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A Poem A Day -  I watched this recently and I really don't remember the last time I laughed so hard. The show was unexpectedly charming. I went in with low expectations but by the end of the drama, the show made its way into my top 10 list. It's a very light show with aspects of humour, friendship, family and life struggles. The fact that they incorporated poems to help with the story telling just makes it even better. The poems weren't just quoted, like in some dramas, they described the current situation and even the characters' emotions. The side characters were amazing as well.  - u/rainbowsandclouds

A Poem A Day is the one you should definitely try next. The FL is a younger contract worker trying to get a permanent job but she's so deserving ... smarter, harder working and more talented than all the others and that's the thing that first draws the ML in her direction (well also the poetry :-) There's nothing incredibly forceful about her but she's no doormat. She's just quietly determined and ... always completely herself. I really liked the fact that my 10 yo daughter thought she was cool. The drama is a low key kind of wonderful but it has a few profound moments and is an often overlooked gem.  - u/elbene

A Poem a Day - has a female lead which loves poetry and tears up whenever anything emotional happens. It's not just a one time thing; it happens all the time and she can't really control it - she tries fanning her eyes so she wouldn't cry but it just makes it funnier. Her colleagues all tease her because of it. Besides, A Poem a Day is an amazing, slower-paced, funny romantic drama.  - u/AlohaAlex

Be Melodramatic is a refreshing gem of a drama that manages to tell a satisfying story from start to finish while simultaneously being a clever meta examination of dramas. It's a balancing act that could go awry, but the team behind the drama manage the difficult task of serving both the story and the meta-commentary. 

It's a genuinely funny comedy that strikes out on its own path, breaking free of the formulaic writing that plagues some dramas even as it engages with and finds humour in the clichés and tropes of the genre. Despite being a comedy, it takes its characters and their pain seriously, and the result is that they feel both real and relatable. The actors are all uniformly great; there are no weak links in the cast. 

Be Melodramatic deserves to be on the banner because it's an all-round great drama as well as being a love letter to dramas and the people who love them.  - u/puffyskyclouds

Boys Over Flowers – Poor girl receives scholarship to exclusive high school and gets entangled with F4, a quartet of smug rich kids led by the prickly Lee Min-ho, sporting his best hair ever. Highly enjoyable cheese from start to finish, it's filled with unhealthy relationships, but a seminal work on classic kdrama tropes. – u/GSV_Zero_Gravitas 

Boys Over Flowers features a typical jerk male lead (“chaebol” or wealthy heir) who’s super spoiled and raised by a mother who is just a horrible person, and therefore he never had a chance to develop normal social skills. That doesn’t excuse his bullying-for-entertainment but the reason he’s so atrocious in the beginning is that it makes it that much sweeter when he’s brought to his knees by his love for their female lead during the show. I would compare moments of his journey to Mr. Darcy’s evolution in Pride and Prejudice. Unfortunately the female lead is no Elizabeth Bennett, she’s a bit of a goofball and it’s still something of a mystery to me why all the hot guys fall in love with her, but she basically embodies the trope of the hardworking Cinderella heroine perfectly. This kdrama’s genre is basically high school romcom and it was very influential, so I’d recommend seeing it just so that you’re aware of the classic tropes in that genre. - u/setlib

Crash Landing On You - It's the gateway KDrama for a lot of people on this subreddit and outside of it, and the reach it had globally is perhaps incomparable to other KDramas before it (or since then). I think the show perfectly encapsulates what majority people like about KDramas: generally inoffensive story, likeable characters, will cause a little (or a lot!) of tears, attractive leads (let's all admit that this is what some look for), soundtrack full of earworm tracks - u/my_guinivere

Crash Landing On You  is way deeper than the hype. It sure has comedic elements and the actors are perfectly cast, but the story in itself has so much going for it. I genuinely bawled my eyes out with how hard it must be for the two Koreas to be divided. Seri's personal struggles and her development were relatable and real. There's just way more than the romance and how it is told makes it worth it. It is Kdrama gold, would remind you of the classic Kdramas but with a fresher feel.  - u/yay_yen

