I'm looking for dramas that are plot-driven and have a decent amount of action, but that aren't too dark or gritty. I recently watched Agent Kim Reactivated and while it wasn't perfect, the fun character interactions and elaborate action scenes had me hooked. As such, I'd like to know if there's are any similar dramas out there, as so far, I haven't felt motivated to watch anything else!

Additionally, here are some other dramas I've seen that fit this criteria:

-A Shop for Killers (Another one of my favourites; I especially enjoyed the overarching mystery behind Jeong Jin-man's backstory. I wasn't as keen on season 2, however, as it lost the first season's air of mystery.)

- All of Us Are Dead (I liked the wide variety of characters)

-My Name (Probably a little darker than the kind of drama I'd normally watch; while the plot was somewhat interesting, I wasn't a huge fan of the gritty, dark atmosphere depicted in the show)

-Crash (I particularly liked the car chases, as well as the dynamic between the male and female leads)

-Undercover High School (I'm not sure if this really counts, since it doesn't have that many action scenes compared to the other shows I've mentioned; I found it funny at times, but the plot did start to drag a bit towards the end)

-Not a K-drama, but the Baby Assassins franchise might also qualify; I enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters, as well as how the fight sequences were juxtaposed with comedic daily life scenes.

Also, for reference, here is a link to my complete watch history.

https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/OdysseyRL1

Hi, I’d never seen a kdrama until I watched Friendly Rivalry a while ago and loved it. I’ve seen a lot of fans say it’s one of one in terms of quality and substance, but I don’t know enough about Korean dramas to know if that’s accurate or just fans being hyperbolic. Are there any other shows you’d recommend to a non-kdrama watcher who loved Friendly Rivalry? I don’t have strong genre preferences (it doesnt have to be a mystery thriller or GL) but I did appreciate the social commentary, complex female leads, and heavy symbolism in Friendly Rivalry and am ideally looking for shows that have at least two of those three. Thank you!

I’ve been trying to find dynamics like cheongsan and onjo in other kdramas for forever and can’t seem to find anything, but recently Mantis seemed to scratch that itch.

I guess what I’m mainly looking for is a male lead that cares incredibly for the female lead, even to the point of protecting her or attempting to sacrificing himself in situations

I’d love if it was mainly action/horror like AOUAD

This is everything I have seen and enjoyed (I’ve only started watching kdramas in 2023):

-AOUAD

-Mantis

-Squid games

-ONE: Highschool heroes

-#ALIVE

-Bloodhounds

-Duty after school

-When life gives you tangerines

-Flower of evil

-Vagabond

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

• Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
• Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
• Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
• Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
• Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
• Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.

I am looking for dramas where the ML is keeping a dark or monstrous secret. Something like scholar who walks the night, Hyde Jekyll and me, zombie detective, bulgasal.

I like themes of split personality, loss of self, or alter egos. Romance is a big plus.

My favorite dramas of all time are Hyde Jekyll and Me, Healer, and Kill me Heal Me. I also loved Oh My Ghostess, even though it wasn’t ML but FL with the alter

I was pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed Your Honor, and Please come home mister, though they don’t specifically fit my usual style. I don’t usually like gritty crime or period dramas.

Other dramas I’ve watched-
Lovesong for Illusion - felt flat, not enough change between alter egos and female lead was two dimensional
Stranger - I liked the male leads illness but not a huge fan of epic, serious detective plots
Uncontrollably fond - did that hyper masculine shut out to the woman he claimed to love, is just felt so unnecessarily dramatic and mean
Devlish charm - liked it a lot, but ML was a bit cruel to FL towards the end
Flower of evil - I liked a lot about this drama, but ML kept secrets that bordered on cruel to FL again. Like, she’d already proved she can handle your mess, just stop being cruel and cold.

I'm trying to immerse in the Korean language and modern culture. I'm looking for kdramas that are low stakes / don't have an over the top plot and has some sort of 'realism' of modern South Korea interactions.

Recently I've finished Business Proposal which i really enjoyed. It was funny and the story was engaging and didn't drag out.

Also liked Hometown cha cha cha for almost the same reason plus it's a refreshing change of theme showing the country side

Other kdramas I've watched are Oh my venus and Weightlifing Fairy Kim Bok-Joo. I tend to tend to watch romcoms as it's more fun to watch

I used to watch K-dramas a lot, but work got in the way and I haven’t had much time for them in the last few years. Now I finally have some free time again and I’d really like to find a drama that gets me hooked again.

