(SPOT.ph) It’s safe to say that 2021 has been the year of K-dramas. You couldn’t scroll through your social feed without seeing someone excitedly talking about Kim Seon-ho, Song Joong-ki, or Han So-hee.
But hey, if you have no idea who any of them are, it’s never too late to give Korean dramas a shot. They aren’t afraid to experiment when it comes to storytelling, and you can always expect a plot twist or two. Below, we round up some of the very best of South Korea this year—warm and fuzzy, feel-good shows; tooth-rotting fluff; and uber-violent crime dramas for those averse to romance. And hey, it’s this kind of wide variety in Korean content that keeps audiences up until two in the morning. (Us included.)
Here are the best Korean drama on Netflix, Viu, and iQiyi for 2021:
Note: This list is arranged in chronological order of its original release date.
Beyond Evil
Release date: February 19
Stream it on: Netflix
Korean dramas are often set in the bustling capital of Seoul, but this one takes viewers into the sleepy fictional town of Manyang in Gyeonggi province. Beyond Evil is less a police procedural and more like a taut character study where the crime unfolds in flashbacks and minute body language rather than dialogue. The story begins with a 20-year-old cold case that has haunted its residents for years. When a young and ambitious elite detective (Yeo Jin-goo) transfers from Seoul to the tiny rural police station, he reluctantly partners up with an impulsive and eccentric sergeant (Shin Ha-kyun). Soon, he learns that everyone in this town has a secret, including his newfound partner.
Beyond Evil was nominated for seven awards at the Baeksang Arts Awards, taking home three: Best Drama, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor for Shin Ha-kyun.
Vincenzo
Release date: February 20
Stream it on: Netflix
Korean superstar Song Joong-ki made his comeback to the small-screen with Vincenzo, where he plays Vincenzo Cassano, a Korean adopted by an Italian family at a young age. Now a consigliere (a.k.a. a lawyer for the mafia), he returns to Seoul to recover 1.5 tons of gold, now stashed beneath a basement of public plaza. Things get complicated when he learns that a real-estate company has illegally taken ownership of the building, and to make matters worse, the plaza is home to a roster of colorful characters who are suspicious of his every move.
Blending crime with elements of dark comedy, the humor of Vincenzo might take some getting used to—especially if you’re new to K-dramas—but hey, there’s a good reason why it took home plenty of awards both domestically in South Korea and internationally.
Mouse
Release date: March 3
Stream it on: Viu and iQiyi
Mouse kicks off with the premise: what if it were possible to know if someone could become a psychopath, even if that someone was still in their mother’s womb? And if it were, would it be justifiable to kill them, even before birth? It’s a complicated concept—the kind that would probably start plenty of ethical debates—but the show runs with it, each episode escalating into wilder, almost ridiculous territory as it goes on. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a fan of Lee Seung-gi, it’s fascinating to watch him play a rookie detective who often teeters between having a heart of gold and a potential psychopath.
Mouse was so popular in South Korea that even after its 20-episode run, it even had three extra episodes (including a “theatrical cut”) and a two-episode spin-off from the perspective of the “predator.”
Taxi Driver
Release date: April 9
Stream it on: Viu
After the death of his mother, Do-ki (Lee Je-hoon) takes a job as a driver for a taxi company that moonlights as a special “revenge call” service. Because of what they deem as a failure of the justice system, he and his team help exploited victims seek revenge. But there’s far more to the taxi company than meets the eye, and they soon catch the attention of an elite prosecutor, whose cases intertwine with theirs.
The show was a huge hit in South Korea, with rumors of a second season already on the way. Many have attributed its success to its various cases that are reportedly inspired by real-life cases in Korea, such as voice phishing, labor exploitation, and extreme school bullying.