Coffee Prince - A poor girl crossdresses in order to land a job at a new coffee shop run by a slightly spoiled rich heir. As the coffee shop gets running, the entire crew gels together to become a makeshift family, helping each other out. During the process, the girl falls in love with the rich heir and he in turn becomes attracted to her, without knowing her real gender. He struggles with his feelings and sexuality, which leads to one of the best love confessions ever. The drama really does a good job at exploring the complexity of attraction and how relationships past and present affect each other. This is a really great classic and one of Gong Yoo's best performances.  - u/myweithisway 

Coffee Prince - Yes, it holds up. More than most recent dramas. It subverted many kdrama tropes that haven't even started during its time. In that sense, it is ahead of its time. No evil mother in law. No amnesia. No childhood connection. No childhood trauma. It is the story about 2 couples. One couple who are starting a relationship. Another couple who are mending their relationship. Conflicts are dealt like adults.  - u/RayInRed

Coffee Prince - absolutely it is still so good - it's not a drama that is sexist or homophobic - it actually is better than many dramas now in being sensitive and addressing gender norms and spreads the message that everyone deserves to be loved. The female lead was a strong independent and hard working girl till the end, even after meeting the rich lead. The relationship develops very organically as well. 10/10 would recommend and it's a drama I re-watch often even after all these years - u/shorterthanboyoung

Descendants Of The Sun - It was my first kdrama and I loved it.  It is responsible for me being completely hooked on kdramas.  I liked it because it was such a refreshing change from the overt sexuality of western tv.   I loved the romance between the two leads - it reminded me of old Harlequin and Mills and Boon novels.   I laughed at the corny-ness when the two leads make eye contact in the first episode in slow motion with mood music playing but I think that is what hooked me.   Now when I go back and watch it after two years of watching many, many kdramas I can see why people might say it is overhyped and I now recognize the tropes but I still think it is a terrific intro to kdramas and recommend it to people interested in trying them out. - u/CCCri

Descendants Of The Sun is worth watching.  Big budget, mega stars, outstanding OST, good story.  Some of its scenes have been replicated in other dramas, like in Touch Your Heart as Easter eggs,so it’s especially fun if you have watched it.  It does have some cringey parts, and some bad English actors, but overall, I loved it! - u/ShayeAnne

Kim Sa Bu, a famous surgeon who decided to give it all up and is now working in a run-down hospital in a small, remote town is joined by Kang Dong Joo (who desperately wants to achieve success after growing up in poverty) when he gets transferred to the hospital due to his lack of wealthy connections and Yoon Seo Jung who is still traumatized by watching her fiancee die in a car accident. Not only a medical drama, it also poses an important question: Who is a good doctor? Still, among the strong character development, difficult and often heartbreaking patient stories, hospital politics and philosophical questions the slow-burn romance somehow manages to thrive.

Why you should watch: the whole cast of the hospital is a family, and even more than medical issues, the drama often focuses on the human aspect - the actions and the consequences, the society as a whole. Even the sidestories are explored and the drama has a satisfying ending. It really is different than an other medical drama out there. - u/AlohaAlex

Dr. Romantic focuses on the growth of the characters as they give their judgement both as doctors and human beings. What I also liked about this drama was it did not only focus on the doctors. The whole medical staff had a great chemistry. It was showing how every staff holds importance in establishing the organization (hospital). - u/taehyungpapi

Romantic Doctor Season 1 - The operation scenes are just so realistic the characters would really pass as doctors. Its medical accuracy was also praised by professionals, which I believe what made this drama really good. - u/kwbljj09

Empress Ki - this is one of the best of the not-historically-correct, but-based-on-a-real-historical-character dramas. It is often recommended when people are looking for a strong female, love triangle (or even square or possibly pentagram - TalTal!), good fighting scenes, most detested bad guy ( who is worse? Yeom the Scum or the evil Chinese politician guy or ??), more than one location, gorgeous costumes, rags to riches, Ji Chang Wook, or Ha Ji Won, etc. The poster is also gorgeous. - u/LcLou02

Empress Ki is also a popular one that has a LOT of, well, everything. Action, love triangles, betrayal, politics, comedy, deaths, etc. Ji Chang Wook had his best acting moments here, and anyone who says otherwise can fight me, no cap. Ha Ji Won also shines with her badassery as usual. I guess the only downside is that it heavily relies on its creative license, meaning yes it's inspired by the real Empress Ki, but a lot of what they show about her is distorted/fake. Got a lot of flak for that in Korea, but just as a drama, its good. - u/jaceydarling  

Flower Of Evil - The ML's acting will blow you away and I'm not even talking about his back muscles. The writing includes absolutely amazing lines that will have you think about them over and over, as well as flashbacks that make your heart flutter, with very clever Easter egg references later on. Delicious angst of the "I'm not good enough for her' kind. Spouses that defy gender stereotypes, and a FL that doesn't wait for the ML to rescue her. Colleagues that feel each other's pain and are willing to even risk their job to support each other.

