Iconic K-dramas You Must Watch
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Korean dramas are on the rise. K-pop culture is conquering the West and new territories.
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Young generations are particularly seduced by Korean culture and highly enjoy watching Korean dramas and listening to K-pop.
In this article, we will discuss some of the iconic K-dramas that audiences should watch. These shows are known for their enthralling storylines, touching characters, and original portrayal of South Korean society.
Iconic K-dramas that should be watched
The following Korean dramas are listed in alphabetical order.
"Extraordinary Attorney Woo" is a touching K-drama about a woman with autism who begins a professional career as an attorney.
Although she sometimes struggles to fit in, her extraordinary talents earn her a stellar reputation in the law world.
The first episode came out in June 29, 2022. The series was written by Moon Ji-won and directed by Yoo In-sik.
It stars Park Eun-bin, Kang Tae-oh and Kang Ki-young. The show has broken the record for highest ratings in the history of the South Korean broadcaster, ENA.
It is a hugely popular show in South Korea and is currently the seventh highest-rated television drama by number of viewers.
Before being surpassed by "The World of the Married", this series held the record for highest rated drama in Korean cable television history.
It is a must watch for any fans of Korean dramas out there.
"SKY Castle" focuses on a group of housewives and their luxurious Seoul neighbourhood called "SKY Castle". It is a satirical drama that exposes the lies and deceptions that Korean parents are willing to partake in to secure the best possible future for their children.
The first episode aired on November 23, 2018. Every episode was written by Yoo Hyeon-mi and directed by Jo Hyeon-tak.
Several famous Korean celebrities star in the series including Yum Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra and Kim Seo-hyung.
As mentioned above, this series was very popular when it first came out. It was a commercial and critical hit, winning several Baeksang Arts Awards.
It still remains an iconic K-drama.
"Big Bet" is an action based Korean drama centred around casino gaming developed by Disney+.
The drama is set within a casino in the Phillippines and follows the life of Korean entrepreneur Cha Moo-sik (played by Choi Min-sik) who launches his own casino business.
The drama sees Cha Moo-sik become involved in a murder case and is left to make a final bet of risking the casino empire he has built.
More Korean dramas are starting to incorporate gambling storylines and scenes like "Big Bet". After all, the gaming industry and casino games are very prevalent and popular in Korea. Many locals enjoy casino gaming and playing blackjack, slots and poker.
"The World of the Married" is another extremely popular South Korean show. It follows a married couple as they go through betrayal and the ups-and-downs of their intense, and at times violent, relationship.
This Korean drama is based on a British television series called Doctor Foster and created by Mike Bartlett. The Korean version of this drama was created by Kang Eun-kyeong and written by Joo Hyeon-I.
There are two directors behind the series' episodes, Mo Wan-il and Kim Sung-jin-III. The first episode aired on March 27, 2020.
The main actors, Kim Hee-ae and Park Hae-joon, have both earned several accolades for their wonderful and memorable performances.
In other words, this series is a must watch for any fans of Korean dramas. To this day, it remains the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history.
It also holds the record for highest average rating for a drama on cable television.
Not only was the series a commercial success but it was also a critical success winning several Baeksang Arts Awards.
One of the most iconic scenes of the series can be found in the last episode. We will let you discover the episode and its most impactful scene for yourself, without giving you any spoilers.
Final thoughts
In this article, we mentioned some of the most iconic Korean dramas in the history of Korean television. The series we mentioned are known for their captivating storylines and complex characters.
All of the series mentioned in this article were commercial and critical hits. They have broken several records in the history of Korean television and have become cultural references.
These dramas also discuss and address different aspects of South Korean culture and society. In other words, they are all a must-watch for viewers interested in South Korea.