8 K-Dramas You Can Show Your Skeptic Friends to Get Them Hooked

We know how difficult it can sometimes be to get along with friends who have absolutely no interest in South Korean pop culture. This is especially true of K-dramas: many are put off by the stereotypical notion that they're just windy romances full of obnoxious tropes and clichés.

But South Korean series can be truly fascinating, capable of pleasing even those accustomed to exclusively Western cinematography. From poignant drama to gripping horror, from unfairly underrated stories to those that have won the most prestigious awards, we present the best K-dramas that will impress even the most skeptical of friends.

8. Sweet Home (2020, 10 episodes)

Fans of the horror genre should definitely check out South Korean productions, and a good place to start is Sweet Home, which tells the story of the residents of an apartment complex trapped there during an apocalypse.

7. One Spring Night (2019, 32 episodes)

A great way to introduce newcomers to the Korean context is to show them this love story that erupted despite stigmas and societal pressures.

6. Juvenile Justice (2022, 10 episodes)

The award-winning courtroom drama follows a judge who, despite her distaste for young people, is assigned to handle juvenile cases.

5. Because This Is My First Life (2017, 16 episodes)

ML is a socially awkward IT worker who prefers the company and love of his cat to other people; FL is a broke writer who is forced to move in with him. There is no whirlwind romance, just the story of two adults learning to understand each other through household chores.

4. Kingdom (2019, 12 episodes)

Neiflix's Kingdom is a fascinating story that skillfully combines period drama with horror elements in a zombie setting.

3. Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022, 16 episodes)

Queen Hwa-ryeong is a responsible and graceful, yet hot-tempered monarch. Her troublesome sons, however, are causing more than a little chaos in the palace. To raise them as worthy princes, she is willing to sacrifice royal protocol.

2. Mr. Sunshine (2018, 24 episodes)

The story follows a Korean slave-turned-U.S.-Marine officer who falls in love with a patriotic Korean noblewoman as the horrific Japanese occupation of Korea looms in the background. This is an incredibly poignant and realistic story about one of the most painful periods in Korean history.

1. Mother (2018, 16 episodes)

Even the most skeptical viewers will appreciate how powerfully and thoughtfully Koreans are able to make social commentary. The series tells the story of a teacher who kidnaps a little girl from her abusive family in order to be a good mother to her.