rating of Navillera on IMDB: 7/8

The Hamcho Parvaneh series is an emotional and impressive narrative. The story is about a 70-year-old and 23-year-old man who wishes to fulfill an old dream and benefit from an innate talent in this field. Now, these two people must join hands and try to achieve this goal and their shared dream: becoming a ballerina.

If you are a fan of family dramas, don’t miss watching a series like Parvaneh—an inspiring story about two people of different ages still trying to fulfill their dreams. In the meantime, the character of the retired older man is an inspiration to people who are worried that age or social status will somehow prevent them from realizing their dreams. We all have an elderly member among our close family members or acquaintances, and we know they have their feelings and concerns. Ultimately, this is a path that we will all be traveling sooner or later. As a result, a better understanding of the ups and downs of old age is somehow appropriate for all of us. An issue that the creators of this work have paid enough attention to.

20.Hotel del Luna series

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Action
• Director: Oh Chong Hwan
• Actors: IU, Yoo Jin Goo and Shin Jong Gun
• Publication year: 2019
• Number of chapters and episodes: 1 chapter – 16 episodes
• Average scores of Hotel del Luna on IMDB: 1/8

In the heart of the glamorous city of Seoul, there is a strange hotel that few have seen. A greedy and suspicious spirit has been responsible for running this thousands-year-old hotel called Del Luna. This spirit is not very happy with accepting this responsibility. He is cursed to always be in this strange place and fulfill the most unknown wishes of his customers. The trapped soul is desperate to escape this situation. Still, the arrival of a young assistant at Hotel Del Luna may be the way to save him and the hotel.

19. Alchemy of the Soul series

• Genre: action, drama, fantasy
• Director: Park Joon-hwa
• Actors: Lee Jae Wook, Jung Soo Min, and Go Eun Jung
• Publication year: 2022
• Number of chapters and episodes: 2 chapters – 30 episodes
• Average rating of Alchemy of Souls on IMDB: 8/8

Since the first episode aired on Netflix, Alchemy of the Soul became famous. The first season of this series consisted of 20 episodes. In contrast, the next part, titled “Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow” (Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow), which was broadcast in ten episodes, achieved the highest viewership and many fans. He struggled. Of course, even though this series should be considered one of the most popular broadcasts on Netflix, it is still being determined whether we will see another season.

Beyond the undeniable chemistry between the main characters of this series, what makes this work different from other Korean fantasy series is its avoidance of the common stereotypes of this genre. The storyline of this work is such that the viewer should be ready for a new surprise at any moment. On the other hand, stunning cinematography, remarkable special effects, costume design, and the design of the fighting scenes of the Kimiai Rooh series are other reasons that have attracted the attention of the viewers of this series.

18. Twenty-Five Twenty-One series

• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director: Jung Ji Hyun
• Actors: Kim Tae Ri, Nam Joo Hyuk and Bona
• Publication year: 2022
• Number of chapters and episodes: 1 chapter – 16 episodes
• Average rating of Twenty-Five Twenty-One on IMDB: 8.6

Twenty-Five Twenty series is a romantic drama about an ambitious swordsman who seeks to achieve his big dreams. In the meantime, he meets a young, hardworking man who is also looking to rebuild his life.

The 25-21 series is about young people with far-reaching dreams, but they are not disappointed when fate complicates things and closes the paths in front of them. Instead, they stand up and try again to achieve what they want, even if they face many difficulties.

17. Under the Queen’s Umbrella series

• Genre: Drama, Comedy
• Director : Kim Hyung Shik
• Actors: Kim Hae-soo, Kim Hae-suk and Choi Won-young
• Publication year: 2022
• Number of seasons and episodes: One season with 16 episodes
• The average rating of Under the Queen’s Umbrella on IMDB is 8.5

As the name suggests, the story of the Ziruchter Melke series is about the wife of a great king. However, do not expect to encounter a queen wrapped in an aura of tenderness and elegance because the queen of this story is a sensitive and hot-tempered creature. He didn’t hesitate to curse when needed and even trampled his pride in critical situations. The queen’s life is entirely of minor and extensive tests every day. However, she goes to the war of challenges with strength because she must always keep her shield to protect her children.