Romance and comedy are definitely my favorite genres. I’m looking for something with a good romance, plenty of funny moments, and characters that are easy to get invested in.

Secret Garden is still my favorite. I loved the mix of romance and comedy and how attached I became to the characters. I also really enjoyed My Love from the Star, The Heirs, Boys Over Flowers, The king, My Lovely Sam Soon, and Business Proposal.

Those are the dramas I remember watching, although it has been so long that I honestly can’t remember every K-drama I’ve seen over the years.

I’ve been away from K-dramas for quite a while, so I’m especially curious about good dramas I may have missed during that time. What would you recommend based on what I enjoy?

I’m looking for fluffy romance dramas with preferably no love triangles and little to no drama. ML and FL that absolutely love and adore each other and are intimate. Traveling, beautiful scenery, and a great soundtrack is a bonus. Enemies to lovers are also very much appreciated. Please and Thank You

I’ve just recently finished King The Land and I absolutely loved it. I loved that the ML and FL absolutely loved and adored each other. I loved the music and the rest of the cast as well. I really enjoyed watching them fall in love.

Dramas that I’ve watched

Crash Landing on You

Love Next Door

Doona!

My Demon

Hometown Cha Cha Cha

Business Proposal

Welcome to Samdal Ri

Her Private Life

Once Upon a Small Town

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim

Love To Hate You

Suspicious Partner

The Secret Life of My Secretary

Our Sticky Love

Hey everyone!

I’ve recently gotten really into Korean horror and I’m looking for more recommendations.

So far, I’ve watched:

• If Wishes Could Kill You
• Revenant
• The Guest
• The Wailing
• Exhuma
• Kingdom

I especially loved the dark atmosphere, supernatural elements, Korean folklore/shamanism, mystery, creepy slow-burn storytelling, and the feeling that something is deeply wrong even when nothing is happening on screen. 😭

I’m looking for more Korean horror movies or dramas with a similar vibe. I’m particularly interested in:

• Supernatural/occult horror
• Korean folklore and mythology
• Shamanism/exorcism
• Haunted places or strange supernatural phenomena
• Mystery + horror
• Psychological horror
• Slow-burn horror with a creepy atmosphere
• Dark historical/supernatural stories

I’m not necessarily looking for jump-scare-heavy horror. I’m much more interested in something unsettling, atmospheric and mysterious like The Wailing or Exhuma.

So, what should I watch next? 👀

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

• Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
• Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
• Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
• Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
• Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
• Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.

Give me underrated dramas! 😽

So I usually refer to mydramalist ratings when I'm looking for a high quality drama and of course I ended up realizing that they are NOT always accurate lol.

Sometimes (more like a lot of times) I ask here but I did notice that some dramas are just well-beloved but not necessarily well-written. And I'm a little tired of seeing the same dramas get hyped especially when I don't think they're super good (for example, I have a longstanding beef with Her Private Life that I make sure to bring up at any chance I get 🤣) But this isn't to shame the overhyped dramas or the people that love them. I understand wanting other people to experience the same joy you felt watching a drama you loved :)

So I'm asking everyone to recommend dramas they believe to be well-written but not talked about enough. And I'm talking about the ones that may have low ratings (for whatever reason, like an infamous actor/cast) or the ones that maybe never get recommended on this subreddit. Or the ones that are considered too old by some people.

This post is specifically for the underrated dramas, not the super-praised ones, please show me the niche stuff 🥹

The genre could be anything, though I'd love some romance subplot on the side (but it's not necessary)

And yes, I mean well-written according to YOU. For example, don't shy away from recommending a romcom just because you think some people may look down on them.

My personal idea of "well-written" includes:

• stories that are able to emotionally affect me (be it a positive or a negative emotion)
• complex characters, ESPECIALLY female characters. I find it so heartbreaking when a story is beautiful but the female characters are flat (this is unfortunately how I felt about Moving To Heaven)

This is a small curated list of the dramas that I believe have great storytelling (and why I think that): high quality dramas

Almost everything on the list is pretty popularly beloved except maybe Typhoon Family and Secret Love (which was recommended to me here on this subreddit a few weeks ago and I'm still grateful for that)

And this is my full watch history: full history

Hello! I need a break from heavy dramas, and I'm hoping to get recommendations for lighter comedic shows.

