Netflix has a rabbit hole or K-drama. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the greatest Korean shows on Netflix that you simply cannot skip out on.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest Korean shows on Netflix that you simply cannot skip out on.
00:19Number 20, Business Proposal.
00:31In the mood for some good old romantic comedy that's both low stakes and easy on the eyes?
00:36This K-drama is the one for you, because sometimes all we need is a light-hearted fairy tale to restore our faith in love.
00:43From an awkward CEO protagonist to contract marriage, and even hidden identities, you'll find all your favorite tropes in one place.
01:00As a bonus, it has not just one but two adorable couples, a healthy dose of bromance, and a female friendship that will have you hitting up your bestie to binge watch the show together.
01:13Number 19, My Liberation Notes.
01:20This one's for all the lost souls hoping to find some meaning in life. So yeah, pretty much all of us.
01:33Kim Ji-won, Lee Min-gi and Lee El play siblings whose mundane lives are shaken up by the sudden appearance of a mysterious stranger.
01:40Praised for its depictions of realistic day-to-day lives, the series' big theme about freedom really hits home.
02:02The monologues feel like a soothing balm to a broken heart, and practically every scene is quote-worthy.
02:07Unexpectedly, this K-drama also features an irresistible romance that will no doubt raise your standards.
02:27Number 18, Little Women.
02:37This K-drama supports women's rights, but more importantly, women's wrongs.
02:42Think of it as the psychological thriller version of Louisa May Alcott's novel of the same name, and you have a good starting point.
02:48It then spirals into a never-ending vortex of chaos as one woman takes on the world for her family.
02:55Rich antics abound, and it gets more and more unhinged with every episode.
03:00This show is also proof that couples with no hope for romance always end up with the most electric chemistry in K-dramas.
03:07Kim Go-eun and Lee Ha-jun, we're looking at you.
03:25You know what kind of person I am?
03:28I'm a money launderer. I'm a dangerous person.
03:32Number 17, Alchemy of Souls.
03:41Arguably the first high-fantasy show to come out of South Korea, Alchemy of Souls is in a league of its own.
03:46It follows Naksu, a powerful sorceress trapped in the body of a woman who is blind,
03:51and Jang-uk, her amateur student destined for greatness.
04:03The world-building is larger than life, the power system complex enough to be interesting but not confusing.
04:09The theme of star-crossed lovers also runs through the epic, serving equal parts butterflies and tears.
04:15There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and just between you and us, the ending is totally worth it.
04:30Number 16, Stranger.
04:32Bae Roo-na and Cho Seung-woo lead this underappreciated gem of a crime thriller that definitely deserves more attention.
04:38An apathetic yet upright prosecutor meets a passionate detective, and the intellectual sparks fly.
04:46Their bond is forged by a shared goal of rooting out corruption, and boy do they make it look cool.
04:51Stranger is the complete package. Murder mystery? Check. Political intrigue? Spot on.
04:57Layered characters that you'll get way too attached to? You got it.
05:16No wonder it was featured on a New York Times list of best TV shows.
05:20If you can't get enough of this series, check out the spin-off, Dong-hae, The Good or the Bastard.
05:35Number 15, True Beauty.
05:37If you've watched this series before, you'll know why.
05:41Number 15, True Beauty.
05:43If you've watched this K-drama more times than you can count because it's your comfort show, welcome to the club.
05:49If not, it's about time you joined us.
06:01True Beauty is a true delight, like your favorite dessert after a long day.
06:05With this, you get what you see.
06:07A young high school girl played by Moon Ga-young struggles with her appearance,
06:11and over the course of the show, comes to realize that beauty is on the inside.
06:15The real transformation doesn't happen with makeup, but with the confidence she gets thanks to her friends, and of course, Cha Eun-woo as Lee Su-ho.
06:41The cherry on top is the dreamy Hwang In-yeop, ready to give you a serious case of second lead syndrome.
07:04Number 14, Signal.
07:06There's just one word to describe this inter-timeline detective drama, timeless.
07:11Helmed by a trio of acting powerhouses, Cho Jin-eun, Kim Hye-soo, and Lee Jae-hoon,
07:26Signal is one of those shows that turns you into a true blue K-drama fan.
07:30Viewers join the lead characters on a riveting journey as they fight crime across time.
07:42To keep it brief, Cho's character exists in the 90s, while Kim and Lee played detectives in 2015.
07:52The only thing connecting them is a strange walkie-talkie and the will to solve a murder.
07:57If you enjoy true crime stories or consider yourself a cold case connoisseur, tune in, and you will find yourself hooked in no time.
08:12Number 13, Vincenzo.
08:17This crime dramedy begins with a bang.
08:20However, it quickly changes gears into slapstick comedy and courtroom drama.
