The 34 Best K-Dramas on Netflix Right Now (July 2024) (2024)

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 like Parasite and Minari, 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, Netflix has 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 the best shows on Netflix and the best 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

Hierarchy

Genre

K-Drama, Teen, Romance, Mystery

Debut Date

June 7, 2024

Written by Chu Hye-mi and directed by Bae Hyeon-jin, Hierarchy is a South Korean teen romance series in a similar vein to the international Netflix hit Elite. 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 stars Roh Jeong-eui, Lee Chae-min, Kim Jae-won, Ji Hye-won, and Lee 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 of Hierarchy were released on Netflix on June 7, 2024. The series received mixed reviews but performed much better with audiences. In the week of its release, Hierarchy was 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

Comedy

Crime

Thriller

Release Date

February 9, 2024

Creator

Ggomabi

Cast

Choi Woo-sik , Son Suk-ku , Lee Hee-joon , Hyun Bong-sik , Nam Jin-bok

Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by Kkomabi, A Killer Paradox is 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 by Lee Chang-hee and written by Kim Da-min, starring Choi Woo-shik as the killer and Son Suk-ku and Lee Hee-joon as detectives. A Killer Paradox has 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.

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'My Demon' (2013 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 77% | IMDb: 7.8

My Demon

TV-14

Comedy

Fantasy

K-Drama

A pitiless demon becomes powerless after getting entangled with an icy heiress, who may hold the key to his lost abilities -- and his heart.

Release Date

November 24, 2023

Cast

Kim Yoo-jung , Song Kang , Lee Sang-yi , Kim Hae-sook

Seasons

1

Kim Yoo-jung, Song Kang, Lee Sang-yi, and Kim Hae-sook star in the devilishly entertaining Korean drama My Demon. Delightfully honing in on soapy angst while peppering hints of charming supernatural elements, My Demon follows 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 Demon is 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 Demon stands 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

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'Strong Girl Nam-Soon' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 44% | IMDb: 6.6/10

Strong Girl Nam-Soon

TV-MA

Comedy

Action

Crime

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.

Release Date

October 7, 2023

Cast

Lee Yoo-mi , Kim Hae-sook , Ong Seong-wu , Kim Jeong-eun

Seasons

1

Strong Girl Nam-Soon is a fascinating sequel series to Strong Girl Do Bong Soon that 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-starring Kim Jung-eun as Hwang Geum-joo and Kim Hae-sook as Gil Joong-gan, Strong Girl Nam-Soon weaves generational drama seamlessly through the fast-paced crime mystery storyline.

Many K-Dramas include a romantic element, and Strong Girl Nam-Soon is no different, but the series stands out with a blend of comedy and action leaning on the familial foundation. Strong Girl Nam-Soon entertains 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.

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'Daily Dose of Sunshine' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.3/10

Daily Dose of Sunshine

TV-14

Medical

K-Drama

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.

Release Date

November 3, 2023

Cast

Park Bo-young , Yeon Woo-jin , Jang Dong-yoon , Lee Jung-eun

Seasons

1

Daily Dose of Sunshine is a South Korean web series now streaming on Netflix. The story follows Jung Da-eun (Park Bo-young), a nurse in the Psychiatry Department at a hospital. She takes great care to make sure 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 Sunshine is based on the life of Lee Ra-ha, a former nurse whose stories inspired the show. The program is directed by Jae-gyu Lee (The Trio Stars).

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'The Silent Sea' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 6.9/10

The Silent Sea

Mystery

K-Drama

Adventure

Sci-Fi

During a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, space explorers try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.

Release Date

December 24, 2021

Cast

Bae Doona , Gong Yoo , Joon Lee , Kim Sun-young

Main Genre

K-Drama

Seasons

1

A sci-fi horror series set in space, The Silent Sea follows 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. With Bae Doona and Gong Yoo leading this cast, you already know it's going to be good. Full of mysteries and twists, The Silent Sea is totally bingeable with its revelations and betrayals scattered generously throughout a dystopian story. — Therese Lacson

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'Doona!' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Doona!

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Follows the romance between a freshman college student and an established female pop idol.