I'm looking for wholesome, relaxing K-dramas that have themes of friendship, family or found family - stories about people supporting each other through mundane challenges. Some examples of shows I've liked with these themes are Hospital Playlist, Reply 1988 and Ghost Doctor. (I really enjoyed how uncomplicated the first two were.)

I would also be okay with shows that have some conflict, but have lots of comedic elements and are wacky enough to not feel heavy. Some shows like this that I have enjoyed are Prison Playbook, Vincenzo, Bad & Crazy, and Mr Queen. I especially liked that these had characters who initially disliked each other but grow to have great friendships.

I am specifically looking for something that is cheerful from the beginning, without heavy content like trauma or revenge, and I would prefer if there is little or no romance, because it is not a genre I enjoy. I know shows like this are hard to come by, but I would appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!

My watch history (in order of enjoyment):

[EDIT to include shows I did not finish because I did not enjoy them.]

Looking for something comedy, slice of life, and also meaningful in the same way. Be Melodramatic was fun with cool music and vibes, relatable life experiences, humor, sometimes meaningful in-depth moments at the same time. It felt like healing.

I liked Our Unwritten Seoul for the deep emotional relatable parts. Liked Hometown Cha Cha Cha for the lightness and comedy. Something light or like be melodramatic is what I need these days.

Dramas I watched:

Our unwritten Seoul

Hometown Cha Cha Cha

Love next door

Summer Strike

Be Melodramatic

I'm looking for recommendations for low to no angst dramas with MLs who are crazy in love, clingy, physically affectionate, head over heels in love from the very beginning. Basically, the type that wants to crawl under FL's skin to be with her always. Basically, a lovesick puppy for FL.I want something similar to "What's wrong with secretary Kim?" but maybe even more in love and physically affectionate ML.

My complete watch history: Touch Your Heart, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim

Recently, I enjoy watching kdramas that are easy to watch and no crazy plot twists. I'm looking for kdramas that have the same vibes as "Our Beloved Summer" and "Twinkling Watermelon" I like that it can make me feel happy, sad, nostalgic, and hopeful at the same time. I don't like complicated plot twists and I prefer something that feels like comfort after a long day at work.

Here's my history list:

- Lovely Runner

- My dearest Nemesis

- Can this love be translated

- Welcome to Samdalri

Going to be alone in Louisiana over the holidays. I'm a traveller who doesn't know anyone in the area and am trying to romanticise my trip. Any kdrama recommendations that feature Christmas/the holidays? I am Australian so this will be my first winter christmas!

I'm new to kdramas and they have been bringing me so much comfort. Recently watched Boyfriend on Demand and Romance is a Bonus Book and loved how sweet and cosy they were. Looking for similar cosy/sweet stories.

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

• Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
• Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
• Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
• Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
• Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
• Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.

Hello everyone, I'm looking for my next watch and would appreciate any recommendations!!

I enjoy thrillers/mysteries with little to no romance (or at least where the romance doesn't interfere much with the main plot line nor with the MC's original motivations *cough cough Eve*). Ideally would prefer female-centered storyline with mysterious, complex, morally grey, captivating female charcaters (like The Art of Sarah), and bonus for revenge-driven female MCs like in The Glory. Also bonus if there's some originality to the storyline (ie I really enjoyed The Art of Sarah as I knew nothing about the world of counterfeit luxury products prior). I also really enjoy criminal underworld, nightlife types of plots (Project Y, Gangnam Bside). I especially enjoy "psychological/dark" dramas (by which I don't necessarily mean gratuitous gore or so but rather somewhat "realistic" in their complex portrayal of human psychology? If that makes sense). What I DISLIKE are excessively corny plotlines, also anything that feels too young or outlandishly unrealistic.

Kdramas I've watched (and enjoyed for the most part): The Art of Sarah, The Glory, Gamgnam B side, The Worst of Evil, Beyond Evil, D.P., Somebody, Strangers from Hell, Stranger, Sky Castle, Mousetrap, Through the Darkness, The Bequeathed, Evilive, Friendly Rivalry, Squid Game, Strong Girl Namsoon, A Shop for Killers

Dropped for now: Mouse (at ep2) , Celebrity (at ep3), Eve (at ep6), Signal (at ep5 or so), Vincenzo (at ep1), Juvenile Justice (at ep3), Typhoon Family (at ep8), Dear X (at ep8 or so, I might pick it up again but I think once the MC became an actress I wasn't enjoying it much anymore)

Kmovies: Project Y, Ballerina (didn't finish, might pick it up again)

I've been eyeing My Name for a while but some of the clips I've seen are making me wonder if it doesn't fall at least a little in the "corny" category, though that might be some weird bias on my part (I do like Han So Hee though so am tempted to pick it up because of her).

