K-dramashave been rising in popularity since the 1990s, andseveral classic Korean TV shows from the 2000s are essential for beginnersto watch. K-dramas are beloved for their intriguing storylines and talented actors, and there’s no better way to be introduced to them than beginning with the classics. WhileNetflix original K-dramaslikeSquid Game,Kingdom,Sweet Home, andAll of Us Are Deadhave helped international audiences become aware of the subgenre, Korean TV shows were popular before the meteoric rise of these shows.
Classic Korean dramas from the 2000s played a significant role in the careers of popular South Korean actors like Lee Min-ho, Ju Ji-hoon, and Gong Yoo as that’s when most of them were starting out. It’s essential forbeginners to the K-dramasub-genre to watch the classics, as they offer a look into how Korean TV shows are structured and how far they’ve come since then. From romantic K-dramas likeBoys Over Flowersto period dramas likeQueen Seondeok, there are a lot of Korean TV shows to ease new audiences into the subgenre.
Il Ji Mae
Cast
Il Ji Mae is set during the Joseon Dynasty and follows Ryung, a seemingly useless gangster by day and chivalrous robber by night, who targets corrupt officials to aid the poor. Known as Iljimae, he leaves plum tree branches as his signature. The narrative intertwines romance and danger with characters Bong Soon and Eun Chae.
Set in the Joseon Dynasty,Iljimaefollows Lee Gyeom,a nobleman who is betrayed by his uncle, the king. Years later, Gyeom who now goes by Yog-gi seeks to avenge his sister by finding the sword that serves as a clue to his family’s murders. In order to do so, he masquerades as an iljimae at night and steals from the rich with the hopes of finding the one clue he needs to help him in his plan.
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There are plenty of K-dramas perfect for beginners of the genre, but there are also those that would be better for someone already familiar with it.
Iljimaeis basically the South Korean version of Robinhood.It’s action-packed and has no dull moments. Despite the K-drama’s similarities to the story of a thief who steals from the rich in order to give to the poor,Ilijimaeis in a class of its own. While the first few episodes unfold slowly, the father and son story and the romantic subplot more than make up for the K-drama’s shortcomings.
Winter Sonata
Winter Sonata: This romantic drama centers around a woman who encounters a man resembling her deceased first love, leading her to question her impending marriage. As past and present emotions intertwine, the series explores themes of love, loss, and memory, set against a backdrop of wintry landscapes.
Joon-sang and Yoo-jin arechildhood friends whose relationship turns into romance. Unfortunately, Joon-sang gets into an accident and sustains injuries, which means that he can’t remember some things that happened prior to his accident. When the two meet again, Yoo-jin is engaged, but she holds off getting married after she sees her childhood sweetheart, Joon-sang, who is also in a relationship.
With its great actors, heartwarming story, and intense love triangle, Winter Sonata is the perfect introduction to romantic K-dramas.
Winter Sonataisn’t a plain old love story, which isn’t surprising, as most romantic K-dramas usually aren’t.The amnesia storyline elevates the series and thickens the plot.Winter Sonatahas a timeless soundtrack that contributes to why the K-drama is so memorable. With its great actors, heartwarming story, and intense love triangle,Winter Sonatais theperfect introduction to romantic K-dramas.
My Girl
In this Korean drama, Seol Gongchan, a wealthy heir, seeks to fulfill his grandfather’s last wish by enlisting the help of Joo Yoorin, a woman resembling his lost aunt. As Yoorin integrates into his family, an unexpected and forbidden attraction develops between her and Gongchan.
Due to her father’s gambling debts, Joo Yoo-rin is forced to work hard in order to take care of herself. When she meets Seol Gong-chan, they get into a contract that has her pretending to be his sick grandfather’s long-lost granddaughter. In a surprising turn of events, Gong-chan’s grandfather makes a full recovery and the two are forced to live under the same roof. Things get complicated when they begin to develop feelings for each other.