Release Date

October 20, 2023

Cast

Bae Suzy , Yang Se-Jong , Lee Jin-Wook , Ko Asung

Main Genre

Romance

Seasons

1

Creator

Min Song-a

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 on Min Song-ah’s The Girl Downstairs, Doona! excels in both comedy and romance, with all the best assets of a well-worn genre illustrated throughout each of Doona!’s episodes. Director Lee Jeong-hyo has 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

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'Nevertheless' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.1/10

Nevertheless,

K-Drama

Romance

The intoxicating charm of a flirtatious art school classmate pulls a reluctant love cynic into a friends-with-benefits relationship.

Release Date

June 19, 2021

Cast

Han So-hee , Song Kang , Cheska Aguiluz , Yang Hye-Ji

Main Genre

K-Drama

Seasons

1

Starring the beloved Song Kang, Nevertheless was 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.

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'A Time Called You' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 60% | IMDb: 7.8/10

A Time Called You

TV-14

K-Drama

Romance

Mystery

A grieving woman magically travels through time to 1998, where she meets a man with an uncanny resemblance to her late love.

Release Date

September 8, 2023

Cast

Ahn Hyo-seop , Jeon Yeo-been , Kang Hoon , Harrison Xu

Directors

Kim Jin-won

Seasons

1

Based on the Taiwanese television series Someday or One Day, A Time Called You follows 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 You finds its rhythm with moments of true suspense and tension, perfectly realized by Yeo-been and Ahn Hyo-Seop’s lead performances. Beautifully shot on location in Jeonju-si and Incheon, writer Choi Hyo-bi plays 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

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'King the Land' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 4.6/10

King the Land

TV-14

Comedy

Drama

Amid a tense inheritance fight, a charming heir clashes with his hardworking employee who's known for her irresistible smile, which he cannot stand.

Release Date

June 17, 2023

Cast

Lee Jun-ho , Yoona , Go Won-Hee , Kim Ga-eun , Ahn Se-ha , Kim Jae-won , Kim Sun-young , Son Byung-ho , Kim Yeong-ok , Choi Tae-hwan , Lee Ye-joo , Kong Ye-ji , Kim Jung-min , Choi Ji-hyeon , Kim Chae-yoon , Lee Ho-seok , Cha Seo-hyun , Kim Ho-yeon , Bae Min-jung , Park Hyo-bin , Jung Yoo-na , Byeon Ye-jin , Yoon Tae-yi , Lee Ji-hye , An Woo-yeon

Creator

Cheon Sung-il

Seasons

1

Gently toeing the line between both comedy and drama, King the Land sees Lee 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 creator Cheon 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 as Punch, Minseo, and Gaho, that seamlessly partners the growth of the show’s central romance. Positively uncomplicated, King the Land is a hit for a reason, with Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ha’s sparkling chemistry a particular highlight.

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'Mask Girl' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Mask Girl

TV-MA

Thriller

Comedy

K-Drama

An office worker who is insecure about her looks becomes a masked internet personality by night until a chain of ill-fated events overtakes her life.

Release Date

August 18, 2023

Cast

Ren Hanami , Yeom Hye-ran , Ahn Jae-hong , Suk Mun

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Mae Mi

Mask Girl adapts the popular Naver webtoon created by Mae-mi and Hee-se about a bored young woman who is tired of her mundane office life and dons a mask to become an internet streaming personality. Unfortunately, she attracts the wrong attention, sending her life down a deep rabbit hole filled with murder, mysteries, and multiple personas. The limited series is not just visually stunning — it makes the ambitious choice to have the lead be played by three distinct actresses throughout the run to embody the different personas of Kim Mo-mi: Lee Han-byeol, Nana, and Go Hyun-jung.

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'Bloodhounds' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Bloodhounds

TV-MA

K-Drama

Crime

Action

In order to pay off their debt, three daring youths jump into the money-lending business while confronting the rich and powerful who prey on the weak.

Release Date

June 9, 2023

Creator

Jeong Chan

Cast

Woo Do-Hwan , Lee Sang-yi , Huh Joon-ho , Park Sung-woong

Seasons

1

Bloodhounds is a fist-pumping, breakneck action crime drama from South Korea with masterful fight choreography and acting. The series follows Kim Geon-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Hong Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi), two young boxers who get deeply in over their heads with a notorious loan shark, forcing them to use skills to dive deeper into the criminal underworld to pay off their debts. Though the friendship between the main two stars and the menacing performance of Park Sung-woong as the terrifying loan shark are enough to keep your butts in the seat, the stunning action and cinematography throughout the show are what takes it to the next level, making it an instant classic. – Tauri Miller

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'Celebrity' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.4/10

Celebrity

TV-MA

Drama

Thriller

Fame. Money. Power. One young woman fights to become the next hottest celebrity in the glamorous yet scandalous world of influencers in Seoul.