Law School
Release date: April 14
Stream it on: Netflix
If you enjoyed How To Get Away With Murder, you’ll probably love Law School. Set in the prestigious Hankuk University Law School, a group of students are tangled in a criminal case when one of their professors is suddenly found dead. Things take a wild turn when their criminal law professor, Yang Jong-hoon (Kim Myung-min) is arrested as the prime suspect.
There’s a lot happening in this drama: from a timeline that constantly jumps from the past to present, to a roster of complex characters with plenty of secrets being revealed at every turn. Law School is a show that demands – and requires – your attention, but once it does, it’ll never let it go.
Move to Heaven
Release date: May 14
Stream it on: Netflix
Many K-dramas are touted as “healing”—shows that are warm and comforting, like hot soup on a rainy weekend or a long hug after an exhausting day. One such show is Move to Heaven, which is reportedly inspired by a non-fiction essay called “Things Left Behind.” The author, Kim Sae Byul, is a former “trauma cleaner,” whose job is to clear out the belongings of a newly deceased person and clean the place where they were found.
In the drama, Tang Joon-sang portrays Geu-ru, a trauma cleaner with Asperger’s Syndrome. After his father passes away, he’s left in the care of his uncle (Lee Je-hoon), an ex-convict who helps Geu-ru run the trauma cleaning company. Together, they meet people from all walks of life, whose touching and even heart-wrenching stories transcend even death.
Hospital Playlist: Season 2
Release date: June 17
Stream it on: Netflix
Hospital Playlist is one of those gentle comfort shows that feels more like a warm, hour-long hug from your best friend. And if you’ve stuck around since Season 1, then it definitely feels like everyone on the show is just that.
For the unfamiliar, it’s a more relaxed, slice-of-life take on a hospital drama, where five doctors who have been friends since medical school, navigate the ins and outs of their jobs and personal life. Every patient they encounter has a story, weaving themes of love, grief, and resilience between the ensemble cast.
Nevertheless
Release date: June 19
Stream it on: Netflix
Nevertheless revolves around Na-bi (Han So-hee), a college student jaded about love after a disastrous former relationship. Despite her misgivings, she’s immediately drawn to Jae-eon (Song Kang), an attractive fellow student who doesn’t believe in dating. Their relationship evolves into a no-label, gray area that Na-bi struggles to navigate.
It’s a familiar topic, especially to anyone who has experienced the pitfalls of modern-day dating, but for long-time K-drama fans, the show is a clear departure from what we’ve come to expect. It’s undoubtedly less conservative, venturing into almost risque territory, but it’s a story that has clearly resonated with audiences worldwide. And if you’re anything like Na-bi, then you’ll know the struggle between knowing what you deserve from a relationship, and going for the option that’s easier or more thrilling.
D.P.
Release date: August 27
Stream it on: Netflix
Jung Hae-in sheds his boy-next-door image for Netflix’s gritty Original series as Private Ahn Joon-ho, who enlists for his mandatory military service. Along with rigorous mental and physical training, soldiers also become targets of hazing by their superiors, often leading to desertion of their posts. Ahn Joon-ho is assigned to the D.P. (deserter pursuit) team to capture these rogue soldiers.
It comes as no surprise that D.P. is not an easy watch. While it balances its darker moments with buddy-cop-like comedy, the show is quite graphic and disturbing at many moments. It’s a sensitive topic that particularly resonates in South Korea, but its six episodes that will have you hooked up until the very last moment.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Release date: August 28
Stream it on: Netflix
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha takes the irresistible draw of an opposites-attract trope and combines it with the charms of a scenic seaside town. Shin Min-a portrays Hye-jin, a big-city dentist who loses her job and goes on a trip to an idyllic seaside village to restart her life. There, she meets Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho), a beloved resident of the village because he does, well, pretty much everything and always lends a helping hand to everyone.
It’s easy to initially write Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha off as a run-of-the-mill romance drama, but there’s something to be said about an ensemble cast of characters that will have you more attached as episodes go on. And while we can go on and on about genre-breaking K-dramas that try something new, this show is proof that there’s still much to love with a classic, slice-of-life drama and undeniable chemistry.
