Buzz
1. The King: Eternal Monarch
The King: Eternal Monarch follows the story of Emperor Lee Gon of the Kingdom of Corea. Lee Gon attempts to stop an evil force released by a god into the human world. A portal to a parallel universe opens, and he meets detective Jung Tae-eul, who resembles Luna, a criminal in Lee Gon's world. Together, they must close the portal to protect both worlds, and their love story unfolds from there.
With Lee Min Ho's return to the screen, The King: Eternal Monarch offers a fresh and captivating experience with its intriguing parallel universe rules. What will happen to the two lovers, and what consequences will these alternate realities bring? All will be revealed in 16 episodes of this thrilling drama.
DETAILS:
Director: Baek Sang Hoon
Country: South Korea
Main Cast: Lee Min Ho, Kim Go-Eun, Woo Do-Hwan
2. Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class follows the story of a former convict and his friends as they battle against a formidable rival to turn their dream of running a street bar into a reality in a lively district of Seoul. Alongside the main plot, it features a dramatic struggle for a righteous ex-convict, a charming boss, an evil woman with a vendetta, and a brilliant but crazy antagonist with an IQ of 162, all fighting for the love of one man.
The drama draws viewers in not only with its sharp and meaningful dialogues about life's harsh realities but also with the stellar performances of its cast. The series concludes with a triumphant ending, as Sae Ro Yi avenges his wrongdoers and becomes the head of the largest food empire in Korea. The romance between Sae Ro Yi and Jo Yi Seo is widely supported by fans.
DETAILS:
Director: Kim Sung-yoon
Writer: GwangJin
Country: South Korea
Main Cast: Park Seo Joon, Kim Da Mi
3. Penthouse - War for the Top (Season 1)
Breaking through many big names, Penthouse became a true “champion” by setting the record for the highest final episode viewership. From its debut until the end, Penthouse led the charts on media platforms (according to Good Data Group’s statistics). The drama’s success was further proven by its 9 awards at the 2020 SBS Awards.
The Penthouse is set in the 100-story luxurious Hera Palace. The three main characters, Shim Soo Ryeon (Lee Ji Ah), Cheon Seo Jin (Kim So Yeon), and Oh Yoon Hee (Eugene), come from different backgrounds and lead different lives, yet they are entangled in a web of complex relationships as they all aspire to the upper echelons of society. The series reflects the dark side of the high society, fame, and the pain that comes with living under a false facade. Due to its huge success, Penthouse continued with Seasons 2 and 3 in 2021.
DETAILS:
Director: Joo Dong Min
Country: South Korea
Main Cast: Lee Ji Ah, Kim So Yeon, Eugene, Um Ki Joon, Park Eun Seok
4. Hospital Playlist
Hospital Playlist is a South Korean drama featuring Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, and Jeon Mi-do. By the end of its first season, the series became the 9th most-watched cable drama in Korean history, with the final episode hitting a national viewership of 14.142%.
True to its title, the show follows the lives and careers of five lifelong friends, who once trained together at medical school, now successful doctors at Yulje Hospital. The series shares poignant stories of patients with unique fates, and reveals the ups and downs in the life of a doctor, where tears and laughter often come hand in hand.
DETAILS:
Writer: Lee Woo-jung
Director: Shin Won-ho
Main Cast: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, Jeon Mi-do
5. Start-up
Start-up is set in the Sandbox, often called the ‘Silicon Valley of Korea,’ and follows the story of young entrepreneurs in the world of start-up companies. Seo Dal Mi dreams of becoming South Korea’s Steve Jobs. She is an adventurer, always ambitious and eager to carry out big plans. Nam Do San is the founder of Samsan Tech. Once a prodigy in mathematics, he was the pride of his family, but in the past two years, his company has faced a crisis, forcing him to rebuild from scratch.
He meets Seo Dal Mi, and together they embark on their start-up journey at the Sandbox. It turns out that Seo Dal Mi believes Nam Do San is the ‘first love’ mentioned in her letters, but the truth is it was Han Ji-pyung who had sent her those sweet notes. What will happen to this love triangle between Seo Dal Mi, Nam Do San, and Han Ji-pyung?
DETAILS:
Writer: Park Hye-ryun
Director: Oh Choong-hwan
Main Cast: Bae Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho, Kang Han-na
6. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
It's Okay to Not Be Okay is a 2020 South Korean drama produced by Story TV and Gold Medalist. With standout performances from Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, and Oh Jung Se, the series quickly became one of the best Korean dramas of the year.
