10 DRAMAS TO GET YOU STARTED ON YOUR K-DRAMA JOURNEY

Do you like Korean drama? Are you addicted to K-drama? Are you new to the world of K-drama? Do you want to dip your toes into the world of K-Drama? Or are you one of those wondering what the fuss is all about and why K-drama and K-culture seem to be prevalent with wide following worldwide? Look no further as I will be giving you the gist on why K-drama is something that is worth getting into and why you too will become addicted once you get started on your K-drama journey.

The term Korean drama, commonly known as K-Drama, is used to describe television series produced in the Korean language by South Koreans. K-Dramas remain one of the most popular dramas worldwide and its popularity can be attributed to the Korean wave and its easy availability and accessibility.

There are multitude of genres in Korean dramas ranging from medical, action, horror, historical, career, and political drama to school, comedy, romance, fantasy, and even sci-fi drama. While most Korean dramas have deep emotion themes and romantic element, different tones and styles can also be felt making it widely loved by viewers. With K-drama, there is something for everybody to watch, be it teenagers, youths, adults, middle-aged and even for octogenarians. Pick any genre, we will surely find something mind blowing and addictive for you to watch.

Like most Nigerians, my entry into the world of K-drama began in 2012 with the popular drama “Boys Over Flowers”. Before then, I had watched just one Korean movie titled “Seducing Mr Perfect”, which was a blend of Korean and English language. Boys over Flowers was my first Korean television series and mehnnnn I enjoyed every minute of it. In fact, it was the first time I allowed my laptop battery to go beyond 15% which for me then was something huge.

Since 2012, I have watched over 200 Korean dramas and in the coming period, I will be sharing some of my experiences with you, doing drama reviews, while making recommendations on Korean dramas that I feel everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime. In this post, I will be sharing with you ten K-dramas to get you started on your journey. This list is by no means exhaustive as I have lots of favourite dramas. It is not also done in order of preference or based on a particular genre but I promise you are in for a fantastic ride- The characters were cool, their acting top-notch, the on-screen chemistry between the actors was amazing, and the storyline itself was superb.

Get ready to be hooked:

Boys over Flower (2009)

Produced over ten years ago, Boys over Flowers remains a favourite among Korean lovers and should definitely be on your must-watch list. With 25 episodes, BOF is a coming-of-age romantic drama that tells the story of a poor student whose life got intertwined with four wealthy young men when she joined their school. It portrays their friendship throughout high school, showing clearly the gap between the rich and poor and the influence it has on friendship and relationship. With casts like Lee Min-Ho (everybody’s boyfriend) and Ku Hye-Sun, this is one drama that is sure to keep you glued to your screen for a very long time.

Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)

Yea, Crash landing on you is one of my recent favourite and my breath of fresh air during the pandemic. In fact, the chemistry between the two lead characters was so amazing that it was not surprising to hear they began dating off-screen. CLOY is a romantic comedy drama that tells the story of a South Korean heiress who due to a storm while paragliding crash-lands into North Korea, a forbidden territory for South Koreans ever since the division of the two countries in 1953. In North Korea, she met the captain of the Korean People’s Army who together with the rest of his crew offered her protection while they made plans to get her out of the country safely. With Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin leading the crew, don’t expect to get bored with this 16-episode drama.

Descendants of the Sun (2016)

Ever wondered how a relationship can work between people with demanding career, look no further. Descendants of the Sun tells the story of a Special Force soldier who fell in love with a Medical Doctor. Watch as they tried to maintain their relationship while their profession threatens to keep them apart.

Legend of the Blue Sea (2016-2017)

If you love Lee Min Ho or you enjoy watching fantasy drama, you will definitely fall in love with this drama. Set in a parallel story line between the Joseon era and the modern period, it tells the love story of a Mermaid and a human.

My Love from Another Star (2013-2014)

This fantasy drama tells the story of an extra-terrestrial alien who landed on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty and fell in love 400 years later with a top female actress. Starring Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun, this 21-episode drama will keep you hooked every moment of it. The drama had widespread admiration and became one of the most popular Korean television program in 2014. Its crew and cast also won several national and international awards, including the Seoul International Drama Awards and the Tokyo International Drama Festival.

Oh My Venus (2015)

I may be biased but any drama with Shin Min-a in it is a must-watch for me. Oh my Venus tells the story of a lady who got dumped by her boyfriend of fifteen years because of her weight. To turn her life around, she gets help from a personal trainer and his friends.

Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)

What do you get when you have Lee Jong Suk in a Drama? I will tell you, you can’t escape getting addicted to that drama. The series is a drama about long years of friendship between a chief editor and a divorcee that gradually transforms into romantic love.

The Secret life of my Secretary (2019)

The Secret Life of my Secretary is a romantic comedy that tells the story of a department manager who became diagnosed with prosopagnosia (the inability to recognise faces) after an accident and had to rely on his secretary for help so as not to lose his position.

Secret Love (2013)

This thriller drama series tells the story of a young woman who took the blame for her lawyer boyfriend who got involved in a hit and run accident that resulted in the death of a pregnant lady. Watch as this lady became the target of revenge by the victim’s lover who later fell in love with her as he began to question her involvement in the case.

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018)

Featuring fans favourite like Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young, this heart-warming romantic drama tells the story of a self-absorbed executive whose world turned upside down when his highly-capable secretary of nine years made known her intention to resign from her position. In order not to lose her, he began questioning the reason behind her decision to quit and what he can do to make her stay.

You can also check out:

The Heirs (2013)

Personal Taste (2010)

King the Eternal Monarch (2020)

While you were Sleeping (2017)

Full House (2004)

Pinocchio (2014)

Secret Garden (2010)

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (2010)

Lie to Me (2009)

World of the Married (2020)

It’s Okay not to be Okay (2020)

Goblin a.k.a Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)

Love in the Moonlight (2016)

Vincenzo (2021)

Gu Family Book a.k.a. Kangchi (2013)

Do you have a favourite K-drama? Let me know in the comment section.