Netflix has done a lot for the tv and movie industry. But the biggest impact it has had is introducing the world to the best Korean shows.
In what probably came as a huge shock to everybody, the Korean survival drama, Squid Game, became Netflix's most-watched series EVER.
It was the top-viewed program in 94 countries and was viewed by more than 142 million households. More than 1.65 billion viewing hours were notched up during its first four weeks from launch.
And once people realised how good Korean shows are, they started searching them out and watching them in their millions.
So just what are the best Korean shows on Netflix? We have compiled a list of our twelve favourites. Crossing genres from drama, mystery and horror, there is definitely something for everyone on this list.
So sit back, relax and enjoy the best Korean shows streaming on Netflix right now.
OUR LIST OF THE BEST KOREAN SHOWS
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is the brilliant K-drama that follows the career of rookie Young-woo, the first autistic Korean attorney, as she navigates the world of law and life. Huge thumbs up!
Pachinko
Pachinko is a stunning drama that follows the life of Sunja and her Korean family across four generations from the 1900s to the 1980s. A Remarkable Apple TV+ show that is not to be missed.
All Of Us Are Dead
The Netflix original series 'All of Us Are dead' is the Korean series based on a popular webcomic (Now at Our School). If you like Zombie movies like 'Train to Busan' or 'Zombieland' then this series will definitely appeal to you.
Crash Landing On You
One of the most watched k-dramas of all time, Crash Landing On You follows Se-ri, a south Korean heiress who accidentally ends up in the North. When she is found by Captain Ri the two must work together to get her out of the country.
K-Drama Little Women
A loose adaptation of the original novel, K-drama Little Women follows three sisters who are struggling in poverty when they get mixed up with a money laundering scheme that puts all of their lives in danger. Excellent, must-watch series.
Kingdom
Set in 15th Century Korea, the country is in free fall. The King is dying, the Crown Prince is trying to survive, the Ministers want to take the Throne and a zombie plague is running ravage through the country. If Crouching Tiger, Game Of Thrones and...[Read More]
Mystic Pop-Up Bar
Korean fantasy series Mystic Pop-up Bar follows Weol-ju, a woman who runs a pop-up bar and along with her employee they are able to enter the dreams of their clientele in order to solve their life-damaging ‘grudges’
Squid Game
Squid Game pits hundreds of broke and desperate people against each other over a series of children's games where only one can win millions. The others are eliminated. A superb survival drama from South Korea.
Sweet Home
South Korean horror drama series Sweet Home has been a worldwide hit for fans of the genre who love nothing more than a blood-soaked plague fest but will it draw you in and keep you coming back for more?
The Uncanny Counter
Incredible Korean show, The Uncanny Counter follows a group of noodle shop employees who become demon hunters at night by using special abilities to chase down bad spirits that prey on humans.
Inspector Koo
Inspector Koo is a Korean crime drama that has been compared to Killing Eve in that a female investigator is chasing a female serial killer. However, the characters are very different in what has turned out to be a quirky K-drama that is definitely w...[Read More]
Hellbound
Supernatural creatures have come to earth creating chaos and sending people to hell which gives rise to a new religion founded on divine justice in this Korean crime thriller, Hellbound.
Strong Girl Bong-Soon
A Korean comedy about Do Bong-Soon, a young woman who possesses extraordinary strength. With a unique premise and plenty of subplots, it is engaging and funny with comic book overtures that make is a decent watch.
Why Are Korean Dramas So Good?
If you've fallen down the rabbit hole of Korean dramas, you know exactly who addictive they can be. But why are they often so much better than the regular tv shows we are used to watching?
There are a couple of major differences between the way shows are created in Korea versus in the US or the UK. Firstly there is normally only one director who works on the show from start to finish.
That is also true of the show's writer. In the US there tends to be a whole roomful of writers for each episode but in Korea, there is just one writer. So the tone, the characters, and the plot all have the same voice. THis tends to make the show more coherant and engaging.
When it comes to the way the shows are written, generally only the first three or four episodes are written in advance. Filming then continues as the series is airing. This means that scripts can be changed last minute based on the audience's reaction.
Smaller characters that are growing in popularity can often be given more lines and plots that are not working can have a direction change.
Often major changes can be made with only a few hours notice before filming. But the more they are tweaked, the more the audience love them and so do we!
K-Drama Plots and Genres
Traditionally, almost every prime-time K-drama followed certain well-liked plots and formats. These tended to be around topics such as romance, friendship and family values.
However, as the audiences have grown worldwide, newer shows are branching out and tackling more difficult subjects such as issues with Korean society, gender inequality and classism.
The likes of Little Women, Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Squid Game have all become hugely successful by incorporating both more tried and tested and newer concepts in their storylines.
Why Do Some K-Dramas Have So Many Episodes?
Most American prime-time shows are given around 20-22 episodes per season. Dropped weekly they run for about half of the year and are created to fit a one-hour time slot.
Again, the major difference with K-Dramas is that each episode is created to fit a two-hour time slot. That's why when you stream them they are always around 1 hour and 20 minutes long.
Monday through Friday from 7pm-9pm is usually reserved for daily dramas. And frequently, the biggest shows are aired on back-to-back nights with two episodes per week.
This in turn means that shows can have a much larger number of episodes depending on how long it is scheduled to air for.