My Girlis a perfect story of fake forbidden love that keeps audiences on their toes as they anxiously wait for the two protagonists’ lies to be discovered.It has a sweet love storythat’s infused with humor and a little bit of mystery. DespiteMy Girlbeing released nearly 20 years ago, it still remains popular with fans of romantic K-dramas.
Full House
Full House follows the life of Han Ji-eun, a naïve writer, who enters a contract marriage with actor Lee Young-jae after losing her home in a scam. Set against their evolving personal dynamic, the series explores themes of resilience, love, and the complexities of modern relationships.
A classic take on the contract marriage trope,Full Housefocuses on Han Ji-eun, a scriptwriter whose best friends trick her into believing she won a vacation only for them to sell her house after she leaves. It turns out the new owner of her house is Lee Young-jae, a famous actor she met on a plane. With nowhere else to go, Ji-eun is forced to stay with Young-jae and work as his maid to buy her house back. When Young-jae decides to get his ex-girlfriend back, he gets intoa six-month marriage contract with Ji-eun, who he begins to fall for.
Full Housewas wildly popular when it first aired, and for good reason. The K-drama is funny and features some touching moments between the two protagonists. While the marriage contract trope is overused,Full Housedid it in a way that isn’t too cliché. It’s the perfect introduction to romantic K-dramas as it shows just how enjoyable they can be.
Sad Love Story
Sad Love Song follows Hye-in, who, after being misled about her true love Jon-young’s fate, begins a new life alone. Years later, with restored eyesight, she returns to Seoul, now a singer engaged to her producer Gun-woo. This series explores themes of love, death, and suspense.
Written by Lee Sung-eun,Sad Love Storytellsa gripping tale of the ups and downs of love. Hye-in is a blind musician who is in love with Jon-young. Their lives take a turn when they are separated: Jon-young goes to Seoul, while Hye-in leaves for America. After spending years believing that the love of her life died, Hye-in, who can now see, returns to South Korea but doesn’t know that her fiancé’s best friend is the same man she loves.
Sad Love Storyplayed a significant role in the Korean Wave as it introduced international audiences to K-dramas.The love story between Hye-in and Jon-young is perfectly told, even though it is predictable and full of clichés. The romantic K-drama has the ability to pull audiences in from its very first episode and keep them glued with its intense scenes. WhileSad Love Storyhas some sad moments, as is implied in the title, it also features happy scenes that balance out the K-drama.
Stairway To Heaven
Stairway to Heaven: This romantic drama follows the intertwined lives of Cha Songjoo and Han Jeongseo, who grew up like siblings after losing a parent. Their bond is tested by family jealousy and hardships, as Jeongseo faces mistreatment from her stepmother and stepsister, while navigating a love triangle.
Stairway to Heavenfollows Jung-suh, a young woman who has faces a lot of adversities in her life. Following her mother’s death, Jung-suh’s father marries another woman who begins to mistreat her.When Jung-suh gets into a car accident, she loses all her memoriesand unknowingly takes on another identity. Even though Jung-suh doesn’t remember who she is, her childhood sweetheart, Song-joo, can’t seem to forget her. When they meet again, they continue their love story, which unfortunately ends tragically.
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In dark romance K-dramas, the grand gestures of love associated with the genre are replaced by emotional storylines guaranteed to move audiences.
The K-drama is brilliantly writtenand takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster.Stairway to Heavenis absolutely heartbreaking and can be a lot for beginners to K-dramas. Nevertheless, it’s still an essential show to watch because not every K-drama has a happy ending, andStairway to Heavenis a testament to that.
Coffee Prince
Set in a bustling coffee shop, this romantic drama follows Eun-chan, a woman who disguises herself as a man to secure a job. Complications ensue as her manager, unaware of her true identity, develops romantic feelings, leading to a tangled web of emotions and identities.
Gong Yoo’s breakout role,Coffee Princesees Ko Eun-chan, a 24-year-old woman who is mistaken for a guy because of how she dresses. Han-gyul is a bit of a spoiled rich man who has never held a job before in his life. After the woman he loves denies his advances,Han-gyul hires Eun-chan to pretend to be his boyfriendso that he can stop going on blind dates his grandmother arranges for him.