Release Date

June 30, 2023

Creator(s)

Creator

Kim Yi-young

Cast

Park Gyu-young , Kang Min-hyuk , Lee Chung-ah , Lee Dong-gun , Jun Hyo-seong

Seasons

1

Celebrity is a South Korean mystery thriller starring Park Gyu-young (The Devil Judge) as Seo Ah-ri, a social media influencer whose lust for stardom attracts more than just attention — he must also navigate jealousy and vitriol from her fellow influencers. But that is just the tip of the iceberg as a conspiracy begins to unfold around her that threatens her life — and, more importantly, her celebrity status. The series is a sensational look into the pressures of being a public figure in Seoul’s highly competitive influencer industry with a great visual aesthetic that balances the bright colors of a glamorous lifestyle with the dark and isolating underbelly that lurks beneath the luxury. – Tauri Miller

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'The Good Bad Mother' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 8.2/10

The Good Bad Mother

TV-MA

K-Drama

Comedy

Drama

A tragic accident leaves an ambitious prosecutor with the mind of a child, forcing him and his mother to embark on a journey to heal their relationship.

Release Date

April 27, 2023

Cast

Ra Mi-ran , Lee Do-Hyun , Ahn Eun-jin , Choi Moo-sung

Seasons

1

The Good Bad Mother is an uplifting drama about second chances that starts in a pretty dark place but soon journeys into an endearing tale of reconciliation. Choi Kang-ho (Lee Do-hyun) is a coldhearted attorney who suddenly gets his memory wiped in an accident that regresses him back to the mind of a child. Unable to take care of himself, he moves back to his hometown to live with his estranged mother, Jin Young-soon (Ra Mi-ran), who sees this as a second chance to be the mother she always wanted to be. The development of the relationship between the and his mother is quite touching, conveying themes surrounding unintentional harm when wanting the best for someone and fighting for love being worth the pain.

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'Queenmaker' (2023 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Queenmaker

TV-MA

Drama

An accomplished fixer for a powerful business conglomerate jumps into politics to make a headstrong civil rights lawyer the next mayor of Seoul.

Release Date

August 14, 2023

Cast

Jolene Kim , Ell , Alexandra Bokyun Chun , Ren Hanami , Kim Hee-ae , Moon So-ri , Keisuke Hoashi , Kate Marley

Seasons

1

Queenmaker is a gripping political drama co-created by Oh Jin-seok and Moon Ji-young. Like a Korean Scandal, Queenmaker follows a talented fixer who, after a crisis of conscience, leaves her successful position with a powerful business conglomerate for the world of politics, determined to make a headstrong civil rights attorney into the next mayor of Seoul — and take down her former employer in the process. Starring Kim Hee-ae as Hwang Do-hee, the brilliant image-maker, and Moon So-ri as Oh Seung-sook, the "rhino of justice" human liberties lawyer, Queenmaker captivates by balancing riveting storytelling with genuine talent. – Yael Tygiel

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'Twenty-Five Twenty-One' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.6/10

Twenty-Five Twenty-One

TV-14

K-Drama

Romance

In a time when dreams seem out of reach, a teen fencer pursues big ambitions and meets a hardworking young man who seeks to rebuild his life.

Release Date

February 12, 2022

Cast

Nam Joo-hyuk , Kim Ji-yeon , Choi Hyun-wook , Lee Joo-myung

Seasons

1

Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a South Korean teen series set in the late 1990s, allowing creators Jung Jee-hyun and Kwon Do-eun to build a fictional story on the foundation of real events. Twenty-Five Twenty-One stars Kim Tae-ri as an ambitious high schooler and a fencing prodigy named Na Hee-do. Co-starring Nam Joo-hyuk, the series follows how the 1997 IMF crisis impacted these young people, following Na as she is forced to move schools. At her new school, she meets Baek Yi-jin (Joo-hyuk), a young man determined to rebuild his life after the economic crisis disrupted his family and their wealth. Twenty-Five Twenty-One deftly explores the fallout of a historical moment while building an exciting and charming romance. – Yael Tygiel

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'Crash Course in Romance' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.8/10

Crash Course In Romance

TV-14

K-Drama

Comedy

Romance

Retired ex national team female handball player has become a grocery store owner in order to look after her family while she grapples with her daughter's tutor's eating disorder.

