r/kdramarecommends Banner 2020 Recommendations

A Poem a Day- Because it had an everyday scenario setup with wonderful acting. The FL was not too clingy but was strong in her own way. There was no Over the Top scenarios or situations. The pain of first heartbreak,the loss of a loved one , the pain of neglect, the situation where no matter how hard you try you may never get things going your way ,the feeling of helplessness when you see someone you love struggling or that fluttering feeling of love- I saw all this portrayed accurately in this drama. And who doesn't love poems?  - u/blackspelt

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

Are You Human, Too? - A chaebol gets involved in a car accident and ends in a coma. His stand-in takes immediately over, letting the world believe he's fine. His female bodyguard seems to believe the same. However, the truth is much more complicated and suddenly before our eyes the most unlikely romance unfolds, between a woman and a robot. And yes, we do get a happy ending!  - u/imerremi

Are You Human Too?  is soo bingeable and he's the most adorable, flirty robot ever.  Seo Kang Joon's facial movements and inflections are so impressively slight, indicating which role he's playing. - u/pvtshame

Arthdal Chronicles! It‘s a fantasy and there’s such amazing world-building, such beautiful mythology. It’s an epic fantasy of sorts, kind of like Game of Thrones but not really. It has a somewhat complex plot that is hard to condense, but basically our hero, Eun Seom, is part of a prophecy that declares that he has a role to play in the end of civilisation. The story follows him and many others connected to the prophecy directly and indirectly, as they unravel the contents of the prophecy and watch destiny play out...or not.  - u/smol_n_fluffy

Arthdal Chronicles - An amazing fantasy drama, it’s so unique and original. The drama has its own world that immerses you into it from ep 1. - u/TheAnonymousMe-

I would recommend Arthdal Chronicles to a fan of Fantasy and Historical Dramas.  The writers have built a world from before history.  The detail involved is reminiscent to the Lord of the Rings - different species, languages, cultures, myths which come into contact and conflict with each other.  The acting is superb as is the cinematography.  It is a long commitment as there will be a total of 3 seasons (18 episodes each, I am assuming.)  Which is the normal length for an epic Sageuk.  I would say give it 3 episodes to see if you like it.  The dynamics change early on as you get introduced to the different locations and characters. - u/LcLou02

Autumn in my Heart - A switched at birth story and a love triangle complicated because of it latter in life. Song Hye-kyo shines in this story along with Won Bin and Song  Seung-heon.  An interesting twist is added early on that adds a flavor to the story line that is not often seen in recent Kdrama’s.  Song Hye-kyo is particularly good and the performances by all is excellent. It is a no rush, no hurry romance that has the absence of cellphones, texting and the hyper-drive of modern dramas.  But be sure to keep a box of tissues handy if you decide to watch it. - u/stumpy1949

Autumn in my Heart is a classic, older drama so it has an over dramatic story that they used to do. But it’s a heartbreaking story. I only saw it once few years ago and I can’t rewatch it. But the whole story stayed with me. - u/Kolibar

Avengers Social Club - this is a tremendously unusual show in that it doesn't revolve heavily around either romance elements or violence. The acting is really good (of course), and perhaps even more remarkable, most of the writing makes sense there are very few elements that seem forced.   (This one is about a group of people-- mostly women-- who band together to seek "revenge" on people who've wronged them-- mostly their husbands: they progress from pranks to legal attacks...).  - u/doomvox

Avenger's Social Club - Honestly reading the synopsis for it, I was like "ok... this sounds kind of ridiculous"... and while watching it...it really was ridiculous, but in the best possible sense. It was such a wholesome drama that highlighted serious issues while making me laugh at the same time. None of that cliche romantic stuff which at the time was a fresh breather for me. It's now one of my all time favorite dramas!  - u/Taichikins

If you have a few kdramas under your belt, I guarantee you'll love how they toy with kdrama tropes, circumventing the annoying ones and making fun of others (like product placement). The cast did a great job and the OST is going straight to my playlist. If you were looking for an upbeat slice-of-life romcom with strong female leads, look no further.  - u/AlohaAlex

