15 Best K-Dramas of 2024

From record-breaking romance to revenge dramas full of incredible twists and turns, 2024’s best K-dramas Have been nothing short of entertaining. While some of these shows were well-anticipated successes, others were a big surprise and proved that a Netflix release is not critical to the international success of a K-drama. In this way, the future of the genre looks even more exciting.

The shows of 2024 are some of ​​the best K-dramas of all time and are all binge-worthy, despite their very different tones and stories. Career best performances, tightly woven storylines and incredible K-drama couples are just some of the keys to their individual successes and showcase the best of what the genre has to offer. The 2024 K-dramas make bold choices to provide hours of entertainment And compare them as a must-watch for all K-drama fans.

15

LTNS

Starring Esom and Ahn Jae-hong

Before it airs on TV in 2024, LTNS (an acronym for No sex for a long time) premiered its first two episodes at the Busan International Film Festival. This was in line with the release schedule since two episodes aired weekly during the series in South Korea.

The show is definitely a unique take on relationship troubles for a couple, which is part of the reason people are so interested in tuning in. It featured an estranged couple teaming up to catch cheating significant others. While one works initially as a taxi driver, the other works the desk in a hotel. Their lives change due to one friend cheating on another, leading to this new, unconventional career path to make money.

The duo no longer have a physical relationship, and the new career venture has them rethinking their connection to one another. The dark comedy is a very entertaining way to explore the dynamics of the relationship. The series earned nominations at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Blue Dragon Series Awards, so it’s clear that audiences and award committees agree.

14

Doctor Slump

In the game Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik

K-dramas offer a wide variety of medical shows in much the same way that American medical procedurals do. While some are about medical mysteries, others are about the main characters’ relationships. The latter is the case for 2024s Medical slump. It’s not so much about medical expertise, but a growing love story.

The series sees two characters who were rivals as students reunite as adults. The two both work in the medical field, but they both lose their jobs as doctors due to their different circumstances and end up moving in together. Although the series has some pacing issues, overall it is an excellent examination of how two people can think of each other as enemies during one era of their lives and grow to care deeply for one another in another era.

13

Captivating the king

Starring Jo Jung-suk and Shin Se-kyung

Historical K-dramas are incredibly popular in South Korea and outside the country. They often allow those outside the country to get a look at customs and events that Koreans are already familiar with. They also provide great stories of love, mistaken identity, and in some cases, time travel.

Captivating the king is one of the most popular historical K-dramas to release in recent years. There is a king who is miserableUnable to trust anyone around him, and the person he plays baduk with. As it turns out, he is right not to trust anyone. The man with whom he plays Baduk is actually a woman who has disguised herself and turned into a spy in the hope of taking revenge on the royals. Along the way, however, her quest for revenge means that she gets to know him, and that she falls in love with him.

Captivating the king It actually steadily increased viewership from the first episode to the last when it aired. The finale had double the viewers of the first.

12

Chief Detective 1958

Starring Lee Je-Hoon and Park Yeong-han

The K-drama Chief Inspector Ran from 1971-1989, long before K-dramas were more likely to be a single season than have multi-season arcs. Chief Detective 1958 is actually a prequel series for the long-running K-drama.

Although most period dramas in Korea go hundreds of years in the past, Chief Detective 1958 is set just a decade before the events of the original series. It spans the late 1950s to 1960s, giving an inside look at a group of detectives before the age of modern technology helped in solving cases. Criminal profiling is not yet developed, forensics is still in its infancy, and corruption can make it difficult for detectives to solve petty crimes.

It takes a more classic look at a crime procedural than any modern series usually does. With a large ensemble cast where each character is very different from one another, getting to know the characters is as interesting as watching them solve cases.

11

The Midnight Studio

Starring Joo Won and Kwan Nara

The Midnight Studio Also called Midnight Photo Studiois based on the novel Night photo studio By Kim Yi-rang, who also worked on the TV series. The series may not have had huge ratings when it originally premiered in March 2024, but it has garnered a lot of interest due to its fascinating concept.

There follows a lonely photographer who many of the living see as prickly. That’s okay since he devotes much of his time to photographing the dead instead. The series reminds the audience that “photos are all about memories,” which has been the job function of the photographer’s family for generations. They photograph the dead’s last memories.

The episodes are largely procedural in nature, as each one features the photographer and those around him learning the details of a different ghost. In the overall story of the show, however, the photographer trying to escape the curse that has his family photographing the dead and dying himself through 35. Of course, it is also a love story, but it is platonic rather than romantic love, because the connections between the characters are fully explored for the fascinating story.