08:25These tonal shifts can be jarring, but once the show settles into a rhythm, it's hard to tear yourself away.
08:32Soon after the death of his boss, mafia conciliary Vincenzo, played by Hallyu heartthrob Song Joong-ki,
08:38returns to Seoul to recover gold stashed underneath a plaza.
08:42Unexpectedly, he finds himself joining forces with the plaza's tenants
08:46and a ruthless attorney against a corrupt company that wants the building.
09:02Vincenzo's enemies soon learn that he fights fire with fire.
09:06If you're expecting a realistic, grounded depiction of the mafia or lawyers, this is not it.
09:13But Vincenzo's 20 episodes offer drama aplenty to keep you hooked.
09:19Number 12, Prison Playbook.
09:25Un diavolo scaccia l'altro.
09:31Number 12, Prison Playbook.
09:44Undeniably the most wholesome show about arguably the most unwholesome topic,
09:48this one will keep you coming back for more.
09:50When a baseball star is incarcerated for assaulting his sister's attacker,
09:54he finds camaraderie in his fellow inmates.
09:56By revealing the ins and outs of the prison system, it humanizes the convicts.
10:01But don't mistake this K-drama for all sunshine and roses.
10:10While it does have a unique sense of humor, it also makes it a point to tackle important issues.
10:15So you'll either bust a gut from laughing too hard,
10:18or you'll be sniffling into your t-shirt because it hurts so bad.
10:21Whatever it may be, it is worth every second of your time.
10:30Number 11, My Name.
10:32This dark revenge thriller is as suspenseful as it is satisfying.
10:37After Yoon Ji-woo witnesses the murder of her gangster father, she joins his old gang.
10:42Hoping to toughen up and track down the killer,
10:45when she's ordered to infiltrate the police,
10:47it affords her opportunities to investigate,
10:50but also leads to a complicated double life.
11:05Actress Han So-hee gives an intense and physical performance that carries the show.
11:10With brilliant twists and thrilling fight scenes packed into its eight episodes,
11:14My Name is a gritty crime drama that needs to be binged.
11:35If we were to show you a random clip from the show,
11:38you'd think it was a fantasy series.
11:40In reality, the top-tier CGI and abstract cinematography
11:44are visualizations of how certain mental health conditions can feel.
11:47It is brilliantly done to say the least.
12:04Daily Dose of Sunshine follows an empathetic nurse,
12:07played by the incredible Park Bo-young,
12:09who is transferred to a psychiatric ward.
12:11Struggling to adjust to the new environment,
12:14she grapples with her own mental health,
12:16unable to distance herself from her patients.
12:18Watching her grow, overcome adversities and find love
12:21will leave you feeling like a proud parent.
12:29Number 9, Sweet Home.
12:31Despite the slew of apocalyptic horror series around,
12:35Sweet Home still manages to stand out.
12:37Another webtoon adaptation,
12:39it follows a band of survivors in a run-down apartment complex
12:43beset by monsters.
12:55The main focus is depressed high school student Cha Hyun-soo,
12:59who, after a tragic accident, planned to end his own life.
13:03At its best, Sweet Home is gory, effects-filled fun
13:07that keeps you wondering who will die next.
13:10The monsters steal the show,
13:12each one unique in its own special way.
13:14However, through its large cast of flawed characters,
13:17the series also reflects on our own dark and monstrous desires.
13:21All in all, it's a thrilling ride through the end times.
13:26Number 8, All of Us Are Dead.
13:45High school can be hell.
13:47Fortunately, though, we don't remember it quite like this.
13:50This webtoon adaptation sees a zombie outbreak
13:53that turns an ordinary high school into ground zero.
13:56In the ensuing chaos, the survivors must team up
13:59and rely on their wits to avoid falling prey to former classmates.
14:03Foremost among the sprawling cast
14:05are childhood friends Ong-chol and Chung-sen.
14:08Full of nail-biting suspense and bloody mayhem,
14:11All of Us Are Dead is built around creative set pieces
14:14and smart, relatable characters.
14:16Amid the carnage, it also manages to squeeze in
14:19social commentary about bullying,
14:21as well as memorable moments of camaraderie between the survivors.
14:37While there are some repetitive moments across its 12 episodes,
14:41it is an absolute must-watch for fans of the genre.
14:44Number 7, DP.
14:52Everything you could possibly need in an action drama
14:55is packed into this rollercoaster ride.
14:57Per the show's title, it's about the deserter pursuit,
15:00a.k.a. the DP team in the South Korean military.
15:03They find deserters and bring them back,
15:05but our main characters, played by Chung Hae-in and Koo Kyu-hwan,
15:09often find their emotions getting in the way.
15:11While the first season is a gritty adventure with a dash of comedy,
15:15the second leans far more philosophical.
15:17Darker secrets are exposed,
15:19and the rotten core reveals itself.