In the meantime, the queen is entrusted with defeating the rebellious princes who cause trouble for the royal family. Despite all the responsibilities of a queen, she accepts this duty. She tries to prepare her children to take the crown prince’s responsibility by adopting intelligent methods that sometimes seem strict.

16. Extraordinary Attorney Woo series

• Genre: Drama
• Director: Yoo In Shik
• Actors : Park Eun Bin, Kang Tae Oh and Kang Ki Young
• Publication year: 2022
• Number of seasons and episodes: 1 season with 16 episodes
• Average scores of Extraordinary Attorney Woo on IMDB: 8.6

Lawyer Woo is a fantastic drama series in the style of The Good Doctor. While the title of the film reminds you more of the works related to legal procedures, besides that, the primary and secondary characters of the series are more on the spectrum of people living with autism. This drama is the 8th best drama in the history of Korean TV because the audience connected well with the story and characters of this work. This work has been distributed worldwide except in Korea and achieved success.

15. Pachinko series

• Genre: Drama
• Director : Kugonada-Justin Chon
• Actors: Lee Min Ho, Yoon Yoo Jung and Kin Min Ha
• Publication year: 2022
• Number of chapters and episodes: 1 chapter – 8 episodes
• The average rating of Pachinko on IMDB is 3.8

The Pachinko series is based on one of the New York Times bestselling books. This collection narrates the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family who, to survive and grow, are forced to leave their homeland. In this collection, we look at the lives of four generations of this family, who deal with life’s challenges unyieldingly.

Critics of the Pachinko series consider it a complex yet intimate work that portrays enduring family bonds while reviewing historical events.

14. The Worst of Evil series

• Genre: Drama, Crime, Action
• Director: Han Dong Wook
• Actors: Ji Chang Wook, Wei Ha Joon, and Im Se Mi
• Publication year: 2023
• Number of chapters and episodes: one chapter – 12 episodes
• The average score of The Worst of Evil on IMDB is 4/8

The story of The Worst Devil series takes place in 1990s Seoul when a police officer tries to find a way to infiltrate a large drug trafficking organization run by a former DJ. Finally, he succeeds in doing this and secretly enters the drug cartel. However, he soon discovers that his detective wife has also volunteered for a similar mission. Now, he must uncover the identity of the underground smuggler and protect his wife from the dangers ahead.

The Worst Devil series should be considered one of the neo-noir masterpieces of the Korean entertainment world, which portrays a sincere atmosphere while showing cruelty. In addition, one must be open to the brilliant and superb acting of its actors, who play the roles of this series’s main heroes and antagonists. In general, even if you are not among the fans of criminal and gangster scenarios, this attractive drama can attract your attention.

13. My Demon series

• Genre: Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
• Director: Kim Jung-Han
• Actors : Kim Yoo Jung, Song Kang and Lee Sang Yi
• Publication year: 2023
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• Average rating of My Demon on IMDB: 8

The story of my Satan series is about a ruthless demon who gets into a fight with a wealthy and selfish heiress—someone who might not only impress her abilities but also her heart.

This companionship may provide them with temporary happiness in the beginning, but it will end up in a hellish situation.

12. Daily Dose of Sunshine series

• Genre: Drama
• Director: Lee Jekyu
• Actors: Park Bo-young, Jang Dong-yeon and Yoon Woo-jin
• Publication year: 2023
• Number of chapters and episodes: 1 season, 12 episodes
• Average rating of Daily Dose of Sunshine on IMDB: 3.8

The Daily Dose of Sunshine series is a fascinating drama about the events in a psychiatric ward. This work concerns a nurse who has just started working in a new department. Despite his problems dealing with patients, he spends all his efforts caring for them. He tries to develop his character as a human being and a nurse. On the other hand, we have Dong Go Eun’s character, who works as a doctor in the series, who is impressed by her smile and wishes to find a way to befriend her. Finally, this drama deals with the lives of patients with mental problems and shows how to restore peace to their lives with the help of kind caregivers.

