Don't Know Where to Start? 15 Best Korean Dramas for Newcomers

1. Crash Landing on You

Hold onto your hats! Picture this: a South Korean heiress crash-lands in North Korea after a paragliding accident. Now, isn't that some bad luck, huh? The charismatic North Korean captain, Ri Jeong-hyuk, tries to get her home safely. North meets South, rich meets... not so rich. It's Romeo and Juliet with a Korean twist! Although, don't expect it all to be grim. With misunderstandings and cultural differences aplenty, it's comedic gold wrapped in suspense.

2. Reply 1988

Rolling back the clock to the '80s! Five families live in the same Seoul neighborhood. Simple, right? But, oh, the rich tapestry of their lives. A perfect slice-of-life series that touches the nostalgic strings of your heart. Disco? Check. Awkward teenage love? Double check. Parents bickering over trivial matters? You bet. Dive into a time where internet wasn't a thing and handwritten notes were the WhatsApp of the day. Who's the husband in the end? Now that's the question!

3. Kingdom

Zombies, my friend. In historical Korea. Now, that's not your regular Tuesday. The crown prince becomes the unexpected hero when he uncovers a sinister plot involving political rivals, plague, and of course, the undead. The palace intrigues are intense. But you know what's more intense? Running from flesh-eating monsters in royal attire. It's gore with grandeur. Sure, it may sound like Game of Thrones had a baby with The Walking Dead, but trust me, it's in a league of its own.

4. My Love from the Star

Ever been out of place? Try being an alien stranded on Earth for 400 years. Do Min-joon, our extraterrestrial protagonist, has seen empires rise and fall, and now he's a modern-day college professor. Just as he's about to return to his planet, in comes famous actress Cheon Song-yi. Drama. Glamour. Supernatural abilities. Forbidden love. This is what happens when E.T. meets Hollywood, but with a K-drama flavor. Does he stay? Does he leave? Decisions, decisions.

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5. Itaewon Class

Picture Itaewon, the most international part of Seoul. Here stands DanBam, a small pub with a big dream: toppling the food industry giants. Behind the helm? Park Saeroyi, a guy with a heart of gold and a past of steel. From prison to business magnate, his journey is as spicy as the dishes he serves. Enemies become allies, and allies... well, love happens. There's corporate warfare, sprinkled with flavors of friendship and romance. Remember, every underdog has its day!

6. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

What happens when a 21st-century girl time-travels back to the Goryeo Dynasty? A lot, apparently. Hae Soo, our modern gal, finds herself amidst royal brothers, palace politics, and more than one princely admirer. Sure, history books tell us one thing, but being in the thick of it? That's another story altogether. Power plays, regal romance, and bitter rivalries take center stage. But if you could change history, would you?

7. Signal

Ever get a call from the past? Detective Park Hae-young did. Through a walkie-talkie, no less! This thriller is a fusion of past crimes and present investigations. Every solved case alters the timeline, but not always for the better. It's gripping, mysterious, and will make you question every missed call you ever had. Because, hey, what if it's a detective from 1989 trying to solve a case?

8. Goblin: The Lonely and Great God

Immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be. Just ask Kim Shin, a goblin waiting centuries to find his bride and finally rest in peace. Throw in a grim reaper with amnesia and a human with a strange birthmark, and you've got a recipe for supernatural shenanigans. Love, life, and the hereafter collide in this tale. And if you've ever wanted a bromance between a goblin and a grim reaper, look no further.

9. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo

When it's all about the gains, life can be heavy. Kim Bok-joo, a weightlifting prodigy, juggles her passion with first love and college life. Ever tried wooing someone with fried chicken? She has. It's a light-hearted look into the life of a girl who can lift more than just weights – she'll lift your spirits too. After all, love isn't about size; it's about strength.

10. Hotel Del Luna

Hotels are known for their guests, but what if those guests are spirits? Nestled in the heart of Seoul is Hotel Del Luna, catering exclusively to ghosts. The enigmatic owner, Jang Man-wol, has been cursed for over a thousand years. With chic fashion and a sharp tongue, she runs her otherworldly establishment with an iron fist. But even ghosts have unfinished business, and helping them pass on is part of the package. The newest recruit, a human manager, is about to find out just how demanding spirit hospitality can be.

11. Boys Over Flowers

So, there's this school, right? It's for the über-elite (we're talking private jets and diamond-studded pencils, okay, maybe not the pencils). And at its top? F4, four ridiculously rich and handsome boys. Enter Jan-di, a girl from humble beginnings, who earns a scholarship to this high-flying school.

From being bullied to becoming the love interest of the F4 leader, her life takes a wild turn. Think high school politics on steroids. Roses have thorns, and these boys are no exception. It's an oldie, but a goldie. A rollercoaster of love and rivalry awaits!

12. Descendants of the Sun

Uniforms. Romance. Disaster zones. That's right, this one's about a soldier and a doctor. Yoo Si-jin, the dashing army captain, crosses paths with the beautiful surgeon, Dr. Kang Mo-yeon. Sparks fly, but duty calls. From the heart of Seoul to the deserts of Uruk, their love story unfolds amidst life-threatening situations. Time and distance test their bond, and with grenades and surgeries thrown into the mix, it's adrenaline from start to finish. Ever witnessed a love confession amidst an earthquake? You're about to.

13. Kill Me, Heal Me

Remember the seven dwarfs? Now, imagine one person with seven personalities. Cha Do-hyun, a third-generation business heir, suffers from dissociative identity disorder. Enter psychiatrist Oh Ri-jin, and we're in for a therapy session unlike any other. As she helps him confront his painful past, they find themselves tangled in a web of family secrets. It's a heady cocktail of suspense, humor, and emotions. And the Oscar for playing seven roles goes to...

14. Stranger (aka Forest of Secrets)

Crime, corruption, prosecution. Hwang Shi-mok, a cold, emotionless prosecutor, teams up with warm-hearted detective Han Yeo-jin. Their mission? To uncover a tangled web of corruption within the judicial system. No one's above suspicion. The higher-ups, the officials, the friends – trust no one. It's a cerebral cat-and-mouse chase, with plot twists so sharp, you might get a paper cut. Forget the courtroom dramas you know; this one's cerebral and electrifying.

15. Start-Up

Silicon Valley? Pfft. Welcome to Sand Box, South Korea's tech start-up hub. Seo Dal-mi dreams of becoming Korea's Steve Jobs, while Nam Do-san, founder of a struggling start-up, wants to prove his worth. When past childhood letters tie them together in a faux romance, things get interesting. Entrepreneurial dreams, love triangles, and life's U-turns make this a must-watch. Think of it as Shark Tank meets a rom-com. Who will get the investment, and who will win the heart?