Squid Game
Release date: September 17
Stream it on: Netflix
Packed with eye-popping visuals and a gripping social commentary on wealth inequality, this Netflix Original was the talk of the town. Heck, you probably know someone who dressed in those green tracksuits for Halloween. The premise is simple: a group of people in serious financial debt sign up to play a series of children’s games with 45.6 billion won at stake. The catch? If they lose, they die.
Since its launch, Squid Game captivated audiences all over the world, catapulting it to the top of Netflix’s most-watched series ever and cementing its cast into global superstars practically overnight.
My Name
Release date: October 15
Stream it on: Netflix
For those on the hunt for a satisfying action thrilljer, look no further than My Name. Han So-hee makes a reappearance on this list, flexing her versatility as Ji-woo, whose father’s murder spurs her to turn to a powerful crime boss (Park Hee-soon). At the latter’s instruction, she goes undercover as a police officer to uncover the crime behind her father’s death.
Think of it like The Departed, where she plays both sides between a broken police force and a ruthless crime mob. Han So-hee is a badass revelation, punching and kicking her way through only six episodes and straight into our hearts.
Jirisan
Release date: October 23
Stream it on: iQiyi
This iQiyi thriller boasts some of the biggest Korean names behind and in front of the camera. It’s penned by Signal and Kingdom writer Kim Eun-hee and directed by Lee Eun-bok, who was also behind other hit series like Sweet Home, Mr. Sunshine, Goblin, and Descendants of the Sun.
Set against the scenic backdrop of Mount Jiri, the series mainly centers on a group of brave mountain rangers, led by the incredibly competent Seo Yi-gang (Gianna Jun), whose job is to rescue lost or injured trekkers. She teams up with a rookie ranger named Kang Hyun-jo (Ju Ji-hoon) as they uncover mysteries surrounding the mountain’s many visitors.
Happiness
Release date: November 5
Stream it on: iQiyi
From Train to Busan to Kingdom, South Korea has been pushing the boundaries of the zombie genre for the past several years. This time, Happiness takes us to a post-pandemic world, still reeling from the effects of COVID-19. It centers on two childhood friends, Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo) and Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik), who decide to get married in order to secure a government-provided apartment in a glitzy, exclusive high-rise tower.
Things quickly go awry when there’s a new disease going around and it turns even the most innocent-looking bystander into a blood-thirsty zombie. With the entire complex sealed off, they also learn that their neighbors may be even more terrifying than the creatures chasing them.
Hellbound
Release date: November 19
Stream it on: Netflix
From Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho comes another genre-busting story that toppled Squid Game off of Netflix’s Most-Watched list in record time. In this world, your reckoning comes in the form of a prophecy that condemns you to hell at a specific time in the future. When that day comes, three hulking supernatural forms (think gray, wispy, Hulk-like creatures) appear to brutally maul and incinerate you to death.
But what makes Hellbound particularly unique is that it’s less about the monsters, but more of what happens after. The show dissects how people react to such terror, and how opportunists – in this case, a religious group led by Jung Jin-su (Yoo Ah-in) – prey on those grasping for answers, leading the latter to become blind believers that destroy each other in the hope of escaping this hellish fate.
Special mention:
2021 isn’t over, and there’s plenty more newly released and upcoming K-dramas in the pipeline that are likely worthy contenders for this list. Don’t forget to check out: Netflix’s Our Beloved Summer; Kim Soo-hyun’s legal drama One Ordinary Day on Viu; iQiyi’s intriguing Bad and Crazy starring Lee Dong-wook (Goblin) and Wi Ha-joon (Squid Game); the romance of Jung Hae-in and Blackpink’s Jisoo in Snowdrop on Disney+; and finally, the highly anticipated space sci-fi The Silent Sea starring Gong Yoo and Bae Doona. Phew!
this strange new world.