Be Melodramatic - This drama was so refreshing.  It was light, cute, had realistic characters, broke the 4th wall so many times I'm surprised it still exists.  I particularly loved how you thought that some of the opponents were going to turn into awful, single minded characters bent on destroying the female lead, but no, they were just written like real people doing real things.  I didn't hate a single character, I strongly disliked Gong Myung's girlfriend, but everyone knows someone like her.  She wasn't a caricature at all, just a mess.  Anyway, highly recommended.  - u/pvtshame

Would you consider watching something on the quirky side? With just a hint of fantasy? Lee Dong Wook, Grim Reaper in Goblin, was in Blade Man, 2014 where he played a character with an anger problem that manifested physically into actual blades sprouting from his body. His character set-up may sound typical on paper but was interesting to see in action. I recommend it because it has a strong supporting cast, a story focused on character development, and most importantly, fantastic cinematography that was integral to the story telling. Many shots weren't pretty just to be pretty, they were telling a story within that shot and advancing the narrative at the same time. - u/myweithisway

I know, it's rarely mentioned and it's really a shame. I loved Blade Man and didn't even mind the blades. I found them interesting and, well, kind of cool. I always felt sorry for the secretary. The number of clothes and mattresses the poor man had to change must've been huge. But at some point we do learn a bit of his backstory and why he's so loyal and from then on I was aboard the unconditional respect train. Also, I can't be the only one who thought that's Snow White when I saw the female lead and the programmer bunch. They were all so lovable and yet so incapable of functioning in the society. The ending was happy, but.. campy? All I remember is that they get married and then.. fly away? I think he suddenly develops the ability to fly and they fly into the sunset as the wedding guests stare with their mouths agape.  - u/AlohaAlex

City Hunter - Are you out on a lookout for a fun action romcom? Well this one delivers in spades: there's undercover spies, birth secrets, kingpins, slick spy missions and flawless action scenes all wrapped up in a romcom which oozes humor. Lee Min Ho charms with his hilarious one-liners and meticulous hairstyle, while the spunky female agent holds her own throughout the drama. The baddies (I just can't call them villains, not with those brains) are a bunch of jagged old men and there's also a handsome prosecutor, amusing side-characters and some stunning locations. And I know what you're thinking - "Is this one of those Lee Min Ho dramas I should just skip?" and the answer is a resounding no. The plot is actually well thought out and amazingly paced, all leading up to the final showdown that will probably make you tear up. - u/AlohaAlex

Dae Jang Geum is Watching (also hilariously called "Dae Jang Geum, Oh My Grandma") - It's fabulous. Part pure food porn part craziest romcom family drama ever - it's the first drama which genuinely surprised me since I started watching dramas again after my break. By now, most of you know I have a huge weak spot for siblings in dramas and this drama delivers like crazy. Because of a family gift/curse they live together and eat dinner together every night; fighting and squabbling but also standing up to defend each other form the harsh reality they face outside. The younger brother has an online cooking show in which he prepares drool-inducing dinners (with step-by-step instructions!) which joins his twin sister's quick&tasty convenience store meals and the older brother's restaurant reviews to create a 60 minute episode which will definitely leave you hungry. That is, if you're still hungry after laughing yourself into stitches at the unexpected freshness with which the comedic effect is achieved. The snappy dialogues, the everyday mishaps, the awkward pauses and over-the-top side characters - it's such a fabulous departure from the romcom norm. The director and screenwriter worked together on Borg Mom previously and learned from their mistakes - there's no angst or plot meandering this time. Couple all of that with some adorkable love stories and you've gotten yourself the best comedy since Potato Star. - u/AlohaAlex

Dear my Friends - Geared to those of us drama viewers who are mature-enough to consider thinking about our mortality in a serious vein.  It centers around a group of elderly ladies, and two token men, dealing with aging and if you make it past the first few scenes in the first episode, (a lady standing on top of a ledge on a tall building) you will find some tremendous humor, poignant moments and a ferocious relationship between a mother and daughter.  Go Hyun-jung, from Sandglass and Queen Seon Duc, is back and she is stunning in her performance. All the ladies you may  recognize from recent drama’s, but this story was made for them all to shine.  It is a shame most will not see it.  It is a gem. - u/stumpy1949

Dear My Friends — I cried throughout the whole show. A drama about old people falling in love and out of love and grappling with mortality and friendships and losing people and themselves in the process of aging and reconciling with their children and grandchildren and trying to find their own identities and worth as people despite all of society telling them that there's no point because of their age? SOB. FEST.  - u/beingjane

