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If you’re new to the world of Korean drama, it may be hard to know where to start, or which ones are worth your time. The list below are dramas that I think will help ease you into it, as they’re both popular and have easy to digest plots. I’ve categorized the Kdrama picks into separate genres, so there is something for everyone. Some of these are catalysts that spurred my passion for Korean drama, so maybe you’ll find luck with them too.
Music
Dream High is about a group of high school students at a performance school and their journey in becoming pop idols. While they pursue their dreams, the young teens learn about love, friendship, and what it means to push past their limits to keep challenging themselves. With its aspirational theme and straightforward plot, Dream High makes for a great introduction to both the Kpop music industry and Korean drama. The diverse range of characters, from a hidden gem country bumpkin to an overweight yet talented vocalist, are all relatable and memorable.
After their school became closed down, a rock band transfers schools, where the leader of the band meets his muse. The real story begins after a tragedy in the first few episodes, and from there, it forced the band to learn about friendship, rivalry, and love. Shut Up Flower Boy Band is your classic underdog story pertaining to high schools bands. It makes for a great beginner’s Korean drama because the storyline is easy to follow while touching. Its unique perspective is something that a lot of people will enjoy and appreciate.
Action
The hero of the story, Lee Yoon Sung, was kidnapped by his father’s best friend as a child, and raised to revenge against the government officials who sent his father on a dangerous military mission and hid it from the world. Through his efforts of cleaning out corrupt politicians, he became known as “City Hunter”, but finds it harder and harder to complete his mission as he falls in love with a Blue House bodyguard. City Hunter has the perfect balance between romance, melodrama, and action. It’s got a little bit of everything for those who are new to Korean drama and unsure what to look for.
Healer is about a mysterious night courier, who can be paid to get anything besides murdering done with no questions asked. He begins to work undercover as a rookie reporter to uncover the secrets of his past, with the help of his colleagues who don’t know his true identity. Healer is a great taste testing Korean drama for those who are into hidden identities, fearless female lead, and thrilling action. It’s got a truly compelling story and full of surprises as the characters grow and discover their interconnected fates.
Historical
In this partial historical drama (sageuk), a scholar from the Joseon era finds himself transported into the 21st century, where he meets an actress playing the role of his queen, In Hyun. He has to learn about the modern society, while traveling back and forth between Joseon and the present to unravel mysteries from his past. Queen In Hyun’s Man is a great place to jump into historical dramas because it switches between the past and present, which eases you into the cultural context of a sageuk and ancient Korea. Also, with its amazing characters and romantic scenes, the drama is bound to capture the attention of any viewer.
The premise of The Moon Embracing the Sun is both a romantic and political one. Our heroine Wol is next in line to become the new Joseon queen, but an attack from enemies of the court led people to believe she’s dead. With no memories of her past, she becomes a shaman. The current King and her childhood friend, Hwon, finds something familiar about her, and starts to look into his old friend’s supposed death. The drama makes a good introduction to sageuk for new viewers because it’s got a good balance of court drama and love triangles, making it uniquely engaging but not too heavy to digest.
Supernatural
400 years ago, an alien landed on Earth, and has been among the population ever since. In the present time, he falls in love with a popular actress. This is the premise of the hugely successful Korean drama, My Love From the Star. Its popularity is not unfounded though, as it makes for an all-around great drama with fantastic acting and beautifully filmed time pause scenes. Viewers get to see behind the scenes of an actress’ life, making celebrities seem more human and relatable. Also mixing in other themes of romance and comedy, My Love From the Star would grab the attention of any viewer.
Master’s Sun is about a woman, Gong Shil, who can see ghosts, and Joong Won, who has the ability to prevent ghosts from coming near Gong Shil. Their relationship begins with a lot of friction, but quickly becomes stable with lots of well-acted humorous and romantic scenes along the way. From start to finish, the great acting performances, straightforward storyline, and entertaining appearance of random ghosts make it a lighthearted drama full of surprises. Viewers can find themselves easily lost in a sea of laugh-out-loud moments and grow to love the quirkiness of the main characters.
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