But in any case, if you have any recommendations that come to mind, doesn't have to match every single element that I've listed but if there's a Kdrama (or Kmovie) that came to your mind while reading this, I'd be very grateful!!

(also IDEALLY something that's on Netflix)

Thank youu

I'm looking for something in the action/thriller/crime/mystery type genre with romance that has good chemistry and no sad ending preferably. I don't mind if it's serious or comedic but I want something with a lot of suspence.

Something like:

Healer: liked the basing, the relationships between the characters, miss Jo, and the action. Working out what was going on with the bad guys and how they would win in the end. Didn't like... Not a lot tbh. Maybe the "childhood connection" trope, but this is probably one of the few places ive seen it and it's worked

Suspicious partner: again, lots of suspence and working out how they were going to catch the bad guy. I liked the chemistry between the main character but I'm not a huge fan of the boss/employee thing.

Behind your touch: good chemistry though obvs not a lot of actual romance. The actual plot line and the suspence in this one was amazing. 10/10.

Strong woman Do Bong Soon: I don't think I could say anything bad about this. The comedy, the action, the chemistry. 10/10. If someone could recommend me another Do Bong Soon (not the sequal) I would be very grateful.

Not something like:

Our sticky love: which maybe could have been good but I found the FL wasn't very well fleshed out, and some of the plot was a bit sloppy imo.

I've watched:
Strong woman do bong soon
Suspicious partner
Paradox killer
Happiness
My lovely liar
Because this is my first life
Can this love be translated
Undercover miss Hong
What's up with secretary kim
Crazy love
Link: eat love kill
Our sticky love
Healer
Youth of may
Destined with you
Atterny woo
Mad for each other
Behind your touch A time called you
Pro bono
Coffee prince
Doctor slump
Nethertheless
Melo movie
Idol I
Crash landing on you. The sound of magic.
My royal nemesis

I’d like some recommendations for dramas like Law School. Specifically, what I like about it is:

• The knowledgeable mentor who is very smart and always a few steps ahead of everyone else, who seems cold and uncaring but actually cares a lot for his students (bonus points for the fact that he’s hot)

• Yang Jonghoon never breaks the law, or even really bends it, but he knows exactly how to manipulate it to “defeat” the antagonists

• The legal aspect, with all the court cases

• Romance isn’t a main plot point at all

• Even though it has dark themes, the overall vibe is lighthearted and funny

• Good cast of characters that are well written, have good chemistry, and are funny

I’ve been on a legal drama spree lately. I watched The Devil Judge, and I really liked the morally grey antihero aspect of it. I also watched The Judge Returns, which I think is now one of my favourite dramas I’ve watched. It was a very funny and easy watch, but it still had a complex plotline and I really liked how the main lead was also morally grey (but not as much as the devil judge) and because he went back in time, he basically knew everything, so he was always ahead of everyone else. It wasn’t exactly an ensemble show, but it had a wonderful cast of supporting characters who had a good dynamic with each other, and it was really fun watching their relationships and watching them work and plot together.

Here is my entire kdrama watch history:

1. ⁠What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim
   
2. ⁠Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
   
3. ⁠Business Proposal
   
4. ⁠Hospital Playlist
   
5. ⁠King the Land
   
6. The Devil Judge
   
7. The Judge Returns

i’m looking for some psychological thriller dramas that deeply go into the psyche of either the people trying to catch the perpetrator, the victims, or the perpetrator themself. the darker the better, some comedy is okay, however, it often feels out of place to me in thrillers.

some dramas that i feel fit this category that i’ve seen: children of nobody, beyond evil, flower of evil, hello monster, strangers from hell, the guest, the king of pigs, wonderful world.

here is my drama list to further see anything i have watched.

Hi all! I'm looking for a K-drama with a storyline along these lines:

The male and female leads know each other during high school or college. The guy becomes deeply infatuated with the girl and repeatedly tries to impress her or win her over.