Release Date

January 14, 2023

Creator(s)

Hee-Seung Yang

Cast

Jeon Do-yeon , Jung Kyung-ho , Lee Bong-ryun , Oh Eui-Sik

Seasons

1

Crash Course in Romance is an adorably chaotic South Korean dramedy written by Yang Hee-seung, who worked on the series with director Yoo Je-won. Crash Course in Romance cleverly plays with bittersweet romance tropes to build a universally enjoyable series. The series stars Jung Kyung-ho as Choi Chi-yeol, a math instructor and celebrity at the elite Pride Academy, as well as Jeon Do-yeon as Nam Haeng-seon, a small business owner with a heart of gold who finds herself catching feelings for the famous mathlete. Also featuring Lee Bong-ryeon and Roh Yoon-seo, Crash Course in Romance has a cute and heartwarming first season. – Yael Tygiel

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'Our Blues' (2022 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 8.6/10

Our Blues

TV-MA

K-Drama

Romance

Romance is sweet and bitter - and life riddled with ups and downs - in multiple stories about people who live and work on bustling Jeju Island.

Release Date

April 9, 2022

Cast

Lee Byung-hun , Shin Min-a , Kim Woo-bin , Choi Young-joon

Seasons

1

A drama series with a clever premise reminiscent of a docu-series or reality show, Our Blues explores the individual lives of people who live and work on Jeju Island. Following these individuals’ highs and lows, Our Blues utilizes an innovative omnibus format, allowing the often sweet and bitter moments of the residents’ lives to be highlighted and exposed through multiple varying lenses. Starring Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, and Cha Seung-won, Our Blues creatively depicts the beginnings and ends, as well as moments that can be considered the climax of one’s journey, revealing universally relatable tales about life. – Yael Tygiel

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'Under the Queen’s Umbrella' (2022)

IMDb: 8.5/10

Under the Queen's Umbrella

K-Drama

Comedy

Drama

Im Hwa Ryeong, a prickly, sensitive and hot-tempered queen, tries to turn her trouble making princes into proper crown princes.

Release Date

October 15, 2022

Cast

Kim Hye-soo , Moon Sang-min , Chani , Choi Won-young

Seasons

1

Fans of Game of Thrones, The Great, and even The Crown are sure to love Under the Queen’s Umbrella – a juicy historical drama about a group of people fighting for the throne. The main character in our story is Hwa Ryeong (Kim Hye-soo), a hot-tempered queen attempting to turn her sons into young men fit to wear the crown someday. She’s constantly playing a game of chess with both her family and the people in her court, holding onto power as hard as she can. It’s both beautifully shot and soapy, making it a feast for the eyes and the perfect binge-watch. – Taylor Gates

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'Business Proposal' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Business Proposal

TV-14

K-Drama

Comedy

Romance

In disguise as her friend, Ha-ri shows up to a blind date to scare him away. But plans go awry when he turns out to be her CEO - and makes a proposal.

Release Date

March 1, 2022

Cast

Ahn Hyo-seop , Kim Sejeong , Kim Min-kyu , Seol In-ah

Creator

StudioS

Seasons

1

Meet Kang Tae-mu (Ahn Hyo-seop), a detail-oriented workaholic and the new president of GO Food. Meet Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong), a new researcher at the company who’s crushing hard on her college friend Lee Min-woo (Song Won-seok). Despite having her interests elsewhere, Shin Ha-ri’s best friend Jin Young-seo (Seol In-ah) convinces her to go on a blind date with Kang Tae-mu in her place. When Shin Ha-ri realizes she’s on a date with her boss, though, things get complicated, and she does her best to turn him off. However, when Kang Tae-mu is undeterred no matter what she does while still thinking she’s her friend Jin Young-seo, things get even more complicated. Business Proposal is a sweet and silly K-drama that’s sure to satisfy your rom-com craving. – Taylor Gates

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