So You Finally Decided to Watch K-Drama? Here's Your Beginner's Kit

1. Crash Landing on You

Ever imagined parachuting into forbidden territory? South Korean heiress Yoon Se-ri does exactly that, crash landing in North Korea due to a paragliding mishap. There, Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok discovers her, and so begins their intricate dance. Keeping her hidden in the world's most secretive state? No small feat. Yet amidst cultural mishaps and comedic hide-and-seek sessions, love blossoms. But can a romance survive such a political divide?

2. Reply 1988

Wind back the clock to 1988 Seoul. In the tight-knit neighborhood of Ssangmun-dong, five friends navigate the turbulence of youth. There's family, there's friendship, there's love – the age-old trinity of drama. Through heartaches, dreams, and a fair dose of '80s Korean pop culture, we journey with them. Who does the lead Deok-sun end up with? Ah, that's the show's golden question. Because, isn't the journey often sweeter than the destination?

3. Itaewon Class

Park Sae-ro-yi's life? Not a walk in the park. A tragic accident, a powerful adversary in Jang Dae-hee, and a prison sentence later, he's fueled by revenge. His weapon of choice? A bar-restaurant in Itaewon. With a band of misfits by his side, he challenges the food industry's elite. Business wars, love triangles, and delicious drama unfold. After all, isn't revenge a dish best served cold... or in this case, with a side of Korean BBQ?

4. Mr. Sunshine

The late 1800s, Joseon era, and a boy named Eugene Choi is taken to America after a harrowing escape. Returning as an adult, he's a U.S. Marine Corps officer, navigating a homeland now riddled with foreign powers and royal schemes. Amidst this, he encounters Go Ae-shin, an aristocrat turned sniper. Sparks fly, but it's not just romance in the air – there's rebellion too. Intrigue, betrayals, and valiant freedom fights color their world. Love amidst revolution? Now, that's a period drama twist.

5. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God

A sword, a curse, and a 939-year-old immortal goblin named Kim Shin. Seeking an end to his immortality, he searches for his human bride, Ji Eun-tak, the only one who can pull out the sword. With death, he's promised peace. Alongside, there's the Grim Reaper and his amnesiac past. But when life offers love over eternal rest, what would you choose? Myth, mortality, and modern Seoul mix magically. Because, sometimes, forever is just a heartbeat away.

6. My Love from the Star

Do Min-joon, an alien, landed on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty, and 400 years later, he's still here, looking dashing as ever. With just a few months left before returning home, he encounters Cheon Song-yi, a famous actress. Their fates entwine amidst celebrity scandals and cosmic challenges. Can love conquer interstellar odds? As destinies collide and secrets spill, we're reminded: Love is, indeed, a universal language. But when galaxies separate hearts, can love truly bridge the expanse?

7. Kingdom

Imagine a Joseon-era crown prince, a mysterious plague, and the undead. Prince Lee Chang uncovers a political conspiracy while investigating a viral outbreak. What he finds? Hordes of the undead, hungering after sundown. Survival becomes a royal decree. With a backdrop of palaces and picturesque landscapes, political intrigue meets gut-wrenching horror. Because, sometimes, the real monsters wear crowns, not fangs.

8. Hotel Del Luna

In the heart of Seoul stands a peculiar hotel. Its guests? Spirits waiting to cross over to the afterlife. At the helm is Jang Man-wol, cursed for a millennium, seeking redemption. Enter Goo Chan-sung, the new human manager, and sparks (both romantic and supernatural) ignite. Through spectral stories and past-life pangs, they discover intertwined destinies. After all, isn't life (and afterlife) all about second chances?

9. Descendants of the Sun

Captain Yoo Shi-jin meets Dr. Kang Mo-yeon in South Korea, but their love story blossoms in a fictional war-torn country. He, a Special Forces soldier; she, a surgeon. Amidst life-threatening missions and medical emergencies, their worlds intertwine. Bullets fly, hearts race, and amid the chaos of conflict, love dares to thrive. But in a world of danger, can love truly conquer all? Sometimes, heroes wear dog tags, not capes.

10. Sky Castle

In an opulent residential area named Sky Castle, elite families will do whatever it takes to get their children into top universities. Ambitions skyrocket, but so do the secrets and lies. Coaching, conspiracies, and cutthroat competition define their lives. But what happens when ambition overshadows morality? Through twists and dark turns, we dive deep into society's elite. After all, when climbing the ladder, how high is too high?