9 South Korean Dramas That Took the World by Storm
If you thought Gangnam Style was the only thing that got South Korea on the global map, think again.
1. Squid Game
It's hard to start the list without mentioning this titan of Korean television, Squid Game. The show, which debuted on Netflix in 2021, achieved the status of the most-watched series in the platform's history. It was a deadly contest of childhood games, laced with sharp social commentary, biting wit, and as a masterstroke, it wasn't afraid to stab its audience right in the feels. Everyone had a favorite character, and everyone's favorite character died, a formula that kept viewers on their toes (and sobbing into their pillows). Ironic, isn't it?
That a show about brutal games of survival would sweep the globe, spurring people across continents to obsess over red light, green light, honeycomb candy, and the haunting duality of a doll's face? I bet the creators are still chuckling while waiting for Season 2 to premiere just like the rest of us.
2. Crash Landing On You
Crash Landing On You is a series about a South Korean chaebol heiress who, by a freak paragliding accident, ends up in North Korea, brought a refreshing mix of romance, humor, and thrill. The chemistry between the two leads, Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, was so palpable that it eventually led to them confirming their real-life relationship. And isn't it funny how art imitates life?
You have to admit, it's a little amusing that a love story set against a backdrop of one of the world's most significant political divisions became a global sensation. The show was so popular that it reached a peak viewership rating of 21.7% in South Korea, making it the third highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history.
3. Itaewon Class
If you're looking for a tale of ambition, redemption, and noodle slurping, Itaewon Class should be your next binge-watch. Following the life of an ex-con turned restauranteur in the vibrant neighborhood of Itaewon, the show won hearts for its diverse cast of characters, its emotional depth, and its gloriously mouthwatering food scenes.
Watching this show was like stepping into a hip, vibrant, and sometimes heartbreaking world, where every bowl of soft tofu stew or sizzling plate of galbi holds a story. The show was such a hit that it was reported to have earned around $8.3 million in advertising revenue.
4. The King: Eternal Monarch
Time to mention a drama that skillfully blended fantasy and romance into an exciting cross-dimensional saga – The King: Eternal Monarch. The series imagined a world where a parallel universe exists, and one can travel between these realms. The leading man, Lee Min-ho, plays an emperor from an alternate Korea, while Kim Go-eun stars as a detective from our world. Love transcending dimensions? Absolutely, count me in.
The production value of the series was through the roof, with each episode costing nearly $1 million to produce. That's a lot of won (or dollars, or euros, or whatever currency you fancy), but it seems to have paid off since viewers around the globe couldn't get enough of this dashing emperor and his smart, down-to-earth detective.
5. Hospital Playlist
Inside Hospital Playlist, a drama about five doctors who have been best friends since medical school, lies hectic, life-affirming, and sometimes heartrending world. The beauty of this show is not just in its medical cases, which yes, are riveting, but more so in its masterful weaving of human stories – the doctors, their patients, their families – the lot.
Who would've guessed that one minute, you'd be laughing along with the characters and their antics, and the next, you'd be teary-eyed, moved by their journey? It's no wonder the show consistently topped ratings in its timeslot, which for those unfamiliar with the dog-eat-dog world of television scheduling, is a feat in itself.
6. Signal
Signal is a gripping crime thriller that bounced between the past and the present, blending cold cases and new mysteries. The premise is simple enough – a detective in the present can communicate with another detective in the past using an old walkie-talkie. Easy, right? But here's where it gets fun – changes made in the past affect the future, causing ripple effects that are at times, chilling.
It's a bit like throwing a pebble into a pond and watching the ripples spread, except the pebble is a solved murder case, and the pond is time itself. The series is loosely based on real-life criminal cases in South Korea, which gives it that extra layer of intrigue, like a cherry on top of an already scrumptious cake.
7. Reply 1988
Let's take a little trip back in time with Reply 1988, a show that brilliantly captured the spirit and struggles of a Seoul neighborhood in the late '80s. It's less of a drama and more of a slice-of-life that's served hot and fresh, brimming with nostalgia, friendship, and family ties.
What sets this series apart from its contemporaries isn't the storyline, it's the characters – they are so well-drawn, so endearing, and so painfully relatable that you'll find yourself rooting for them, laughing with them, and occasionally, crying a bucket of tears for them. This show was so popular during its run that it set a record for the highest viewership ratings in Korean cable television history.
8. My Mister
This drama took the world by storm not because it was filled with glossy characters or high-octane plots, but because it was raw, unflinchingly honest, and profoundly human. It revolved around a middle-aged man and a young woman who share in each other's burdens, in the process finding solace and companionship.
Sure, it's a bit like finding a rare gem in a pile of pebbles – it shines, but it's not polished, and that's precisely what makes it so valuable. The show was critically acclaimed, with praise directed towards its screenplay, direction, and performances, especially that of IU, the popular singer-turned-actress who played the lead female character.
9. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (also known as Goblin)
Goblin is a South Korean fantasy romance that spun a tale about a cursed immortal being seeking his human bride to end his immortality. Sounds a bit like a fairytale, doesn't it? But in this fairytale, the immortal is a goblin, the bride can see ghosts, and the supporting cast includes a Grim Reaper with amnesia.
With a narrative that was as touching as it was fantastical, the show took the viewers on a rollercoaster ride of laughter, tears, and everything in between. The drama was an immense success, both domestically and internationally, with an average viewership rating of 12.5% and a peak rating of 18.68% in South Korea.