

3. Bitter-Sweet Life
Concealed for 3 years on the small screen, actress Ha Ji Won chooses the project Bitter-Sweet Life - Chocolate for her comeback. Paired with the talented actor Yoon Kye Sang, Ha Ji Won brings forth numerous emotions and reflections for the viewers. Chocolate is a South Korean television series depicting the unexpected reunion of childhood friends Lee Kang (Yoon Kye Sang) and Moon Cha Young (Ha Ji Won) who were separated due to family reasons. Now grown-up, the once little boy has become a skilled neurosurgeon while the girl from the past is now a chef.
The series will touch the hearts of viewers and help them find solace in their souls, making it a perfect choice to start the new year with some Korean drama indulgence. With love, heartbreak, death, and stories of family, Chocolate guides the audience through the various levels of forgiveness and teaches them to let go of what they cannot control.

4. Itaewon Society
Adapted from the famous web drama of the same name, Itaewon Society television version was eagerly anticipated even before its official release. Thanks to the script being edited by the original author, audiences can enjoy scenes that stay true to the original version's framework. 2019 was a busy year for Park Seo Joon with numerous film projects; nevertheless, the actor still actively contributed to the television realm with the new series Itaewon Class. He portrays Park Sae Roy, continuing his father's legacy as the former CEO of a food company, by opening a store in Itaewon. The store manager is the extremely clever and sassy Jo Yi Seo (played by Kim Da Mi).
February 8th witnessed a remarkable growth in the ratings of the series, reaching nearly 9.4% of the global audience. This is an impressive figure for Itaewon Class considering that its first episode only reached nearly 5% globally. Alongside the talented young cast, the storyline of Itaewon Class becomes even more dramatic and attracts the attention of fans of Korean romantic dramas with the adorable 'crush' moments of the characters.

5. Love Like a Dream - Life Like a Fantasy
Despite airing for several months, the subsequent episodes of Love Like a Dream - Life Like a Fantasy still maintain the allure of a long-running romantic drama. The series revolves around the journey of individuals seeking love and happiness in life. With an expected run of 100 episodes, the series not only avoids fatigue but also grows stronger over time thanks to the impressive acting skills of the cast and the love story of the main couple, Goo Joon Hwi (Kim Jae Young) and Kim Cheong Ah (Seol In Ah).
The series brings forth plot points that are reminiscent of classic Korean romance dramas. What makes it appealing and keeps viewers engaged is the feeling of living alongside the characters and experiencing their stories firsthand.

6. If the Weather is Fine, I'll Come to You
If the Weather is Fine, I'll Come to You is one of the most anticipated and beloved South Korean dramas of the year, featuring a cast of seasoned actors from the Hallyu wave. Park Min Young portrays Hye Won, a rural girl who passionately pursues her dream of becoming a cellist and ventures to Seoul to make it a reality.
However, life doesn't unfold as she expects. Faced with various challenges, she decides to return to her hometown BukHyeonRi and live a simple life. There, she meets Eun Seob (Seo Kang Joon), the owner of a bookstore. A romantic tale in a peaceful countryside begins between them.

7. Baseball Tournament
Airing since December 13th last year, the series concluded on February 14th this year. From episode 5 onwards, the ratings of Baseball Tournament have never fallen below double digits, a testament to the success of the show. The series depicts the efforts and struggles of two managers to lead their baseball team to the top position in the tournament.
Stove League features Namkoong Min – who returns after the highly successful Doctor Prisoner – alongside actress Park Eun Bin, Oh Jung Se, Jo Byung Kyu, and others. The series is based on a script by Lee Shin Hwa, one of the winners of the MBC 2H 2016 TV Drama Script Contest (Miniseries category).


8. Farewell, Mother
With Kim Tae Hee's comeback after 4 years away to focus on family life, Goodbye, Mom promises to be a standout Korean drama of the year with its portrayal of family bonds, touching stories, and deep affection infused with a touch of humor.
The story revolves around Cha Yoo Ri (Kim Tae Hee), a woman who passed away in an accident 5 years ago. Given the chance to reincarnate within 49 days, she returns to her beloved home, unexpectedly appearing before her husband and daughter as they begin a new life to overcome this loss.

9. Holo, My Love
By combining technology with romantic genres, Holo, My Love on Netflix successfully explores another aspect of human nature – loneliness. So Yeon (Go Sung Hee), an office worker, becomes close to the perfect and sweet artificial intelligence secretary, Holo (Yoon Huyn Min).
Holo fills the void of loneliness in So Yeon's heart, but there are certain limits that a computer cannot overcome. Later, Holo's creator, Nan Do (Yoon Huyn Min), develops feelings for So Yeon as he observes her closeness to Holo. Two identical figures with completely opposite personalities, which one will So Yeon choose?

10. Love and Leadership
The series Love and Leadership is directed by Jang Tae Yoo, the director of the drama You Who Came From The Stars. The story revolves around two brilliant lawyers who work for the top 1% of South Korea, Jung Geum Ja (Kim Hye Soo) – ambitious, seeing money as destiny – and Yoon Hee Jae (Ju Ji Hoon) – outstanding, intelligent.
The harsh truth about South Korea's upper class will be revealed along with humorous and surprising stories that change the heart of 'big sister' Geum Ja when she falls in love, surely satisfying the curiosity of the audience.

11. The Mysterious Curse
Unlike previous romantic dramas from TVN, this time, the network has brought the supernatural theme to the small screen, although it's considered a risky move as this genre tends to be niche. The storyline of The Enigmatic Curse revolves around the investigations of Im Jin Hee (Uhm Ji Won), including a case related to Forest, the largest IT company in South Korea led by Jin Jong Hyun (Sung Dong Il).
Jong Hyun is haunted by a mysterious religious sect and has ties to a peculiar spiritual company. Im Jin Hee gets entangled in the web of events, delving deeper into the cases. Later, she encounters So Jin (Jung Ji So), a girl with special abilities in spirituality and mysticism.

