Bored of the usual Western movies and TV shows? Tired of the same-song-and-dance tropes in your sitcoms? Try something new at your next watch party! From pop music to skincare, Korean culture has been gaining traction around the world, and this streaming giant isn’t one to be left behind when it comes to their shows.
With a mix of romance, tearjerkers, and even thriller and suspense, here are the best K-dramas on Netflix to watch this 2024. Buy Netflix gift card code and renew your subscription to start the K-ball rolling.
Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God)
Genre: Fantasy Romance
A 900-year-old guardian of souls (Gong Yoo of Train to Busan fame) wanders the world in search of a bride who will break his curse. What he finds is a young lady with a tragic past, a cynical grim reaper, and a curious chicken shop owner. Helping him is the grandson of his former caretaker, who’s kind-hearted but young and slightly spoiled.
This show reaped many awards and became quite the phenomenon when it aired in Korea. You’ll laugh, cry, be shocked at the rollercoaster ride of the plot, and even have your heart flutter and ache with the Goblin’s story.
Crash Landing On You
Genre: Romantic, Drama, War
Love can blossom at the most random of times—and for a business heiress, she found her romance after a paragliding accident! Blown slightly over the border between the two Korean countries, she finds herself in North Korea and meets a soldier who vows to take her home secretly.
A true whirlwind romance in more ways than one, Crash Landing On You became an instant hit and topped the charts in its own channel and Korean cable history. To make things even sweeter, the two leads (Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin) got married in real life!
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Genre: Romance, Drama, Psychological
This is the seemingly unlikely romance of a selfless psych ward caregiver with a traumatic past (Kim Soo-hyun) and a children’s book author rumored to be selfish due to her antisocial personality disorder (Seo Yea-ji). In spite of their baggage, they fall for each other and realize that sometimes we’re broken people—and that’s totally alright.
This topped the K-drama romance charts in 2020 and was even included in “The Best International Shows of 2020” list from New York Times. Ready yourselves for a feels trip when watching this show!
Itaewon Class
Genre: Revenge, Drama
The injustice suffered by his father at the hands of a wealthy family pushes a young man to fight back, which ends with him in prison. Years after, he gets out and starts a bar-restaurant hybrid, but requires the help of someone more business savvy than he is. With a booming business, he thinks he might have a chance at revenge this time.
Starring the ever-popular Park Seo-joon as the lead, together with an eclectic cast of characters, this 16-episode series shows that the path to vengeance can be done without violence. As they say, defeat them at their own game!
The Penthouse
Genre: Soap Opera, Drama, Mystery
Behind the glitz and glamour of a luxurious condo life lie the secrets and betrayals of its residents. One woman wants to retain her queen bee status, the other will do anything to keep the prestigiousness of her family, while the penthouse newcomer wants nothing more than to become the new queen of the place.
This is one of the best forms of the makjang genre (a.k.a. balls to the walls soap opera) and will get you instantly hooked from start to finish. With 3 seasons of makjang goodness, discover what skeletons these residents are hiding in the closet.
Sweet Home
Genre: Apocalyptic, Action
After losing his family, a young guy moves to a rundown apartment in a faraway city. Sadly, his nightmare continues as the city is suddenly ravaged by ghoulish beasts. He has no choice but to team up with his neighbors, who, like him, are also fighting their personal demons.
With 3 seasons and 26 episodes of edge-of-your-seat action and horror, Sweet Home is the perfect K-drama for those who are not particularly fond of soap operas or overly saccharine shows. The third season was just released in July 2024, so it’s a good idea to jump right into this story while the hype is still fresh.
The Glory
Genre: Revenge, Drama
A woman who was badly beaten and harassed as a teen by her peers, now becomes a mentor to one of her bully’s kids. Amidst apologies, briberies, and threats, she now has to decide what to do with the fate given to her.
After a tumultuous few years in her personal life, Song Hye-ko came back with a very emotional show. The series is divided into two parts, with both gaining praise from viewers and critics alike for actor performances and writing. Bullying is a serious issue in Asia, so much so that this show is actually based on a real case.
Signal
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Two detectives try to solve a mysterious case together. The only problem is they’re from different eras and can only communicate through a magic walkie-talkie! Can they overcome their time differences and stop the murderer once and for all?
Perfect for true crime junkies who aren’t into lovey-dovey tales, Signal is also partially based on a real-life case and is regarded as one of the best cable K-dramas with the highest ratings ever.
Queen of Tears
Genre: Romance, Drama
Married life can be tough, especially when you have to juggle a conglomerate, your previous family, and your new family. But when the going gets tougher and rougher, you just have to cling to love and hope that it will see both of you through.
After his amazing performance in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Kim Soo-hyun is back in this 2024 drama! Joining him is Kim Ji-won as his wife. This show was so successful that it surpassed Crash Landing On You’s rating and became the current highest-rated show on its cable channel.
Kingdom
Genre: Historical, Horror
The king succumbs to a mysterious disease, but unfortunately, the very same illness seems to be spreading in the kingdom. Now, it’s up to the crown prince to figure out what is going on and venture out of the castle to stop the growing plague from destroying the lives of his citizens.
Ju Ji-hoon stars as the prince, while Bae Doona (Sense8) joins him as a healer. If you like your historical drama with a sprinkle of zombies, you’ll have a grand spooky time with Kingdom.
Squid Game
Genre: Thriller
Down-in-their-luck people are invited to play a bunch of kid games with the promise of wealth as payment. Unfortunately, these games are unforgiving—and fatal. One man tries to survive through this hellish situation. Behind the scenes, a young detective sneaks in to find out the truth about the games.
This show became an instant classic for its riveting plot and endearing characters. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it now. Here’s a handy-dandy tutorial on how to redeem Netflix gift card to help you get started. Try not to get spoiled beforehand!
