Hi! I'm looking for a korean drama that's NOT mainly focused on romance. It can have a little bit of romance but has to be concentrated around something else, like for example:

  • Age of youth (mostly about friendship)
  • Black (saving people ect)
  • The Guardians (also saving people)
  • My Mister 
  • Miss Hammurabi 
  • School 2013

I also watched school 2015 and 2017 and even though it "has romance" they weren't at each others faces all the time so it was ok (and the plot revolved around a mystery).  Any other recommendation?

Chief Kim - comedy/office/friendship drama - a gangster starts working for a big company in hopes of stealingbtheir money. The company is so rotten that the gangster changes into a good person and fights injustice. (I advice to watch at least 3 episodes before you decide whether to drop it or not. The first two episodes are kinda different from the rest)

Reply 1988 - family/romance/slice of life drama - drama follows life of 5 frinds and their families in the year of 1988 in korea. it has probably the strongest romantic storyline of all dramas i recommend here but it is mostly focused on the life and family in general. (You dont need to watch previous 'reply' dramas to understand this one)

Avengers Social Club - friendship/revenge/comedy drama - a group of 3 completely different women get together to get a revenge on people who hurt them. (Friendship aspect is similar to Age of Youth)

Hello Monster - crime/detective drama - basically a crime drama that gives off a strong "The Mentalist" vibe imo

almost all of these kdramas are about investigation or mystery:

Bad Guys - this is one of my favorite kdramas! no romance, some criminals get together to solve cases

Gap Dong - police investigation, there's a female lead (i hated her -.-) but romance was not the main theme

Dr. Frost - if i remember correctly, there's no romance at all (but i've watched many years ago...)

Liar Game - an odd game, involving a mystery

Missing Noir M - it's a police investigation drama, it was not really my cup of tea, but you might like it, maybe...

Naked Fireman - this has a little bit of romance, but it's mainly about a mystery involving an arson case, quite funny and very short :)

Solomon's Perjury - it's about a trial organised by the students of a school

White Christmas - this! some students from an elite school remain at school during winter break and receive a letter saying that someone will die, really interesting! 

not about investigation/police/mystery:

Tamna, the island - this is an historical drama set in jeju island, quite atypical and funny!


PS (i've written all the links, just click on the titles you're interested in :D)

In addition

  • Misaeng 
  • Awl 
  • Dear My Friends 
  • Behind the white tower 
  • Golden Time
  • Super Family 
  • Defendnt  
  • Gods Gift: 14 days 
  • Signal 
  • Stranger/secret forest 
  • Circle - scifi and investigation 
  • Vampire prosecutor (season 1 and 2)
  • Gods Quiz  (season 1 to 4)
  • Jeong Dojeon 
  • Mother 
  • Mama: Nothing to Lose
  • Circle
  • Duel 
  • the end of the world 
  • The virus
  • tree with deep roots
  • Last
  • Pied piper 
  • missing noir M 
  • Special affaters: Ten
  • Punch
  • 38 task force
  • Memory
  • Girl K
  • Sirius
  • the Village: achiara's secret
  • Soul/Possessed
  • Jungle fish 2
  • oh my geumbi
  • Running shirt go
  • Wise prison life
  • short
  • the chaser
  • witch's court

Seconding

Misaeng - one of my favorite kdramas so far. Unexpected given its focus on corporate life, but all the characters really grow on you and become really lovable, and you really get invested in their work! (and love all their office antics, it's great)

Hello Monster - focused on the male lead searching for the man who murdered his father, I loved this drama so much. There were some interesting twists and while there is some romance it's not overbearing

Here is some of my non-romantic dramas:

My Mister

Signal

Mother

Prison Playbook

Life on Mars

Stranger

Live

Dear My Friends

Defendant

38 Task Force

Big Man

Beyond the Clouds