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The K-drama craze still hasn’t died down and continues to gain new lovers of the genre every day. However, do you find yourself struggling to understand why? Maybe the cheesy romantic lines make you cringe instead of squeal. Perhaps you find it too melodramatic. If this describes you, there’s good news: you just haven’t found the right drama.
Even though most Korean dramas focus on romance, there are still other sub-genres to choose from. There’s historical, thriller, and action, to name a few. These five dramas have been selected as they aren’t as saturated with classic K-drama cliches. Prepare yourself to finally engage in the K-drama fantasy as these picks will have you searching for more.
5. Hello, My Twenties (Age of Youth)
Welcome to Belle Epoque’s second-floor apartment, where five female housemates reside. Through awkward first meetings and fights, these college students bond to become sisters. Each woman has her own childhood trauma to work past on top of trying to survive the perils of adult life. Viewers not only relate to the girls but become honorary Belle Epoque residents themselves.
Hello, My Twenties does touch on romantic relationships, but it doesn’t hold center stage. Instead of romantic lines like,
“If you’re going to cry in front of me about a different man, stop being so pretty”
(( My Girl )), you’ll find some more realistic conversations. Many personalities live together under one roof, representing different types of female twenty-somethings, creating a message to understand and rely on others. There’s even a season two with the same cast, new faces, and more backstories!
4. Oh My Venus
Kang Joo-Eun was known as the Venus (Aphrodite) of Daegu, South Korea in her high-school years. While attaining her career dream of becoming a lawyer, she gained weight and lost her fifteen-year-long relationship. Determined to turn her life around and complete her life dream, she’ll get help from the perfect personal trainer. The positivity and determination of this series will motivate audiences to grab life and shape their own how they’ve always envisioned.
While this K-drama does focus on love, it isn’t as honey-coated in comparison to others you may have tried. If anything, the optimistic outlook on life and “I can do it” attitude of the female lead take center stage as she influences those around her. This drama has a feel-good atmosphere that reaches viewers through their screens. This is a perfect introductory K-drama for other romantic comedies.
3. Reply 1988
In Ssangmun-dong, Seoul, five close friends are trying to live life the best they can. These eighteen and nineteen-year-old high-school students, and one well-known go player, push through life’s struggles together. It’s not always bad though as they also share numerous memorable moments. This nostalgic drama will have viewers reflecting on their own teenage years with tears and laughs.
Reply 1988 has a lot of personality thanks to a diverse cast. Most K-dramas have lighter cinematography, but this one keeps it more realistic by making it darker. The best part about this drama is that it is the third installment of the Reply/Answer Me series, so if you enjoy it there’s two more to watch: Reply 1994 and Reply 1997.
2. Coffee Prince
Irresponsible food mogul Choi Han-Kyul pretends to be gay with a hired lover, Go Eun-Chan, to stop his grandmother from arranging never-ending blind dates. Little does he know, Eun-Chan is actually a tom-boy woman posing as a man to earn money to support her family. Their business relationship begins to grow, along with their feelings.
The description of the show may make it seem like any other K-drama you’ve tried with concerns to one big eventual romance, but there are many unromantic moments taking the spotlight. The employees of Coffee Prince create a friendly atmosphere, and family drama and past loves keep things complicated. Unfortunately, this drama used to be as close as the Korean entertainment industry would get to an LGBT romance.
1. Princess Hours (Goong)
Chae-Gyeong, a free-spirited high-school art student, suddenly finds herself in an arranged marriage to the nation’s unemotional Crown Prince. Although she struggles to adapt to the proper etiquette and duties of royal life, her presence becomes a breath of fresh air in the stuffy palace. Will she cause a gigantic uproar or bring the royal family into a modern-age Korea (at least for 2006)?
Princess Hours isn’t exactly a historical drama, but it is set in a world where Korea’s royal family continued on to the present. The jump to historical dramas can sometimes be a struggle, and this K-drama can help with the transition. Romance is one of the main topics, but the royal family drama is what really makes for interesting situations. Think Cinderella, but modern and Korean.
Welcome To The K-Drama Fandom
Hopefully, you’ve found a drama to love from this list. If you have, I’d like to officially welcome you to the K-drama fandom. If you still haven’t found the right one for you, continue to look because there are so many out there! You can also check out K-pop music as some of the soundtracks for the dramas are played by well-known groups. Personally, Oh My Venus is my favorite at the moment for both the show and soundtrack.
All the K-dramas listed are available on streaming sites, but if you don’t have a subscription don’t worry because they’re also available to view on Viki. Without further ado, welcome to Korean culture!