The director did an amazing job making sure this is a bingable and rewatchable drama too esp. the bed scene omg., despite the difficulties of filming in the middle of a world pandemic. Mental illness and its misdiagnosis not being romanticized, but its effects on the person and the people around them shown in a real and heart-breaking way. A final episode that ended all other final episodes for the majority of its viewers, and you know how whiney we usually are over finales. - u/MALLY10FE

Flower Of Evil - For people like me who prefer more relaxed rom-coms, I was amazed at how quickly this series engrossed me. I rarely watch crime thriller genre because I don't want to feel too stressed while watching and waiting for the next episodes. However, FoE did away with my misgivings by making sure that I was more curious than stressed. There was also a sufficient amount of fluff, thanks to the adorable daughter, the chemistry of the two leads and the funny/witty banter of the supporting cast. All in all, this drama encouraged me to watch more dramatic series and watch more LJG series. - u/SquareSwan

Goblin - because it skillfully reimagines traditional Korean folklore/folk belief into a modern setting to tell a story of revenge, forgiveness, and brotherhood (bromance) that manages to explore the conflict between fate and (human) choice. Where it distinguishes itself -- cinematography, OST, and incorporation of foreign locale. - u/myweithisway

Goblin - It's still one of the most popular dramas and the one which received critical and commercial success. The OST is amazing even today, and the cinematography is totally out of this world. The episodes are quite lengthy, however it has a strong plot and way of conveying the story. And about the characters?? All main as well as supporting roles did amazing job!!  - u/NaaruGaaraShika

Goblin - I've seen many complaints about it recently... The truth is you can feel conflicted about the age gap but I still pretty much enjoyed the story as a whole, it can seem as a love story, but I think it has a lot of layers so you can enjoy it for different reasons. I personally didn't feel particularly troubled with the main characters relationship, so I can say I enjoyed every bit of it. It taught me about forgiveness, selflessness, living in the present, letting go of past mistakes and loving without fear because love makes life worth living. Also, it taught me second chances rarely come around so do your best to make it work and accept it if it doesn't. ❤️ - u/AlexaWarriorPrincess

Healer - It's a wonderful combination of genres: amazing action sequences (parkour is wonderful), romance, comedy, angst, characters (the adjumma is a classic well-known kdrama character with talented and versatile Kim Mi-Kyung), romance, childhood trauma and connection tropes, slowly unravelling story, and yet there is something deeper and more timely. It ultimately deals with the power of the media and idealistic young people who yearn to document and expose corruption. It exposes the vast network of control that one person or group can have over an entire society and how dedicated truth-seekers can thwart this if they persevere with smart, coordinated, focused actions.

Need I mention Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young in one of their best roles?

Everything about it is iconic and I think it needs recognition on the banner. - u/sharjoy3

THIS IS THE BEST DRAMA I'VE EVER SEEN  - u/bakayoru14

Hospital Playlist - I think that it has been popular and well-received. It has great acting, wonderful and witty dialogue/scriptwriting, poignant directing, beautiful OST, and most all perfect cast chemistry.

One more reason why I would like to include this is that I think that this year has made us appreciate those in the medical profession even more, and Hospital Playlist showed us a wonderful portrayal of the sincere kindness and humanity of frontliners. ? - u/still_a_muggle

Hot Stove League - Though sports dramas are nothing new, a drama focused on the management team behind the sports team is something that's rather innovative. Moreover Hot Stove League managed to create a captivating story where the audience cheers on both the actual athletes and the management team behind them. - u/myweithisway (full comment here)

Hot Stove League - it is one of my favorite dramas I've seen so far! It was exciting, intense and emotional, which I definitely did not expect from a drama about baseball!  - u/perfectplace2start

Hot Stove League - thought it was gonna be those slice of life sports friendship centered dramas but it wasnt. Execution is well done and well acted! More people should really watch it.  - u/namira8394