Doctor Prisoner - formerly imprisoned doctor gets revenge on the bad people who sent him to prison in the first place. This one is a nice medical thriller with a solid side of comedy. The FL (own revenge story) is pretty awesome but no real romance here either.  - u/myweithisway

Doctor  Prisoner - thriller - there is something intriguing about shady  doctors, using their skills and knowledge to worsen the health in a controlled way. Prison/professional themes, exceptionally gifted main character  and duel between him and his enemies, revenge in best way - not simple "shot'tem". A main character making the best of the situation he is in.  - u/MenthaAquatica

The male lead is very different from your typical kdrama male lead in a medical drama. Joo Won does an amazing job at portraying a man on the autism spectrum with savant syndrome in a respectful and very layered way. The human drama in this show is where it really shines, even though the pediatrics and the romance manages to touch your heart as well. The only real cons to the show are the hospital politics which the show could have done without and a lot of the characters being rather harsh in the first half of the show. Thankfully, there is a lot of character development and the characters become a lot easier to root for as the show progresses!  - u/txc_vertigo

Good Doctor - It is about an autistic doctor who is a genius, but has had a hard past and also a hard time dealing with people. But he is an awesome doctor. The drama is fairly light hearted, but does approach the topic of being judged for your outside versus the inside.  - u/Kordiana

Did you think Hotel King was going to be a slice-of-life rags-to-riches romcom about a poor man slowly rising through the ranks and falling in love with the hotel's lonely, young heiress? Well forget about all of that; Hotel King is the business melodrama to watch if you like well thought out characters and amazing acting. There's betrayals, murders and complex revenge plans. Nothing is ever as it seems and in the course of 32 episodes the plot will flip multiple times; you thought you knew who the villains were? Not even the leads can be trusted. If you're still on the fence, or think this isn't your cup of tea, you'll be glad to hear that there are also incredibly witty dialogues and quite a lot of fun to be had as melo briefly switches with camp. The real surprise of the drama is Kim Hee Sook's incredible performance and her chemistry with Lee Dong Wook - the beginning might be a bit slow, but the urge to binge it intensifies as the two incredible characters clash in a spiraling game of death.  - u/AlohaAlex

Hotel king -  This is a very hard melodrama and it has every cliche kdrama can offer. From birth secrets to great villains to childhood traumas to fighting for big inheritance to fake brother/sister romance. But I must admit it’s my guilty pleasure. Our main female lead is a rich spoiled brat that comes to collect her father inheritance after he has died. But there she finds great adversary in our main male lead and as much as they fight each other they love each other. - u/Kolibar

I Am Not a Robot - absolutely loved this; through a series of missteps, the human who modeled for the robot has to step into the role temporarily and in so doing, she and her robot "master" fall for one another; so funny--many, many laugh out loud scenes; character development is great.  Love the nerdy robot-design team and Jo Ji Ah's friends/family members.  I like Kdramas where female leads are independent and not milquetoasts and the Jo Ji Ah character is so likeable as a spunky innovative businesswoman. - u/TimeTraveller1848

I super love I Am Not A Robot! Gosh what a lovely drama, fun, comedic, but also shows great character development dealing with trauma and loss. The romance is fantastic,  Chae Soo Bin and Yoo Seung Ho have excellent chemistry.  - u/valrielle

This drama is about two best friends who fall in love with the same girl who used to have a crush on one of them. I personally loved this drama every episode was fun and the acting is just so so good! Jo Jung Suk slayed the ML role he was great! The side characters are fun, chemistry is sizzling and the whole drama is just a treat!  - u/hallyubae

Jealousy Incarnate — This is pure rom-com, with all the emphasis on the comedy. Jo Jung Suk is so wonderful as a petty man-child who is also insanely attractive despite not meeting conventional Korean drama pretty boy standards. He nails his role as a man who brushes aside the heroine, only to lose her and to lose his mind to his ridiculously petty jealousy. I loved every moment of it; there's not a lot of dramas that can elicit such genuine cackles from me. - u/beingjane

Secret Investigation Record (Joseon X-Files) was a wonderful blend of anthology and story arcs. There were a lot of standard paranormal sci-fi callbacks and homages as well as a creative way of treating reported UFO sightings in Joseon. Monster of the week, monster of the story cycle, monster of the series. But who's the real monster?

