The Ultimate K-drama Watch-List for Christmas 2024
Ho-Ho-Ho! Finally, it's the Christmas holidays. You’re drinking hot chocolate or mulled wine and feel cosy next to the warm fire. Now you’re searching for the next K-drama to binge-watch—look no further than our ultimate list of festive K-dramas.
There are plenty of heart-warming K-dramas to watch this Christmas. Background image: iStock. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo image: MBC.
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
I could rant for ten pages or more as to why you should watch Guardian, but I’ll hold back so you have more watch time. Above all, this drama perfectly exemplifies how good acting and good writing can complement one another to create the perfect drama.
Kim Shin, played by Gong Yoo (everyone’s favourite from Squid Game), has been cursed by a lonely burden of immortality as a goblin. He wanders for 900 years searching for his prophesied bride (Kim Go Eun)—the only one who can kill him and finally set his soul to rest.
‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’ poster. Image: tvN.
The chemistry between Gong Yoo and Kim Go-Eun is strong but unique as the characters they portray have a common respect for one another. Not only is there hot chemistry but a sense of companionship. However, the chemistry between the main leads isn’t the only thing that makes it great. This K-drama boasts a bromance that may beat any other.
Guardian represents the light and warmth we all need during wintertime. While unafraid to dive into darker themes such as death, loneliness, and immortality, this drama exemplifies love and belonging; often from those you wouldn’t expect. The soundtrack also complements the visuals well and oftentimes transports you to a winter wonderland.
After watching, you’ll think differently whenever you blow out a candle.
Pinocchio
As a young boy, Dal-po (Lee Jong Suk) watched his family turn to ruins when misinformation about his father was spread by a news channel. Washing up in a remote town following an accident, Dal-po follows his newfound ‘sister’ In-Ha (Park Shin Hye) to become a journalist and find out the mystery of his family. The crux? In-Ha has Pinocchio syndrome, meaning she hiccups every time she lies.
Screen grab from ‘Pinocchio’. Image: SBS Korea.
This drama has a special place in my heart as this was the contributing factor to why I became a journalist. The writing and the acting in the drama were terrific. I remember it became a hit back in 2014 and it’s still one of my personal favourites.
Although the drama delves into darker elements of the news industry—the risks of being a journalist and the impact it can have on people. The story makes you feel cosy, from the winter settings of a first kiss under the lights and snow to the winter fashion. You will feel a range of emotions when watching this drama.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo
A light-hearted drama with swoon-worthy feels; Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo has it all. Talented college weightlifter Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung Kyung) struggles to navigate athletics and her first love. Finding herself falling for her fitness doctor, Bok-joo misses the adorable advances of her childhood friend and swimming star Jung Joon-hyung (Nam Joo Hyuk).
Kim Bok-joo and love interest Jung Joon-hyung. Image: Chorokbaem Media.
This slow-burn college romance is perfect for the Christmas holidays; featuring fireworks and kisses in the snow, you’ll feel super cosy watching this drama.
Alchemy of Souls
If The Untamed and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo had a baby, it would be Alchemy of Souls. Taking elements of Wuxia, a genre of Chinese dramas meaning ‘martial heroes’, this drama is sure to leave your heart racing.
‘Alchemy of Souls’, promotional image. Image: Netflix.
It covers a fictional world, Daeho, where a powerful sorceress, Nak-su (Go Yoon Jung), takes over a blind woman's body, Mu Deok-i, (Jung So Min), leaving her without her powers to fulfill her revenge. She meets Jang Uk (Lee Jae-wook), whose powers have been blocked by his estranged father and becomes his master when her true identity is revealed to him.
This drama has heart, magic, and comedy all rolled into one. It’s the perfect show to watch if you need warming up this winter.
Love Next Door
This drama contains life lessons and teaches you to enjoy the mundane and simple life. It’ll make you feel cosy with its mouthwatering food and family dynamic, and we all love a friends-to-lovers romance. There are also unique elements that K-dramas don’t usually delve into, like single-dad romance, broken engagements, and retirement.
‘Love Next Door’ promotional image. Image: Netflix.
The chemistry between the main characters, Jung So-Min, who plays Bae Seok-ryu and Jung Hae-in, who plays Choi Seung-hyo, is on fire. Plus, there is a whole fanbase on Jung Hae-In forearms in this show (I’m not kidding).
The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract
Adapted from an on-going webtoon, this drama introduces Joseon-era Park Yeon Woo (Lee Se Young) on the night of her wedding when her husband dies from a heart attack. She’s then kidnapped and thrown into a well shaft, where she travels to 21st Century Korea—landing in a swimming pool.
‘The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract’ promotional image. Image: Viki.
Kang Tae Ha (Bae In Hyuk), who looks just like her husband, comes to her rescue and somehow she finds herself roped into a contract marriage with him.
This ongoing series is available for streaming in selected regions.
Oh My Venus!
This is not a new drama, but it always makes me cosy. Plus, the show even features a Christmas party!
When a lawyer, Kang Joo-Eun (Shin Min-a), who’s in her thirties, is dumped by her long-term boyfriend for gaining weight, she enlists the help of a personal trainer, Kim Young-ho (So Ji-sub), to turn her life around.
‘Oh My Venus!’ promotional image. Image: Viki.
I love this drama because the chemistry between the leads is the typical enemies-to-lovers romance. As time goes on, they get to know each other better and become better people together.
This drama really brings on the winter vibes with the styles, the snowy dates and those late-night gym sessions. This drama will make you all cosy and hot this Christmas.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Although it is not a straightforward wintery K-drama, this show is so heartwarming and pure that you can’t help but feel warm and fuzzy while watching it. This drama also helped break down barriers in South Korea, particularly the conversations towards autism and its associated stigmas.
Attorney Woo solves complex legal cases while stunning her superiors. Image: Netflix.
Woo Young Woo (Park Eun-Bin) is a young lawyer with Autism—she’s a highly intelligent woman but struggles with everyday interactions and social cues. But with her unique perspective and high IQ, she has an adventure representing her clients as a lawyer.
The romance in Attorney Woo is so pure that you can feel cosy under a blanket. The writing has its dark and incredibly light elements, which balances it out whilst talking about ‘taboo’ subjects.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo has become one of my top comfort dramas and a high recommendation to watch this Christmas.
Which K-dramas will you be watching this festive season? Let us know in the comments below.
Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.