Hot Stove League - underdog story; sports dramas don't tend to do well ratings-wise, so getting it on air was a challenge itself; however once it aired, it gained momentum via word of mouth and even won Best Drama at Baeksang against heavyweights like When the Camellia Blooms; may not be underrated in a traditional sense, but internationally, it is definitely underrated; drama is about underdogs, and the drama itself had an underdog story trajectory - u/masterofbecause

Hotel del Luna can be very lighthearted and funny, but since it's a story about death, loss and letting go, I guarantee you will cry your eyes out. It's fantasy, and the main setting is the titular Hotel Del Luna, a liminal space between life and death for ghosts who have unfinished business in the living world. The female lead is the owner of the hotel, forced to manage it for 1300 years by now for the sins she has committed in her mortal life. There are some historical parts to the story since her backstory plays out hundreds of years ago, but the story is primarily set in 2019.  - u/andreacsenge

Hotel del Luna - Everything clicked for me with this show, from the execution of the plot, through the performances (IU steals the show and she works great with Jin Goo), the beautiful cinematography (and Man Wol's dresses!) and excellent musical score, down even to the instrumental tracks that infuse the show with a magic and identity of its own (few shows can say the same). I've mentioned before that this show feels like Harry Potter at times and Hotel del Luna feels like Hogwarts. Every ghost side story served a purpose, reinforcing the main narrative and the relationship between Man Wol and Chan Seong, sometimes even giving hints of things to come. It's a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast, possibly the Hong sisters' best work to date, and my favourite show. - u/OdanUrr

Into the Ring - The romantic chemistry between the leads in this one is fantastic. I found the first episode to be a little annoying, but I’m glad I pushed through, it gets funnier and the romance kicks in super quickly. It’s a workplace/political comedy, with witty dialogue, nuanced characters and once again, strong friendships at the center.  I really especially liked how strong and well developed the romance was.  - u/undeniabl

Into The Ring - The story is indeed unique. Even the supporting casts were well-written. I love how despite it’s quirkiness the life lessons are real and hits close to home. Plus the FL and ML’s relationship is so healthy, mature but still very fun. I love how unabashedly FL is with her love of him, her clinginess is actually cute and realistic.

I also like that the FL doesn’t always win, although she’s clearly the underdog. Like in real life, you win some you lose some. And sometimes winning is subjective. - u/lotsoisavillain

Into The Ring - I don't really enjoy political plots at all, but this show was so character driven and refreshing. The relationship was really cute, very down to earth and believable. - u/Sam98tha

It's Okay Not To Be Okay - It’s one of the most popular kdrama this year, one of the most watched kdrama on Netflix (recently entering the top 10 worldwide, making it the highest kdrama), and is fairly often mentioned or talked about in this sub. It has a very talented cast that produced great chemistry between the characters, not to mention an iconic FL. The talent also extends to the writer, director and the rest of the crew who helped bring the drama to life.

Although it’s a romance genre, it’s much more than that as it can make you laugh from the characters’ banters one minute, then make you cry the next from their stories where many life lessons that could be learned. It’s definitely not the first drama to be centred around mental health but I think it gave it a boost to get people to have discussions on the subject, and I personally learned a lot from those discussions that I’ve seen. - iwantbubbleteanowpls

Just Between Lovers -  it's a beautiful, sad in places drama about people who survived a shopping mall collapse and were forever changed by the trauma. Good cast, romantic, sad premise, and rather than a dark past, I'd say a painful past. One of the two leads got reparations from the accident, but the other didn't, and has had a much more difficult life as a result. There is something from the past that needs to be uncovered, and he does keep getting beaten up. But that's as far as the drama goes in terms of action or crime/thriller.  - u/amnesiafakedating

Just Between Lovers - I loved the peopleness and humanity of the characters. They felt real and I cried along with them. The OST is clever, adding to scenes. I thought that Junho's performance was extraordinary,vulnerable,real. Direction, writing and other production features,in my view, showcase the best of Korean small screen. We are taken on a journey of discovery of the origin of trauma for the main characters that is heartbreaking and yet I felt like I had learnt something about myself too.  - u/tattymouse

I loved Kingdom it's brilliant. The cinematography is awesome, however there is a lot of bloodshed and gore but other than that it is a good series with good actors and a great storyline. I was never into horror series but this one was just so captivating , I couldn't stop watching after the first episode. I really hope they release a season 3 ?  - u/michaelkoopman97

