K-dramas that I enjoyed
It is honestly really hard for me to commit to dramas. These were the ones that I blew through quickly when I got into them.
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1. Hotel del Luna
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Luxury, decadence. Yes please. IU can step on me - girl held the drama together and did it with crazy flair.
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2. Goblin
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
My first kdrama? Classic, ahjussi, red scarf. Honestly shouldn't have worked so well but it did... Just very moving and powerful and somehow grand.
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3. While You Were Sleeping
Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
Kind of got dark. I was invested as hell.
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4. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
The second kdrama I ever watched. Set the bar real high, mind you. Park Hyungsik was the perfect whipped loser. So sweet. Give me moreeeee
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5. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Banger, hilarious, iconic. Chemistry between now-exes was amazing. Lee Sungkyung is actually amazing for pulling off a character like Kim Bokjoo so well - deserves so much more credit really.
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6. Hospital Playlist
Korean Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
The cast had really good vibes all around. Cried occasionally. Comfy. Comedy was occasionally forced but at least they tried and succeeded most of the time.
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7. Hospital Playlist Season 2
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
Vibes. Songs were definitely the highlight. Likeable characters are the best.
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8. Suspicious Partner
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
Honestly one of the first kdramas I watched and I remember nothing except the chemistry was steamy and it was really fun.
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9. Pinocchio
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
This feels like a fever dream but both the lead actors are cute so I watched it.
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10. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
The ending wtf. The ending wtf. The ending wtf.
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11. The Heirs
Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes
Trashy excellence. Park Shinhye was always in the middle of a breakdown (she's cute tho) and Lee Minho did not look like a high school student but hey - this is a classic.
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12. Coffee Prince
Korean Drama - 2007, 17 episodes
Yoon Eun Hye literally my girl crush. Gong Yoo is attractive, but Yoon Eun Hye wow. I literally cried when her character was crying. I love little domestic coffee shop settings. Nostalgia.
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13. Fight for My Way
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Love the friends to lovers pipeline. The most famous aegyo scene ever (don't quote me on this). Wholesome neighborhood dynamics.
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14. Because This Is My First Life
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Wholesome cohabitation. Leads have confusing brain chemistry but that's the only reason the contract marriage worked.
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15. Oh My Ghost
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
I watched this and was invested but retrospectively I hated the plot and the ending was worse
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16. She Was Pretty
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
Comedy, comedy, a bit of romance, but ridiculous gag-style humour aka 100% my style. Thinking too hard about the beauty standards makes me depressed about my own acne, but really, it's what's inside and the effort that you put in that matters. I suppose.
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17. The Secret Life of My Secretary
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
trashy. funny in a trashy way.
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18. My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Cha Eunwoo is hot. Commentary on beauty standards that was somewhat relatable. Idk. Cha Eunwoo is hot.
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19. Cheese in the Trap
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Big fan of the manhwa. Big fan of Kim Go Eun. This drama was made for me (jk). The casting was perfect, seriously, even the Baek siblings who were definitely not foreigners. I'm glad that the characters weren't set in the typical ML/FL mold.
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20. Extraordinary You
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
The plot was a bit jumpy?? I enjoy pathetic characters finding comfort in each other though.
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21. Itaewon Class
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
The first episode had me bawling. Though I enjoyed it, the rest of the series failed to evoke the same reaction. The story was heartwarming, heartbreaking and dark. I was, I admit, not a great fan of Jo Yi Seo's characterization. Park Seojoon's acting was a point in his favour. Wasn't so sure about the romantic relationship between the leads and the last minute kidnapping drama. Good OST. Wanted to love this drama, but personally didn't quite get there.
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22. Doom at Your Service
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
A little exhausting if I have to say. Confusing?? Big Park Boyoung fan but I didn't think the story was logical, rational or memorable. I suppose it didn't fit my personal taste.
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23. Queen of the Ring
Korean Drama - 2017, 21 episodes
A tiny bit trashy. But feel-good, guilty-pleasure style.
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24. Lovestruck in the City
Korean Drama - 2020, 17 episodes
Indie feel. The main characters were hot. Vibes, I guess.
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25. Goong
Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes
Ngl the male characters pissed me off. Story dragged too much. Healthy communication - what is that?? Male leads pretty but pushy. Big Yoon Eun Hye fan but her character was a bit of a pushover - still, reasonable for her character. Nostalgic.
