The number ofK-dramasmade available to audiences worldwide has drastically increased in recent years, meaningsome truly great hidden gems have been overlooked for far too long.The genres available within K-dramas are of a large variety and include heartbreaking melodramas, lighthearted romantic comedies, and gripping historical dramas. Series likeThe Glory,Crash Landing on You, andSquid Gamehave gained high levels of attention and acclaim in recent years, leaving other great K-dramas to become less known.
Series likeChocolateandBo-ra! Deboraaren’t as widely talked about, but they contain many of the best qualities of the successful K-dramas that have caught the attention of audiences around the world.For those new to K-dramasand those with a vast knowledge of them, these hidden gems are a must-watch.
Angry Mom’s Jo Kang-ja (Kim Hee-sun) might just be up there with the best moms on TV following her actions in the 2015 series. Known for being a troublemaker in her teen years, Kang-ja chooses to be more responsible as a young mother to her daughter, Oh Ah-ran (Kim Yoo-jung).Kang-ja is an admirable TV mom who proves she’ll stop at nothing to protect her child.
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Angry Momtakes place in the present day when Kang-ja, now in her 30s, learns her daughter is being bullied in school. Taking a unique approach to helping out her child, Kang-ja disguises herself and enrolls as a student at Ah-ran’s high school to teach her bullies a lesson. The series' narrative gradually builds as Kang-ja discovers far greater issues in the school pertaining to violence and corruption.
Welcome To Waikiki
Cast
Welcome To Waikiki (2018) is a South Korean television series that follows three struggling men who run a failing guesthouse in Itaewon and encounter various comedic situations as they strive to achieve their dreams. The series stars Kim Jung-hyun, Lee Yi-kyung, and Son Seung-won, whose characters aspire to become a film director, an actor, and a writer, respectively, while dealing with life’s unexpected challenges and surprises.
The comedic slice-of-life seriesWelcome to Waikikiis a must-watch for anyone who enjoysK-drama about friendshipand young adults pursuing their dreams.The series revolves around three friends trying to make it in the film industryas a director, actor, and screenwriter. To make money for work, the three run the titular guesthouse, which results in some comedically chaotic scenarios for the friends.
The trio’s business brings about complications and unexpected romance, with much ofWelcome to Waikiki’s appeal coming from watching the group navigate their way out of tough situations. The series is also not without its sentimental scenes, as there are a handful of moments throughout the K-drama’s 20 episodes that highlight the trio’s endearing friendship and their desire for success.
A Bloody Lucky Day
A Bloody Lucky Day is a 2023 thriller that follows an ordinary taxi driver who becomes unexpectedly entangled with a passenger revealed to be a serial killer, setting off a tense sequence of events in the unfolding narrative.
Released just a few years ago,A Bloody Lucky Dayis already among the best K-drama thrillers. The series' 10 nail-biting episodes follow a taxi driver, Oh Taek (Lee Sung-min), who receives an offer that’s too good to be true. Oh Taek gets paid a large sum of money by a mysterious passenger, Geum Hyeok-soo (Yoo Yeon-seok), who he suspects might be a serial killer.
It’s near-impossible for audiences to look away as Oh Taek keeps a calm and collected exterior, while using every method of survival he knows to ensure his safety.
A must-watch thriller,A Bloody Lucky Dayhas audiences hookedby the first episode. It’s near-impossible for audiences to look away as Oh Taek keeps a calm and collected exterior, while using every method of survival he knows to ensure his safety. The first two episodes of the series premiered at the Busan International Film Festival before reaching a deal with Paramount+ to stream globally. Still, the gripping K-drama remains a hidden gem.
The Sound of Your Heart
The Sound of Your Heart is a South Korean sitcom based on the popular webtoon. Starring Lee Kwang-soo as Cho Seok, the series humorously portrays his everyday life as a cartoonist, along with his quirky family and girlfriend. Released in 2016, this comedy delves into the absurdities and humorous mishaps of Cho Seok’s life. The cast includes Jung So-min, Kim Dae-myung, Kim Byung-ok, and Kim Mi-kyung.
One of thefunniest K-dramas on Netflix,The Sound of Your Heartis a lighthearted, easy watch that centers on the daily lives of its main characters. Based on the long-running webtoon of the same name,the series details the day-to-day adventures of a cartoonist (Lee Kwang-soo), his girlfriend, and his one-of-a-kind family.
Though the series earned high viewership in South Korea, it remains somewhat unknown to audiences in other parts of the world. Unlike most of the other K-dramas mentioned,The Sound of Your Heartis less concerned with its plot and instead prioritizes getting audiences to laugh and connect with the characters on screen. The humor in the K-drama may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s an easy series to approach for beginners and longtime K-drama fans alike.
Chocolate
Chocolate (2019) is a South Korean television series directed by Lee Hyung-min, featuring Ha Ji-won and Yoon Kye-sang. The story revolves around a neurosurgeon and a chef who cross paths at a hospice and gradually heal their own emotional wounds while caring for terminally ill patients. The series combines elements of romance and drama, exploring themes of love, loss, and forgiveness against the backdrop of culinary artistry.
The act of preparing andeating food is the focus of many K-dramas, includingChocolate. The K-drama depicts the reunion between Lee Kang (Yoon Kye-sang) and Moon Cha-yeong (Ha Ji-won), whoboth work at a hospice ward together, preparing a variety of comforting meals for patients. In the series, the act of consuming and cooking food is seen as an expression of passion and love.
