K-dramas are an incredibly popular genre among audiences — here are the best K-dramas with more than one season. Out of all the wonderful things that K-dramas have to offer fans, it does come with one slight flaw. It's common for K-dramas to only go up to a certain number of episodes. This means many shows only make it to one season, and it's unlikely a second installment is created. Don't be surprised if a show is tagged with one season, but has a separate second installment.
K-drama fans do have a glimmer of hope as some shows broke the mold and provided viewers with the best K-dramas with more than one season. As the genre of television has gotten more popular, leading to things like the best K-dramas on Netflix, streaming services have forgone the stereotype and given fans what they were dying for: a chance to see their favorite characters' stories continue. Most of these K-dramas are internationally acclaimed and have garnered immense popularity overseas, leading studios to give viewers more installments.
15 Let's Eat (2013)
- Available to stream on Tubi.
When it first premiered in 2013, Let's Eat was received well by Korean audiences due to its lighthearted atmosphere and incredibly charming cast, leading to it becoming one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. The K-drama mostly focuses on Lee Soo-Kyung (Lee Soo-Kyung), who is a divorcee that loves great food. As she settles in her new place, she meets her neighbor Goo Dae-Young (Yoon Doo-Joon), who happens to also be a foodie.
Let's Eat returned for a second season in 2015, but this time around it primarily follows Dae-Young who has moved to the small town of Sejong. What enticed viewers to the show is its interesting story and scenes with delicious Korean food. Despite shifting its focus, Let's Eat maintained solid viewership numbers for both of its successive seasons.
14 Welcome To Waikiki (2018)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
Welcome to Waikiki is a slight expectation of the more than one-season rule, but it's still one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. The first season debuted in 2018 with a total of 20 episodes. Three different young men open a guest house called 'Waikiki' in Itaewon. They may not know how to run it but are eager to make money to help start their movie. Their lives get complicated with the arrival of a guest who's a single mother.
The second season isn't considered a season, but a second installment. It's titled, Welcome to Waikiki 2. The only difference is that the main characters from the first season were written out of the new storyline. One character remains and as his career is down in the dumps, he hopes to revive the guest house. The series was so popular that it got a Vietnamese remake, titled Nhà trọ Balanha.
13 Vampire Prosecutor (2011)
Vampires are still popular, even in K-dramas, and the series Vampire Prosecutor is arguably one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. The police procedural show has similar vibes for fans of iZombie. Instead of eating brains and a zombie, it's a respected prosecutor who gets bit and becomes a vampire. With a strong sense of justice, the prosecutor finds a way to use his new abilities to help deceased victims. He drinks the blood of the deceased to find out their past.
Viewers loved the investigative aspect and supernatural elements of the show. The first season ran from October to December of 2011 for twelve episodes. Shortly after, in 2012, the show got its second season and concluded after eleven episodes. Vampire Prosecutor was so well-liked among audiences that it received the highest viewership rating of every Korean cable drama of 2011.
12 Chief Of Staff (2019)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
Chief of Staff is perfect for any television fan who's intrigued by drama, politics, and some romance and it's one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. Jang Tae-Jun (Lee Jung-Jae) is a decisive and strong-minded person who becomes the chief aide of a lawmaker. Tae-Jun has many higher ambitions he plans to succeed in.
On the other end is a first-year lawmaker who's making a name for herself. Kang Seon-Yeong (Shin Min-A) is ambitious and dedicated as she rose the ranks of being a lawyer and a current affairs host. There's tension as she has an awkward relationship with Tae-Jun. His boss is rivals with the senior lawmaker who got Seon-Yeong to where she is. Chief of Staff is one of the best legal K-dramas and was nominated for an Excellence Award at the Korea Drama Awards.
11 Love Alarm (2019)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
One of Netflix's biggest K-dramas that rose to fame was Love Alarm in 2019, and it's one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. It became one of the most popular webtoon-based shows thanks to its affecting plot, jealous characters that formed fierce love triangles, and a heart-wrenching story. The end of the first season left fans disappointed as they didn't know the fate of the main characters.
