When producing the drama about a group of contestants participating in games with deadly stakes, Squid Game, South Korean executives certainly did not anticipate its radical success with worldwide audiences. Thanks to globalization and the ever-dynamic Internet, South Korean dramas have been getting increased attention from not only Tinseltown. Fortunately, there is a lot to choose from.
Thankfully, K-dramas are becoming more and more prevalent in every corner of the world for their perfect balance between originality and the ability to strike an emotional connection with viewers. Yet, many great K-dramas do not have the same amount of attention that series like the global phenomenon received for their captivating stories. From Work Later, Drink Now to My Mister, these are some of the best and most underrated Korean dramas, ranging across all different genres, that viewers should give a chance to.
12 ‘My Mister’ (2018)
Directed by Kim Won-seok
In the workplace drama My Mister, an unlikely friendship is formed between a middle-aged supervisor and his younger colleague, both grappling with the unbearable weight of their respective miserable lives. The supervisor is named Dong-hun (Lee Sun-kyun), a man who recently discovered that his wife is having an affair with the senior executive of his company. At the same time, his colleague Ji-an (Lee Ji-eun) is in severe debt and constantly harassed by loan sharks who subject her to intense beatings. Their fateful encounter begins when a stack of gift certificates worth 50 million won has gone missing.
While not exactly an upbeat series, My Mister is widely regarded as the best underrated K-drama; it seriously sticks with audiences and entices them to wish they could watch it for the first time again. Given that it is a bit slow and dark, it is surely not everyone’s cup of tea. However, My Mister is a compelling watch guaranteed to surprise those who enjoy dramatic Korean dramas.
Watch on Netflix
11 ‘Prison Playbook’ (2017)
Directed by Shin Won-ho
Saving his sister from an assailant, Squid Game‘s Park Hae-soo plays Kim Je-hyuk, a star baseball pitcher convicted of assault and who received a one-year prison sentence. With his debut right around the corner, Kim has to adapt to his new world of iron bars and eccentric prison mates. Despite excelling in baseball, Kim’s air-headed personality constantly requires assistance from his best friend/prison guard Lee Jun-ho (Jung Kyung-ho).
From individuals with kleptomania to drug addiction, Kim eventually finds the good in the supposedly “evil” prisoners, each with their own perils and unique outlook on life in this criminally underrated Netflix K-drama. The slice-of-life well-crafted series is certainly worth audiences’ attention, especially considering the way it seamlessly blends humor with dramatic elements.
Watch on Netflix
10 ‘Welcome to Waikiki’ (2018)
Directed by Lee Chang-Min
The heartwarming drama Welcome to Waikiki centers around three young men who aspire to make it big in the film industry. They manage a guest house named “Waikiki” in Itaewon as a means of gathering money for their upcoming film production. Facing strange situations ranging from bankruptcy to unexpected babies, the tenacious trio do everything they can to finance their film.
A balanced mix of comedy and drama, this 2018 show is among the many K-drama enthusiasts cannot miss despite being an often overlooked one. On top of being gripping and hooking viewers from the beginning due to its premise, it is equal amounts hilarious. No doubt, the series is endless fun and a must-watch for fans of K-drama comedies.
Watch on Netflix
9 ‘The Tale of Nokdu’ (2019)
Directed by Kim Dong Hwi
In order to find out the culprit responsible for attacking his family, Jeon Nok-du (Jang Dong-yoon) disguises himself as a woman and enters a mysterious village inundated with widows. During his time there, he meets Dong Dong-ju (Kim So-hyun), a hot-tempered woman who also seeks revenge for her family and refuses to become a gisaeng, where women from enslaved or outcast families are trained to be courtesans.
Set in the Joseon period, the underrated Korean drama The Tale of Nokdu is the perfect historical romance— it offers a refreshing take on the cross-dressing archetype while showcasing one of K-dramas’ best on-screen couples with great chemistry. Needless to say, it is an essential watch for period piece lovers with an incredible pairing at its center.
Watch on Kocowa
8 ‘Chicago Typewriter’ (2017)
Directed by Kim Cheol-kyu
In Chicago Typewriter, Han Se-joo (Yoo Ah-in) is a best-selling author who is dealing with writer’s block. Yoo Jin-oh (Go Kyung-Pyo) is a talented ghostwriter who occasionally helps Se-joo with his writing. Jeon Seol (Lim Soo-jung) is a woman with varied expertise and happens to be an anti-fan of Se-joo.
The trio is not only linked to each other based on their current complex relationships but their previous lives as resistance fighters in the 1930s Japanese occupation of Korea. Will discovering the truth of their identities before reincarnation change their ongoing dynamics for the better or for worse? With a captivating plot and characters, there is a lot to unpack in this engaging series (which is certainly among the most underrated K-dramas).
Chicago Typewriter is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.
7 ‘Doctor John’ (2019 – )
Directed by Jo Soo-won
This overlooked medical drama TV show offers audiences a new take on the genre by depicting doctors’ intense pursuit of the source of their patients’ suffering in a very compelling manner, illustrating how modern medicine has developed and the hard choices that oftentimes must be made in the field. Doctor John‘s protagonist is Yo Han (Ji Sung), a promising doctor who needs only 10 seconds to figure out a patient’s condition.
