Best Korean dramas to stream on Netflix and Disney+

Based on the novel of the same name, this action-packed drama hooks viewers with its gripping storyline across just eight episodes. Upon the sudden death of her uncle (played by Lee Dong-wook), Ji-an learns about the suspicious shopping mall he left behind. As mysteries of the past come to light, Ji-an is forced to be on the run from some of the planet’s deadliest assassins.

Available on Disney+

Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik reunite for this thought-provoking romcom after starring in the hit teen drama The Heirs 10 years ago. Once high-school rivals, the two overachievers become doctors and unexpectedly cross paths while experiencing rock bottom. One is a celebrity plastic surgeon in the middle of a medical malpractice incident, and another is a depressed anaesthesiologist who struggles to find pleasure in life beyond work and studies.

Available on Netflix

This webtoon-based series features a star-studded cast that includes Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Jo In-sung, and Cha Tae-hyun. Following a group of high school students with superpowers inherited by their superhero parents, Moving unfolds into a complex tale with assassins, underground organisations, and government secrets. Beyond the intriguing plot, the show also has plenty of heartwarming scenes that will get you teary-eyed.

Available on Disney+

Korea has no shortage of scandalous dramas about the dark side of the rich and the things they do to hold onto wealth and prestige – but Celebrity hits differently. This thriller is about Seo A-ri, a young woman who is thrown into a life of fame, fortune, and power through the glamorous world of social media influencers. As she makes her way to the top, A-ri realises that every step comes with a steep price. 

Available on Netflix

Starring Uhm Jung-hwa as the protagonist, this light-hearted, hilarious 16-episode drama follows Cha Jung-sook, a housewife of 20 years who decides to return to her medical career as a first-year resident. Restarting your career two decades later is hard enough, let alone working in the same hospital as your unfaithful husband!

Available on Netflix

King the Land is your classic swoon-worthy K-drama that tells the romantic story between Goo Won, the heir of luxury hotel conglomerate The King Group, and Cheon Sa-rang, a hotel concierge who always has a smile on her face. Sa Rang is thrilled to land a job at the King Hotel where she has fond childhood memories, while Goo Won is thrown into a fierce battle of inheritance. Despite their initial differences, the two eventually fall deeply in love with each other.

Despite the cliche plot, the drama gained huge popularity thanks to plenty of funny and romantic moments and the chemistry between Yoona and Junho, making it one of the most streamed Korean dramas on Netflix in 2023.

Available on Netflix

There's something ever so intensely terrifying about Korean zombies – but we just can't get enough of them. All of Us Are Dead is a 12-episode series that follows a group of high school students who find themselves trapped and in need of rescue from a zombie invasion at their school. With no food, water, internet, or even a landline, the students must come together and fight for survival – even if that means killing their friends and throwing them off buildings. Now is a good time to (re)watch the series as season two is set to return soon!

Available on Netflix

Plagued by a never-ending streak of bad luck, third-rate layer Park Chang-ho is forced to take on a murder case in an attempt to turn his life around. But it didn't take long for his life to go from bad to worse when he finds himself imprisoned and entangled in a complex conspiracy that threatens more than just his career.

Available on Disney+

Shin Ha-ri agrees to go on a blind date in place of her best friend to scare away her date by acting – let's just say, rather 'unusual'. Little did she know that her date turned out to be the new CEO of her company. The rest that follows, as I'm sure you can imagine, is a series of hilarious banter, lies and deceit, and of course, plenty of swoon-worthy moments. It's the classic Korean romcom recipe.

Available on Netflix

"Woo to the young to the woo!" Extraordinary Attorney Woo was perhaps one of the most talked about K-dramas on Netflix in 2022 having spent 17 weeks on the streaming platform's Global Top 10 list. Heart-warming but without a dull moment, the series revolves around Woo Young-woo, a rookie lawyer on the autism spectrum, and her adventures both in and out of the courtroom. With actress Park Eun-bin brilliantly portraying the loveable character on screen, the show nudges the audience to reflect upon various societal issues that might otherwise be overlooked.

