The Best K-Dramas to Watch on Netflix

The world of Korean dramas is a strange and beautiful place. As K-pop and Korean movies like Parasite and Minari and Korean dramas take over the world, the South Korean entertainment industry is slowly gaining dominance worldwide. The term Korean drama or K-drama refers to almost any South Korean scripted television series, whatever its plot or genre. That includes comedy, romance, sci-fi, horror, you name it.

Most of these television series are based on webtoons, a form of storytelling similar to comics that originated in South Korea. Whatever the genre (except maybe horror), there's almost always a love story woven in. Recently, Netflix has started bringing together the best K-drama series for US audiences, and many shows have been labeled Netflix Originals. This partnership and the shift to streaming has also changed the business and structure of K-dramas; previously, almost all K-dramas ran around 16 episodes and only one season. While Korea and its media are still generally conservative, international audiences are certainly pushing their perspective to become more inclusive and representative of people of all kinds.

We've put together every kind of K-drama series you can watch on Netflix. Let's take a look at the best K-dramas you can watch on Netflix!

The Best K-Dramas You Can Watch on Netflix in 2023

The Silent Sea

Director: Choi Hang-yong

Cast: Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, Lee Joon, Kim Sun-young, Kim Si-a, Lee Moo-Saeng

A sci-fi horror series set in space, The Silent Sea follows a team sent to investigate an abandoned research facility where a tragedy has occurred. Tasked with retrieving valuable samples that could lead to the creation of more water, a vital and expensive resource in the future, the crew is met with an unknown horror when they enter Balhae Station. With Bae Doona and Gong Yoo leading this cast, you already know it's going to be good. Full of mysteries and twists, The Silent Sea can completely fool you with betrayals generously scattered throughout a dystopian story.

Crash Course in Romance

Creators: Yoo Je-won, Yang Hee-seung

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Kyung-ho, Lee Bong-ryeon, Roh Yoon-seo

Crash Course in Romance is a captivating, chaotic South Korean drama written by Yang Hee-seung, who worked with director Yoo Je-won on the show. Crash Course in Romance cleverly plays with bittersweet romance tropes to create a series that's universally entertaining. Jung Kyung-ho finds himself in the role of Choi Chi-yeol, a math instructor famous at the elite Pride Academy, while Jeon Do-yeon plays Nam Haeng-seon, a small business owner with a heart of gold. With Lee Bong-ryeon and Roh Yoon-seo also in the cast, Crash Course in Romance has a lovable and heartwarming first season.

The Fabulous

Creators: Kim Jeong-hyeon, Kim Ji-hee, Im Jin-sun

Cast: Choi Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Seong Park, Jacqueline Misaye

The Fabulous follows the young and glamorous lives of a group of best friends in Seoul as they chase big dreams and fight to find their place in the dazzling fashion industry. Like The Bold Type, The Fabulous covers these characters' interpersonal relationships and professional passions, romantic encounters, and nightlife adventures in a big city. Starring Choi Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Seong Park, and Jacqueline Misaye, The Fabulous lays bare the heartbreaks of young love, the overwhelming disappointments encountered along the way, and the dynamic passions that keep dreamers moving forward.

My ID is Gangnam Beauty

Creator: Gi Maeng-gi

Cast: Im Soo-hyang, Cha Eun-woo, Jo Woo-ri, Kwak Dong-yeon

My ID is Gangnam Beauty is a touching South Korean series that tackles universal themes like social pressure, unattainable beauty standards, and bullying. My ID is Gangnam Beauty explores the life of Kang Mi-rae (Im Soo-hyang), a shy, bullied college student who gets surgery to change her appearance. Also starring Cha Eun-woo, Jo Woo-ri, and Kwak Dong-yeon, My ID is Gangnam Beauty was praised by critics for its honest portrayal of appearance-based discrimination and the superficial standards South Korean society faces. Though the show isn't without controversy, My ID is Gangnam Beauty is still a fictional television series and doesn't lack for drama.

The Heirs

Directors: Kang Shin-hyo, Boo Sung-chul

Cast: Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Ji-won, Kang Min-hyuk, Kang Ha-neul

It may not be the newest K-drama, but its star-studded cast created one of the most-watched Korean series in the world. In what is essentially a Cinderella story (or even a Gossip Girl story), Park Shin-hye plays Cha Eun-sang, an ordinary girl who gets caught up in the affairs of a group of wealthy heirs. She lives in their house as the daughter of a live-in housekeeper and enrolls in their high school. There she meets Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho), the family's son, and against all odds, the two fall in love. Both Lee and Park came off major projects around the time of The Heirs, and it became a hugely popular show in a short time. A perfect time capsule of what Korean dramas were trying to accomplish in the 2010s.