Not too long ago, Korean dramas rarely came up in conversation among Western audiences. But in the past few years or so, the so-called Korean Wave, or influence of Korean culture and music. has brought with it a surge in popularity for Korean TV. While Kpop has been on a steady rise for some time now, K-dramas are a little later to the party. Whether it’s the need for subtitles or some other reason, they can be a hard sell for some. Even so, the rise of Korean content on streaming services like Netflix and the wide variety of genres under the K-drama label have boost their popularity among Western audiences.
The Korean Wave Streaming Now
Especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, people everywhere were turning to streaming services as a means of both escape and entertainment. Netflix, in particular, has a huge catalog of Korean TV shows available to stream across the West. Perhaps the most notable is Squid Game. Released in 2021, which also happened to be during the pandemic, the show became an almost instant hit. Even people who had never watched Korean content before and probably wouldn’t now, were watching. But why? For one, the writing, acting, and cinematography were top notch, conveying emotions and social commentary that broke the language barrier. The premise of death games is also a well-loved one in the West with counterparts like The Hunger Games.
Since then, Netflix and other streaming service catalogs have expanded even further. The choices range from traditional dramas steeped in Korean culture and history to post-apocalyptic and supernatural stories. Now, content that was once inaccessible to Western audiences, is just a click away. Let’s take a look at some of the shows stealing viewers’ hearts.
1. Squid Game
Starting with the most notorious of them all. This series combines sharp social commentary on class and greed with innovative death games. The premise is that the main character, Seong Gi-un, whose looming debts push him to accept a strange invitation he receives in a subway station. What he finds is a series of children’s games with grave consequences. He and hundreds of other players, united in their desperation, compete to be the last standing and get their hands on an elusive cash prize.
2. All of Us Are Dead
For fans of Train of Busan, The Walking Dead, and teen dramas, this zombie-filled show is the perfect mix of all three. A science lab in a South Korean high school becomes a prison when a zombie outbreak leaves students fighting for their lives. The story centers on friends and their struggle to survive without joining the growing horde. All the while, the outside world struggles to contain the crisis.
3. Crash Landing on You
Romantic K-dramas are one of the most popular among Western audiences. The love stories in these shows hit all the right notes of drama and swoon-worthy pay-offs. Crash Landing on You is one of those dramas and also boasts a unique premise for the romance genre. The show follows an upper-class businesswoman with everything going for her. However, a paragliding accident lands her on the North Korean side of the border where she meets a soldier. He helps to hide her and guide her back to safety, leading to an unexpected and whirlwind romance.
4. Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Extraordinary Attorney Woo gained attention for its heartfelt storyline and representation uncommon in other K-dramas. Park Eun-bin plays an autistic attorney who despite graduating top of her class finds doors closed to her based on stereotypes and assumptions about her ability. That is until she gets a job at a top law firm and uses her skills to prove her naysayers wrong. The show is funny and romantic, as well as important.
5. Vincenzo
Song Joong-ki is one of those Korean actors that easily captured the hearts of Korean and Western audiences alike. He leads this next show as the beloved anti-hero, Park Joo-hyung, better known as Vincenzo. Adopted by the mafia, he grows up in Italy. But when his adoptive father dies and once-family turns on him, he returns to Korea. There, he enacts a secretive plan and seeks his own form of justice. Vincenzo manages to be dark and gritty without being over-the-top and features powerhouse performances from its cast.
6. The Glory
Speaking of powerhouse performances, no conversation would be complete without mentioning The Glory. A teacher haunted by the traumas inflicted by childhood bullying meets a new student, the daughter of one of those school bullies. This sets in motion a dark plan for revenge. Song Hye-kyo as Moon Dong-eun evokes all the suffering of a victim and the desperation of someone looking for revenge. Lim Ji-yeon as Park Yeon-jin brings to life the evil of the perpetrator that caused this suffering without being unrealistic. These two and the rest of the cast bring to life an important story that speaks to real-life school violence in Korea.
7. Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class is another drama that tackles themes of school violence and class in Korean society. The series centers on a high school student named Park Sae-Ro-Yi. When his attempts to fight the system leave him and his father with nothing, they struggle to keep their heads above water. Later, an accident kills Sae-Ro-Yi’s father, leading him to beat the perpetrator and land himself in prison. After his release, he aims to start a new life and business in Itaewon, but revenge is always on his mind.
9. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
While Hospital Playlist is a very popular medical K-drama that is wonderfully funny and worth checking out, why not check out some of the newer dramas out there. This Netflix original is perfect for fans of first-responder shows like 9-1-1, Grey’s Anatomy, and Station 19. It has all those crazy, probably unrealistic but definitely fun, calls that fans love. Combined with a cast of quirky characters, this show is a recipe for chaos and hilarity.
8. Weak Hero
Last but not least, this is one of the newest K-dramas on the list. Though the first season has been out since 2022, it was not widely available to Western audiences unfamiliar with platforms like Viki. Now, the first season is available on Netflix and the second, Weak Hero Class 2, just got added to the streaming service. Yeon Si-eun is a high school student who seems unassuming upon first glance. But what his bullies quickly learn is that his wit and smarts are more than a match for them. Soon, he strikes up an unexpected friendship with two other boys and the three fight back against their tormentors.
The K-dramas on this list are just a small taste of what Korean television has to offer. Themes of class, inequality, and school violence are common threads found in dramas ranging from the historical to the modern and the apocalyptic. These dramas are also starting to move forward in terms of representation, a step that will hopefully continue in the future. What we do know is that K-dramas are gaining worldwide recognition and the wave isn’t stopping anytime soon.