The drama día a really good job of exploring concepts of time, reality, and continuity within the confines of the main story and the story of the characters. Real cerebral last few episodes.

If you haven't watched it yet, START IT NOW! - u/life-finds-a-way

Joseon X-Files - weird show about a Joseon era magistrate investigating supernatural events. Hand held camera and lighting are brilliant. One of my all time favorites. - u/marjin

Kill It! It has 12 episodes, and it’s not a romance. It’s a mystery/romance drama about this guy who grows up to be a hitman and honestly I think it’s really great and underrated, plus the actors are great and have good chemistry :)  - u/jamieisname

Kill It - Do you think it's fun rooting for the bad guys? How about ridiculously handsome young tall athletic blue-eyed gun wielding bad guys? Yes? Good, you'll love this drama. Our male lead, who was kidnapped and ruthlessly brainwashed/trained to become a professional assassin works as a veterinarian in his free time in a building owned by a 16 year-old who he considers a younger sister. The two have the most adorable bickering relationship, but their calm and collected life suddenly gets interrupted by the arrival of a determined young female detective who has a suspicions connection to the male lead's past. Soon, a sinister plot is slowly discovered as the two get pulled in a game of cat and mouse, each trying to resolve the same case using vastly different methods. - u/AlohaAlex

I adored Kill It, however. I thought Nana was gorgeous and did an great job matching everyone. Puppies and kittens actually play a really minor role in the show; this is very much a moody noir where people stare at each other in silence for long, lingering, emphatic moments dripping in pregnant pauses and unspoken subtext, BUT when there is action, it's so effective and beautiful? But...I live for atmosphere and action sequences, lol. I thought the soundtrack was A++ in putting me in the right mood. Maybe there are plot holes or improbable actions here and there, but the pacing, mood, tension, mystery and eye candy filled the angsty hole in my heart to perfection.  - u/SingleManlyTear

Modern Farmer: What happens when a "super popular" boy band is banished to a rural town? Absolute insanity. Heavy on toilet humor and slapstick comedy, this show may not be palatable for everyone, but if the humor clicks with your taste, there's a good chance you'll howl with laughter. Aside from the in your face style of humor, there's also a lovely storyline about single motherhood and the idea that it takes a village to raise a kid. Overall a sweet drama if you like its style of humor.  - u/myweithisway

Modern Farmer is ridiculous. Everyone is Looney Tunes! So much shouting (but in a way you'd do with friends). The townspeople get into the wackiest situations. The camera work and the writing make it a bit slapstick, but I think it's done appropriately. This is great for tuning in and dropping out. Maybe after a particularly rough drama. - u/life-finds-a-way

Moorim School is about a mysterious international action school where students learn to fight and hold good values. Two new students join this school and start causing trouble. This show has a supernatural twists and a bit of romance. All the characters have great backstories and character development. This is one of my favorite shows because the characters relationships and backstories are so well written and portrayed.  - u/Littlepips

Moorim School is an action fantasy friendship romance school drama. It sounds like a lot, but what you really need to know is that they're all high schoolers in a hidden martial arts school somewhere in the woods. There isn't much in the terms of romance because the main point of the drama is friendship. The two main male characters go from hating each other to best friends. Rare to see in a drama, that. Also, great OST.  - u/AlohaAlex

Another comedy with appealing young cutie pies and with a bit of supernatural menace, is Moorim School. I had fun watching it, and it reminded me of Harry Potter, except instead of kids, they're young adults. There's a bit of the discovering magic powers thing. But instead of worrying 24-7 about Voldemort, they're more likely to be found obsessing over love.  - u/olddogma

My Country: The New Age - The drama is set during them fall of the Goryeo dynasty hence the title The New Age. It basically presents a story about how each of our main characters tries to reach their goals in a rapidly changing country. Throughout this drama, all the main characters go through a lot of tragedy and I cried a lot while watching so you might as well. There is romance in it as well but it's not very focused on. - u/Incidenceincident

My Country: The New Age is a really good option, with a phenomenal cast, OST, and it's set in the interesting but batshit crazy [real] battle of the princes that took place at the start of the Joseon era. Things get bloody when a king has a gazillion sons but refuses to give up his throne to any of them. Mistakes were made, lol. (Same setting as Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart, actually, but not at all the same story.) Watching My Country got me reading about Korean history, and made me a Woo Do-Hwan fan for life. Plus the OST has a version of AC/DC's Back in Black song done on traditional Korean instruments that is amazing. That series is so good! - u/stellamarisetal