10

Parasite: The Grey

Starring Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan & Lee Jung-hyun

Parasite: The Grey is one of several 2024 K-dramas that delves into the meaning of life And it does so through spectacular visuals and great acting. Parasite: The Grey is based on the Japanese manga parasite And is the third live-action installment of the series, following Parasite Part 1 (2014), Parasite Part 2 (2015), and the anime Parasite: The Maxim (2014). Parasite: The Grey Expands the universe by exploring the effects of parasites outside of Japan through a deftly written script that mixes horror with deeper meanings.

Parasite: The Grey May have roots in manga and anime, but there’s no need to see the original to appreciate its story. Parasite: The Grey is at its best when leaning into its horror elements, which make for some thrilling moments in the K-drama. The CGI is generally well done and makes the wild parasites feel alive. Although thrills are the best part of Parasite: The GreyThe build-up of Jeong Su-in’s (Jeon So-nee) character deepens the show’s emotional connection and takes it one step further as a great watch.

9

Gyeongseong creature

Starring Park Seo-Joon and Han So-Hee

Despite the majority of the first season of the horror K-drama at the end of 2023, Gyeongseong creatureThe second part was a great way to start 2024 For the genre. An intense historical K-drama, the show focuses on real-life atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Unit 731. Much like Parasite: The Grey, Gyeongseong creature is horror at heart but balances several genres and plotlines to elevate it beyond just a story full of gore.

Gyeongseong creature is not without its faults, as some elements of the story felt dragged, and the first few episodes ran a little slower than they should have. despite this, Gyeongseong creature Has an all-star cast and incredible production value that makes the romantic and political elements thrive on screen, providing a thoroughly enjoyable watch. moreover, Gyeongseong creatureThe second season shifts its premise by moving from 1945 to the present day.

8

Flex X Cop

Starring Ahn Bo-hyun & Park Ji-hyun

Flex X Cop is a welcome change of pace as it focuses more on comedy rather than the thrills of the drama. However, it still finds time to inject heart-wrenching emotion into some of its more intense moments to create an overall well-balanced K-drama. Ahn Bo-hyun takes the helm as Jin Yi-soo and does a great job of showing the different sides of the chaebol cup. He works effortlessly with Park Ji-hyun, who gives a reliable performance that allows Flex X Cop The grounding it needs.

Flex X Cop could have quite easily strayed into extraordinary territory and still restrained himself by humanizing the initially eccentric Jin Yi-soo. moreover, Flex X Cop is filled with many well-developed storylines that allow the crime K-drama to maintain a great pace and also engage in a tonal shift that feels cohesive to the lighthearted tone with which it initially appeared. Flex X Cop has already been renewed for a second seasonAnd, when you see how much the series is already capable of, the next installment is just as gripping as the first.

7

Play death’s game

Starring Seo In-guk & Park So-dam

Play death’s game Has one of the most star-studded casts in K-drama history Thanks to the ever-shifting appearance of its leading character, Cho Yi-jae (Seo In-guk), who has to live the lives of 12 others and avoid dying to beat Death (Park So-dam) and her own game. Although Seo In-guk and Park So-dam have very little screen time due to Play death’s games concept, their performances are incredibly impressive. Along with them, a range of well-known faces in the K-drama industry bond together to portray a dark yet human story that delves deep into the meaning of life.

Although the first part of Play death’s game Released in December 2023, the second part came out on January 5, 2024 and certainly made the wait worth it, thanks to a devastating cliffhanger. Play death’s game It is not afraid to for Play death’s game It even earned an impressive 8.5 rating on IMDb, making it One of the highest rated K-dramas of 2024 so far.

6

Pyramid game

Starring Kim Ji-yeon (Bona), Jang Da-ah and Ryu Da-in

Since its release, Pyramid game is dubbed Squid gameIt’s the perfect replacement. The titular play that sees violent bullying legitimized and the commentary on social class that comes with this twisted popular vote bears many similarities to the popular Netflix thriller. however, Pyramid game is much more than Squid games replacement And is easily one of the best K-dramas of 2024 thanks to its twisted premise that constantly shifts the narrative in unexpected ways.

Pyramid gameIts almost entirely female cast is the biggest selling point. Unlike most popular K-dramas that are full of big names, the majority of Pyramid gameS cast are fresh faces in the genre. This includes Jang Da-ah, who makes her on-screen debut as the antagonist Baek Ha-rin, but gives a breathtaking performance for a rookie actress. Every character in Pyramid game is easy to define but difficult to predict, and the ever-changing voting system that enables agreement rather than dissent is horrifying but thrilling to watch, making Pyramid game A K-drama that is one of the must-watches in 2024.

