Best South Korea Drama TV Shows

2026 • Rating 10.0 • crime, mystery, drama

A fiercely competitive police officer and an idealistic prosecutor, former high school classmates, reunite while investigating a nationwide serial murder case, pulling them into both a dangerous pursuit and an unresolved personal past.

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Detective, Investigation, Police, Serial Killer, Buddy Cop, Police Procedural, Crime Thriller, A Fiercely Competitive Police Officer And An Idealistic Prosecutor, Former High School Classmates, Reunite While Investigating A Nationwide Serial Murder Case

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-20

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-jun, Kwak Sun-young, Seo Ji-hye, Jung Moon-sung, Bek Hyun-jin

2026 • Rating 9.1 • comedy, drama

In a 21st-century constitutional monarchy, a woman who has everything but remains a commoner crosses paths with a prince who, despite his royal lineage, feels powerless—leading to a love that defies social status.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Style:

Audience: Date Night

Plot: Jealousy, Monarchy, Manipulation, Royal Family, Romance, Betrayal, Destiny, Rise To Power, Power Struggle, Fall From Grace

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-10

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Steve Sanghyun Noh, Gong Seung-yeon, Yoo Su-bin, Lee Yeon

2026 • Rating 9.0 • drama, comedy

A quiet student by day, a romance novelist by night, Eui-ju is inspired when four gorgeous teachers appear: icy Woo-su, lively Da-ju, gruff Gi-jeon, and gentle Dong-ju. She writes them into her new novel, which blows up overnight! But her secret is discovered by Woo-su, her worst enemy since day one. She accepts his deal to protect her secret, but can she finish this novel unscathed?

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Style:

Audience: Date Night

Plot: Romcom, Teacher Student Relationship, High School Girl, Boys' Love (Bl), Youth, School Setting, A Quiet Student By Day, A Romance Novelist By Night, Eui-Ju Is Inspired When Four Gorgeous Teachers Appear, Icy Woo-Su

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-17

Place: South Korea, Singapore, Korean

Cast: Kim Hyang-gi, Cha Hak-yeon, Kim Jae-hyun, Demian, Kim Dong-kyu, Kang Ye-chan

2026 • Rating 8.8 • drama

An aspiring director hits rock bottom after 20 years chasing his debut — until he meets an overwhelmed producer who helps him rediscover his self-worth.

Genre: Drama

Style: Psychological

Audience: Date Night, Family

Plot: Depression, Hope, Friendship, Reunion, Mental Health, Unspoken Love, Healing, Personal Growth, Toxic Relationship, Film Industry

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-18

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: Go Youn-jung, Koo Kyo-hwan, Oh Jung-se, Kang Mal-geum, Park Hae-joon, Han Seon-hwa

2025 • Rating 8.7 • drama, sci-fi & fantasy

After time traveling to the Joseon era, a talented chef meets a tyrant king. Her modern dishes captivate his palate, but royal challenges await her.

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style: Mind Bending

Audience: Date Night, Teens

Plot: Based On Novel Or Book, Time Travel, Romcom, Miniseries, Chef, French Cuisine, Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), Complex, Korean Cuisine, Intense

Time: Year 2025, 2020S, Time Travel Era, 2025-08-23

Place: South Korea, Korean, Mandarin, Korea

Cast: Yoona, Lee Chae-min, Kang Hanna, Choi Gwi-hwa, Oh Eui-sik, Seo Yi-sook

2025 • Rating 8.7 • drama

In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs — proving love endures across time.

Genre: Drama

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Teens

Plot: Poet, Romance, Family Relationships, Couple, First Love, Jeju Island, Bittersweet, Adoring, Amused, In Jeju

Time: Year 2025, 2020S, 2025-03-07

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, Park Hae-joon

2022 • Rating 8.7 • action & adventure, drama

With the aid of unexpected friends, a gifted but introverted student confronts bullies and violent foes — unaware of how dangerous his world will become.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama

Style: Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Family

Plot: Fight, Male Friendship, Friendship, Bullying, Gang, Bromance, High School Student, Skilled Fighter, Based On Webcomic Or Webtoon, Youth

Time: Year 2022, 2020S, 2022-11-18

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: Park Ji-hoon, Choi Hyun-wook, Hong Kyung, Ryeoun, Choi Min-yeong, Yoo Su-bin

2023 • Rating 8.4 • drama, action & adventure, crime

Faced with ruthless foes with a violent thirst, two young boxers band together — risking life and limb to bring justice and protect their loved ones.

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Crime

Style: Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Boxer, Debt, Bromance, Loan Shark, Boxing, Skilled Fighter, Teamwork, Based On Webcomic Or Webtoon, Thriller, Action

Time: Year 2023, 2020S, 2023-06-09

Place: South Korea, English

Cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Rain

2026 • Rating 8.0 • mystery, drama

An ambitious prosecutor rises through Korea’s elite by marrying a famous actress, only to be pulled into a ruthless power cartel where hidden informants, corporate heirs, and political players collide in a brutal struggle for survival and control.

Genre: Mystery, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Power Struggle, An Ambitious Prosecutor Rises Through Korea, S Elite By Marrying A Famous Actress, Only To Be Pulled Into A Ruthless Power Cartel Where Hidden Informants, Corporate Heirs, And Political Players Collide In A Brutal Struggle For Survival And Control

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-03-16

Place: South Korea, Korean, Korea

Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won, Nana, Cha Joo-young, Oh Jung-se

2021 • Rating 7.8 • comedy, drama

Yumi is a 30-year old, ordinary woman who struggles with expressing her feelings. Told from the perspective of the many brain cells in her head, she experiences growth in both her love life, her career, and finds happiness in the small joys of everyday life.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Family

Plot: Love Triangle, Career Woman, Friendship, Workplace, Romance, Slice Of Life, Personal Growth, Live Action And Animation, Ordinary Girl, Psychological

Time: Year 2021, 2020S, 2021-09-17

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: Kim Go-eun, Kim Jae-won, Jun Suk-ho, Choi Daniel, Cho Hye-jeong, Mi Ram

2026 • Rating 0.0 • comedy, drama

A work-obsessed cosmetics CEO and a top home-shopping host struggling with insomnia cross paths, and through an unexpected romance, begin to heal the emptiness in their lives.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Style:

Audience: Date Night

Plot: Romcom, Rural Area, Farmer, Countryside Setting, A Work-Obsessed Cosmetics Ceo And A Top Home-Shopping Host Struggling With Insomnia Cross Paths, And Through An Unexpected Romance, Begin To Heal The Emptiness In Their Lives

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-22

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: Ahn Hyo-seop, Chae Won-been, Kim Bum, Goh Doo-shim, Jo Woo-ri, Yoon Jae-chan