Do you remember that fateful day when you sat down and watched your first K-drama? Did a friend force you to watch? Or did you stumble across a show on a streaming site? Perhaps you grew up on dramas because your parents were avid fans? Or maybe you’ve never ever seen a K-drama and don’t know what all the fuss is about?
Whatever the case, there is always that one special drama that hooks you in and never lets you go. If you’re looking to convince a loved one/friend/colleague to get started or simply want to explore the world of K-dramas yourself, here are 8 that will put you on the right track:
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Perhaps best known as Lee Min Ho’s breakout drama, Boys Over Flowers is quintessential K-drama viewing. Based on a manga and adapted into several languages since, this 25-episode 2009 gem is pure “poor girl meets rich boy” goodness.
A 2011 drama based on the Japanese manga series of the same name, City Hunter has it all: Drama, intrigue, romance, action, suspense. It was so popular that there’s talks of a sequel buzzing and lead actor Lee Min Ho has reportedly signed on!
While Gong Yoo has moved onto bigger and better things (hello, Train to Busan and Goblin!), his most iconic early role was in Coffee Prince. The 2007 gender bender drama heavily influenced the K-drama world and viewers haven’t looked back since.
With Lee Jong Suk‘s piercing stare and Lee Bo Young‘s flair for comedy and digging into deeper moments, this is a great drama that debuted fairly recently. Not only that, it also has a terrifying villain who keeps us on our toes.
A sassy but very empowering tale of a pastry chef who falls in love with her boss, this 2005 drama was ahead of its time. You can’t help but fall in love with Sam Soon as a character, plus she defies all the Korean-girls-are-so-nice-and-submissive stereotypes.
Drama love knows no bounds in this 2010 manga adaptation. It tells the story of a girl whose love is so strong that she slowly but surely wins over the affections of a stone-cold fox. Playful Kiss was such a hit, it spawned several international adaptations.
2010 saw the birth of Sungkyunkwan Scandal, a fusion historical gender bender drama. Park Min Young heads up a lovable cast and together they’re just riveting. If you’re completely new to K-dramas, this show will turn you into a full-blown Hallyu addict.
Featuring two rookie lead singers Lee Hong Ki and Jung Yong Hwa, soon-to-be-megastar Park Shin Hye, and pretty boy Jang Geun Suk, this look into a fictional K-rock idol group was such a hit in 2009, that we’d recommend it as a great starting point for K-drama noobs.
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