Yesss you have to watch Kingdom on Netflix! That kdrama was amazing! I don’t watch kdramas as much as I used to but I binged watch Kingdom and it’s my fav kdrama of all time. It is paced well, great story/acting, and the cinematography was just amazing. Loved it! - u/blahlife90

Kingdom -  Movie-like quality since funded by Netflix.  There is nothing cheap-looking here.  This is my favorite KDrama thus far, and I hate the zombie genre.  - u/alisamandawho

Kingdom (Season 1, 2) - The only "K" drama on my list, Kingdom is a fast-paced blockbuster drama, with incredible production value and intense set-pieces. While it does lack a deep political plot, I think there are lot going on that makes up for it. The amazing production value is one. The sets, the costumes, the lighting, the camerawork, the VFX and the makeup of the zombies are all fantastic. The intense action set-pieces are thrilling and beautifully done and can get your heart racing. Can't wait for the third season.  - u/TotoroTheGreat

Live Up To Your Name - This is historical and modern fusion drama because...time travel! The show goes back and forth, tho, so it still has a significant historical part. The main character is a low-born commoner who a Joseon doctor of Traditional Korean medicine, specializing in acupuncture, and suffers discrimination due to his status. He ends up going to modern times and meets a female surgeon, and time traveling shenanigans begin - u/chfp2020

Live Up To Your Name - I really like the way it treated the contrast between traditional oriental medicine and modern medicine. I feel like it's one of a few medical dramas that treats the medical field with respect and explores some of its ethical/moral/historical dilemmas rather than using "genius" doctors as a gimmick to push the plot forward. - u/myweithisway

Mr. Sunshine - From a critical standpoint this is possibly the best kdrama out there. Period drama around the turn of the century. Son of a slave escapes after his parents are unjustly killed and finds his way to America where he joins the military and after moving up the ranks he is sent back to Korea(called Joseon then) where he is the acting American consul. But what is he really there for? One night he attempts to kill a man leaking American secrets to the Japanese but there's a second shooter. Who are they? Do they have the same goals? A story of politics, espionage, greed, status, revenge, justice, honor,...and love? - u/PacifistBattozai

Mister Sunshine - It's my absolute favorite drama! From story to acting to cinematography, it's absolutely amazing! Like other comments already said, it's not your typical period drama since it doesn't play Goryeo or Joseon era, but right at the change between Joseon and modern Korea, which gives this drama an almost magical touch imo. I was thinking a lot about how exciting and scary it must've been to live in those times, with all this new technology and cultures being introduced to the people. The females are all badass and don't let men tell them what to do but follow their own morals.

Some people found the pacing a bit slow, but for me it was just perfect, because I love the thorough introduction and establishment of characters and character relationships as long as the story doesn't seem to be stagnant. It also made the story more realistic, because not everthing can just go down in a couple of episodes like a waterfall just to get it over with. The characters are all too interesting individually to not explore them. I loved this drama through and through! - u/Ideasforgoodusername

My Mister - the overall production was just of a different class— the sense of community, the cinematography, the drama being shot during winter, the acting. Though the premise may be depressing, it's one of the most healing dramas I've watched, and will always recommend to people. - u/lightupstarlight

I just love the overall message of the show, “Let’s be happy”. It’s such a simple concept, and yet it can be sometimes difficult to achieve. Many people go through hardships in life, that make it seem impossible for them to be happy. Dong-hoon & Ji-an, although fictional characters, represent hope. Hope that everyone can be happy, despite all the obstacles that life throws your way. And wouldn’t that be such a positive symbol for this subreddit? I would say so! - u/Holeechar

Father is Strange - One of the best family dramas ever.  Lee Joon plays an actor with daddy issues.  Kim Yeong Cheol plays the kind, but slightly mysterious, patriarch of a very happy, but middle class family.  Things get stirred when these two worlds interact.  It has one of my favorite female characters ever, one of the daughters, Hye Young, played by Lee Yoo Ri.  She's a sassy, smart, and smartly dressed lawyer, who is so clever has she has to interact with her boyfriend's annoying mother. - u/pvtshame

My Father is Strange - So far, it is still the only long family drama that I have watched. It set the bar so high I cant find anything else worthy of 50 hours of my time. Following the whole familys crazy shenanigans was 100% worth all those hours - u/kawaiisaranghaeyo