Coffee Prince isa K-drama that was ahead of its time when it premiered because ofhow it handled the topic of gender fluidity. Each character in the K-drama was perfectly cast and fully developed, which makes them even more relatable. The theme of having an identity crisis is something that a lot of people can relate to, and Gong Yoo does a great job of showing his character’s struggles. WhileCoffee Princehas some funny moments, it also invokes other emotions like angst and regret, making it a must-watch K-drama classic for beginners.
Queen Seondeok
Queen Seondeok is a South Korean historical drama television series that tells the story of Queen Seondeok of Silla, who ruled the kingdom in the 7th century. The series explores her rise to power, her struggles to maintain unity among the three kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, and her relationships with those around her.
Also known asThe Great Queen Seondeok,the period K-dramacenters aroundthe story of Queen Seondeok’s ascension to the throne. Born a twin, a young Princess Deokman is sent away by her father due to a prophecy. When she finds out her real identity, Deokman sets out on a path of revenge and becomes the first female ruler of Silla.
Queen Seondeokis a biopic of the real queen of the Silla Empire.The drama is captivating from start to finishand gives a glimpse into how Korea was run during that era.Queen Seondeokis a timeless K-drama with two powerful leads that do an incredible job of bringing the historical tale to life. Although the K-drama infuses a lot of historical facts, it does so in a brilliant way that can keep a beginner to Korean TV shows engaged.
Jewel In The Palace
Set in the Joseon Dynasty, this historical drama follows Jang-geum, an orphaned kitchen worker who uses her skills and determination to become the first female physician in the royal court. The series explores her journey against societal norms and the challenges posed by those around her.
Starring Lee Young-ae as Seo Jang-geum,Jewel in the Palacefollowsthe ascension of her character from a royal cook to the king’s physician. Before and after taking on the title, Jang-geum faces a lot of opposition from naysayers. But her hard work and perseverance help her overcome the hurdles she faces.Jewel in the Palace’s revenge plot, palace drama, and powerful tale are enough to keep beginners to K-dramas immersed.
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K-dramas often feature a blend of various genres, ensuring that most shows have a least a bit of comedy to keep things lighthearted and fun.
Jewel in the Palaceis an unconventional K-drama because it is based on a true story.The fact that it has a basis in reality is probably its biggest strength, as it realistically depicts the challenges women went through during the Joseon era. While the 54 episodes can deter audiences who are new to K-dramas, the show’s drama and acting are so good that watching them doesn’t feel like a drag.
Boys Over Flowers
Boys Over Flowers is a 2009 South Korean television series based on the Japanese manga of the same name. The show follows Geum Jan-di, a courageous but impoverished girl who receives a scholarship to attend a prestigious high school. There, she encounters the infamous F4, a group of wealthy and influential boys, leading to complex relationships and social conflicts. The series stars Koo Hye-sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, and Kim Joon.
Based on Yoko Kamio’s Japanese manga series,Boys Over Flowers, the K-dramastars Lee Min-hoand Koo Hye-sun as the primary protagonists. The 2009 romance K-drama follows Geum Jan-di, a high school student who transfers to the prestigious Shinwa High School, where she is bullied by the rich students there. Jan-di catches the eye of Gu Jun-pyo, the heir to Shinwa Group, who at first torments her but then later begins to fall for her.
With its engaging storyline, love triangle, and twists, it’s no wonder that 16 years after it premiered,Boys Over Flowersis still considered a K-drama masterpiece.
Boys Over Flowersis the perfect introduction to romantichigh school K-dramas, as it features all the tropes used in the genre. Not only are the lead actors great, but the story of the rich boy who falls for a poor girl is addictive. With its engaging storyline, love triangle, and twists, it’s no wonder that 16 years after it premiered,Boys Over Flowersis still considered a K-drama masterpiece.