Aftab Daily Dose series is a heartwarming work that deals with sometimes heartbreaking issues and problems. The creators of this work tried to show society’s problems and remind us that the people working in the field of neurology are also a part of society. They are also human and struggle with problems, yet they do their best to relieve the patient’s pain. This drama has also tried to calm the atmosphere by using humorous language and encouraging viewers to watch this work.

11. Moving series

• Genre: action, adventure, fantasy
• Director: Park In Jeh
• Actors: Ryu Sung Ryung, Han Hyo Joo, and Joo In Sung
• Publication year: 2023
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 20 episodes
• Average score of Moving on IMDB: 8.5

Among the hundreds of Korean dramas released last year, the stimulating series proved to be the best of the best with its action atmosphere and emotional atmosphere. A work that we may have the chance to watch only once in a decade.

The story of this series is about three high school students who have inherited supernatural powers. Still, all three of them have kept these powers hidden from the eyes of others due to their parents’ wishes. But in the end, despite the parents’ efforts to keep the unusual ability of these three a secret, a North Korean spy follows them.

Although the series’ plot is about superheroes, its core is dedicated to the concept of humanity. It is a work that shows that even superheroes, despite all their terrifying and extraordinary abilities, are human beings who are inevitably affected by the flow of life and the hand of fate. In addition, the world depicted in this series is still scary and incredibly realistic despite showing many sacrifices. This is why the series is one of the most distinctive K-drama works in history, which works better than any drama published in the past years.

10. Death’s Game series

• Genre: Drama, Fantasy
• Director : Ha Byung Hoon
• Actors: Seo In Guk, Park So Dam, and Go Yoon Jang
• Publication year: 2023
• Number of chapters and episodes: one two-part season – 8 episodes
• Average rating of Death’s Game on IMDB: 8/8

The story of the exciting series “Game of Death” is about a man who commits suicide due to his inability to find a suitable job. But after attempting to commit suicide, he suddenly woke up in another person’s body. He faced a mysterious creature called death, who condemned him to die 12 times.

In this way, his soul will dissolve every time in the body of a person who is facing imminent death. If he succeeds in preventing the death of a person, he will continue to live in that body for the rest of his life, and if he fails, he will enter the next body, and if he fails, he will go to Hell. But the question is whether he will find a way to overcome this challenge; will he be condemned to endure Hell? To get the answer to this question, don’t miss watching this fascinating series.

Finally, the Game of Death series was noticed by critics who introduced it as one of the works that depicted a unique and innovative worldview to deal with life after death.

9. My Mister series

• Genre: Drama, Family
• Director: Won Seok Kim
• Actors: Sun Kyun Lee, Ji Yoon Lee, Jae Ah Lee
• Publication year: 2018
• Number of seasons and episodes: One season with 16 episodes
• The average score of My Mister on IMDB: 1/9

My Ajooshi series is dedicated to the life experiences of two people of different ages. On one side of the story is a young woman who gained various experiences at the age of 20; on the other side, we have the story of a 40-year-old man struggling with multiple issues and hardships of life in different ways. These two people come together to help each other face life’s challenges.

The main question in the Ajooshi Man series is whether love knows age. The fact is that even though we live in the modern age, there are still those who refuse to accept love between people with a significant age gap. A significant age difference is sometimes shocking and, therefore, not taken by a part of society. However, love is not the only subject that interests the creators of this collection because most of these human relationships are at the center of attention.