My Father is Strange - It's an ensemble cast so every character has their own story.  It's a feel good drama that's really very funny and all the characters are very likeable (even the characters you're supposed to hate, you end up liking in the end).  It's a little longer than most dramas, it's 52 episodes, but well worth the investment.  - u/wenkat

My Name is Kim Sam Soon - One of the most iconic romcoms in kdrama history, and one that broke a lot of conventions at the time (and still now). For one, Kim Sun Ah is not a conventionally beautiful woman by Korean standards and in that drama she was not a stick thin woman. Still, Samsoon beat all odds, bulldozed beauty standards to oblivion, and became one of the highest rated kdramas of all time. Highly recommend.  - u/wispytea

My Name is Kim Sam Soon is one of the OG fake relationship dramas. It's pretty old (early 2000s, same era as Coffee Prince) but it is a genuine classic with a revolutionary heroine and a pretty decent fake romance. Again, it's older so it has some more of the melodramatic tinge than modern rom-com heavy dramas, but this drama really upped the game in Korea and became a national standard for the rom-com genre.  - u/beingjane

My Name is Kim Sam Soon/ My Lovely Kim Sam Soon! It’s the quintessential kdrama watch and started my kdrama and Hyun Bin obsession years ago. Granted that it was released in 2005, his hair and the fashion is cringe and some of the punchlines may be dated as well. However, it has a lot of heart and you will end up loving not only him but rooting for Kim Sam soon (FL). Plus, Daniel Henney of Criminal Minds was on it, although the acting was really bad. Give it a chance, with the caveat that it’s an older drama.  - u/momobanananamama

Reply 1988 - This drama has a very special place in my heart. I like how the main focus of this drama isn't just 'who is she going to end up with?'; romance isn't the only theme of this drama. This drama makes you understand the importance of your friends and family. You realise the value of your relationships and your loved ones. It's a beautifully written drama with equally beautifully written characters. Reply 1988 is one wholesome and heartwarming drama that I would recommend to everybody.  - u/loeyyyyy 

Reply 1988 - strongly recommend this. It’s a slice of life type drama, which includes romance but the focus is on family and friendships in youth. It’s hilarious and heartwarming, but not cheesy. - u/Infinite-Towel-9573

Reply 1988 - honestly my all time favorite - the kids, the adults, everyone together just gives me so much warmth and I feel the love that each character has for one another in their own ways. They are all there for each other and the chemistry for this ensemble is amazing.  - u/PurpleCabbage_1

I think Secret Door was a nice-but-dark drama. It's a historical one, and those can be very political and boring. I thought the politics were somewhat a character rather than the main point of the drama.

The whole selling point of this drama is "Who killed Prince Sado?" That hangs over everything like a cloud. I found myself not being able to trust anyone despite the triumphs and the happy moments. Then when you take into account the actual story of Sado, you're left with either a twisted whitewashing or a hopeful fantasy. And that's effed up. - u/life-finds-a-way

Signal - A team is formed to solve cold cases. An officer can communicate with another officer from the past using an old police radio. - u/vcconut

Signal — one of the best crime dramas I’ve watched, set across past and present timelines, it keeps you hooked throughout. You cheer for all the main characters and are on the edge many of the times.  - u/_LittleBirdieToldMe_

Signal embedded itself in my heart. I loved the noble, courageous police officer from the past. The suspense totally got to me. The combination of evil serial killer and toxic political corruption was compelling. And I thought the use of the old police radio was just right -- eery but fitting, and an aid, rather than a solution, to the police officers' struggles in both past and present.  - unknown

Six Flying Dragons - because it is the epitome of what a good sageuk should be. It has an experienced cast, a compelling story that breathes life into history, gorgeous costumes, amazing OST that captures the emotions of the story, and exciting action scenes. It explores (in depth) humans and their humanity -- whether it is their greed for power or an idealism to do good for others or just living the life they choose to live. - u/myweithisway

I mean... this drama was amazing. It's one of the highest rated dramas of all time and hit ~24% viewership near the end. I'm not sure how well talked about it was/is on the sub, but personally it is one of the most stand-out dramas that I have seen.

The acting was phenomenal, [the villain] was one of the most chilling and mesmerizing villians I've seen in any show. I still get goosebumps when I hear "Whisper of Evil"-- and yes I still listen to the soundtrack because it is INCREDIBLE.