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

Father is Strange centers on a large family unit full of adult siblings who are super different from each other but are all really close, to each other and their parents. It’s my fave drama of all time and it is totally unlike any other of my favorite dramas since I usually like high budget, fancier, shorter form (16 eps) dramas. This one is 52 episodes that are an hour each. It’s a lot of story to love! There are two more prominent  stories but at least 5 other subplots I can think of off the top of my head including different pairings or groupings of the family unit. Highly recommend.  - u/saranghayyy

Partners for Justice 1+2: A forensic science/ court drama that combines the science, police investigation, plus court procedures into one. I was fascinated by all the cases that were presented in both seasons and grew attached to the two teams working together to find the truth and bring justice to the victims. - u/got7ahgasejinie

Partners of Justice 1 & 2 - Crazy and grumpy but extremely talented forensic examiner teams up with a newbie prosecutor to solve cases. Procedural with fun cases—never knew corpse analysis could be entertaining. Second season was a lot stronger, with a better overarching story line, but season 1 is worth the watch too. Season 1 was notable for the "is the main character a bad guy" plot. Season 2 is notable for a strong villain struggling with multiple personalities.  - u/renicrat

you DEFINITELY should try Partners for Justice! it’s a crime show but the twists and turns made the show extremely unpredictable! tbh i’m always more inclined towards dramas that have romance but this drama has close to no romance between the main characters(i mean theres still some romance between the supporting characters) u should rly try it! it’s pretty comical as well. its one of the most intriguing shows i ever watched, idk if its just me who’s rly into forensic science, but my friends rly recommend this show too!  - u/lea_rae

Multiple Seasons

Possessed (2019) - Woman who can see ghosts helps police detective against the ghost of a serial killer who has begun to possess the living.  - u/fdunhio

Possessed (2019)  is a supernatural serial killer story with comedy and romance. I really loved it. The horror story is not just a background for the romance, but I think this drama would mainly appeal to women. - u/char1701

A fun and sweet sitcom is Potato Star 2013. (120 1/2 hour episodes, so 60 viewing hours.) It centers around 2 families that end up living together. Features a young Yeo Jin Gu and Go Kyung Pyo. I had serious withdrawals.  - u/LcLou02

Potato star  The canned laughter is annoying at first, and the drama is pretty long, but you will not regret. The very kind and generous employee let you sleep next to their car in the garage. The overconfident and selfish chaebol boy who becomes like a child.  The kind mother who tries to earn money through pyramid schemes. The song Coffee by Jang Kiha has a music video with cockroaches incorporated in this drama.  - u/the-other-otter

Radiant Office A down on her luck girl just trying to get a job in this tough economy lands a job at a furniture company working for the man that didn't hire her at another company. Infinite's Hoya plays another new hire with a sweet heart that just needs a little more confidence. Lots of fun as they struggle to prove that they are worth hiring and have lots of personal growth along the way.  - u/MerinoMedia

Radiant Office started airing at the tail end of Chief Kim’s wildly successful run when no one thought they needed another office comedy in their lives again. But this little drama is definitely worthy of a watch. It tells the story of three down on their luck individuals who meet in a hospital after failed attempts on their lives, in the process of escaping their hospital bills they overhear that one of them is terminally ill. Sounds pretty sad right? Don’t worry it’s not. Radiant Office is as bright and hopeful as its name suggests. 

Our three heroes coincidentally score internships at a furniture company and work hard to try to improve their lives. What you get is a set of three fierce friends who have each other’s backs and it’s just delightful. Our female lead is quirky, fun and hardworking. She doesn’t care if she upsets the applecart at work as she thinks she is it. Her manager is her sworn enemy but slowly they correct misconceptions about one another and move from enemies to lovers. To wrap it all up in a nice bow this drama has a fantastic OST that makes every moment even better.  - u/sianiam

Saimdang: Light's Diary - One of the most visually rich dramas I've seen.  The story begins in modern times, but weaves back and forth to the youth and adult life of Saimdang who was a famous female artist in the Joseon period.  (Her portrait is on the 50,000 won bill.)  This drama marked the return of  actress Lee Young Ae who played Dae Jang Geum in Jewel in the Palace.  - u/LcLou02

