Starting with Kingdom and Love alarm In 2019, Netflix released dozens of originals K-dramasmany of which are among the best Korean shows in recent years. There are many K-dramas available on Netflix, and not all of them are streaming originals. For example, Queen of Tearsone of the most popular K-dramas of 2024, it was broadcast in South Korea and streamed in several countries on Netflix. That being said, While licensed titles still make up a significant portion of Netflix's K-drama catalog, the streamer is releasing more original Korean content each year.
Netflix original K-dramas are generally limited series with a relatively short number of episodes compared to the usual 16 episodes of a traditional broadcast K-drama. That said, many of Netflix's K-drama web series have had more than one season, including but not limited to Sweet home and squid game. Some of the most prominent Korean actors, writers, and directors have recently collaborated with the streaming giant, which is why Netflix has so many great original K-dramas.
15
Celebrity
(2023)
After some memorable supporting roles in It's okay not to be okay and Sweet homePark Gyu-young led his own Netflix series Celebrity. The series explores the impact of social media on mental health and the dangers of celebrity culture, especially at a time when there are so many social media influencers. Park Gyu-young gives one of his best performances in this show, and while Celebrity is not groundbreaking, does a good job of addressing a serious issue without seeming preachyyou. It's one of Netflix's hidden K-dramas.
14
The Trunk
(2024)
The Trunk was Gong Yoo's long-awaited return almost three years after his previous Netflix show, The Silent Sea. While seeing Gong Yoo in a leading role again after so long was exciting, The Trunk It didn't live up to expectations and wasn't much different from other psychological thrillers. It's a slow show with many mysteries carried by the performances of its main actors. Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin lead The Trunkis cast as two people who signed up for a fake marriage, a classic K-drama trope that gets a new twist in this show.
13
Parasite: The Gray
(2024)
In addition to One pieceNetflix's live-action anime adaptations don't have the best reputation. Happily, Parasite: The Gray it was from a traditional anime adaptation. Instead of retelling the story of the Parasyte manga and using the same characters from the popular anime series, Parasite: The Gray told an original story set in that same world. Considering that most Parasite was set in Tokyo, Japan, Parasite: The Gray took place in Seoul, South Koreameaning the Netflix show followed new characters in a different setting. It was a fresh, creative and well-executed take on the world of Parasyte.
12
Gyeongseong Creature
(2023-2024)
Starring Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee, Gyeongseong Creature has two seasons that can best be perceived as two totally different shows. While the first season is a historical drama set in the final days of the Japanese occupation of Korea that adds a sci-fi twist to the true and horrific story of Unit 731, season 2 brings Gyeongseong Creature to present-day Seoul. The idea of having a 79-year time jump between seasons was interesting, but Gyeongseong Creature didn't have much else to offer. The chemistry between Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee is strong, but their characters never live up to it.
11
Hell
(2021-2024)
One of Netflix's first original K-drama hits, Hell came out about a year later Sweet home and delivered a similar but equally interesting horror story with lots of action and terrifying creatures. Exploring themes of religion and social contract, Hell raised the question of what would happen if “angels of death” suddenly started appearing to condemn people to hell. Hell is full of mystery boxes and never gives the viewer all the answers they are looking. However, this only adds to the show's premise, which is how humans react to something they can't understand or rationalize.
10
The Frog
(2024)
If Song Kang is Netflix's son, then Go Min-si is Netflix's daughter. The same year she reprized her role as Lee Eun-yu in Sweet homeIn the third and final season of Go Min-si, she starred in her own Netflix original series The Frog. A psychological thriller about how trauma can define a person's life forever. The Frog followed two different stories that eventually intersected. Go Min-si undoubtedly has the best performance of his career in The Frog as a woman who has no remorse for her actions and will do anything to get what she wants.
9
The Silent Sea
(2021)
Two months after he stole the show in squid game As the mysterious Salesman, Gong Yoo starred in a different Netflix original K-drama, this time in the lead role. Combining horror and science fiction, The Silent Sea is one of the most interesting Korean shows on Netflix, and it undoubtedly doesn't get the love it deserves. It marked Gong Yoo's return to horror five years after the success of Train to Busanalthough The Silent Sea it had more to do with the ominous atmosphere of a space mission gone wrong than with scares. The Silent Sea It had an independent story and great performances.