It also love it because it follows four different families, and mostly the wives of the four different families. So tons of "strong female leads" that all have equally strong friendships/relationships with each other. I think it does an amazing job of showing the struggles that women face-- the unattainable struggle to be perfect wives, perfect mothers, successful, etc. And all of the other characters are so well developed and have intricate and interconnected arcs.

I could go on but bottom line this drama is top-tier. The overall tension, drama, and plot twists had me on edge every episode. All of this not even mentioning how relevant and thought-provoking the subject matter of the drama is. - u/HectorWell_Endowed

SKY Castle- It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions and plot twist after plot twist keeps you on edge - u/SHOWTIME_12

If you want to watch a cute short historical drama Splash Splash Love is a sweet 2 eps long mini drama about a teen girl being transported to the past. It’s a good starter for historical dramas! - u/Stcage213

Splash Splash Love - only two episodes, and a super adorable story! features some crossdressing, partially a "historical" drama, and some school romance - u/forever-cha-young

Splash Splash Love - Sadly its only a 2 episode drama but it was funny, lovely and still made a mark. - u/Just_Curious05

Splash Splash Love is just all around fun. It’s only 2 episodes but so satisfying!  - u/jekkerd

Splash Splash Love for low investment high reward watching. Honestly would have watched 20 episodes of this.  - u/currypotnoodle

Another drama I loved is "Stranger" starring Cho Seung Woo. It's on Netflix too and you wouldn't be able to stop watching once you start the first episode. It's about Prosecutors and Detectives working on a murder case which unravels a bigger case behind including corruption and sexual assults. This drama is by far the best mystery drama I've ever seen. The episodes are all meticulously connected from the beginning to the end, and believe me the suspense is real... - u/SuperbIce4381

Secret Forest(Stranger)- A emotionless prosecutor works with a warmhearted cop to solve a case.  - u/goldenbeee

Secret Forest/Stranger - the best cinematography, cast, and storytelling I've ever seen in a kdrama. Every second is tightly edited so that each shot is important, and features a lot of subtlety and reading between the lines. Focuses only on one case so it might seem slow for the first four episodes but is extremely compelling. Great to watch for character development, stellar acting, and the one-of-a-kind relationship the main leads have.  - u/eggmelon

Stranger is the best drama I’ve seen writing-wise. Acting-wise it’s pretty amazing too.  - u/WhatIsParsnipsDoing

I thought it was epic. I loved the story, visual cinematography, acting, music, and Lee Min Ho at his best. - u/sharjoy3

The King: Eternal Monarch: a bravely written sci-fi thriller with almost no kdrama clichés, a unique plot, good romance, beautiful cast and beautiful cinematography. It was flawed definitely but it was one of the best of 2020. Definitely deserves so much love.  - u/Fatooz

I loved The King: Eternal Monarch.  The cinematography was excellent and while there are some plot holes, it was an immersing story for me.  - u/starchip03

The King: Eternal Monarch. Although I love this one a lot, this is one that people say "if you don't like the plot, watch it for the cinematography." - u/chellemi

To. Jenny is probably my favorite short kdrama ever, because the romance is very cute, the ML is adorable and the opposite of the toxic MLs we sometimes see in kdramas, and since the ML is an aspiring singer, we get to hear a bunch of songs he works on interspersed throughout the drama (they're really catchy and surprisingly funny).  - u/yasmin2024

To. Jenny is a cute 2 hour show on YouTube that you can turn your brain off and just watch, enjoying the lovely music and characters. - u/roevese

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo - Set in a university, it revolves around a group of friends and the ups and downs of becoming successful in the world of sports. The characters have great chemistry and are all lovable. It also shines a light on mental illness and how it affects the daily life of the protagonists and the people around them. - u/drmd16 

What got me hooked into kdramas were the sweet, slow building love stories with loads of chemistry and cute moments. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is exactly that.  Bonuses: the male lead isn't a jerk, the female friendships contain swag, and you'll learn pick up lines that you definitely can use in real life.... maybe.  - u/pvtshame

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is the gentlest introduction — the most heartwarming kdrama I’ve seen. Because the characters are so vivid, and their situations so relatable, it was easy for me to cozy up to this story of figuring out who you’re supposed to fall in love with — after taking a wrong turn. It also has that focus on an issue that I love about kdramas — in this case, eating and body image for young women in weightlifting and gymnastics. I appreciate the effort, and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo mostly avoids the eating/body image fails I’ve seen in other kdramas. If you like stories about friendship, love, family, and picking yourself up after falling down, this is an appealing welcome.  - u/amnesiafakedating

