A plethora ofK-dramashave garnered international attention, but there are some hidden gems that don’t get any hype. With the success ofSquid Gameand other high-budget TV shows likeCrash Landing On YouandAll of Us Are Dead, streaming platforms have been investing more and more in Korean entertainment. While some are instant hits domestically and globally, others have managed to slip through the cracks despite being all-around great series.
There are someromantic Korean dramaslikeUncontrollably Fondthat don’t catch the eye of audiences as much as some other shows, but they are nonetheless well-written, entertaining, and engaging. Fortunately, there’s a wide range of classic and new series that include everythingthat makes K-dramas popular, even if they are not hugely popular themselves.
10Alice (2020)
Genres: Sci-Fi & Romance
Time travel is a popular subject in many TV shows, butAlicedoes it in such an awe-inspiring way. Starring Joo Won as Park Jin-gyeom and Kim Hee-sun as Park Sun-young, the series is a thrilling look into the repercussions of time travel.Alicetakes place in a dystopian society where people go back to the past to see their dead loved ones. In the time travel universe, some agents are tasked with destroying anything that poses a threat to their world.
Alice’s beauty lies in how it keeps viewers guessing and questioning their predictions. The TV show is full of twists till the moment it concludes, and has anyone watching the series on their toes. While time travel is at the center of the story,Aliceis much more than a sci-fi TV show. It’s a heartwarming story about a woman who wants to explore motherhood and a son who grows up without his mother.
Move to Heaven
Cast
Move to Heaven follows a meticulous trauma cleaner and his estranged uncle as they unravel the unsung stories of the deceased through their belongings. The series portrays their emotional journey to connect with loved ones left behind, highlighting themes of loss and reconciliation.
One of the most underrated K-dramas of the past decade,Move to Heavenis a heartbreaking story that was inspired by a real person. Geu-ru, a man living with Asperger’s syndrome, and his uncle, Sang-gu, become in charge of running their family’s business. However, it’s not ordinary work that they are entrusted with.Move to Heaven is a trauma cleaning companythat specializes in restoring and sanitizing places that have been affected by traumatic events.
Move to Heavenwas inspired by a non-fiction essay by Kim Sae-byul calledThings Left Behind.
Move to Heavendepicts the kind of work that is often unrecognized, unless by people who have had the unfortunate luck of hiring a company that deals with their trauma. A heartbreaking series, everything inMove to Heavencomes together seamlessly. From the music to the cast,the K-drama really is a masterpiece.
Moon Embracing The Sun
Moon Embracing The Sun is a historical fantasy romance television series set in the Joseon Dynasty. The story follows Lee Hwon, the Crown Prince, who falls in love with a young shaman named Wol. As they navigate the complexities of royal politics, they must also contend with the consequences of their forbidden love.
Historical K-dramasare usually very popular, but not all of them become global hits. Written by Jin Soo-wan,Moon Embracing the Sunis a combination of fantasy, romance, and historical fiction. The series centers around Yeon-woo, a young woman who becomes unknowingly involved in court politics after the Crown Prince and his half-brother fall in love with her.
Moon Embracing the Sunis an undeniably great K-drama because it not only has a talented cast but also blends several genres, thus providing a little of everything for its audiences. While the love story is the TV show’s main premise,it also focuses on magic, palace drama, and a little bit of mystery.Moon Embracing the Sunhas emotional depth, but also draws audiences in with its intricate storyline.
Welcome To Waikiki
Welcome To Waikiki (2018) is a South Korean television series that follows three struggling men who run a failing guesthouse in Itaewon and encounter various comedic situations as they strive to achieve their dreams. The series stars Kim Jung-hyun, Lee Yi-kyung, and Son Seung-won, whose characters aspire to become a film director, an actor, and a writer, respectively, while dealing with life’s unexpected challenges and surprises.
The slice-of-life K-dramaWelcome to Waikikifollows three young men who dream of having prosperous careers in the entertainment industry. But before their dreams came true, the three friends needed a source of income, which is why they ran a guesthouse.The director, actor, and screenwriter face several setbacks as they work to make their dreams a reality, but they never give up on their goals.
But perhapsWelcome to Waikiki’s biggest strength is its focus on friendship.
Welcome to Waikikiis a very overlooked K-drama that has several good qualities. The show perfectly blends comedy and drama and has several hilarious scenes. But perhapsWelcome to Waikiki’s biggest strength is its focus on friendship. The three young men are consistently there for each other throughout the show, and are each other’s support systems.
Missing 9
Missing 9 follows the aftermath of a plane crash that incites panic in South Korea as nine passengers, including former singer turned reporter Seo Joon O and his stylist Ra Bong-Hee, disappear. Stranded on a deserted island, these individuals, some of whom are influential figures from the entertainment industry, face unforeseen challenges.
