Some of the most impressive visual elements withinK-dramascome from series with large budgets. The higher production cost allows for grander set pieces, special effects, costumes, and shooting locations. Expensive productions can be found across a variety of genres but are mostcommonly used in fantasy, horror, and historical shows. By putting more money into K-dramas within these genres, audiences are likely to have an easier time buying into the series' fictional worlds inhabited by superhuman beings and zombie antagonists.
Of course, large amounts of money aren’t necessary to create a compellingK-drama that’ll have audiences hooked, but it does prove to be beneficial to shows with ambitious premises. The success of certain shows such asKingdomandThe King: Eternal Monarchwouldn’t be possible without a substantial amount of money being put down.The higher cost allows for everything to be executed on a larger scale, impressing audienceswith visual feats similar to that of a theatrical production.
Hotel Del Luna
Cast
Hotel Del Luna is a fantasy romance television series set in a mystical hotel where the employees and guests are ghosts. The story revolves around Jang Man-wol, the owner of Hotel Del Luna, and Goo Chan-sung, a young and ambitious hotelier, as they navigate love, redemption, and the consequences of their past actions.
While it’s not as expensive as the other high-budget K-dramas listed,Hotel del Lunastill has some notable elements that its budget of 20 billion won supports.The romantic fantasy K-dramatakes place atthe eponymous hotel, which serves ghostly visitors. The hotel is run by Jang Man-wol (Lee Ji-eun) as a form of punishment for sin in her past life. Similar to the other high-budget K-dramas listed,Hotel del Lunaspent a portion of its budget on special effects and the construction of sets.
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However, the setup ofHotel del Lunaallows for multiple guest stars to appear throughout the series, witha good amount of the budget going towards the guest actorsas well. Each character inHotel del Lunahas a unique background that is explored through the series' themes of grief and unfinished business.Hotel del Lunamight not appear as extravagant as most expensive K-dramas, but its large budget makes the show all the better.
Snowdrop
Set in 1987 Seoul, this drama unfolds as a wounded man seeks refuge in a women’s university dormitory, aided by a student who once fell for him. As intense surveillance looms, secrets emerge, challenging loyalties and forging a path fraught with emotional and political tension.
With a budget of 32 billion won,Snowdropisanimpressive historical K-dramathat transports audiences back in time.The K-drama stars K-pop idolJisoo as a college freshman who finds herself in a complicated romantic whirlwind with a classmate (Jung Hae-in).
Snowdroptakes place during a historical moment in South Korean history when citizens were struggling for democracy.Snowdropfaced some backlash for changing a few real-life details, but the series is otherwise a fascinating watch. The political aspects within the show giveSnowdropa bit of edge and add tension to the main characters' key relationships.
Rounding out the main cast are actors like Jang Seung-jo, Kim Hye-yoon, and Yoo In-na. As a result, much of the budget went towards the cast. Still,Snowdrop’sshooting locations, wardrobe, and well-structured action scenesbenefit from the series' high cost.
Alchemy of Souls
Alchemy of Souls is a South Korean TV series set in the fictional Daeho kingdom, following the lives of mages whose fate is altered by the practice of soul-shifting. Directed by Park Joon-hwa, the series stars Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, and Hwang Min-hyun, weaving together themes of magic, mystery, and destiny as characters navigate their intertwined lives under the influence of powerful spells and political intrigue.
After a hiatus of three years, the famous screenwriting Hong sisters returned withAlchemy of Souls— an entertaining fantasy series with a production value that’s as impressive as the performances of its leading cast. The series takes place in a fictional country wherea warrior (Go Youn-jung) finds herself trapped inside someone else’s body(Jung So-min) as a result of the titular spell. The former warrior then becomes the servant of a nobleman, (Lee Jae-wook) and must navigate her abilities and budding romantic feelings.
Alchemy of Souls' budget of 40 billion won helped the show feel lived in through the use of top-notch cinematography, well-produced action sequences, and CGI that showcased the character’s magical abilities.
Jung So-min and Lee Jae-wook lead the show and are a captivating pair within the series' well-established fictional world.Alchemy of Souls’budget of 40 billion wonhelped the show feel lived in through the use of top-notch cinematography, well-produced action sequences, and CGI that showcased the character’s magical abilities.
Arthdal Chronicles
In a mythical land called Arth, this historical fantasy series depicts the inhabitants of Arthdal and surrounding regions as they vie for power and forge a new society. The show explores the complex dynamics among tribes and individuals striving for dominance in a primitive world.
One of the earliest K-dramas set in ancient times,Arthdal Chronicleshas an impressive production value that is sure to impress audiences.Arthdal Chroniclestakes place during the Bronze Age and follows a range of characters through both times of love and political tension.
The series stars beloved Korean actors like Kim Ji-won, Song Joong-ki, and Jang Dong-gun, one of the highest-paid actors in Korea. WhenArthdal Chroniclesfirst premiered,several critics compared the series toGame of Thrones, for its similarities in storytelling and production value.
While a majority of critics still preferredGame of ThronesoverArthdal Chronicles, audiences were swept away by the imposing visuals of the latter series. The first season ofArthdal Chroniclescost about 54 billion won, with the money being put towards CGI and the months-long construction of the grand sets seen throughout the show.
The Penthouse: War In Life
The Penthouse: War In Life is a South Korean television series that revolves around the luxurious lives of wealthy families residing in a prestigious apartment building, Hera Palace. The story delves into the complex relationships, power struggles, and dark secrets within these elite families.
Running for three seasons,The Penthouse: War in Lifetells the story of wealthy families that cross paths when a death occurs in their shared building complex. The series rarely lets up on its thrilling premise, as each family does all that it takes to protect their children, and becomes increasingly suspicious of their neighbors in the process.