15:21You better believe it will leave you hankering for a third season.
15:42This one's for the rom-com fans.
15:44It's easy to get swept up in Crash Landing on You's tale of forbidden love
15:48When South Korean heiress and businesswoman Yoon Se-ri
15:51crashes her paraglider in North Korea,
15:54she finds herself falling for the taciturn Captain Ri Jung-hyuk.
15:58The problem, of course, is the long-standing conflict
16:01between their two countries.
16:02Screenwriter Park Jae-hyun worked with defector Gwak Moon-won
16:06to pen the dramedy,
16:07which offers a surprisingly thoughtful look at life in North Korea.
16:11Just as entertaining as the leads are Captain Ri's soldier buddies.
16:19The run times of its 16 episodes
16:21might seem a little long for binge-watching,
16:23but once the show draws you in,
16:25you will fly through them.
16:48Based on the beloved webtoon of the same name,
16:51Itaewon Class follows ex-convict Park Sae-ro-yi
16:54and the social outcasts he brings together
16:56to open a street bar in Seoul's colorful Itaewon district.
17:00Sae-ro-yi hopes to start a franchise to defeat a local food company,
17:04whose CEO's son caused his father's death.
17:19But while this revenge plot provides the premise,
17:22Itaewon Class is first and foremost about its diverse cast of characters,
17:26who must learn to work together and accept their differences.
17:39Their friendship buoys the series,
17:41making its 16 episodes a breeze to binge.
17:44Number 4
17:45Extraordinary Attorney Woo
18:05Park Eun-bin's magnum opus is a commendable representation of individuals
18:09on the autism spectrum.
18:12It's been argued that while it's not perfect,
18:14it has done more for the portrayal of autism in mainstream Korean media
18:18than any other piece of media.
18:28Through her character and those around her,
18:30Park highlights issues faced by the community,
18:32particularly in the context of South Korean society.
18:35The crowning achievement is the romance between our heroine
18:38and the walking green flag, Lee Joon-ho, played by Kang Tae-ho.
18:41Sweeter than cotton candy and dreamier than Kang himself,
18:44this couple will have you squealing into your pillow.
18:58Number 3
18:59The Glory
19:00If Slay Your Enemies were a K-drama,
19:03you'd get this breathless Song Hye-kyo fronted thriller.
19:06The actress plays Moon Dong-eun,
19:08a victim of brutal school violence
19:10who returns years later with a roadmap for revenge.
19:20This queen has no time for criminal justice.
19:22She takes matters into her own hands.
19:25Dong-eun doesn't just wake up and choose violence.
19:27She lights the world on fire and watches it burn.
19:37Part of what makes her such a fantastic main character, though,
19:40is the villainous she goes up against.
19:42Park Yun-jin, played by Lim Ji-yeon,
19:44is a force of nature,
19:46delectably evil and a downright baddie.
19:49Literally.
19:50With an 11 on 10 satisfaction score,
19:52this K-drama will have you hooked.
20:06Number 2
20:07Kingdom
20:20Netflix's first original Korean series
20:22is also one of the best.
20:24Based on the webtoon The Kingdom of the Gods,
20:26this period horror series combines political intrigue
20:29with zombie carnage.
20:31The story follows Crown Prince Lee Chen
20:33as he investigates a deadly plague
20:35and struggles to survive the machinations of his rivals.
20:48It's a unique blend of genres
20:50that expertly balances its horror and political elements
20:53while telling a gripping story built around memorable characters.
21:04With just six episodes per season,
21:07it is eminently bingeable.
21:09If you're hungry for more,
21:11there's also a 90-minute sidequel,
21:13Ashen of the North.
21:30Before we unveil our top pick,
21:32here are some honorable mentions.
21:34Move to Heaven
21:35Your tear ducts will be begging for a break.
21:54Mask Girl
21:55The female rage here will have you raving.
22:03Okay?
22:04Okay, okay!
22:06The Sound of Magic
22:08Because sometimes a healing musical
22:10can in fact solve all our problems.
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22:53This survival thriller took the world by storm,
22:56captivating audiences with its visceral spectacle,
22:59compelling drama and sharp social commentary.
23:02The premise is simple enough.
23:04In a secret facility,
23:06456 players in dire financial straits
23:09compete for a cash prize.
23:11The macabre twist is that the competition
23:13consists of popular children's games
23:15with fatal consequences for the losers.
23:18Squid Game nails the human drama
23:20with well-written characters
23:22and all the alliances and betrayals the premise suggests.
23:25It also works in timely themes
23:27about class struggle and capitalism.
23:41With a first season of just nine episodes,
23:44it is quite easily the most bingeable K-drama on Netflix.
23:48Which of these shows would you recommend to a friend?
23:50Let us know in the comments.
23:57Do you agree with our picks?
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