8
Love alarm
(2019)
Song Kang is known as the son of Netflix and it all started five years ago with Love alarm. Netflix's first original K-drama to be released, Love alarm it wasn't much different from other romance K-dramas, but it still told a charming story told over two seasons.
Given that this was one of Netflix's first K-drama projects, it made sense to start with a more traditional romance K-drama set in high school and featuring a love triangle. Yet, Love alarm has a fun premise about a futuristic dating app that sets the narrative for one of Netflix's most charming K-dramas.
7
Kingdom
(2019-2020)
While Love alarm was the first original K-drama commissioned by Netflix, Kingdom was the first original Korean series to premiere on the platform. More than five years later, Kingdom still holds up and remains one of the best K-dramas on Netflix. While there were plenty of zombie K-dramas and general monster shows at that point across all networks and streaming platforms, Kingdom did something different by telling a zombie story in the 17th century. With elements of horror, fantasy and romance, Kingdom It has something for everyone and is one of the most entertaining K-dramas available.
6
Sweet home
(2020-2024)
Netflix's first global K-drama sensation, Sweet home paved the way for other big-budget Korean web series such as squid game and We are all dead. With lots of action, fun characters and an exciting cast of up-and-coming Korean actors led by Song Kang Sweet home it quickly became a success. Although a lot changes in Season 2, Sweet home It's still an enjoyable show overall it makes you root for the characters in the midst of a monstrous apocalypse. Song Kang plays a tragic protagonist in a show that also includes the likes of Go Min-si, Park Gyu-young, and Lee Do-hyun.
5
Mr. Plankton
(2024)
Woo Do-hwan and Lee Yoo-mi leading a Netflix original series about two unlucky people who can't seem to figure out their lives seemed like a great premise. Happily, Mr. Plankton lived up to it. With dark humor and lots of chemistry between the main actors, Mr. Plankton was one of the best K-dramas of 2024. Both Woo Do-hwan and Lee Yoo-mi manage to make their characters seem human and relatable. Their love story is as funny as it is tragic, but also full of sweet moments. Not to mention Oh Jung-se's hilarious performance as Eo Heung.
4
my name
(2021)
My Name is a South Korean television series starring Han So-hee as Ji-woo, a revenge-driven woman who infiltrates a drug cartel to avenge her father's death. As he rises through the ranks, Ji-woo must navigate the dangerous underworld of organized crime and confront his own morality.
- Release date
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October 15, 2021
- Cast
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Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-Hyun, Kim Sang-Ho, Lee Hak-ju
- Creator(s)
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Kim Jin-min, Kim Ba-da
- Seasons
-
1
Han So-hee has participated in many romantic K-dramas, including hits such as However with Song Kang, but his best TV show was about action and revenge. A violent show about a girl who becomes part of the mafia to avenge her father's death, my name it was full of twists and turns and allowed Han So-hee to play an action anti-hero. The fact that it was difficult to tell who was right during the show meant that my name incredibly interesting, especially when Ji-woo started to realize that things weren't as simple as she thought.
3
We are all dead
(2021-)
One of Netflix's most-watched Korean shows of all time, We are all dead proved that even a tired concept like zombies could still be an exciting show if done right. We are all dead doesn't try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to zombiesfocusing on making these creatures as scary and intense as possible.
The fight choreography is incredible, especially the way the zombies move and run. With 12 great episodes so far, We are all dead it's action-packed from start to finish, but also has time for character development and romance.
2
The Glory
(2022-2023)
The Glory took the revenge K-drama concept to a whole different level and delivered one of the most intense and violent TV shows on Netflix. The series doesn't shy away from the physical and psychological aspects of bullying and makes the viewer root for Dong-eun, regardless of how far she's willing to go to get revenge. The GloryThe global success of On Netflix came as no surprise, and it has since been considered one of the best K-dramas of all time. The Glory does many things better than other psychological thrillers and it looks like a horror show.
1
squid game
(2021-2025)
It's hard to argue against squid game being Netflix's best original K-drama considering how popular the show has become. Although popularity is not necessarily a measure of quality, squid game became Netflix's most-watched show of all time for a reason. A compelling protagonist played by now-Emmy winner Lee Jung-jae, relatable characters whose deaths were all tragic, and a warped view of children's games are just a few of the reasons squid game it got so big. With both seasons featuring a stellar cast and a fast-paced story that has a lot to say, squid game It's the best Netflix original K-drama.