LikeHotel del Luna, much ofThe Penthouse’s budget — 33 billion won—was spent making sure the lavish lives of its main characters came across clearly to audiences.
The valuable homes and clothing belonging to these characters make it clear how hard they have worked and why they are on high alert around others in the complex.The Penthouselost a bit of its steam during its final season, placing the show in the 18th spot among the most-watched Korean shows after being placed 9th and 8th for its first two seasons.
Moving
Moving is a South Korean action-drama series that follows a group of high schoolers and their parents who have superpowers. Attempting to keep themselves quiet and off the radar, their peace is disrupted when a dangerous organization begins to hunt them down, forcing the fledgling superpowered teens to fight back against them and various governments that wish to contain and destroy them.
Webtoon artist Kang Full has had a few of his stories adapted as films, plays, and TV shows, including his 2015 story,Moving. Adapted as a Disney+ original series,Movingis centered around superhuman high school studentsand their parents, with Full taking on the job as the series' screenwriter.
Movingis action-packed and has elements of fantasy and sci-fi that can only effectively be actualized through a great deal of special effects. The needed amount of special effects resulted ina production budget of approximately 65 billion won, and the money was well spent.
The CGI inMovingshowcases the superbeing’s skills, such as flying and the ability to move objects with one’s mind. The expensive special effects are an additional accomplishment on top ofMoving’s well-written narrative and captivating ensemble cast, all of which impressed audiences and made it the most-watched original Korean series on Disney+ a week after its premiere.
Sweet Home
Sweet Home follows the story of Hyun-soo, a reclusive high school student who moves into the Green Home apartment complex after losing his family. When a mysterious epidemic turns people into monstrous creatures, Hyun-soo and the residents of Green Home must band together to survive, confronting their inner demons and the horrifying threats outside.
Sweet Homeis based on a webtoonand is a thrilling apocalyptic horror show that follows a group of individuals teaming up to survive during a monster apocalypse. The monsters are terrifying and play a big part in the series as each season dives further into their origins. Legacy Effects, a visual effects studio that’s worked on projects likeAvatarandStranger Things, was responsible for the effects inSweet Home.
The story of survival inSweet Homeisn’t anything new to horror fans, sothe design of the show’s monsters needed to be detailed and unique, allowing the series to stand out. Luckily, they are. Each episode of the series cost 3 billion won and most of the budget was used to ensure the various monstrous creatures in the show were of the highest quality (viaThe Korea Times).
Mr. Sunshine
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.
It’s not the mostaccurate historical K-drama, butMr. Sunshineis one of the more beloved ones. The series is set in what’s known today as Seoul and follows Marine Corps officer Eugene Choi’s (Lee Byung-hun) journey back to Korea. While in Korea, Eugene falls in love with a woman (Kim Tae-ri), but their romantic endeavors are complicated by their differing class positions.
Mr. Sunshinehas earned high levels of praise for its storytelling and cinematography and has been appreciated by audiences for its ability to transport them back in time through its visual elements. With a budget of 40 billion won,Mr. Sunshine’s took great lengths to recreate moments from history through elaborate sets and detailed costuming. After its finale,Mr. Sunshinebecame the third highest-rated TV show on Korean cable and earned several accolades during award season, including a handful of Best Actor awards for Lee Byung-hun.
The King: Eternal Monarch
The King: Eternal Monarch is a 2020 film featuring a Korean emperor, Lee Gon, striving to seal the portal to a parallel universe opened by malevolent forces. Alongside him, a detective is devoted to safeguarding her loved ones amidst the unfolding cosmic challenges.
A great amount of anticipation was built around the premiere ofThe King: Eternal Monarch.The fantasy K-dramahasa stacked ensemble cast and is written by one of South Korea’s most celebrated screenwriters— Kim Eun-sook, who wrote series such asSecret Garden,Mr. Sunshine, andGuardian: The Lonely and Great God.
The series is set in two parallel worlds where the titular royal figure (Lee Min-ho) travels back and forth, attempting to end his uncle’s plans for world domination.The King: Eternal Monarchhas an estimated budget of 30 billion won, and it’s easy to see where the money went.
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In addition to some of the cast members' salaries, the budget went towardThe King’s many special effects and the high-quality material goods surrounding the royal characters. The special effects, in particular, truly immerse audiences intoThe King’s fantastical setting and make for a compelling series overall.
Kingdom
Based on the webtoonThe Kingdom of the Gods,Kingdom is a 2019 South Korean historical drama-horror series created for Netflix. Lee Chang, the crown prince of a fictional interpretation of 16th-century Korea, is forced to stand in for his ailing father as a plague begins to ravage their homeland, all while fighting off would-be-usurpers to the throne.
Unlike the other series mentioned,Kingdom’s intended eight episodes were cut down to six after the show took longer than planned to film. Such an extension led to overspending, resulting in an overall budget of roughly 35 billion won. Inan interview withVariety,the series' director, Kim Seong-hun, revealed each episode cost more than 2 billion won.
These expenses are evident inKingdom’s quality. The series is a striking blend of a political thriller and a terrifying zombie K-drama.
These expenses are evident inKingdom’s quality. The series is a striking blend of a political thriller and aterrifying zombie K-drama.Kingdomrevolves around the Crown Prince of Joseon, Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon), who prevents a dangerous plague from impacting his kingdom, all whilst protecting his royal position from his political enemies.
Kingdomhas a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The attention to historical details makes the large budget worth it. The set designs in every inch of the show are visually stunning and transport audiences to the ancient Joseon Dynasty. Combined with the series' gripping action and tense story, it’s easy to understand whyKingdomwas such a success.