With great performances by the lead actors and a thrilling storyline (also involving an electrifying romance story and memorable central characters), the touching 2019 show is quite enjoyable and guaranteed to provide viewers — especially K-drama lovers — with a great time due to how well-paced, written, and intense it is.
Watch on Viki
6 ‘Navillera’ (2021)
Directed by Han Dong-Hwa
Navillera, which roughly translates to “like a butterfly,” follows a 70-year-old retired mailman Shim Deok-chul (Hong Seung-hee) who comes of age during his golden years and finally pursues his love for ballet dancing after seeing Swan Lake at a young age. Undeterred by his family’s objections and societal standards, Shim enrolls in a local dance academy and becomes a student of the talented but struggling dancer Lee-Chae-Rok (Song Kang).
The heartwarming, feel-good series available to stream on Netflix urges viewers to chase their dreams while they can and sends a poignant message about how life is too short for regrets and self-condemnation. Featuring superb acting, Navillera is a series many fans of the genre wish others would check out and give the praise it deserves.
Watch on Netflix
5 ‘Kill It’ (2019)
Directed by Ji-Sook Ahn and Sung-Woo Nam
Kim Soo-hyun (Jang Ki-Yong) is an elite assassin with impeccable skills and complete anonymity. Protected by his altruistic facade as a veterinarian, he is sought after by criminal gangs and organizations worldwide who seek his lethal dexterity. On the other hand, Do Hyun-Jin (Im Jin-ah) is an excellent but conceited detective whose cold-hearted exterior hides her empathy towards victims and the painful past of losing her lover.
In Kill It, Soo-Hyun and Hyun-jin engage in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game but discover clues that insinuate that the two share more things in common than meets the eye. With such an intriguing plot, Kill It is enthralling and holds audiences’ interest well, ultimately resulting in an absorbing time in front of the screen.
Watch on Viki
4 ‘The Light In Your Eyes’ (2019)
Directed by Kim Suk-yoon
This drama follows 26-year-old Kim Hye-Ja (Han Ji-min), who discovers a mysterious watch that allows her to manipulate time, but with a hefty price. Unable to cope with her father’s death from a car accident, Hye-Ja abuses her newfound power to rewind time until she accidentally becomes a 70-year-old lady overnight. Struggling with her new identity, Hye-Ja goes on a journey of self-discovery as she deals with family issues and unfulfilled promises.
Receiving accolades from both critics and audiences for its innovative but touching storytelling about time-traveling, the touching K-dramaThe Light In Your Eyes is not mentioned enough when it comes to discussions related to the best dramas of all time. Due to its moving narrative, it can be hard to sit through at times. However, it is 100% worth the tears.
Watch on Netflix
3 ‘We Are Peaceful Brothers’ (2017)
Created by Naver TV
Based on a webtoon adaptation of the same title, We Are Peaceful Brothers is essentially about… brothers. Older sibling Lee Yoon (Noh Sang-hyun) is a designer, while the younger brother Lee Sang (Kim Min-kyu) is still a student. The show comprises a series of shorts depicting the love-hate relationship between the two family members who manage to live together despite having polar opposite personalities.
Each episode is roughly five minutes, so this drama is a great pick for anyone who’s incredibly busy with their lives and constantly in a rush but still wants something short and lighthearted to kill time. All in all, the hilarious, vastly underrated K-drama We Are Peaceful Brothers makes for an engaging watch throughout, appealing to different types of viewers and celebrating brotherly love.
We Are Peaceful Brothers is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.
2 ‘Work Later, Drink Now’ (2022)
Created by TVING
What happens when a broadcasting writer, a yoga instructor, and an origami YouTuber walk into a bar? You get Work Later, Drink Now. “Compared to words, true friends believe in drinking a toast.” This South Korean web series based on Kakao Webtoon’s Drinker City Women by Mikkang tells the story of three women who can not go without one drink at the end of the day.
Work Later, Drink Now is definitely the go-to show if you’re interested in South Korea’s alcohol binge-drinking culture and seek a lighthearted drama about empowering female friendships. Albeit buoyant for most of the running time, the show is not afraid to delve into serious issues such as teenage suicides and the side effects of chain drinking.
Watch on ODK
1 ‘Through the Darkness’ (2022)
Directed by Park Bo-ram
Despite its high IMDb score, Through the Darkness is hardly a popular K-drama among global audiences and is definitely worth checking. Based on the 2018 non-fiction book of the same title, co-written by South Korea’s first criminal profiler Kwon Il-yong and author Ko Na-mu, the series follows Song Ha-young (Kim Nam-gil), a member of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team who struggles to decipher the behavioral patterns of real-life monsters.
A compelling watch through and through (no pun intended), Through the Darkness is often compared to the highly prized David Fincher crime series Mindhunter, which also focuses on studying the minds of serial killers. This interesting K-drama is gripping, thought-provoking, and captivating, resulting in being the perfect pick for those who enjoy the crime genre.
Watch on Kocowa