Saimdang Light’s Diary is a historical drama that I feel no one talks about! The leads are so good and their chemistry is just amazing. Acting is top notch (female lead is from Jewel in the Palace, another amazing historical, and played Jang Geum there! And male lead is Song Seung Heon sooo he’s great). Maybe I was blinded by my love for the actors and story but I think it’s a great historical if you can handle eternal angst and suffering. - u/dianapharah

Sandglass - Broadcast in the mid-nineties, it was considered a seminal milestone for its time. Any Kdrama watchers curious about Korea and its rise to an economic and social power in Asia should find this series of interest.
Actress Go Hyun-jung plays the only child and daughter of a gangster(chaebol) dad and finds herself the love interest of both Actors Choi Min-soo, playing a tough street kid and his best friend Park Sang-won, who is much the opposite by being quiet and studious.
The story follows Min-soo and Sang-won in their early years as their deep friendship forms while separately, a young Hyun-jung suffers threats and violence from rivals of her Gangster dad.
College and the existing underground student rebellion frame the start of the fated triangle until ultimately, they move on into an interlocking and sometimes tragic path thru life. All this is takes place during the turbulent and chaotic years of the late seventies and eighties when the military ruled the country with absolute authority and abuse of power. - u/stumpy1949

Sandglass is an older drama that also covers the Gwangju Uprising as well as the 70-80's. It is an older drama, and you can tell it when you view it but it's considered one of the most significant drams in Korean tv history. The drama includes actual footage from the Uprising and its ranked number 4 on highest-rated Korean dramas in public broadcast. If you do watch this one watch Taxi Driver first since that does provide some background info. - u/Sephdar

Secret Love Affair. Not a lot of recommendations for this, because there are more requests for happy ending romcoms than there are for bitter, arty political satires featuring corruption and adultery. Insanely high quality drama. - u/amnesiafakedating

Secret Love Affair - chemistry is through the roof. Don't get put off by the adultery theme because the marriage is one of convenience (they sleep in separate beds) and the husband is a useless leech who only cares about money and promotions. The acting of both ML and  FL is absolutely phenomenal. Yoo Ah-In is one of my favourite actors because of how talented he is. I have been watching all the dramas he's been in and he doesn't disappoint in any. - u/Demira2

Secret Affair defies/exceeds expectations in sooo many ways, so I'd highly recommend you watch it. The acting of the leads is absolute top notch movie level quality; it's stunning to watch the variety of powerful emotions that Yoo Ah In displays on his face -- even just his eyes -- without saying a word. It's some of his best work, by far. I've never seen such an honest, naked display of longing, hurt, adoration, love, and sadness on an actor's face when there was no dialogue whatsover. It's beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking. I so enjoyed seeing how the tenderness he has for the FL just becomes more and more apparent in the way he looks at her, and the scenes where he demonstrates that tenderness by caring for her in the modest, humble ways that he can are just incredibly intimate and sweet.

The series is also refreshing in that it is utterly free of the usual unnatural goofy stuff, like the crazy awkward eyes-wide open first kiss (aka the fish kiss). Nice change. Overall, the series is much more adult than others. There are chaebols, yes, but it's not the typical storyline. Things don't turn out in the expected K-drama ways either. - u/stellamarisetal

if you can voyage beyond the looming 40th birthday to the looming 50th birthday, Should We Kiss First? is a beautiful melodrama with a bittersweet ending about trauma, loss, and two fiery people who get along terribly for several episodes. At the beginning, she and her best friend totally see him as mainly a way for her to get out of the financial ruin of her life before she starts having to sell organs. It made me think a lot about how precious life is. - u/olddogma

Should We Kiss First - This is an unlikely but beautiful love story between two people in their 40s  who have given up on love. Son Mu Han and An Soon Jin meet on a blind date set up by friends. It goes disastrously wrong but that's not the end of it of course.

