Summary

• K-dramas on Netflix are gaining popularity in Western culture, thanks to subtitles and the global explosion of K-Pop.
• Not all K-dramas are dramatic - some have romantic or suspenseful elements that keep audiences hooked.
• The best K-dramas on Netflix cover a range of genres, from legal procedurals to historical zombie thrillers.

The best Korean dramas on Netflix underscore just how widespread South Korean pop culture has become. Alongside the global explosion of K-Pop, K-drama series and movies are becoming more and more entrenched in Western culture as well. Just as K-Pop listeners don't necessarily need to understand the Korean language to enjoy the country's music, subtitles have made it possible for audiences to binge as many Korean shows or movies as they want.

Many viewers in the West are likely already familiar with some of the best Korean movies on Netflix, like Train to Busan and Okja. However, not all Netflix subscribers may be aware that there are dozens of K-dramas already on the streaming service, just waiting to be discovered. Despite the name, not every K-drama is a dramatic show, though most of them do have some kind of romantic or suspenseful elements that draws audiences in and leaves them on the edge of their seats. These are 25 of the best Korean dramas on Netflix right now.

For more streaming recommendations, be sure to check out the best movies on Netflix and the best TV shows on Netflix.

25 Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)

A Legal Procedural K-Drama

Woo Young-woo is an autistic lawyer who graduated at the top of her class at Seoul National University. The titular Extraordinary Attorney Woo stands out from her neurotypical peers because of her often blunt and awkward social graces. However, her photographic memory and sheer intelligence give Woo an edge in every legal case she tackles throughout the single-season show's 16 episodes.

Apart from being a notable advancement in the mainstream representation of those on the autism spectrum, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix for being a balanced legal procedural unafraid to tackle ethical dilemmas. It's a definite must-see for viewers looking for K-dramas with badass female leads.

24 Kingdom (2019)

A Historical Zombie K-Drama

Kingdom ranks highly among the best Korean dramas on Netflix for combining two of the most oversaturated genres in South Korea - zombies and the Joseon era - yet arriving at something truly fresh and memorable. Though it seems strange to mix 16th-century Korean history with supernatural zombies, Kingdom showed how the two genres could perfectly play off each other in 2 seasons and 12 episodes.

While the medieval setting lays the foundation for the zombies to be based on Asian mythology, the zombie plague in turn highlights the overt class war and political maneuvering typical of Joseon era shows. Kingdom also has some of the best costumes and sets in K-drama history.

23 Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)

A Romantic K-Drama

As a coming-of-age romance, Twenty-Five Twenty-One is - at first glance - just a traditional K-drama that focuses on yet another unlikely love story. However, it actually cleverly reveals the complex lives of five individuals from 1998 to 2021, and Twenty-Five Twenty-One's 16 80-minute episodes rightfully deserve a place alongside the best Korean dramas on Netflix.

Told across two generations, Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a fun, touching "riches-to-rags" tale that breaks away from K-drama conventions without alienating the most long-time K-drama audiences. Twenty-Five Twenty-One is also one of the highest-rated shows in the history of South Korean cable television.

22 Queenmaker (2023)

A Political K-Drama

Surprisingly, not based on any specific true story, Queenmaker nonetheless authentically captures the cutthroat world of mayoral politics in Seoul, South Korea. Inspired by the very real politics, glamor, and sometimes violence that marks the election season in Seoul, Queenmaker follows public image expert Hwang Do-hee as she campaigns for human rights lawyer Oh Kyung-sook - the "Rhino of Justice" - to become the next mayor.

For 11 episodes, Do-hee, Kyung-sook, and their team not only face Korea's greatest politicians but also put their lives in danger, in the hope of a better future for Seoul and themselves. Queenmaker is one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix for viewers looking for a near-perfectly crafted modern political epic.

21 Hellbound (2021-)

A Supernatural Thriller K-Drama

There are many supernatural K-dramas on Netflix, but none of them are quite like Hellbound. The premise is that "angels" appear to certain people to decree the specific time and day they will die, at which point several hulking anthropomorphic "demons" manifest to exact the decree, burning the person alive and presumably sending them to Hell.

Inspired by Korea's real, massive megachurches, cult leaders use this unexplained phenomenon to dramatically raise their numbers and authority over the public. Extremists commit misguided violent acts driven by the prophecies. Yet, all hope is not lost, as there are still those who continue to seek the truth about Hellbound's demons and decrees.

