K-dramas? I wrote them off as nothing but melodramatic fluff—too cheesy, too dramatic, way too much slow-motion romance. Then these shows proved me completely wrong.
7
Squid Game (2021–2025)
Stream Squid Game on Netflix
You’d have to be living under a rock to miss this one. When it dropped, it became one of Netflix’s most-watched series ever, with over a billion hours of viewing time in just its first month. And it wasn’t just hype.
Squid Game is nothing like the cheesy romance I used to associate with K-dramas. The plot is simple: hundreds of people drowning in debt are lured into a mysterious competition with two possible outcomes: wealth or death. Is that over the top? Definitely, but it’s brilliantly done.
Although the show contains some violent scenes, it still takes the time to explore each character’s story without drowning us in endless flashbacks. By the time the blood hits the floor, you understand why they’re playing the game, and you kind of get it.
It’s violent, heartbreaking, and definitely not for the faint of heart. But it’s also impossible to stop watching. If you’re one of the few people who haven’t binged it yet, all 22 episodes are on Netflix.
6
Empress Ki (2013–2014)
Stream Empress Ki on Netflix
If you think historical dramas are boring, you’ve been watching the wrong ones. Empress Ki runs 51 episodes—yes, that’s a lot—but I finished watching the whole thing in three days. That’s how gripping it was.
The story follows Ki Seung-nyang, a woman from Goryeo who rises to become the empress of Yuan Dynasty China. Think palace frolickings, political backstabbing, forbidden love, and battle scenes that wouldn’t feel out of place in Game of Thrones.
I think the best thing about this series is Ha Ji-won’s performance as Seung-nyang. She’s manipulative when she needs to be, compassionate when she can afford to be, and always, always intelligent enough to stay one step ahead. She really makes her transformation from a nobleman’s daughter to one of the most powerful women of her time very believable.
Sure, there are melodramatic moments—grand declarations of love, tragic deaths, and plenty of tears—but inside the high-stakes world of court politics, these moments feel like they belong.
5
My Country: The New Age (2019)
Stream My Country: The New Age on Netflix
This 16-episode series is proof that K-dramas can pull off masculine, action-heavy storytelling just as well as they can cheesy romance. Set during the turbulent transition from the Goryeo to the Joseon dynasties, it follows two friends—Seo Hwi and Nam Seon-ho—whose friendship is tested as they find themselves on opposite sides of a brutal fight for “my country.”
The relationship between Seo Hwi and Nam Seon-ho is one of the most compelling friendships turned rivalries I’ve ever seen on TV. They make difficult choices based on their circumstances, and the show doesn’t judge them harshly for it.
It also helps that the scenes all look good: epic battle sequences, well-choreographed sword fights, and relevant cinematic backdrops.
If you’re a fan of The Last Kingdom or Vikings, this one will feel familiar. The only difference is that it places more emphasis on how politics affects personal relationships than on the actual political issues.
4
Mr. Queen (2020–2021)
Stream Mr. Queen on Netflix
This might be the strangest plot you’ll ever hear: a modern-day chef’s soul somehow ends up trapped in the body of a Joseon Dynasty queen. Yes, it sounds ridiculous, but it’s also one of the smartest, funniest, and most creative K-dramas out there.
Mr. Queen is part comedy, part romance, part political drama, and it works on every level. You’ll laugh at the absurdity of the setup, then suddenly realize the show is making a thoughtful point about gender roles, power, and identity. It’s super hilarious one moment and moving the next.
The pacing is also spot on. At 16 episodes, it never drags or rushes; every arc gets the space it needs. At the center of it all is Shin Hye-sun, who is just phenomenal. Watching her embody a man trapped in a woman’s body while navigating palace politics and an awkward, budding attraction to the king is a performance that deserves its own crown.
3
Under the Queen’s Umbrella (2022)
Stream Under the Queen’s Umbrella on Netflix
I watched this one as it aired in 2022, and I remember counting down the days until Saturday and Sunday for the next episode. Lucky for you, all 16 episodes are now on Netflix, ready to binge. It’s even on my list of Netflix shows I keep binge-watching again and again.
The star of the show is Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, played brilliantly by Kim Hye-soo. She’s not your typical Joseon queen who is either scheming for power or passively waiting to be sacrificed. Instead, she’s a fiercely protective mother trying to keep her sons alive in a palace system designed to pit them against one another.
Despite all the focus on politics, the show is also relatable. Queen Im occasionally breaks down and cries due to the weight of her battles. If you’re a parent, or if you’ve ever felt the heavy responsibility of protecting someone you love, this drama will hit you right.
2
Move to Heaven (2021)
Stream Move to Heaven on Netflix
This show had me crying in every single one of the ten episodes. It follows Geu-ru, a young man with Asperger’s who works as a trauma cleaner alongside his ex-con uncle Sang-gu. Together, they sort through the belongings of dead people to understand their life stories and help their families find closure.
Each episode is like a short story about grief, love, and the traces we leave behind when we pass. It’s tender and heartbreaking—just the kind of show that makes you want to call your family and tell them you love them.
The writing handles sensitive topics—suicide, abandonment, isolation—with incredible care, and Geu-ru isn’t treated as a character to inspire us or make us laugh. He’s a fully realized person whose unique perspective helps both his uncle and the audience see the world differently, much like Shawn in The Good Doctor.
If you bawled your way through This Is Us, then Move to Heaven belongs on your ever-growing watchlist, which you should probably tidy up.
1
Crash Landing on You (2019–2020)
Stream Crash Landing on You on Netflix
I’ll admit that this one is a little cheesy. A South Korean heiress accidentally paraglides into North Korea and falls in love with a North Korean army captain. It sounds like something straight out of fan fiction. But somehow, Crash Landing on You takes this ridiculous setup and turns it into something beautiful.
The romance between Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin feels so natural and electric that love at first sight doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore. Then, the bittersweet, realistic ending that refuses to sugarcoat the characters’ circumstances slams you back into reality.
Another strength of the show is its portrayal of North Korea. Instead of leaning on propaganda or caricature, it gives depth to the ordinary people living there—villagers, soldiers, and neighbors with their own quirks, hopes, and dreams. Ri Jeong-hyeok’s squad of soldier friends, in particular, adds warmth and humor that balance out the romance.
So, yes, the show is absolutely romantic and might make you cry. But it’s also far more thoughtful and sophisticated than many Western rom-coms or melodramas.
Korean dramas are now (as of 2025) Netflix’s second most popular category worldwide, and it’s not hard to see why. The truth is, some of the most daring, moving, and unforgettable storytelling on television isn’t coming out of Hollywood—it’s been streaming from Seoul this whole time, just waiting for you to press play.