The drama starts off with loads of comedy (cringy at times!)that Kim Sun-A is known for but moves to a more melo plot, one handled gently for most parts with a lot of humour. Lovely poetry and prose strewn through gives the drama a contemplative feel. It is a story of redemption and forgiveness, and of finding comfort in each other, overcoming past hurt and regrets. The incredible chemistry between the two leads shines through every scene and their performances are pretty amazing. Kam Woo Sung in particular has delivered a layered performance. The drama warmed my heart and left me with a smile! - u/so_just_here

Suspicious Partner - a romantic comedy mystery with a similar mood to What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, about a prosecutor and his trainee as they work on a case involving a murder. I won’t say too much so as not to give away any spoilers.  - u/smol_n_fluffy

100% check out Suspicious Partner. It’s a rom com/ crime/ thriller drama. It’s about a lawyer getting framed for killing her ex-boyfriend and the way it progresses is really interesting. The leads have amazing chemistry but the romance isn’t the centre of the show and allows for exploration of other storylines. It gets serious and suspenseful at times but it’s also one of the funniest dramas i’ve watched. I just about laughed every single episode. One of my favourites. - u/UnusualSundae

Terius Behind Me: He may be the most elite of secret agents but none of his training has prepared him for babysitting two mischievous youngsters that know how to push all of his buttons. Excellent production value helps save this drama from campy-ness and turns it into a slick-looking, heartwarming story of people bonding together to become a team of avengers worth rooting for, whether they are solving international crimes or just making sure the kids have fun at the kids cafe.  - u/myweithisway

It's The Pacifier: kdrama edition. Fun and slightly silly spy comedy with the wholesome backdrop of a family that just needs some help. Throw in some excellent and intrepid neighbors, plus the most ridiculously campy cliffhangers and you have yourself a winner. The kids are pretty cute too when they aren't being terrors. Just don't expect mojitos at Namsan Tower next time you swing by. Those are a lie. Just fix your life and watch it, okay?  - u/MerinoMedia

It's funny as hell and the characters are extraordinary. Terrius is charming and handsome, smart, great with kids and slightly tongue-in-cheek as a spy. The kids are cute and natural, very real and a great tag team. The neighborhood watch committee is a riot of fun and efficiency and gossip and kind hearts. The situations are off beat and even the bad guys are kinda loveable, well sort of. Overall, it's an excellent ensemble comedy adventure spy thing. Highly recommended ? So Ji Sub's best imo. - u/elbenne

The Package is like joining a small-bus tour of France yourself.  You have your first impressions of your fellow travellers, but as you get to know their  quirks, you have to make adjustments.  Our tour guide deals smoothly with just about anything that comes her way, however the single guy causes some unique problems.  Worth a re-watch!  - u/LcLou02

The Package - I LOVE this show, and not only because it's fully filmed in France and has gorgeous scenery.  What I love the most about this is that it is very character focused.  Each one of So So's tourists have their own backstory and as they unfold, it completely changes your first impressions of each of them.  - u/pvtshame

For maximum twists in a lighter, funnier drama, watch The Package, it'll allow you to travel by proxy a bit too in these times of self-confinement! - u/Turquoise-Turmoil

Suspicious Housekeeper is one of those dramas with a really simple premise: a widowed father hires a housekeeper to take care of the house and his four children so he can focus on work. Only problem being, the housekeeper doesn't smile, express opinions nor refuse any orders. Her eerie presence in the household acts as a catalyst, bringing the family's suppressed issues to light and rebuilding damaged relationships. - u/AlohaAlex

The Suspicious Housekeeper - she is a dark Mary Poppins that will do anything her employer tells her to do. She never smiles or laughs. The family comes to love her and tries to find out what happened to make her the way she is. Not primarily a romance, since it emphasizes the relationship with the kids more than with the widowed dad.  - u/SpinThePickle

Yoo So Joon is the successful CEO of a real estate company who has the ability to time travel when he takes the subway. Going back and forth in time, he sees his future self living a life of torment and unhappiness. To try to offset his doomed future, he decides to marry Song Ma Rin, a cheery photographer, even though he does not love her. Can Ma Rin help So Joon change his unhappy future?  - u/thabz2281

It's a time-travel drama that will probably mess up your head a little but the romance is great and it's beautifully shot.  - u/zazzizaz

Tomorrow With You. To be fair, this has some buzz and has been recommended, but in some ways it's a "difficult" drama, with an extremely intricate plot and multiple, fascinating character layers. Also, Lee Je Hoon can come across as a prickly intellectual, so I don't see him getting a ton of fan love. So I don't think it has the immediate appeal of most popular dramas. - u/amnesiafakedating