This sentimental aspect of the series ties in well with the overall melancholy that comes with Lee Kang and Moon Cha-yeong’s place of work.The K-drama has its flaws, particularly with its inconsistent pacing and incessantly dark tone, but it still succeeds at bringing audiences to tears.Chocolatehas its brief moments of levity but is a K-drama best viewed with tissues in hand.
The lives of two individuals are intertwined in this charming romantic comedy K-drama.Bo-ra! Deborah, also known asTrue to Love, follows successful influencer and author Yeon Bo-ra (Yoo In-na) as she comes across publishing planner Lee Soo-hyuk (Yoon Hyun-min). Like mostenemies-to-lovers narratives in K-dramas, Bo-ra and Soo-hyuk get off on the wrong foot following their initial meeting.
It’s only after Bo-ra experiences trouble in her relationship and Soo-hyuk’s publishing company wants to work with Bo-ra that the two begin to see one another in a different light.Bo-ra! Deborahis your standard rom-com series, but its effortless ability to capture audiences' attention and get them invested in the main love story is what makes it a must-watch K-drama. Yoo In-na and Yoon Hyun-min’s chemistry is strong and playful, resulting in sweet acts of love that are sure to melt the audience’s hearts.
Moon Embracing The Sun
Moon Embracing The Sun is a historical fantasy romance television series set in the Joseon Dynasty. The story follows Lee Hwon, the Crown Prince, who falls in love with a young shaman named Wol. As they navigate the complexities of royal politics, they must also contend with the consequences of their forbidden love.
Moon Embracing the Sunmixes a historical setting with the romance and fantasy genres, resulting in a must-watch series. The show sees a shaman, Heo Yeon-woo, falling into a love triangle with the Crown Prince of Joseon, Lee Hwon, and his half-brother, Yangmyung. The captivating love story complements the series' historical setting and exploration of political conflict surprisingly well.
InMoon Embracing the Sun, there’s something for everyone. The ongoing fight for political power throughout the series is tense and satisfying, while the main love story is affecting and is portrayed beautifully by the K-drama’s leads. As is the case with manyhistorical K-dramas,Moon Embracing the Sunalso pays close attention to the sets and costumes of its dated setting, turning the series into a stunning visual delight.
The Light In Your Eyes
The Light In Your Eyes is a South Korean television series directed by Kim Suk-Yoon. Starring Han Ji-min and Kim Hye-ja, the show follows the life of a woman who gains the ability to manipulate time but faces unforeseen consequences. It explores themes of regret, aging, and the value of time through a compelling narrative structure.
Time travel is a common storytelling tool utilized in many well-known K-dramas, includingTunnelandLife on Mars. However, a more underratedtime travel K-dramaisThe Light in Your Eyes. The series revolves around a young woman, Kim Hye-ja (Han Ji-min), who struggles to cope with the loss of her father. Upon discovering a mysterious watch that turns back time, Hye-ja attempts to prevent her father’s car accident from happening.
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However, each time Hye-ja uses the watch she ages, and she eventually becomes an elderly woman (Kim Hye-ja).The Light in Your Eyestouches on heavy subject matter such as death and grief, meaning it’s not the type of series one could throw on for an easy viewing experience. Still, this hidden gem’s portrayal of such subject matter makes it a rarity within K-dramas and an ultimate must-watch series.
A Shop For Killers
A Shop For Killers follows a young niece’s journey as she uncovers unsettling truths after her uncle’s sudden death. Raised by her uncle in his shopping mall, her quest for answers reveals hidden facets of her past and the darker aspects of the world she thought she knew.
The life of Jeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun) changes, practically overnight, in one of2024’s best K-dramas. The action-packed series follows Ji-an as she navigates the loss of her uncle, who had raised her much of her life, and the dangerous world she’s brought into as a result of his passing.
Ji-an discovers her uncle ran an operation that provided professional killers with equipment, and after inheriting his business, she becomes the new target of various killers and law enforcement.A Shop for Killersmoves at an appreciated brisk pace, rarely slowing down to allow neither Ji-an nor the audience a break from the danger of the criminal world. Beinga strong character-driven story with memorable performances by Kim and Lee Dong-wook,A Shop for Killersis a hidden gem waiting to be enjoyed.
Navillera
This drama follows the journey of a 70-year-old man pursuing his lifelong dream of ballet and a 23-year-old talented dancer. Together, they navigate personal challenges and form an inspiring bond as they strive to fulfill their aspirations of becoming ballet dancers.
An unlikely bond begins to take shape between the protagonists inNavillera. Shim Deok-chul (Park In-hwan) isa retired mailman in his 70s who has always dreamed of learning ballet, but he has never followed through with it due to his family’s disapproval. That is until one day, he enters a dance academy and meets a 23-year-old dancer, Lee Chae-rok (Song Kang).
Navillera is a feel-good K-drama with a sweet, unexpected friendship at its center and an encouraging message for audiences.
The two help one another realize and follow through with their passions in life as Deok-chul goes against societal expectations and his family’s wishes and Chae-rok continues pursuing dance after he contemplates quitting.Navillerais a feel-good K-dramawitha sweet, unexpected friendship at its centerand an encouraging message for audiences. The series reminds viewers of all ages to never give up on one’s dreams, as life is too short for regrets.