If you are a fan of sci-fi TV shows likeLost, thenMissing 9will be right up your alley. Directed by Choi Byung-gil, the thrilling series is mysterious from start to finish. InMissing 9,nine celebrities are stuck on an island after their plane crashes. As the series progresses, the celebrities go missing one by one, but one of them manages to survive.
Missing 9is filled with so many mysteries that it’s difficult to predict how the story will unravel. The concept of the series alone should have made it one of the most popular Korean TV shows, but it unfortunately slipped through the cracks. With its unexpected twists, talented cast, and fight for survival,Missing 9truly is a hidden gem.
5Numbers (2023)
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, & Drama
TV shows about lawyers, detectives, and doctors are popular all around the world, butNumbersfocuses on a different profession. Starring Kim Myung-soo as Jang Ho-woo, the intense series tells a story about an accountant who begins working at a prestigious accounting firm and uncovers corruption and systematic injustices. Although Ho-woo only has a high school diploma, he is one of the most intelligent employees at Taeil Accounting Firm.
What setsNumbersapart is that it offers a look into a profession that very few shows delve into. While the protagonists’ sense of justice isn’t necessarily new in the world of K-dramas, the show is thrilling, intense, and has an engaging subplot. When it comes to its revenge plot, there’s no denying that other shows have done it better, butNumbersis nonetheless worth watching.
Save Me
Save Me centers on Sang-mi, whose family moves to a rural village and becomes ensnared by a cult masquerading as a religious group. As her parents fall under the cult’s sway, Sang-mi struggles to escape their control. She enlists the help of four local young men, and together they embark on a perilous mission to uncover the cult’s true nature and save her family from its clutches.
Released in 2017 and starring Woo Do-hwan and Seo Yea-ji,Save Metells the story of a family in grief that seeks comfort in the hands of a pastor who manipulates them. Given its dark storyline and niche subject, it’s not surprising thatSave Medoesn’t get talked about a lot, but it deserves to.
Save Meis like no other K-drama. It’s intense and contains disturbing scenes and dark themes that its incredibly talented cast embraces fully. The TV show is engaging from start to finish and weaves a mystery and storyline that will make anyone want to see how everything unfolds.Save Meis a thought-provoking show that doesn’t shy away from delving into subjects that are usually avoided but nonetheless need to be talked about.
3SF8 (2020)
Genre: Sci-Fi
Once in a while, an incredible series likeSF8arrives on the small screen, but it flies under the radar.SF8is basically the Korean version ofBlack Mirror, as each episode focuses on a different story and character. It is an innovative K-drama that has a dystopian feel to it and incredibly diverse premises.
SF8has eight episodes that run between 42 to 58 minutes.
Although each episode ofSF8was written and directed by a different person, the K-drama is still cohesive, with each story perfectly fitting in with the message that the TV show wanted to send. Because of its subject matter, which includes virtual reality and technological advancements,SF8is a thought-provoking series that invites audiences to deeply introspect into the issues that plague society.
Doctor Prisoner
Doctor Prisoner follows a skilled doctor who is unjustly expelled from a university hospital after a medical malpractice accusation. Seeking revenge, he takes a position in a prison, aiming to forge alliances with influential inmates to orchestrate a plan against the hospital that wronged him.
Korean TV and filmmakers have mastered the art of blending several genres in one story. While some mix romance with mystery, others focus merely on one topic, likeDoctor Prisoner. The show centers around Na Yi-je, a doctor whose career is in shambles after a tense encounter with a spoiled chaebol who ruins his career. Dr. Na vows to get back at the ones who hurt him, resulting in a thrilling premise.
Unlike many K-dramas,Doctor Prisonerdoesn’t have romance. Instead, it focuses on Dr. Na’s revenge and how he executes it.Doctor Prisoneris one of those rare TV shows that will have you hooked from its very first episode. Namkoong Min is incredible in the series, and the rest of the cast perfectly match his energy.
Navillera
This drama follows the journey of a 70-year-old man pursuing his lifelong dream of ballet and a 23-year-old talented dancer. Together, they navigate personal challenges and form an inspiring bond as they strive to fulfill their aspirations of becoming ballet dancers.
WhileSong Kang is one of the most famous South Korean actorsdue to his roles inSweet HomeandMy Demon, it’s his most underrated TV show,Navillera, that shows how much of a talented actor he is. With the incredible Park In-hwan inNavillera’s cast,the series delves into the friendship between an old man who wishes to fulfill his dream of becoming a ballerinaand Song Kang’s Lee Chae-rok, a 23-year-old ballerina.
Navillerais a touching show that undoubtedly deserves more hype. Song Kang is at his best in the series, and his unlikely friendship with Park In-hwan’s Shim Deok-chul is one of the highlights of the TV show.Navillerais a slice-of-lifeK-dramathat will melt anyone’s heart, especially because of its inspiring premise that reminds audiences that it’s never too late to achieve one’s dreams.