Voice - Serial murder cases and emergency call cases (time sensitive stuff like child kidnapping and murder attempts in-progress). Female protagonist has super enhanced hearing, giving her and her partner an extra edge to solving the cases. Season one has a really great villain and the main story is resolved at the end. - u/renicrat

Voice - one of the best stories I  have ever seen, including western movies, series,  eastern series and  anime. Especially first season. It is a dark thriller. Police/crime/action/investigation.  One  bigger story and every two episodes tell us a different small stories.  Focus on characters, so it is balanced character and story driven. And  constant action and danger which is difficult to squeeze into such  packed work. Criticism on corruption, too powerful people, because of  whom lower social groups suffer. In this regard similar to stranger. Two  continuations, but first series is the best. - u/MenthaAquatica

Multiple Seasons 

Watcher is one of my fave dramas, and not just because Seo Kang Joon. There is no romance in the plot and definitely not a love triangle. It’s about a young police officer beginning to uncover the truth behind his mother’s murder 15 years ago when he starts working with the detective who put his father behind bars, and a lawyer who is also haunted by the same events. A highlight for me is the way the show portrays the dynamic between the main characters, each with their own agenda and suspicions, and how they work together in spite of their differences. The suspense is unreal; you waver on who you trust from episode to episode. This show is about corruption and not just at the political level. It explores the ugly side of humans even while we try to do the right thing.

I’m not sure if that’s what you’re looking for, but if you like a crime psychological thriller, I’d highly recommend. - u/elephingo

 Watcher - A pure mystery/ crime thriller. This drama has some of the best acting I’ve seen in a drama. The ML is amazing, his acting is so good. This drama doesn’t have a romance element, and I felt it was refreshing and allowed you to concentrate on the main plot..and various subplots. The OST for this drama is also one of my faves! - u/TheAnonymousMe-

Watcher - one of the few action, suspense, police drama I've watched and really loved. No romance at all in this one. With a lot of plot twists that keep making you change your decision on who's the actual culprit at the end of every episode. - u/aJ_13th

White Christmas - A group of kids stay behind during winter break after getting a mysterious letter. When someone gets murdered they all have to work together to figure out who the monster in their midst might be. Thriller/suspense. It's a shorter drama, but they pack a lot into each episode, so it doesn't feel shorter on content. - u/Kordiana

White Christmas. Great acting, great writing, and spooky snowbound, isolated, empty for the holidays elite school setting. So many of the actors, younger here, have gone on to become more known. People who love Lee Som in Because This Is My First Life should have the pleasure of seeing her dynamite work in this.  - u/amnesiafakedating

Wonderful Life is about a couple who has a one night stand and ends up pregnant. After a series of events they end up married and raising their kid together. I absolutely love this show so much because it shows them overcome so many things and learn to love each other. It had me laughing and crying and so glued to the screen. Since it is on the older side (2005) it’s slightly cheesy and dated but please don’t let that turn you off, it’s a fantastic drama with an amazing storyline and chemistry. And the little girl is absolutely adorable and ties the whole story together. - u/Littlepips

Your House Helper - an office intern reluctantly ends up sharing her home with three friends that she had lost touch with over the years. Each has there own trials and tribulations to deal with and they slowly end up supporting one another  - u/elbene

I used to think that I didn’t ever want to see Ha Suk Jin in any other role than a tsundere but that all changed when I watched Your House Helper. It’s such a lovely, warm, healing drama in which a refreshingly different Ha Suk Jin goes about his day job cleaning the houses and solving the problems of those on his roster. The main story is about friendship and healing, three female friends reunite after a long break as they end up living together when times are tough. Overall, it's a really nicely done, refreshing slice of life story which will leave you smiling.  - u/sianiam

Your House Helper is over and I can't stop gushing about how amazingly heartwarming, healing and easygoing it was. It was just so great. I love dramas about friendships and romance without obnoxious characters and stupid love triangles - u/AlohaAlex

Your House Helper is so good that it’s ruining my sleep and I can’t stop watching! I think, “I’ll just watch a quick 30 minute episode before bed.” Then the episode ends and all I want is to watch “just one more episode,” then again “just one more.” Until eventually it’s later than I meant it to be and I really need to go to sleep. But I’m not even mad about it. It’s worth every minute of lost sleep! - u/dearladyydisdain