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26. Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
Production quality, casting etc. etc. through the roof - STONKS yadda yadda. Park Eun Bin outdid herself. Kdrama romcom style. Plenty of heartwarming moments. Lovely.
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27. Mr. Queen
Korean Drama - 2020, 20 episodes
Bullshit ending made me mad but the rest was lit. Vulgar humour but hehehe.
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28. Memories of the Alhambra
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Again with an ending that made me go wtf. Fascinating concept, I love Park Shin Hye, but ???
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29. My Mister
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Outstanding. Watched the drama for IU but Park Dong Hoon the character was amazing. Like, even I was falling in love and sympathizing with this middle-aged man. **edit: well shit this is tarnished.
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30. Love Alarm
Korean Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
Not sure how I feel about high school dramas. I think they are relentlessly entertaining yet so entirely removed from reality. I guess they captured the bleakness of a poor female lead's tragic life very well. Attractive cast.
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31. Love Alarm Season 2
Korean Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
Love alarm was my addictive poison (night) apple
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32. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
Cha Eunwoo is hot. I like how Goo Haeryung was cool, well-read, mature, intelligent and attractive etc. The healthiest female lead characterization I've ever seen. Emperor pissed me off so bad. The way they depicted the court was kind of messed up. But romance focus so it didn't matter too much??
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33. Crash Landing on You
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Dragged alot. Unrealistic as heck even when they were trying to be realistic (read: business, military). Mc pulling the heroic lone wolf stunts pissed me off but it's a drama so whatever. It was popular for a reason and that is the chemistry. Dragged a bit but whoop whoop chemistry.
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34. My Love from the Star
Korean Drama - 2013, 21 episodes
I loved this so bad. No wonder everyone called it a classic. When are they going to make dramas like this again bruh.
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35. Flower of Evil
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Haven't been so invested in a drama since forever holy shit. Plot armour but I was invested af. Main leads did pretty good with the acting
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36. 100 Days My Prince
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Pleasantly surprised by DO's acting. He suited the role very well and some
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37. Reply 1988
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
Took me a couple of tries but I loved the nostalgic vibes and comedy and everything once I got into it. I'm going to ignore real-life, but the characters' chemistry was outstanding. The parents especially. Hilarious, feel-good.
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38. Reply 1997
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
Honestly very different from reply 1988. Enjoyed it so much, though. Really appreciate relatable female leads. Hilarious.
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39. Squid Game
Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
Everyone and their mother knows this because it blew up, Netflix, pop culture phenomenon shit etcetc. Very heart-stopping.
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40. Queen of Tears
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
The plot is so trashy but the production quality was through the roof and the actors are so pretty holy shit. Enjoying this drama was a form of personal escapism.
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41. My Demon
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Budget Goblin (Can I even say this??). Way more chill. Still dumpster-fire backstory but doesn't linger as long in depression and trauma. Tooth-rottingly sweet. Song Kang gets more handsome the longer I look at him. His character (Jeon Guwon) is funny, lame and hot - the best type of ML if we're being real. Reminds me of Gyuvin LMAO.
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42. Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
My heart is actually in pieces by my feet. I look at Baek Yijin and I see Choi Soobin. I know Yurim had a whole character arc but she was completely unwarrantedly bitchy for most of the series which really pissed me off. Kim Taeri as Heedo was crazy compelling. The mum did not parent well but she was a vibe.
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43. Lovely Runner
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
ep 15 - 男人奇怪的胜负欲
Honestly, I fizzled out pretty bad towards the end. Sort of a toned down Someday or One Day. Bunch of weird plot shenanigans. Oblivious female leads can get sort of annoying - so many questionable decisions even though she is being stalked by a serial killer? But still good, the first episodes more so. I love mls like Sunjae who are pathetic af for their love interests lol. -
44. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Slice of life feels. Ml had dumpster fire trauma. Didn't really like how the fl's personality completely changed after they started dating. A few lines from the convenience store couple gave me the ick. Enjoyed it quite a bit though. I love positive portrayals of dentists - there were some dodgy hygiene/infection control moments but you didn't hear it from me.
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45. A Good Day to Be a Dog
Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
Didn't quite like the deviations from the webtoon but I guess dramas have limitations. Wasn't anything extraordinary but cosy enough.