Top 15 Best K-Dramas To Watch Of All Times

Top 15 Best K-Dramas To Watch Of All Times

Korean dramas, also known as K-dramas, are television shows that originate from South Korea and have gained widespread popularity around the world. These dramas often explore a variety of themes, such as romance, family, friendships, and career, and often blend elements of comedy, drama, and action to create a unique and engaging viewing experience. Korean dramas have a large and dedicated fan base and are known for their strong storytelling, compelling characters, and beautiful cinematography. In this list, we have compiled a selection of some of the best Korean dramas that are worth watching, ranging from romantic comedies to historical dramas and everything in between. So whether you're a seasoned K-drama fan or new to the genre, there is sure to be something on this list for you to enjoy.

Here is a list of the top 15 best Korean dramas to watch:

Top 15 Must-Watch K-dramas of All Time

K-dramas have become a global phenomenon, winning hearts with their heartfelt storytelling, unforgettable characters, and beautiful cinematography. From timeless romances and gripping thrillers to emotional slice-of-life stories and grand historical epics, these shows offer something for every kind of viewer. This list of the Top 15 Must-Watch K-dramas of All Time brings together fan favorites and critically acclaimed series that continue to define the magic of Korean drama.

1) Crash Landing on You (2019–2020)

What it’s about / Plot: A South Korean chaebol heiress accidentally paraglides across the DMZ during a storm and crash-lands in North Korea. A stoic North Korean captain hides her, and the two navigate danger, politics, and culture shock while plotting her return. Their secret operation grows complicated as feelings bloom, rival powers close in, and her life in Seoul pulls her back. The show balances high-stakes suspense with warm village life and gentle humor.
Why fans love it: Electric chemistry, fish-out-of-water comedy, and heartfelt found-family moments—plus a rare, humanized look at ordinary North Korean life.
Stars: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun.

2) Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin) (2016–2017)

What it’s about / Plot: A cursed immortal general wanders for 900 years seeking the prophesied “goblin’s bride” who can end his immortality. He meets a bright, lonely high-schooler who can see ghosts and may be the key to his fate. A bromance with a sarcastic grim reaper, a past-life mystery, and a centuries-long love story intertwine. The stakes rise as destiny, memory, and sacrifice collide.
Why fans love it: Sweeping romance, witty banter, iconic OST, and lush fantasy world-building with big heart.
Stars: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae.

3) Reply 1988 (2015–2016)

What it’s about / Plot: Five best friends grow up in the same Ssangmun-dong alley in late-1980s Seoul, sharing meals, hardships, first loves, and family chaos. Each household’s story explores parents’ sacrifices, sibling bonds, and youthful dreams. It’s less about “who ends up with whom” and more about community and time passing.
Why fans love it: A warm blanket of nostalgia, everyday humor, and pitch-perfect family dynamics that feel real rather than scripted.
Stars: Lee Hye-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo, Lee Dong-hwi.

4) My Mister (2018)

What it’s about / Plot: A weary, middle-aged engineer and an overburdened young temp form an unlikely, platonic bond that helps them endure grinding poverty, work politics, and old wounds. Their connection becomes a lifeline, challenging their ideas of kindness and survival. The show moves slowly but deliberately through quiet acts of care and moral choices.
Why fans love it: Mature storytelling about empathy and healing, anchored by restrained performances and an unforgettable atmosphere.
Stars: Lee Sun-kyun, IU (Lee Ji-eun), Park Ho-san, Song Sae-byuk.

5) Mr. Sunshine (2018)

What it’s about / Plot: Born into servitude in Joseon, a boy escapes to America, returns years later as a U.S. marine officer, and falls for an aristocratic activist fighting for Korea’s independence in the early 1900s. Personal loyalties clash with turbulent history as multiple factions—imperial powers, freedom fighters, and opportunists—collide. Romantic longing meets nation-shaping stakes.
Why fans love it: Cinematic production, gorgeous period detail, and a tragic, operatic romance entwined with Korean history.
Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok, Byun Yo-han, Kim Min-jung.

6) Signal (2016)

What it’s about / Plot: A profiler in the present discovers a mysterious walkie-talkie that connects him to a detective in 1989. Together, across time, they reopen cold cases and try to avert tragedies—only to learn that changing the past has consequences. Real-life inspired crimes add weight and urgency.
Why fans love it: Tight plotting, goosebump twists, and the thrill of a cross-timeline partnership that never shares a room yet feels deeply bonded.
Stars: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, Cho Jin-woong.

