Celebrate International K-drama Day with some of our favorite shows
In honor of Nov. 29, our JoySauce writers rounded up some of their favorite K-dramas of all time
Choi Woo-shik & Kim Da-mi in Our Beloved Summer
SBS
Words by JoySauce
In 2023, Rakuten VIKI designated Nov. 29 as International K-Drama Day. Back again this year, it is the perfect time to celebrate the magic of K-dramas—stories that not only entertain but also bring people together and can even boost mental health. While this isn’t an exhaustive list of the incredible shows out there (or even just this year’s hits), it’s a personal roundup of JoySauce writers’ all-time favorites. From heart-stopping romances to edge-of-your-seat thrillers, these picks reflect the power of K-dramas to captivate, comfort, and connect.
Our Beloved Summer (2021)
For a while now, I believed there had never been a K-drama that truly encapsulates what love feels like, but Our Beloved Summer quickly changed my mind. Years after filming a documentary in high school, ex-lovers Choi Woong and Kook Yeon-seo vowed to never meet again, but as fate would have it, they are pulled back in front of the camera to discuss the viral video 10 years later. Having to face their complicated feelings in their first reunion since their break-up, both characters struggle to be in each others’ presence. Seeking closure from the pain they endured as each others’ first loves, these ex-lovers fear if they fall back in love again, that the pain will be too much to overcome. As someone that has been dating their high school sweetheart, this K-drama really pulls at the heartstrings and is one of the greatest representations of true love going the distance.
-Sofia E. Gomez
Our Beloved Summer is available on Netflix.
Yes, it may be a bit cliched of me to bring up this drama, but when asked to list my favorite K-dramas, I can't tell a lie and not talk about Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, or Goblin for short. The cast is made up of some of the best Korean actors working at the time and today. There's Gong Yoo playing the main character Kim Shin, a legendary general cursed with immortality as a Goblin, but a handsome, debonaire one, of course. His love interest Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), who at the time of meeting Kim Shin is about 19 years old, which is yeah...super sketchy at best. I won't deny it. It is my least favorite detail of the drama. *sigh* Kim Shin's part-time nemesis and eventual best friend, the Grim Reaper—or Reaper as I affectionately call him—is played by none other than Lee Dong-wook, and the way their friendship blossoms is equally hilarious and iconic as scenes of their interactions have inspired countless reenactments and parodies in many other dramas and films across Asia.
I can't not mention the soundtrack. It's a classic and perfect. The main theme "I Will Come to You Like the First Snow," sung by Ailee, is one of my all-time favorites, and the cinematography, set design, and costuming are flawless. Some of the best ever.
-Carolyn Hinds
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God is available on VIKI
Kingdom (2019)
As far as zombie serials are concerned, the historical drama Kingdom is the only one I rewatch from time to time. Its carefully constructed plot, calculating court officials, and various character reveals keep things interesting, while balancing apocalyptic gore with moments of levity, humanity, and distinctively Korean identity. Ju Ji-hoon plays the hesitant prince coming to terms with his birthright as he rises to the occasion in a world threatened by power grabs and the undead. Written by Kim Eun-hee (Signal), the storyline has good pacing with a solid cast, which includes Bae Doo-na, Kim Sang-ho, and Ryu Seung-ryong.
-Melissa Kim
Kingdom is available on Netflix
A Virtuous Business (2024)
An inspiring and comedic K-drama, A Virtuous Business tells the story of four women from the village of Geumje who venture in door-to-door sales of adult products in the early 1990s—a time when sex was a taboo subject to embrace. Facing scorned village women who are against the sales of products that promote “sinful” behavior, it leaves the women feeling like the world is at odds with them. As they each seek out financial independence despite the negative response, the women go from coworkers to friends, becoming each others’ rocks as they endure their own struggles outside of work. You might be thinking, why would anyone rank a fairly new K-drama so high on their list? Seeing how four women build a community together for the common goal of resilience and freedom, it should come as no surprise how this K-drama brought a newfound sense of motivation back into my life as a woman.
-Sofia E. Gomez
A Virtuous Business is available on Netflix
In this eight-episode series based on a bestselling novel (not to be confused with the feature film version), Nam Yoon-su (Extracurricular) shines in this thoughtfully written, acted, and directed drama in the BL (boy love) genre. It’s a beautiful story with a full character arc that wastes no time in immersing viewers in lead character Go Young’s journey and vulnerability; your heart breaks when his heart breaks, weighs heavy with each disappointment, and rises with every promising suitor. The story is contextualized with what it means to be queer in a country where it’s still socially taboo, but what’s front-and-center is getting through life’s ups and downs while pursuing that almighty adventure: trying to find love. Love in the Big City brings us the days of young adulthood and unfolds like an independent film while it plays out like an intimate conversation.
-Melissa Kim
Love In The Big City is available on VIKI
Moving (2023)
If you love superhero stories with heart, Moving is a must-watch. This 2023 Korean drama blends action, fantasy, spy intrigue, and family drama, weaving together the lives of three teens and their parents as they grapple with newfound superpowers. Based on Kang Full’s hit Kakao webtoon, it reminds me of NBC’s Heroes in how it balances grounded, interconnected character stories with high-stakes thrills. Featuring an A-list ensemble cast—Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung, and Go Youn-jung—it became the most-watched Korean original on Disney+ and Hulu in its first week, with season two already in production. JoySauce has already gushed about this genre-bending marvel, and it’s easy to see why.
-Daniel Anderson
Moving is available on Disney+ internationally and Hulu in the United States.
Published on November 28, 2024
Words by JoySauce