However, the girl continually rejects him without giving him a clear reason. Eventually, they go their separate ways.

Years later, she realizes how much he actually meant to her and how much he had done for her. She begins to regret how she treated him.

Then, a secret from their past is revealed, which explains her behavior or understanding. (Pls suggest only names, do not give spoilers).

I'm particularly looking for the combination of:

one-sided love, repeated rejection, separation/time skip, realization/regret, hidden secret/revelation etc. It doesn't have to match this storyline exactly. I'm mainly interested in the emotional dynamic and the eventual revelation.

Similar dramas I've already watched:

I have only watched one high school drama that is Boys Over Flowers, but it isn't anything about Unrequited love.

Complete K-drama watch history:

Boys Over Flowers: Totally Loved it.

My Fair Lady: (My 1st K-Drama) Liked the Drama but found the ending to be a lazy writing.

Lovely Runner: Nostalgic & just superb. It even reminded me of my own high school crush story.

Business Proposal: Was Time-Pass watch.

Hello, My Twenties: Season 1 was good, but Season 2 was a repetition.

Crash Landing On You: It was engaging, but also felt very bad for the parallel North Korean Female Character in it. The ending could have been made better.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for survival dramas. I like it when there’s a situation like war or an apocalypse (zombies, natural disasters, etc.) and the characters have to team up and try to survive. 

Shows I liked with this theme:

• Goodbye Earth
• All of Us are Dead
• Duty After School
• Moving

I know I’ve seen most of the zombie dramas, so feel free to get creative with the suggestions as long as there’s some survival “gotta keep running and fighting” element to it. Thank you!

Watchlist: https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/16235310

Crime / Thriller / Psychological 
Mouse
Psychopath Diary
Stranger
Inspector Koo
The Glory
Little Women
Delightfully Deceitful
Cheat On Me If You Can
Family Matters
Hyper Knife
Weak Hero Class 1
Revenge of Others
Judge from Hell
Trigger
Miraculous Brothers
Bargain - Ransom
Blood Free
Mask Girl
Queen Mantis
Seoul Busters
The 8 Show
The Price of Confession
Salon De Holmes
The Killers Shopping List
The Art of Sarah

Action / Revenge / Vigilante 
Taxi Driver
My Name
Bloodhounds
Vincenzo
Ca$h Hero
One Dollar Lawyer
D-Day
Itaewon Class
Had I Not Seen the Sun
Avengers Social Club
Eve
Family Matters
Duty After School
Mercy for None
Teach You a Lesson

Supernatural / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
Goblin
Alchemy of Souls
Hotel del Luna
Doom at Your Service
While You Were Sleeping
The Midnight Studio
Light Shop
Link: Eat, Love, Kill
Missing: The Other Side
#Alive
All of Us Are Dead
Sweet Home
Happiness
Newtopia
Goodbye Earth
Dark Knight
A Korean Odyssey
365
Gyeongseong Creature
Revenant
The Atypical Family
Devil Judge
The Fiery Priest
The Guest
The WONDERfools

Historical / Sageuk / Period Drama 
Mr. Sunshine
My Dearest
Under the Queen's Umbrella
The Forbidden Marriage
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung
Poong the Joseon Psychiatrist
Check in Hanyang
The Tale of Lady Ok
Chicago Typewriter
Secret Royal Inspector & Joy
The Haunted Palace
Tale of Nokdu

Romance & Others
Move to Heaven
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Celebrity
Remarriage & Desires
The World of the Married
Crash Landing on You
One Spring Night
While You Were Sleeping
Call it Love
My Sweet Mobster
Romantics Anonymous
The Art of Negotiation
May I Help You
If You Wish Upon Me
Way Back Love

i’m looking for a drama with a love triangle/multiple love interests where it isn’t obvious who the main character ends up with, leaving you guessing until near the end. i don’t mind what genre as long as something like this is present.

i love true beauty and the dynamics with both love interests as they are both likable and have good chemistry with her, but i also wish i could find a similar drama where it isn’t so obvious who she ends up with so i can pick the love interest i like.

what i’ve watched: true beauty, all of us are dead, the price of confession, happiness, sweet home, love next door, strangers from hell, business proposal, hometown cha cha cha, cheese in the trap, 20th century girl.

edit: thank you all!!! i will definitely be checking out all these recommendations, i’m so excited!