9 K-Dramas That Flew Under Your Radar But Deserve Your Weekend

Here's the list of some lesser-known Korean gems for you. Get ready to free up your weekend for these underrated, but actually amazing, K-dramas.

1. Melo Is My Nature (2019)

Melo Is My Nature throws you into the lives of three best friends: Jin-joo, a drama writer with a knack for turning her real-life misfortunes into screen gold; Eun-jung, a documentary director who's still reeling from a tragic loss; and Han-joo, a single mother juggling work and family life. We follow Jin-joo as her career takes a hit and she scrambles to find her next big script, Eun-jung as she attempts to helm her first feature film while facing her past, and Han-joo as she deals with workplace sexism and her quirky kid's antics.

2. The Package (2017)

We join a motley crew of tourists in France, each with their baggage (emotionally and literally), and their young, Korean expat tour guide who's running from her own issues back home. As they travel from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel, each tourist's story unfolds, from a man escaping a family tragedy to a couple stuck in a loveless marriage. Our guide, played by the ever-charming Lee Yeon-hee, tries to keep her group on schedule, but the beauty of France and her guests' stories start to crack her professional façade.

3. Prison Playbook (2017)

Prison Playbook brings us the tale of a superstar baseball pitcher who lands in prison just days before his big league debut. It's here in this cramped, bleak place that he finds a new team – a group of cellmates each with their quirks and tales of how they ended up in orange jumpsuits. Together they form an odd but touching camaraderie, as they face the daily grind of prison life. It's a story less about baseball and more about human resilience and the odd friendships you form in the most unlikely places.

4. Stranger | also known as Secret Forest (2017)

Meet our main guy: a prosecutor who cannot feel emotions, thanks to a childhood operation. You'd think being a human iceberg would be neat, right? Wrong. It's more trouble than it's worth, especially when he's trying to crack a weird murder case tied up with big-shot baddies. He's got a sidekick, though – a fiery young cop who brings the feels to the table. They're like oil and water, but somehow, they make a great team for digging up dirt and slicing through the thick jungle of lies.

5. Chicago Typewriter (2017)

This drama revolves around a best-selling author suffering from a severe case of writer's block and two mysterious figures in his life – a fan and a ghostwriter. Our characters are entangled with their 1930s counterparts – resistance fighters during the Japanese occupation, whose lives and secrets begin to bleed into the present. Through old journals and a typewriter that's a literal blast from the past, the trio must piece together their previous lives while struggling with their current tangled relationships and personal demons.

6. My Mister (2018)

Ever felt like life keeps beating you down? My Mister tells the story of two people who know that feeling all too well. We have a middle-aged engineer caught in a suffocating routine and a young woman burdened by debt and family issues. Their lives intersect when she's hired as a temporary worker at his company. What starts as an antagonistic relationship slowly evolves into a deep connection that becomes a source of solace from their respective struggles.

7. Live (2018)

This drama gives us an unfiltered look at the lives of police officers beyond the crime scenes and chases. We follow a group of cadets from police academy to the streets as they learn the ropes and the reality of their chosen profession. The show doesn't shy away from the gritty details of their work and personal lives, from dealing with everyday complaints to facing life-threatening situations. It's about the people behind the badges, their reasons for choosing such a challenging job, and the camaraderie they form.

8. The Light in Your Eyes (2019)

This drama starts off with a young woman who finds herself in an elderly body after a mysterious incident involving a watch. While grappling with her sudden change, she crosses paths with a man who's given up on his dreams. Their unique predicament leads to a series of events that are equal parts hilarious and moving.

9. Avengers Social Club (2017)

Avengers Social Club introduces us to three women from different walks of life, who come together with a singular goal: to take revenge on those who've wronged them. The unlikely trio consists of a fish market ajumma with a heart of gold, a chaebol daughter-in-law who's had enough of her in-laws, and a timid young woman with a traumatic past. They recruit a hacker with a vendetta of his own to execute their plans. As they work through their elaborate schemes, they find friendship and healing.