Viewers got their wish when Netflix announced the development of a second season that premiered in 2021. Love Alarm's second season met fans' expectations of seeing where Jo-Jo, Sun-Oh's, and Hye-Young's story would lead. The new installment also had fans shocked and baffled at certain storyline outcomes. While it didn't win any accolades, Love Alarm was nominated for four awards at the Seoul International Drama Awards.
10 Voice (2017)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
The thriller procedural K-drama Voice had audiences hooked since its debut in 2017, and it's arguably one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. The show had a bit of everything that kept fans intrigued from episode to episode. Each episode dealt with a new heinous criminal, life-threatening 911 calls, and an overall connecting storyline. Voice centered around the creation of a Golden Time team responsible for answering and dispatching police to distressing 911 calls.
The first season had a bigger story; a 'mad dog' detective goes off the rails when his wife is murdered while at work. Years later he meets and teams up with a tough policewoman with acute hearing skills. The show's success led to a second season with some of the same main characters but still tied to the previous season. Lead actor Jang Hyuk won a Korean Film Shining Star Award for his portrayal of the hardened detective Moo Jin-hyuk.
9 Work Later, Drink Now (2021)
- Available to stream on OndemandKorea.
In the K-drama Work Later, Drink Now, three single women in their thirties often meet after work and enjoy drinks together. One of the best K-dramas with more than one season, the main characters of the show are An So-Hee (Lee Sun-Bin), a news writer, Han Ji-Yeon (Han Sun-Hwa), a yoga teacher, and Kang Ji-Gu (Jung Eun-Ji) an online streamer.
The show's deep focus on the friendship of the main characters, slice-of-life narrative that remains realistic and grounded, as well as its comedic scenes have captured the hearts of audiences. That's why the show has been renewed for a second season, which premiered in December 2022. Work Later, Drink Now was critically acclaimed and received two awards, including an Excellence Award from the APAN Star Awards for Han Sun-Hwa and the Bechdel's Choice 5 at Bechdel Day.
8 Hello, My Twenties (2016)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
Hello, My Twenties is a perfect title for the 2016 drama, and one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. The coming-of-age drama was created in mind to be relatable with young audiences going through their twenties. The story revolves around five women, all in their twenties, living together in a share house called "Bell Opaque."
The five women are strangers at first and with strikingly different personalities. Over time, they start to bond over the struggles and pains of growing older. The main characters go through many ups and downs, blissful moments, and even love. The second season premiered a year after the first installment in 2017. Hello, My Twenties has won awards at the Korea Drama Awards and the Asia Artist Awards, with three accolades in total to its name.
7 Stranger (2017)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
The crime thriller K-drama show Stranger will have any viewer wanting more after every episode, making it one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. The show was a major hit with domestic and worldwide audiences, and it was included in the New York Times' Best TV Shows of 2017. Fans praised the show for its thrilling plot elements and performances. The show focuses on two main characters. Hwang Si-Mok (Cho Seung-Woo) is a top prosecutor who loses his ability to empathize.
He teams up with Police Lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin (Bae Doona) in solving a murder. They soon realize their efforts to seek justice are being thwarted by corruption and a conglomerate. The second season brings back the main characters, but this time, there's tension as the prosecutor's office and police fight for control over investigations. Stranger won the Grand Prize at the Seoul Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards, as well as two other Baeksang Arts accolades.
6 Yumi’s Cells (2021)
- Available to stream on Viki.
The show Yumi's Cells is a great show for those unfamiliar with K-dramas since it features a unique storyline and visuals not usually seen in other K-drams. In one of the best K-dramas with more than one season, a woman is unreceptive to romantic advances as her "love cell" falls into a coma. With the help of a game engineer and her other cells, the woman soon learns how to love again.