20 Mr. Queen (2020-2021)

A Time Travel K-Drama

Time travel is another common trope in K-drama, and Mr. Queen is one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix for the way it puts a decidedly fresh spin on an overused plot device. In Mr. Queen, Jang Bong-hwan is one of the head chefs at the famed Blue House. After getting in trouble at work and finding himself in a near-death experience, Bong-hwan is suddenly transported to the Joseon era.

The big twist is that Bong-hwan not only travels through time, but also ends up in the body of Chorin, the Queen of Joseon. Bong-hwan must find a way to return to his body in the present - while falling in love with the king.

19 Vincenzo (2021)

A Crime Thriller K-Drama

Vincenzo Cassano, also known as Park Joo-hyung, was just 8 years old when he was adopted by the head of the Cassano crime family, Don Fabio. Vincenzo rose to the ranks and became Don Fabio's consiglieri and right-hand man, but when Don Fabio dies, Fabio's biological son attempts to kill Vincenzo.

He then flees to Seoul to unearth the 1.5 tons of gold he has stashed under a building, which he finds illegally overtaken by the Babel Group. Using the skills he learned as a career criminal and legal advisor to his Italian crime family, Vincenzo works to take down the Babel Group and reclaim what's rightfully his.

18 Narcos-Saints (2022)

A Crime Thriller K-Drama

In the nation of Suriname - the original name of Narcos-Saints - civilian entrepreneur Kang In-gu is recruited by the authorities in an operation to capture Jeon Yo-Hwan, the Korean drug lord who controls the entire South American country. Quickly, In-gu learns to become an undercover agent for the National Intelligence Service of Korea, getting closer and closer to Yo-Hwan throughout Narcos-Saints' 6 episodes.

Among the best Korean dramas on Netflix for those who loved Narcos and Narcos: Mexico, Narcos-Saints is also based on a true story. In real life, the said drug lord's name is Cho Bong-haeng, who controlled Suriname from the late '90s to the early 2000s. Meanwhile, the civilian who caught Cho Bong-haeng remains anonymous for his safety.

17 Mystic Pop-Up Bar (2020)

A Supernatural K-Drama

To atone for a heinous crime she committed 500 years ago, the hot-tempered Weol-ju was cursed to settle the grudges of 100,000 souls, causing her to become the proprietor of the Mystic Pop-Up Bar.

Joining Weol-ju in running this magical pojangmacha is the Crown Prince Yi-hon, a former Afterlife Police Agency officer who was in love with Weol-ju, and was allowed to work as the bar's manager to be at her side. The third staff member of the Mystic Pop-Up Bar is Han Kang-bae, a young man who can make anyone he touches confess the truth. Undoubtedly one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix, Mystic Pop-Up Bar is a fun supernatural series steeped in Korean mythology.

16 My Name (2021)

A Crime Thriller K-Drama

After witnessing the death of her gangster father as a child, Yoon Ji-woo turns herself into a killing machine to seek revenge in My Name. While on an undercover mission for her father's gang, Ji-woo becomes a police officer under the pseudonym Oh Hye-jin, where she uncovers unsettling truths about why her father was killed.

Apart from being one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix, My Name is also among the most compelling crime noir series in streaming history. Playing out over 8 episodes, Ji-woo's revenge plot, her tragic romance, the gritty South Korean underworld, and the extremely bloody fight scenes in My Name have all the elements of a classic noir story.

15 Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019)

A Historical K-Drama

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung is one of the best K-Dramas on Netflix right now. The series in question aired in 2019 for a total of 40 episodes. The TV show is perfect for anyone who is into historical shows because it's set way back in the Joseon Dynasty, a period of time that lasted from around 1392 to 1897.

One of the best K-Dramas for beginners, the series follows Goo Hae-ryung, a woman who starts working as an intern as a government historian. This is a unique position for her because, in this time period, women who attempted to gain knowledge and power were somewhat looked down upon.

14 My First First Love (2019)

A Romantic K-Drama

My First First Love is certainly one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix at the moment, and it was released on the streaming service in 2019. The series is a reboot of a K-Drama that aired in 2015, My First Time, and is a fun series to watch for anyone that likes romance and drama.

The steamy K-Drama My First First Love follows five friends who all find themselves living in the same house for a variety of different reasons. Being in such close quarters leads to their lives intersecting in new and unexpected ways and leads to a ton of drama, romance, and some budding friendships.

13 Memories Of The Alhambra (2018 - 2019)

A Sci-Fi Thriller K-Drama

Memories of the Alhambra aired from December 2018 through January 2019 for a total of 16 episodes. One of the best Korean dramas on Netflix, Memories of the Alhambra begins and is mostly set in Spain, but some episodes in the latter parts happen in South Korea.