Available on Netflix

Sim Eun-seok is a tough and charismatic judge who has been newly appointed to a district that's known for its high juvenile delinquency. As a victim of juvenile crime, Judge Sim must set aside her bias and aversion for juvenile offenders as she is presented with complex cases one after another. 

Available on Netflix

One Dollar Lawyer is a courtroom comedy about a talented pro bono lawyer named Cheon Jihun, who has made quite a name for himself by helping those in need win cases against huge law firms for just KRW1,000 per case. Meanwhile, Baek Mari is a hard-headed assistant attorney who was born into 'legal royalty' as her grandfather founded the famous Baek Law Firm. But when she's forced to work with Jihun for two months, his unorthodox ways gradually cause her to question everything she's ever believed in.

Available on Disney+

Move to Heaven tells the touching story between Geu-ru, a young man with Asperger’s syndrome, and his ex-con uncle Sang-gu, who suddenly becomes his guardian after Geu-ru’s father passes away abruptly. Working as trauma cleaners who have to clear out the apartments and possessions of the deceased, the pair slowly begin to learn what it means to be a family as they uncover different stories left behind by those who have departed.

Available on Netflix

In this revenge-fuelled action-crime drama, Kim Do-gi is a vigilante who fights for justice for those who have been wronged. Disguised as a ‘taxi driver’ for Rainbow Taxi, a secret organisation that offers ‘revenge call’ services for victims whom the law failed to protect, Do-gi and his team always make sure that justice is served in the grandest and most painful way possible. Some of the cases in the series are based on actual true events that took place in South Korea, so it’s especially satisfying to see the outlaws finally get what they deserve.

Available on Netflix

Quite ​​possibly one of the most talked-about K-dramas of 2021, this dark comedy stars Song Joong-ki as Vincenzo Cassano, an Italian lawyer and Mafia consigliere who returns to South Korea amid a life-threatening feud. Upon his return, Vincenzo sets out to retrieve a lump sum of gold kept inside a secret underground vault in Geumga Plaza. In doing so, he forms a bond with the tenants of the plaza, including righteous lawyer Hong Yoo-chan and his daughter Hong Cha-young. Together, the trio devises a plan to take down the evil corporation Babel Group and protect the tenants, but not without plenty of fists thrown in the air, jaw-dropping twists, and genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

Available on Netflix

Song Hye-kyo steps into the role of a victim of ruthless bullying in high school, seeking revenge on her bullies with a slow and vengeful plan 18 years later. A blend of fiction and true events, The Glory addresses the serious issue of bullying and school violence in Korea, nabbing the Best Drama, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress awards at the 59th Baeksang Arts Award. 

Available on Netflix

Starring Jung Hae-in, D.P. sheds light on the dark side of Korea’s mandatory military service and follows the D.P. (Deserter Pursuit) team whose mission is to capture army deserters. The first season delves deep into the injustice, bullying, and hazing within the military, while the second season focuses more on corruption and LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Available on Netflix

Of course, we can’t complete the list without Squid Game, the highly acclaimed series that turned into a global sensation in 2021. Inspired by the director’s own financial struggles and the large wealth gap in South Korea, this nine-episode chilling tale of humanity follows a gambling addict who receives a mysterious invitation to take part in a survival game with 455 other cash-strapped players to play deadly children’s games to win a tempting prize to pay off their debts. 

Season two is on the way with the next round of death games, and if you want to take on the thrilling challenges of the games yourself, check out Sandbox VR’s Squid Game VR game in Hong Kong.

Available on Netflix

Son Ye-jin plays a South Korean chaebol heiress, who finds herself stranded in North Korea following a paragliding accident and crosses paths with an army officer (Hyun Bin), setting the stage for a cross-border, forbidden love. This epic and hilarious love story also brought the two actors' on-screen chemistry to real life as the two tied the knot in 2022!

Available on Netflix