The show might feel a little bizarre at first as it intersperses animated scenes of the cells with real-life shots that features its main actors. Thanks to its humor-filled script and no-nonsense narrative, a second season of Yumi's Cells was greenlit and premiered on TVING. Yumi's Cells placed fifth on NME's "10 Best Korean Dramas of 2021" list, and has garnered accolades at the APAN Star Awards, the Asian Academy Creative Awards, and the Blue Dragon Series Awards.
5 Kingdom (2019)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
When it comes to the zombie apocalypse theme tied with a historical setting, Netflix's Kingdom has done well amongst a worldwide audience, and it's one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. The political period horror thriller premiered on Netflix in 2019 and was adapted from a webtoon series. The show focused on the Crown Prince dealing with the tainted political conspiracy behind his father's death as a mysterious plague turns humans into ravenous monsters.
With the show's success came a second season that premiered in 2022. The season picks up after the end of the first with the prince trying to protect his people from the plague. He must also deal with protecting his dynasty. In particular, the costuming and historical setting has been praised, winning the series a Technical Award at the Asia Contents Awards. In addition, the series has garnered an award for its writing and a Best Actor award for Ju Ji-hoon.
4 Hospital Playlist (2020)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
Five doctors who have been friends since medical school are the main characters in the drama Hospital Playlist, one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. In the show, the main characters go through the challenges that most doctors encounter in their career, while also trying to navigate their personal lives. The show has some tender moments that will make viewers cry, but also feel comfort and compassion.
Hospital Playlist was renewed for a second season thanks to its strong portrayal of female characters, emotionally-driven plot, and excellent performances from its lead actors. One of the best medical K-dramas out there, Hospital Playlist has consistently ranked high on a number of K-drama lists from publications like Teen Vogue and NME. In addition, the series has 14 awards to its name, mostly because of the show's incredible music and cast.
3 Dr. Romantic (2016)
- Available to stream on Viki.
Dr. Romantic was a commercial hit when its first season debuted in 2016, making it one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. After a tragic accident, Boo Yong-Joo (Han Suk-Kyu) leave his high-profile life as a triple-board certified doctor at the country's top medical center. After changing his name, he becomes a doctor at a small hospital in the Gangwon Province.
Yong-Joo becomes the Chief Surgeon at Doldam's Hospital and guides two other great doctors to reach their utmost potential. Unlike others, Yong-Joo encourages his staff to push aside politics and fight against corporate power for the sake of their patients. The show's second season aired in 2020. Dr. Romantic has garnered international acclaim and is the recipient of 19 awards, including accolades from the SBS Drama Awards, the Baeksang Arts Awards, and the Asia Artist Awards.
2 Squid Game (2021)
- Available to stream on Netflix.
There's no doubt that Squid Game was a global phenomenon and one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. The K-drama had an interesting plot: people who are struggling financially are given the chance to solve their woes by competing in a survival competition for the entertainment of rich people. However, things in the show suddenly took a dark turn when the contestants found out that their lives are at stake with every game.
Squid Game's plot isn't entirely unique, but the way it touched on themes like social classes and income inequality resonated with viewers. The show has been renewed by Netflix for a much-awaited second season and Squid Game season 2 is set to premiere sometime in 2024. While the series hasn't won any awards, it is arguably the most well-known Korean drama among audiences today, a household name even for those who don't normally partake in the K-drama genre.
1 The Penthouse: The War in Life (2020)
- Available to stream on Viki.
Making its way as one of the most binge-watched and popular K-dramas of 2020 and 2021 is The Penthouse: The War in Life, one of the best K-dramas with more than one season. If looking for a show with intense, stifling, and jaw-dropping drama, this show is perfect. The first season revolves around the stories and lives of wealthy families living in Hera Palace. Each family has high ambitions for their children to succeed and would do anything to protect them.
Their lives are turned upside down when a mysterious girl falls to her death at a party at Hera Palace. Their secrets, lies, and suspicions make for a riveting story. The second season continues where the first left off as the lies of the main characters come back to bite them. The Penthouse has a whopping 19 awards to its name, including multiple awards from the SBS Drama Awards, the Seoul International Drama Awards, and the Baeksang Arts Awards.