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim - It's one of the most popular rom-coms of recent times, and it's certainly my top rom-com so far.  - u/TotoroTheGreat

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim - It is probably one of the best cute romance show out there, IMO. Charming chemistry, cheesy romance, mature leads, and a positive storyline. I have taken it as rule of thumb - if Park Min-Young (the FL) is doing a rom-com, it is going to be quite amazing. - u/King-Meister

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim - The side characters really made this drama for me. Other than that OTP is a cute, good-looking couple, but like mentioned above every damn kdrama cliche you can think of. The ML chases the FL HARD in this one. It's kinda cute because he's this silly, narcissist CEO chaebol character, and the FL is super competent. - u/clamchauder

When The Camellia Blooms - I just binged the entire series and would highly recommend it for being multifaceted in terms of the themes. Personally, I got hooked from watching the trailer as I was browsing around Netflix. The theme of family and the stigma surrounding single mothers got my attention. As a guy in my late twenties, I really connected with the male lead character but also the female lead. During the series, the use of a crime subplot helped to balance the romance which for me, is kinda hard to sit through in some Kdramas. What I appreciate above all was that most, if not all, of the character arcs ended in an unrushed manner and without feeling forced. - u/ComposerImmediate

When The Camellia Blooms - It's been a while since I finished this one and I am still relieved I stumbled upon it. It's an excellent drama with a ton of heart. One that you eat up every episode and don't want to finish it. - u/sea_salts_

When The Camellia Blooms - I loved it. Took me a while to get hooked, but what a beautiful show. Funny, compelling, with its dark sides too, but so heartwarming and loveable.  - u/speedysoprano

Where Your Eyes Linger (Korean BL): ML 1 is the lifelong bodyguard of ML 2, whose father is the CEO of a big company. They appear to be best friends joined at the hip. They live together and do everything together, but when ML 1 decides to date a girl, ML 2 increases pressure on the simmering feelings between the two. It’s hot. This is available as a short series of 8 ten minute episodes, or as a movie - both on Viki.  - u/AnimalInstinct

Where Your Eyes Linger (Boy Love web drama) - I loved this drama. It was my first BL drama and I really enjoyed it. If it's a genre you like, I definitely recommend. There was a sweet chemistry between the leads with zero awkwardness and not much of cliche's. It's also short so you can binge watch it in a couple of hours. - u/Iconia18

Where Your Eyes Linger - 10/10. The very definition of short and sweet. Super short episodes, but long enough to really get inside the characters' personalities, obstacles and desires. This one played with my emotions all over the place. Also great OSTs, and the acting was superb. - u/speedysoprano

While You Were Sleeping - This is a story of a woman who could see a portion of a future, most likely their deaths. She could ignore it or do something to prevent it as it is possible that it could be changed. But what if the death that she saw is hers? Another thing is... what if she's not the only one who could see them? How can she stop her death along with other people who could see the future? - u/Thundergod250

While you Were Sleeping probably has the best pilot episode of any KDRAMA I've watched. The drama itself is also stellar - u/Jaydeballer777

While You Were Sleeping - There is enough mystery to keep us guessing, beginning with mysterious dreams by the heroine that always come true.  Two other characters come into play, and begin to have their own mysterious dreams.  The cast is fantastic (Lee Jong Suk, Suzy, Jung Hae In).  - u/elynwen

I thought My Love From Another Star had fantastic plot.  Basically an alien (Kim Soo Hyun) falls to earth in the Joseon Era.  He’s stranded there, so he learns the culture and centuries later, he is a psychology teacher at a College. It just so happens that there’s a movie star (Jun Ji Hyun) Who needs to take his class for experience in her role.  They meet each other in other ways, as well. - u/elynwen 

My Love from the Stars/ You from the Stars - alien gets left on earth in Joseon, but you move into modern times within the first episode.  Excellent! Be sure to watch the little scenes after the credits.  - u/LcLou02

My Love From Another Star - i’m someone who’s rly picky about romance kdramas but I really loved this one. the chemistry between the two leads was amazing and the way they yearned for each other was too real. I could go into detail about all the things that I love about ywcfts but I don’t want to spoil it for you in anyway.  - u/happydonutface