As a result, don’t expect a story full of happiness, music, and romantic relationships because sometimes the storyline is sad and depressing. This issue is evident in the filming of the Ajooshi Man series, so the atmosphere is darker than it is to emphasize the tragic aspect of the series.

8. Vincenzo series

• Genre: comedy, crime, drama
• Director: Kim Hye Won
• Actors: Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Bin, Tae Seon
• Publication year: 2021
• The average rating of Vincenzo on IMDB is 8.4
• Number of seasons and episodes: a 20-episode season with a special episode

Vincenzo’s series focuses on the life of a young Korean man who works as a lawyer for a family of Italian mafia members. But things change when he visits his homeland. So, he has changed his front; this time, he is trying to do justice.

The Vincenzo series has an interesting plot, while the characterization of this series is solid and can be seen from the very beginning. Cooked dialogues are another attraction of this collection, which has helped to give more depth to each character. Of course, sometimes the series’ speed has slowed. Still, the director has skillfully compensated for this weakness with breathtaking cinematography. This is an attractive drama that goes back and forth between comedy and thriller genres to tell its story.

7. Itewon’s class series

• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director : Kim Sang Yoon
• Actors: Park Seo-Joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-Myung
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of seasons and episodes: One season with 16 episodes
• Average rating of Itaewon Class on IMDB: 8.2

Ete-won’s class series has been a massive success since it aired on Netflix and became available to the public. One of the reasons for this issue was the presence of prominent and well-known Korean actors in this work, including Park Seo Joon. In this series, he plays the role of a former prisoner who tries to build a new life after being released. Following in his father’s footsteps, he opened a restaurant called Ite Won.

However, it doesn’t seem like the past life will leave him so quickly. He still has to work hard to find his place and succeed in an industry dominated by big food companies. Ete-won’s class series is a drama full of emotions and some love that keeps the viewer with him from the beginning to the end of the story.​​

6. The series Boys Over Flowers series

• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director : Jun Ji Sung
• Actors : Ko Hee Suno, Lee Min Ho, Kim Hyun Jung
• Publication year: 2009
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season with 25 episodes
• Average rating of Boys Over Flowers on IMDB: 7/8

Another popular and youth-friendly series in Korea is The Best Boys from Flowers, inspired by the manga “Hana Yori Dango” by Yoko Kamio. In this series, we get to know a poor girl named Gom Jandi, who is involved in an unwanted incident and thus gets a chance to attend a high-level school. But he soon becomes the target of harassment by Gu Jun-pyo, the leader of a group known as F4, a group of four prominent and wealthy students at the school. As you can guess, this conflict and enmity is ultimately love, although it is not a love that is easy to bear fruit.

You’re unlikely to be a fan of controversial Korean romances, but you must watch this old drama. It is a drama with the presence of many characters who benefit from deep characterization regardless of their role being long or short. Sons are better than flowers in a unique way, giving meaning to concepts such as friendship, unconditional love, sacrifice, and fighting life’s challenges. On the other hand, this collection’s admirable and emotional music has contributed significantly to its appeal.

5. Sweet House series

• Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
• Director: Jang Yoon Woo-Soo Hyun Park
• Actors : Sung Kang, Lee Jin Wook, Lee Si Young
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• The average score of Sweet Home on IMDB is 3.7

In the Sweet Home series, we meet Hyun Soo, a lonely high school student who unfortunately lost his entire family in a heartbreaking accident. He is now forced to leave home while also having to deal with the fact that monsters are trying to destroy humanity. This encourages Hyun to enter the fray before it’s too late and try to save what’s left of the human race.

The Sweet House series is based on the popular webtoon of the same name. The story mainly revolves around the residents of an old apartment who fight to survive after an apocalyptic attack. Overall, this series is a perfect work worth watching if we overlook its small and significant flaws. Ultimately, it is better to consider this work as a free adaptation of this popular webtoon so that the work stays utterly faithful to its source of inspiration.

