So, you have finally fallen down the rabbit hole that is the world of Korean dramas (K-dramas). Well, luckily for you, I will give you a sufficient taster of what the genre has in store. Although K-drama in itself is a genre of TV show, there are many different sub-genres beneath this: romance, action, coming of age, comedy, thriller – you name it! Now you don’t have to limit yourself to just one genre; I would recommend checking out all kinds of shows – even out of your usual comfort zone. There are so many beautifully shot, compelling storylines to be found, and there are also a lot of plots that might make you feel like you’ve lost your mind while you grip to edge of your seat in anticipation, bewildered by what you had just seen. So, if you are ready for elaborate plots, cool action sequences, shots repeatedly shown from different angles, beautifully catchy soundtracks, 16 episodes full of scenes to make you swoon, and sometimes lots of yelling… then you are prepared to enter the realm of K-dramas. 

Although K-drama in itself is a genre of show, there are many different sub-genres beneath this…

Romance

Romance K-dramas are a staple and make up a good majority of the genre, it houses some of the most iconic couples and dynamics.

I have to begin this guide with romance. Romance K-dramas are a staple and make up a good majority of the genre, it houses some of the most iconic couples and dynamics. You can genuinely find every trope your heart could ever dreams of in a K-drama. However, there are two dramas that I think are vital to watch: True Beauty and Business Proposal. One of the first K-dramas I, and many, experienced upon our deep dives.

True Beauty follows our main character Lim Jookyung (Moon Ga-young), a horror loving teenage girl, as she moves schools due to bullying and decides to reinvent her image via her newfound interest of makeup and cosmetics. Through this she lands herself in a love triangle with the reckless, but endearing, Han Soejun (Hwang In-youp), and the handsome, but cold, Lee Su-ho (Cha Eun-woo) – unaware of the deep, irritable nature of the boy’s relationship prior to her. It’s a show that’s simply fun and silly with its cartoonish, imaginative scenarios that are played out of Jookyung’s head, and the accurate depiction of having an annoying but loveable family. However, it also has its moments of darker themes and does discuss the topic of suicide.

On the other hand, we have Business Proposal, a quirky upbeat K-drama that follows the life of Shin Ha-ri (Kim Sejeong), a food product developer living with her family who run a chicken shop. However, her life flips when her rich best friend hires her to fumble another arranged date her father set up for her, but, what Ha-ri didn’t expect was for her brand-new CEO to be the on the receiving end of this date. Humiliated by the scandalous acts of her faux personality to scare off her date, and now afraid of running into him at her company, Ha-ri’s balancing of her alter ego is made harder when her boss precents a fake dating proposal to her.

Other great romance dramas to watch post these two are: Twinkling Watermelon, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Dr Plankton, My Demon, Goblin: The Lonely and Great God, Lovely Runner, Crash Landing on You, My Lovely Liar, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, and 20th Century Girl.

Thriller, Action and Drama

This category of K-drama usually follows adult themes and handles heavier topics..

Another popular subgenre(s) of K-drama would be the thriller, action, and drama trifecta. Obviously I have to mention Squid Game at some point in this guide, and it very much fits into this category; high stakes, gets bloody, and loads of tension. This category of K-drama usually follows adult themes and handles heavier topics, so forewarning, however it is invigorating. Some of my favourite shows fit this category, like My Name, which is a highly rated drama about an orphan attempting to take revenge after her father was murdered by the mafia. The plot is riveting, and the action sequences are so well-choreographed – it’s eight episodes and completely bingeable.

The theme of revenge is also quite prevalent in The Glory, a show about a woman who was badly bullied in high school – in ways that were absolutely absurd, I was flabbergasted. After, she spends the rest of her years plotting revenge against her bullies to ruin their lives to get back at the abuse she received. I have gotten my non-K-drama-watching friends to watch The Glory before, and they heavily enjoyed it. Squid Game obviously became extremely popular and is also now a gateway into more K-dramas, and if you’re looking for a show that’s gripping in that way then I would recommend picking from this genre. Although they won’t all have as big of a budget, the tension and stakes, which I personally think made Squid Game such an entertaining watch, and the underlying commentary on society are both prevalent often in these shows.

More recommendations in line with this would be: Extracurricular, Bloodhounds, Vincenzo, Sweet Home, Alice in Borderland (technically a J-drama but such a great watch), Taxi Driver, Weak Hero Class 1, Eve, Little Women, and Judge from Hell.

Fantasy and Sci-Fi

Fantasy dramas always have lots of stakes, and often have elements like romance and horror, which overall make for very cathartic watch.

South Korea also loves a fantasy/sci-fi show; there are many shows that are set in post-apocalyptic, dystopian worlds, often involving zombies, aliens, or some other creature that’s hunting down civilizations. There’s also another side to the fantasy genre, which is the period piece. South Korea is a country that has lots of history and myths, which are often taken and adapted into K-dramas. You often end up learning a lot more about Korean culture from the costume/designs. It’s quite informative and a great watch.

Some of the best zombie designs I have personally seen is from season one of Sweet Home, a show about a teenage outcast who moves into a new place, to then immediately be put on lockdown in the building with the rest of the residents as terrifying monsters are born outside, intent on eradicating humanity. The design of the monsters is incredibly creative, and they each have different abilities, which I thought was cool to see on screen. The show has so much depth, and the arc of the main character Cha Hyun-Su (Song Kang) is so fascinating to watch as the world developed along with these monsters.

I also really enjoyed All of Us Are Dead, which is a zombie apocalypse show about a class of teenagers who attempt to outlive a zombie virus spread from the school by a science teacher trying to help his son, a victim of bullying. Fantasy dramas always have lots of stakes, and often have elements like romance and horror, which overall make for very cathartic watch.

I do recommend as well: My Demon, Alchemy of Souls, Hotel del Luna, Strangers from Hell, Judge from Hell, The Uncanny Counter, Duty After School, and Mr. Queen.

The K-Drama Multiverse Awaits

I will end this guide with one final recommendation, although watch this one with caution, as this show drove me insane. I have never been more shell-shocked, stressed, and shaking with rage than when I watched this. However, it is so iconic and quotable that I feel a personal responsibility to share it with others; the show is called Penthouse: War in Life. Watch at your own risk, and enjoy the wonderfully wacky world of K-dramas.

---

More from Redbrick Film & TV:

Hidden Gems: Lars and the Real Girl

TV Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3

Clark Kent: An Emblem of Love, Hope and Resistance