The story follows Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), a community health worker in the psychiatric department, who struggles to find time for himself while caring for his autistic brother. He crosses paths with Go Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji), a children's book author who has never known love. As they meet and interact, both begin to heal their emotional scars.
DETAILS:
Writer: Jo Yong
Director: Park Shin-woo
Main Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Oh Jung Se
The World of the Married is the highest-rated cable drama in South Korean television history. It has received widespread praise for its script, direction, and the remarkable performances by its cast. The show not only reaffirmed the legendary status of Kim Hee Ae but also propelled younger talents like Han So Hee into the spotlight.
The plot follows Ji Sun-woo (Kim Hee-ae), a family doctor, who appears to have it all – a successful career, a loving husband, and a child. However, her seemingly perfect life shatters when she discovers her husband's betrayal. Meanwhile, her husband, Lee Tae-oh (Park Hae-joon), dreams of becoming a renowned film director, and although he loves his wife, he becomes entangled in a dangerous affair.
DETAILS:
Writer: Joo Hyun
Director: Mo Wan-il
Main Cast: Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-joon, Han So-hee
8. Crash Landing On You – Hạ Cánh Nơi Anh
Crash Landing On You is one of the highest-rated dramas in South Korean television with a remarkable 21.7% rating. The story follows the cross-border romance between a South Korean chaebol, Yoon Se Ri (Son Ye Jin), and a North Korean officer, Ri Jung Hyeok (Hyun Bin), who fall in love despite the political barriers that divide their countries.
The plot centers on Se Ri, who, while paragliding, is swept by a strong gust of wind into North Korea, where she meets Jung Hyeok, a soldier who goes above and beyond to protect her. Despite their dangerous circumstances, the two fall deeply in love. As the story unfolds, they are forced to separate, but Se Ri continues to search for her lost love.
In a heartwarming twist, Jung Hyeok gives up his military career and becomes a national music artist. Se Ri, now a philanthropist, sets up a scholarship fund for young musicians from low-income families and organizes an annual performance in Switzerland, where she hopes to reunite with Jung Hyeok. Finally, after years of searching, they are reunited, their love story coming full circle.
DETAILS:
Director: Lee Jung Hyo
Country: South Korea
Writer: Park Ji Eun
Main Cast: Son Ye Jin, Hyun Bin
9. Chocolate – The Bittersweet Taste of Life
Chocolate – The Bittersweet Taste of Life marks the return of South Korea's action queen, Ha Ji Won, and quickly became a hit, with a simple yet heartfelt storyline. It explores themes of love, the pain of illness, and the pursuit of dreams and career success. The story revolves around two characters, Lee Kang and Cha Young, whose lives are touched by the magic of love and kindness, drawing from the small, everyday miracles that life offers.
The series is an ode to the power of love, as it highlights how love can inspire effort and change in a person's life. Moon Cha Young, a small-town girl, becomes a chef after a life-changing meal, a career path that Lee Kang also dreamed of, though now he is a successful neurosurgeon rather than the chef he once aspired to be.
Chocolate – The Bittersweet Taste of Life is a story of unexpected encounters between two people who heal each other's emotional wounds, forging a bond grounded in empathy and shared understanding. Together, they walk through life quietly, without the bitterness of rivalry or the harshness of ambition, simply supporting each other and finding their way into each other’s hearts.
DETAILS:
Director: Lee Hyung Min
Writer: Lee Kyung Hee
Country: South Korea
Main Cast: Ha Ji Won, Yoon Kye Sang
10. Dr. Romantic 2 – The Healing Doctor
Dr. Romantic 2 – The Healing Doctor is a compelling drama that showcases the battle to preserve the true essence of the medical profession, highlighting the intense pressures faced by surgeons. The series follows Dr. Kim, who emerges as the leader of Doldam Hospital, dedicating his life to the sacred mission of saving lives.
In this season, Dr. Kim and his young protégés confront the selfishness that often pervades the medical field, and through their struggles, they find fulfillment in their noble calling. The series gained high ratings thanks to its meticulous portrayal of medical expertise and its engaging, dramatic storytelling. While the series isn't overly focused on romance, it does touch upon the growing emotional bond between Dr. Kim’s students, Kang Dong Joo and Yoon Seo Jung, as they navigate their relationship as mentor and mentee.
DETAILS:
Director: Yoo In Sik
Writer: Kang Eun Kyung
Country: South Korea
Main Cast: Han Suk Gyu, Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Sung Kyung, Kim Joo Hun