The series follows Yoo Jin-woo, a businessman who travels to Spain to meet the mysterious creator of an AR game. There, he meets and falls for Jung Hee-joo, the owner of the hostel where he's staying. The two of them become tangled up in a mystery stranger than they could have ever dreamed of.

12 When The Camellia Blooms (2019)

A Romantic Thriller K-Drama

A total of 40 episodes aired for When the Camellia Blooms. What makes it one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix is its unique plot, which is a combination of classic k-drama rom-com with thriller elements. The series follows a woman named Dong-baek. Dong-baek is a single mother who opens a bar named Camellia in the town of Ongsan.

Her life becomes complicated when a police officer comes into Camellia and falls for her, determined to win her affection even though Dong-baek isn't interested. Unfortunately, Dong-baek's status as a single mother makes their potential relationship complicated. The real twist is that a killer terrorizing Ongsan further complicates things for them.

11 Part-Time Idol (2017)

A K-Pop K-Drama

Undoubtedly, K-Pop is a global phenomenon. Groups like Red Velvet, BTS, and BLACKPINK have become incredibly popular with audiences all over the world. There are even a lot of K-Pop idols that star in different K-Dramas, so it's no surprise that one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix is all about K-Pop idols.

The series follows a music producer who steps back from the entertainment industry for a while. He returns to the industry and finds a group of trainees working in his company and decides to take them under his wing to debut them as a co-ed K-Pop group.

10 Oh My Ghost (2015)

A Supernatural K-Drama

Oh My Ghost follows a young woman named Na Bong-sun who isn't exactly all that popular or confident. Thanks to the powers that her grandmother had, Na Bong-sun is also able to see ghosts.

One day, Bong-sun life changes when she becomes possessed by a spirit named Shin Soon-ae who believes that she's not able to move on to the afterlife because she didn't have any romantic relationships while alive. Shin Soon-ae decides to make up for lost time and try to remedy that while in Na Bong-sun's body so that her spirit will be released. It's one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix for supernatural k-drama fans.

9 Crash Landing On You (2019 - 2020)

A Romantic K-Drama

One of the best Korean Dramas on Netflix at the moment, Crash Landing on You is highly involved, with each installment running about an hour and fifteen minutes in length. All in all, it's a charming dramedy that has somewhat high stakes and a healthy level of intrigue.

Crash Landing on You follows main character and South Korean heiress Yoon Se-ri, who experiences a terrifying paragliding accident that forces her to make a crash landing in North Korea. There, she meets a member of the North Korean army named Ri Jung-hyuk, whom she falls for while he helps her to hide throughout 16 episodes.

8 Divorce Attorney Shin (2023)

A Legal K-Drama

Divorce Attorney Shin is one of the best Korean Dramas on Netflix right now. With each of its 12 episodes lasting about an hour, Divorce Attorney Shin is an interesting watch for those tired of the typical K-drama fare.

Showcasing great Korean drama friendships, the story begins when Lee Seo-jin approaches divorce attorney Shin Sung-han to be her representation in her complicated divorce proceedings. While the series is an ensemble effort, it mostly follows the life of Shin as the various dramas of his sphere of friends unfolds, making his life all the more complicated.

7 Chocolate (2019 - 2020)

A Romantic K-Drama

Chocolate is a K-drama that began airing in November 2019 and is widely considered one of the best K-Dramas on Netflix. Chocolate finished its run in 2020 and consists of 16 episodes, each running a little over an hour in length.

Featuring a heartfelt plot and a talented pool of actors, Chocolate follows a man named Lee Kang who dreamed of becoming a chef but ended up becoming a neurosurgeon instead. Moon Cha Young is a young woman who once met and tasted a dish that Lee Kang had cooked, which inspired her to become a chef. When the two cross paths as peers, they slowly grow closer and closer.

6 Love Alarm (2019 - 2021)

A Romantic K-Drama

Love Alarm aired for a total of 14 episodes and two seasons. The two seasons are pretty short, so it won't take long to get caught up, and this Korean drama is just fun to watch as it's boosted by the charismatic cast.

In Love Alarm, the likable characters deal with a popular app that alerts all of its users if there's someone within a 10-meter radius who has romantic feelings for them. That makes it so there's potential for a touching love story at almost any moment, while also utilizing the relatability that comes with downloading an app for romantic purposes.