The best Korean dramas have taken over global streaming — and if you haven’t started watching yet, this guide tells you exactly where to begin.
This list of the best Korean dramas for beginners focuses on shows that are immediately accessible, globally beloved, and culturally illuminating — the best Korean dramas that will make you fall in love with Korea and want to visit immediately.
Why the Best Korean Dramas Are Worth Watching
The best Korean dramas are not like Western TV. Korean dramas are typically 16 episodes, tell a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end, and combine romance, humor, tension, and cultural insight in a uniquely compelling way.
The best Korean dramas have also become a global gateway to Korean culture — introducing millions of international viewers to Korean food, language, fashion, and social customs. Many visitors to Korea cite the best Korean dramas as their primary motivation for visiting.
Before visiting the filming locations of the best Korean dramas, read our Seoul Shopping Guide — many iconic Korean drama locations are in major shopping districts.
The 15 Best Korean Dramas for Beginners
1. Crash Landing on You (사랑의 불시착) — The Best Korean Drama to Start With
Crash Landing on You is consistently ranked among the best Korean dramas ever made — and for good reason. A South Korean heiress accidentally paraglides into North Korea and falls in love with a North Korean army officer. Romantic, funny, tense, and deeply moving.
Why it’s one of the best Korean dramas for beginners: Universally appealing romance, stunning production quality, and genuinely educational about Korean culture and the North-South divide. Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 16
2. Squid Game (오징어 게임) — The Most Famous of the Best Korean Dramas
Squid Game is the most globally recognized of all the best Korean dramas — Netflix’s most-watched show ever. Adults play deadly children’s games for a massive cash prize. Dark, thrilling, and packed with social commentary.
Why it’s one of the best Korean dramas for beginners: Already culturally ubiquitous — most people have already heard of it. An easy entry point. Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 9 (Season 1), 7 (Season 2)
3. Goblin (도깨비) — The Most Romantic of the Best Korean Dramas
Goblin is widely considered one of the best Korean dramas ever for romance. A 939-year-old goblin seeks a human bride to end his immortal life. Beautifully filmed, deeply emotional, and gorgeously scored.
Why it’s one of the best Korean dramas for beginners: Perfect introduction to the fantasy-romance genre that dominates the best Korean dramas. Where to watch: Netflix, Viki Episodes: 16
4. My Love from the Star (별에서 온 그대) — A Classic of the Best Korean Dramas
An alien who has lived on Earth for 400 years falls in love with a top actress just before his scheduled return home. One of the best Korean dramas that launched Hallyu Wave internationally.
Where to watch: Viki, Netflix Episodes: 21
5. Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988) — The Most Culturally Rich of the Best Korean Dramas
Set in a Seoul neighborhood in 1988, Reply 1988 follows five friends and their families through daily life. The best Korean dramas often focus on romance, but Reply 1988 is about community, family, and growing up — and it’s emotionally devastating in the best possible way.
Why it’s one of the best Korean dramas for beginners: Provides the deepest cultural insight of any entry on this best Korean dramas list. Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 20
6. Itaewon Class (이태원 클라쓰) — The Most Motivating of the Best Korean Dramas
A young man opens a small bar in Seoul’s Itaewon district and battles a powerful food industry conglomerate. Inspiring, romantic, and set in one of Seoul’s most internationally famous neighborhoods.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 16
7. Hospital Playlist (슬기로운 의사생활) — The Most Heartwarming Best Korean Drama
Five doctors who have been friends since medical school navigate work and life together. Slower-paced than most best Korean dramas but deeply rewarding — funny, warm, and beautifully written.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 12 per season (2 seasons)
8. Vincenzo (빈센조) — The Most Stylish of the Best Korean Dramas
An Italian-Korean mafia consigliere returns to Korea and takes on a corrupt conglomerate. Dark comedy, stunning fashion, and one of the most charismatic leads in the best Korean dramas.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 20
9. Strong Woman Do Bong-soon (힘쎈여자 도봉순) — The Funniest of the Best Korean Dramas
A woman born with superhuman strength gets hired as a bodyguard for a game company CEO. One of the best Korean dramas for pure entertainment — funny, romantic, and wildly charming.
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki Episodes: 16
10. Business Proposal (사내맞선) — The Most Binge-Worthy of the Best Korean Dramas
A woman goes on a blind date pretending to be her friend — and the date turns out to be her CEO boss. Fast-paced, funny, and impossibly charming. One of the best Korean dramas for quick binge-watching.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 12
11. SKY Castle (SKY 캐슬) — The Most Shocking of the Best Korean Dramas
Elite Korean families in a gated community obsess over getting their children into top universities. Dark, satirical, and a fascinating window into Korean education culture and class anxiety.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 20
12. Twenty-Five Twenty-One (스물다섯 스물하나) — The Most Emotional Best Korean Drama
Set during Korea’s 1997 financial crisis, two young people meet and fall in love while pursuing their dreams. Beautiful, heartbreaking, and visually stunning.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 16
13. Mr. Sunshine (미스터 션샤인) — The Most Epic of the Best Korean Dramas
Set during the Japanese colonial period, a Korean-born American soldier returns to Korea and falls for a Korean noblewoman. Cinematically stunning and historically rich — one of the best Korean dramas ever produced on a technical level.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 24
14. The Glory (더 글로리) — The Darkest of the Best Korean Dramas
A woman who was brutally bullied in school spends years planning her revenge. Intense, dark, and brilliantly written. Not for beginners who want lighthearted content — but one of the best Korean dramas for mature viewers.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 16
15. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (갯마을 차차차) — The Most Relaxing of the Best Korean Dramas
A city dentist moves to a small seaside village and falls for a local handyman. Warm, slow-paced, and beautifully filmed on Korea’s coast. One of the best Korean dramas for pure comfort viewing.
Where to watch: Netflix Episodes: 16
Best Korean Dramas by Category
| Category | Best Korean Drama |
|---|---|
| Best romance | Crash Landing on You |
| Best thriller | Squid Game |
| Best fantasy | Goblin |
| Best comedy | Strong Woman Do Bong-soon |
| Best family drama | Reply 1988 |
| Best historical | Mr. Sunshine |
| Best dark drama | The Glory |
| Best feel-good | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha |
How to Watch the Best Korean Dramas
The best Korean dramas are available on Netflix globally — the easiest platform for international viewers. Viki (Rakuten Viki) specializes in the best Korean dramas and offers more titles than Netflix, including many classic best Korean dramas not available elsewhere.
After watching the best Korean dramas, many viewers want to visit Korea. Start planning with our Incheon Airport to Seoul Guide and our Seoul Street Food Guide for the authentic Korean experiences you’ve seen in the best Korean dramas.
Inspired to visit Korea after watching the best Korean dramas? Read our Cost of Living in Seoul Guide to plan your budget.