5

Wonderful world

Starring Kim Nam-joo, Cha Eun-woo, Kim Kang-woo & Im Se-mi

Wonderful world marks the actress Kim Nam-joo (Misty, my husband got a family) returned to television after a six-year hiatus, and she certainly did not disappoint. Wonderful world Is A revenge thriller Full of complexities that sees Kim Nam-joo give an exceptional performance As Eun Soo-hyun, who is quickly thrust into a world of mystery after the death of her son. The series also stars Cha Eun-woo, who sheds her typecast to give an equally layered performance that adds further intrigue to Its history.

Wonderful world Deftly mixes mystery and suspense to keep the audience guessing. The show also explores difficult subjects through themes of grief, guilt and redemption. Like many of the best K-dramas of 2024, Wonderful world Keep up with the momentum it’s building to create a show that’s an interesting and heartbreaking addition to the genre.

4

Marry my husband

With Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, Song Ha-yoon and Lee Gi-kwang.

2024 started on a high note thanks to Marry my husband. Revenge K-dramas are one of the most beloved in the genre, and Marry my husband It is good to stand out in an oversaturated landscape Like something completely new, and also give the same amount of thrills that audiences have loved from the genre. Marry my husbandThe intoxicating mix of fantasy, comedy, romance and revenge is hard not to watch all in one sitting as new information is brought to light.

Although Marry my husbands later episodes lose steam compared to the rest of the series, the outstanding performances of the show’s main cast members make up for it. Song Ha-yoon’s performance as the show’s antagonist, Jung Soo-min, is a particular standout, making Marry my husbands revelation all the more shocking. On the other hand, Park Min-young’s portrayal of leading character Kang Ji-won’s newfound second chance at life grounds Marry my husband And makes it incredibly entertaining to watch from start to finish.

3

Nice runner

Starring Kim Hye-yoon & Byeon Woo-seok

Nice runner is one of the biggest surprise successes of 2024. Despite issues plaguing the production, the final result is magical and is certainly worth the wait. According to SoompiIn its premiere week alone, Nice runner Ranked #1 on the streaming platform Rakuten Viki in over 130 countries, proving that not all K-dramas need a Netflix release to find overwhelming international success.

on the outside, Nice runnerThe concept is nothing more than an avid K-pop fan trying to save her favorite idol from an antibiotic death, but in moments, the show ditches the idea and instead lays the groundwork for a drama that’s full of sincerity and great chemistry between Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok. Along with this, Nice runnerIts nostalgic look at the past evokes a great feeling of warmth And is one of the reasons for its resounding success.

2

A shop for killers

Starring Lee Dong-wook & Kim Hye-jun

After the success of K-dramas such as 2023’s MovingHulu’s K-dramas continue to impress with the release of A shop for killers In January 2024. A shop for killers Literally starts with a bang in a high-tension first episode that throws audiences straight into Jeong Ji-an’s (Kim Hye-jun) new world as she uncovers the dark secrets of her uncle Jeong Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook) his death A shop for killers Never loses momentum and just keeps building from its incredible opening.

The performance of K-drama veteran Lee Dong-wook is a standout in this series, with Kim Hye-jun also an excellent vantage point for the viewers as the new face in this strange world. A shop for killers Deviates from a traditional K-drama narrative to focus on a tightly wound, character-driven story Which replaces romance with incredible action scenes. Switching between the past and present can dull a story, however A shop for killers Expertly Balance it out.

1

Queen of tears

Starring Kim Soo-hyun & Kim Ji-won

Although there were many great K-dramas in 2024, none had the same impact as Queen of tears. Queen of tears broken Crash landing on yous record and became TVN’s most watched K-drama of all time, with a Nielsen viewing figure of 24.8% for the finale. It remained in the top 10 globally as one of Netflix’s most watched non-English shows for a total of 15 weeks (that of June 16, 2024, via Netflix). Queen of tears‘ Overwhelming success can be attributed to many things. However, there is one reason that the series has attracted so much attention this year.

There is no doubt that Hong Hae-in and Baek Hyun-woo’s relationship will be one of the best K-drama romances of all time. Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun’s career-best performances as the turbulent married couple and their incredible chemistry make every moment they are on screen together absolutely magical, turning what could have been a romantic fantasy into something incredibly real. Queen of tears It may not have stuck its ending, but its build-up was so thrilling that It’s hard not to consider it the best K-drama of 2024.

Source: Soompi, Netflix