5 K-dramas to expand your TV tastes
Exploring the world of K-dramas is daunting with so much choice. Where to start? Here are five K-dramas of different genres to suit all kinds of television fans.
There are hundreds of K-dramas to choose from, and multiple to suit all tastes. Image: Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash.
Extracurricular — Crime Thriller
Extracurricular, with its violent twists, turns, and thrills, will be sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Following the story of student Oh Jisoo, this ten-episode crime drama leads its audience through an excellently written mixture of betrayal, murder, and near impossible questions of morality.
Jisoo, when he’s not being the model high school student, leads a questionable double life as the boy behind a security service for sex workers. Such a taboo topic (especially for South Korea) makes for an exhilarating watch as Jisoo fights tenaciously to avoid detection, whilst raking in and managing his obscene profits.
W: Two Worlds Apart — Fantasy Rom-Com
K-dramas based on Webtoons are certainly not a new concept, with the online comics providing an abundance of story sources. However, W: Two Worlds Apart spins this on its head, with the show itself entailing a story within a story.
Yeonjoo is the twenty-something surgeon daughter of an incredibly popular Webtoon artist; his work is beloved across Korea and her friends even ask for updates! His work tells the tale of Kang Chul, a former Olympic gold medallist turned millionaire who goes on the hunt for the mysterious figure that viciously killed his entire family. Yeonjoo isn’t an ardent fan of the story herself, until she finds herself magically dropped straight into it.
Combining classic, cheesy K-drama love with mystery, fantasy, and some refreshingly good writing, W: Two Worlds Apart has cemented itself as an indulgent must-see for anyone looking to explore the K-drama romance genre.
W takes the concept of Webtoons and creates something magical. Image: MBC.
Hello My Twenties/Age of Youth — Slice of Life Comedy
Hello My Twenties (also referred to as Age of Youth) blends romance, comedy, friendship, trauma, and emotion to create a piece of both poignancy and fun. The 2016 K-drama follows five vastly different female students as they move into a shared accommodation, struggling alongside one another with everything from their careers to dating.
Featuring a stunning soundtrack (particularly ‘Butterfly’ by Sogyumo Acacia Band), the two seasons balance comforting bliss with catfights, the tender pains of life, and bubbly comedy, making it a perfect for both K-drama veterans and newbies.
SKY Castle — Sociopolitical Family Drama
It says a lot that SKY Castle was “the most popular drama ever to be aired on a cable network” in South Korean TV history at its time of airing.
Centred around mother-of-two Han Seojin, the show explores the lives of various uber-wealthy parents living in a lavish gated community called Sky Castle. These elite families are willing to do anything it takes to ensure the academic and economic success of their children, and dark events soon take place. The show offers a haunting look into the reality of greed, scandals, and the true impact of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’.
The cast and crew of SKY Castle have received endless praise for their depiction of elite families. Image: JTBC.
The Silent Sea — Sci-fi
Mix together great visuals, dystopian writing, and an expert cast that features acting superstars Bae Doona (Sense8, Kingdom) and Gong Yoo (Squid Game, Train to Busan (2016)), and you’ll get The Silent Sea. Released back in 2021, the show took Netflix by storm with just eight episodes.
Set in 2075, a team of scientists and military crew are directed to take to the stars, travelling to an abandoned lunar research station to collect deserted samples. Threaded with mystery, danger, and a refreshingly scary take on the sci-fi genre, The Silent Sea slowly draws its audience through its story, immersing them in the eeriness of the moon.
What’s your favourite K-drama or TV show? Recommend it in the comments down below.
Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.
