The greatest shows South Korea has to offer hold up well against American TV shows considered to be masterpieces. The heightened worldwide popularity ofK-dramascontinues to be outdone every year and with good reason. When it seems South Korean television has produced its best series, another acclaimed K-drama is released.
Many of the K-dramas mentioned were released within the past decade, provingSouth Korea to be a powerful, dynamic force in television entertainment.Such series span a variety of genres, from historical K-dramas such asMr. Sunshineto feel-good legal dramas likeExtraordinary Attorney Woo. Just as many ofthe best American TV shows of all timedo, these comparable K-dramas contain career-best performances, striking cinematography, and brilliant narratives.
Mr. Sunshine
Cast
Mr. Sunshine is a historical drama television series that takes place in the late 19th century during the late Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The story follows Eugene Choi, a young boy who travels to the United States and returns to Korea as an American soldier, and Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-sin, an aristocrat’s daughter who dreams of modernizing Korea.
Though it’s first and foremosta historical K-drama,Mr. Sunshinealso has a compelling love story. The series has a bit of something for everything, and it’s because of this thatthe K-drama has earned such high ratings and levels of critical acclaim. Following its finale, the show was the third highest-rated series in Korean cable TV history, and critics praised its writing and cinematography.
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Mr. Sunshine’s conflict is stirring and inspired by historical events, and its characters are well-written, particularly the well-rounded female characters. The K-drama is set in the early 1900s in current-day Seoul, where Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun) returns home from the United States as a Marine Corps officer. Upon his return, Eugene falls in love with Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), but their romance is made difficult by their differing social class and outside individuals.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Extraordinary Attorney Woo follows the life of Woo Young-woo, a young attorney with autism spectrum disorder, who navigates the challenges of the legal profession in South Korea. The series portrays her brilliant legal mind and unique approach to cases, highlighting her struggles and triumphs both in and out of the courtroom. Park Eun-bin stars in the titular role, delivering a poignant and nuanced performance.
Among recent K-drama releases,Extraordinary Attorney Woohas one of the more exciting leads.Park Eun-bin plays the titular neurodivergent lawyer with a lot of charm, allowing audiences to easily become invested in her success. Being neurodivergent, Woo Young-woo faces several setbacks in her career, but she doesn’t let any of them prevent her from making her way to the top.
For its considerate portrayal of autism and Park’s performance,Extraordinary Attorney Woohas earned a positive response from audiences and critics. The actions of prejudiced individuals who don’t see Young-woo as a capable attorney are frustrating, but it’s satisfying to witness Young-woo prove her peers wrong, simply by focusing on her passion for the job.The legal drama has a lot going for itand can easily compete with the best of its American equivalent.
One Spring Night
One Spring Night follows the evolving relationship between a librarian and a pharmacist as their lives intersect unexpectedly. Directed by Ahn Pan-seok, this South Korean drama explores themes of love, commitment, and societal expectations. Starring Han Ji-min and Jung Hae-in, it delves into the complexities of modern relationships and the choices individuals face when confronted with love and duty.
International TV shows give audiences across the globe the opportunity to learn more about specific cultural and societal attitudes, such as the stigma around single parenthood in South Korea. This stigma is what gets in the way of Yoo Ji-ho (Jung Hae-in) and Lee Jeong-in (Han Ji-min) newfound romance inOne Spring Night.
The range of difficult romances on display in One Spring Night results in a mature K-drama that holds up well against comparable American series.
While Ji-ho is a single dad and struggles to feel accepted because of it, Jeong-in has relationship troubles of her own, as she feels pressured to marry the man she’s been with for years, though she does not wish to. In addition to the central love story between Ji-ho and Jeong-in, there’s a subplot involving a family member and their struggle to leave an abusive relationship.The range of difficult romances on display inOne Spring Nightresults ina mature K-dramathat holds up well against comparable American series.
The Glory
The Glory is a South Korean television series that follows the journey of Moon Dong-eun, a woman who seeks vengeance against those who tormented her during her school years. As she meticulously executes her elaborate plans, the show explores themes of bullying, revenge, and the lasting impact of trauma. Directed by Ahn Gil-ho and written by Kim Eun-sook, the series stars Song Hye-kyo in the lead role.
Few series address the long-lasting emotional and physical effects of bullying as intensely asThe Glory. Much of the bullying depicted on screen is inspired by real-life cases in South Korea, which adds further intrigue and heartache to the K-drama’s fictional story. Arguably one ofthe best revenge K-dramasof all time,The Glorytells a nail-biting story of a woman (Song Hye-kyo) looking to get back at those who bullied her in school.
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The Gloryis often thought-provoking and intense and is a highly rewarding watch. The series has earned critical acclaim and viewership success thanks to Song’s emotional and disturbing performance and her character’s morally conflicting methods of revenge. The elaborate revenge plan of Song’s Moon Dong-eun results in her getting a teaching job at the elementary school that the child of the bullies' leader attends.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a South Korean drama series following Moon Gang-tae, a caretaker in a psychiatric hospital, and Ko Moon-young, a children’s book author with antisocial personality disorder. As their lives intertwine, they embark on a journey of emotional healing while grappling with their traumatic pasts. The show explores themes of mental health, relationships, and personal growth.