4. It’s Okay Not to Be Okay series 

• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director: Park Shin Woo
• Actors: Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Oh Jung Se
• Publication year: 2020
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• Average score of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay on IMDB: 6/8

In the series, it’s okay not to be good; we get to know different characters seeking to find a way to heal emotionally. A selfish and antisocial children’s book author teams up with a dedicated healthcare worker to find a way to get better.

As can be deduced from these few lines, the main topic of this collection is the problems of people who suffer from all kinds of trauma and mental illnesses. With that in mind, it is okay to watch the series if you are not good; it will be challenging because its dark atmosphere is filled with conflicting issues and feelings. So if you enjoy watching bright and cheerful dramas, there are better choices than this. But if you welcome the understanding of new experiences and are interested in the field of psychoanalysis, it’s okay to watch the series; don’t miss it because it has many untold stories to tell. On the other hand, the storyline, the excellent performance of the actors, and the characterization are other highlights of this series that should be paid attention to.

3. Goblin series (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God)

• Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy
• Director : Yong Bok Lee
• Actors : Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook
• Publication year: 2016
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season – 16 episodes
• The average score of Goblin on IMDB is 8.6

Goblin tells the story of an old bodyguard searching for a bride to break the eternal curse that caused his torment. In the meantime, he meets a sullen reaper and a lively student with a sad past.

It is always fascinating and tempting to watch the love story of separated people who step into the valley of forbidden love despite knowing their doomed future. A feature that also applies to this collection. On the other hand, along with the attractive filming, the music of the Goblin series is also awe-inspiring and catchy.

2. Crash Landing on You series

• Genre: Adventure, Romance, Comedy
• Director: Kim Hui Won- Lee Jung Hyo
• Actors: Hyun Bin, Seon Yik Jin, Seo Ji Hye
• Publication year: 2019
• Average rating of Crash Landing on You on IMDB: 7/8
• Number of seasons and episodes: one season with 16 episodes plus three special episodes

Falling on You is a forbidden love story, a love captured by politics and an enemy that requires much effort to come to fruition. A wealthy businessman is forced to make an emergency landing in North Korea while paragliding. Here, he meets one of the North Korean officers who tries to hide him from others and save his life. This familiarity is a prelude to a spectacular love that captivates the viewer.

Few people are aware of the difference between North and South Korean lifestyles. While South Korea has opened its doors to the world and is advancing rapidly, North Korea is an impenetrable prison whose people are drowning in problems and shortages. Here, too, we are dealing with a romantic connection that seems far-fetched. Therefore, the viewer follows the story of these two characters with interest to see how they will end up.

1. Squid Game series

• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Action
• Director: Hwang Dong Hyuk
• Actors : Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wei Ha-joon
• Publication year: 2021
• Number of chapters and episodes: One season with ten episodes
• Average rating of Squid Game on IMDB: 8

The story of the compound game series depicts a battle for survival. Although this story seems like a set of childish games that are supposed to shower the ultimate winner with money and wealth, it soon becomes clear that winning this race will not be easy.

The Mixed Game series is one of the popular series on the Netflix network, which quickly became famous; as a result, many of you are undoubtedly familiar with its mood and storyline. The composite game is a work that deals with the destructive effects of social inequalities and the desperation of the lower classes, making people look for a way to earn money, even at the cost of losing their dear lives. The amount of violence depicted in this work is shocking. However, one of this collection’s most essential trump cards should be considered the rampant violence that nails the viewer.

Finally, what do you think about the best Korean series? Has Kdrama fascinated you, too? We will be happy if you see a serial space in this list. Introduce it to us and your other friends on helpbestlife. We appreciate your support in advance.

common questions

1- What are the best Korean series?

Among the best Korean series, we can mention the compound games series falling on you and Goblin.

2- What is the new Korean series?

The Korean series The Game of Death, The Worst Devil, and The Daily Dose of Sunshine are among the newest Korean series.