7) Kingdom (2019–2020)

What it’s about / Plot: In Joseon Korea, a mysterious plague turns the dead into monsters by night. The Crown Prince uncovers a conspiracy involving the throne and a terrifying illness spreading through class-divided provinces. Political intrigue, survival horror, and period action fuse into a relentless chase.
Why fans love it: Breathless pacing, inventive action, and sharp social commentary—zombies reimagined through a historical lens.
Stars: Ju Ji-hoon, Bae Doona, Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Sang-ho.

8) Descendants of the Sun (2016)

What it’s about / Plot: A special forces captain and a principled surgeon start a whirlwind romance that’s constantly tested by duty, disaster zones, and ethical dilemmas. Set partly in a fictional war-torn country, the series blends action missions with medical emergencies and flirtatious banter.
Why fans love it: Star power, swoony dialogue, blockbuster scale, and a theme of love standing firm amid chaos.
Stars: Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-won.

9) SKY Castle (2018–2019)

What it’s about / Plot: In an elite suburb, fiercely competitive parents push their children to enter top universities by any means necessary. Their glossy lives crack as secrets, academic scandals, and moral compromises spiral. The satire gradually turns into a piercing social thriller.
Why fans love it: Razor-sharp commentary on education pressure and class, with addictive twists and unforgettable “tiger mom” characters.
Stars: Yum Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra, Kim Seo-hyung, Jung Joon-ho.

10) Hospital Playlist (2020–2021)

What it’s about / Plot: Five doctors who’ve been friends since med school navigate surgeries, relationships, and life’s curveballs—all while playing in a band for fun. Each episode weaves multiple patient stories with slice-of-life humor and quiet warmth.
Why fans love it: Comforting, funny, and humane; it’s about friendship as much as medicine, with a killer soundtrack of covers.
Stars: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, Jeon Mi-do.

11) Vincenzo (2021)

What it’s about / Plot: A Korean-Italian consigliere returns to Seoul to recover hidden gold and finds himself battling a corrupt conglomerate. He teams up with a tenacious lawyer and a quirky building’s tenants to deliver his own brand of justice—darkly comic and stylishly ruthless.
Why fans love it: Anti-hero charm, operatic set pieces, meme-worthy humor, and satisfying takedowns of corporate villains.
Stars: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Taec-yeon, Kim Yeo-jin, Kwak Dong-yeon.

12) It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)

What it’s about / Plot: A stoic caregiver in a psychiatric ward, his autistic older brother, and a famed children’s book author with antisocial traits form a messy, healing triangle. Fairy-tale motifs and trauma-inspired monsters externalize their inner battles. Together, they confront past abuse and learn new ways to love.
Why fans love it: Bold mental-health themes, striking visuals and costumes, and a tender, offbeat romance.
Stars: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Oh Jung-se.

13) Coffee Prince (2007)

What it’s about / Plot: To pay her family’s bills, a tomboyish young woman disguises herself as a man to get a job at a café that hires only “flower boy” baristas. The prickly chaebol owner falls for her while believing she’s male, forcing both to question identity, attraction, and expectations.
Why fans love it: Ahead of its time on gender and romance, with breezy chemistry and a cozy café setting that still charms.
Stars: Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun-kyun, Chae Jung-an.

14) Boys Over Flowers (2009)

What it’s about / Plot: A working-class girl earns a scholarship to an ultra-elite high school ruled by the F4, a quartet of wealthy, arrogant boys. Sparks fly (and tempers flare) when she stands up to their leader, leading to a chaotic love triangle and class-clash drama.
Why fans love it: A pop-culture phenomenon—campy, addictive, and foundational for many fans’ K-drama journeys.
Stars: Lee Min-ho, Ku Hye-sun, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, Kim Joon.

15) Hotel Del Luna (2019)

What it’s about / Plot: A centuries-old, cursed CEO runs a hotel for ghosts, helping restless spirits resolve unfinished business before moving on. A strait-laced human manager is hired and slowly uncovers her tragic past—and their intertwined fate. Each episode mixes case-of-the-week hauntings with a grand romance.
Why fans love it: Spellbinding production design, mythical lore, fashion to die for, and a bittersweet love story.
Stars: IU (Lee Ji-eun), Yeo Jin-goo, Lee Do-hyun, P.O, Kang Mi-na.

Honorable mentions

• Itaewon Class
• Misaeng (Incomplete Life)
• Healer
• Secret Garden
• The World of the Married
• Move to Heaven
• Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Overall, these are just a few of the many great Korean dramas that are worth checking out. Whether you're a fan of romance, comedy, action, thriller, or historical dramas, there is sure to be a show on this list that will appeal to you. So if you're looking for something new to watch, be sure to give one of these dramas a try!