Healing from past trauma through a new romantic connection is seen in several series, especiallydark romance K-dramas. Many great American and South Korean shows depict such a romance, but one of the best to do it is 2020’sIt’s Okay to Not Be Okay. The series follows the growing romance between caregiver Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) and children’s book author Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji).
While the two do share lighthearted moments occasionally,the series is mostly concerned with addressing their trauma and mental health. This makes for a complex and moving narrative that has continued to impact audiences across the world. As a result ofIt’s Okay to Not Be Okay’s strong storytelling and performances, the K-drama was among the top romance series on Netflix in South Korea following its release.
Guardian: The Lonely And Great God
Guardian: The Lonely And Great God is a 2016 South Korean television series following the lives of a modern-day goblin and his human bride. Portrayed by Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, the show delves into themes of immortality and destiny as the goblin seeks to end his eternal existence. The series blends romance, fantasy, and drama, winning acclaim for its unique storyline and strong performances.
InGuardian: The Lonely and Great God, fantasy, comedy, and romance come together to create a captivating story about love and sacrifice. The K-drama revolves around Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), a military general turned Goblin cursed with immortality, and his desire to rest once and for all. However, Goblin’s fate is complicated by his growing romance with Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun).
Guardian: The Lonely and Great Godand its 16 episodes are not only easy to binge, but they also rival thebest fantasy TV shows with only one season. Following its release,the fantasy K-dramabecame a cultural phenomenon in South Korea and drew impressive ratings during its run. With its unique and well-established mythology, as well as its seamless blend of genres, the K-drama is truly one of a kind.
Descendants of the Sun
This drama series follows the romance between a dedicated soldier and a talented surgeon, whose differing worldviews test their relationship. Amidst challenging circumstances and life-threatening situations, they navigate the complexities of love, duty, and the unpredictable nature of fate.
The popularity ofDescendants of the Sunreached previously unforeseen heights, being sold and translated in more than 30 countries and contributing to tourism in Korea. Though providing a fascinating look into the South Korean military,the conflict and moving romance depicted in the show are easy for anyone to invest in.The action-packed K-dramais intense enough for audiences seeking tension and thrills, while also presenting a compelling romance defined by a difference in occupations and outlooks on life.
Set against the backdrop of a war-torn country, the main romance in the series is between special forces soldier Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki) and surgeon Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), who are initially forced to part ways, only to be drawn back to one another. The chemistry between the actors is palpable and contributes to much of the K-drama’s heartbreak and suspense.
Prison Playbook
Baseball star Kim Je-hyeok is about to make his Major League Baseball debut. However, due to some misfortune, he ends up in prison and must learn to survive in this new world full of life and death challenges.
Providing Park Hae-soo with his breakthrough in K-dramas and his first leading role isthe slice-of-life seriesPrison Playbook. The series' name suggests audiences will be treated to a thrilling drama about the hardships in prison, but the show is quite the opposite. Instead, the black comedy series takes audiences inside a prison where Kim Je-hyuk (Park) is the newest inmate.
The best part aboutPrison Playbookis getting to know Je-hyuk’s fellow inmates, as each of their stories, some tragic and others comical, get fleshed out as the series progresses. Severalshows about prisonhave gained critical acclaim and are equally engrossing for audiences, but few are as tonally balanced asPrison Playbook. The unique angle of the K-drama and the unexpected heartwarming connections between its characters make it a strong series against great American television.
Hospital Playlist
Hospital Playlist is a South Korean television series that follows the lives of five doctors working at a hospital. It explores their personal and professional struggles as they navigate the challenges of their jobs and personal relationships. The series delves into themes of friendship, love, and growth as the characters face various medical cases and personal struggles.
Earning positive comparisons to American medical dramas and shows about friendships is South Korea’sHospital Playlist. The series follows a group of doctors who have known one another since their days at medical school. Focusing onthe friendship between the K-drama’s charactersand their heartfelt connections to various patients,the K-drama is a refreshing take on the exploration of the day-to-day life of hospital staff.
Mixed in with sentimental scenes and the happenings of a typical medical series are Hospital Playlist’s musical performances.
Mixed in with sentimental scenes and the happenings of a typical medical series areHospital Playlist’s musical performances. Music plays a big part in helping the series' characters navigate the struggles in their personal and professional lives, while simultaneously providing audiences with a fun time. Though each character goes through ups and downs at work, the K-drama remains lighthearted as there is a consistent balance of heartache and humor throughout the show.
Crash Landing On You
Crash Landing on You is a romantic drama series that follows a South Korean heiress who accidentally lands in North Korea after a paragliding incident. She encounters an army officer who, despite the political tensions, aids her in concealment, forging an unexpected connection amidst their contrasting worlds.
Making waves when it was released six years ago,Crash Landing on Youremainsa K-drama masterpieceand a series that rivals the best American TV shows have to offer. The series earned record-making ratings and isthe second-highest-rated show in Korean cable TV history. Being a solid romantic comedy series with likable characters and sentimental portrayals of love, the K-drama is not without its conflict.
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The K-drama masterfully balances the effects of political tension with a doomed romance. The love story inCrash Landing on Youtakes shape after South Korean chaebol heiress Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) crashes in North Korea while paragliding. Se-ri is ultimately found by a captain in the Korean People’s Army, Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin). Despite the danger surrounding a potential romance between the two, they wound up falling in love.
