JuicyTalk
A plethora of K-dramas have garnered international attention, but there are some hidden gems that don’t get any hype. With the success of Squid Game and other high-budget TV shows like Crash Landing On You and All 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 some romantic Korean dramas like Uncontrollably Fond that 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 everything that makes K-dramas popular, even if they are not hugely popular themselves.
10
Alice (2020)
Genres: Sci-Fi & Romance
Time travel is a popular subject in many TV shows, but Alice does 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. Alice takes 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, Alice is 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.
9
Move To Heaven (2021)
Genre: Drama
One of the most underrated K-dramas of the past decade, Move to Heaven is 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 company that specializes in restoring and sanitizing places that have been affected by traumatic events.
Move to Heaven was inspired by a non-fiction essay by Kim Sae-byul called Things Left Behind.
Move to Heaven depicts 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 in Move to Heaven comes together seamlessly. From the music to the cast, the K-drama really is a masterpiece.
8
Moon Embracing The Sun (2012)
Genres: Sci-Fi, Romance, Historical Fiction, & Fantasy
Historical K-dramas are usually very popular, but not all of them become global hits. Written by Jin Soo-wan, Moon Embracing the Sun is 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.
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Moon Embracing the Sun is 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 Sun has emotional depth, but also draws audiences in with its intricate storyline.
7
Welcome To Waikiki (2018)
Genres: Drama & Comedy
- Release Date
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2018 – 2019-00-00
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Lee Yi-kyeong
Lee Joon Ki
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Kim Jung-hyun
Kang Dong Goo
The slice-of-life K-drama Welcome to Waikiki follows 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 perhaps Welcome to Waikiki’s biggest strength is its focus on friendship.
Welcome to Waikiki is a very overlooked K-drama that has several good qualities. The show perfectly blends comedy and drama and has several hilarious scenes. But perhaps Welcome 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.
6
Missing 9 (2018)
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, & Drama
- Release Date
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2017 – 2017-00-00
- Network
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MBC
- Directors
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Choi Byeong-gil
- Writers
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Son Hwang-Won
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Jung Kyung-ho
Seo Joon-Oh
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Choi Tae-joon
Choi Tae-Ho
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If you are a fan of sci-fi TV shows like Lost, then Missing 9 will be right up your alley. Directed by Choi Byung-gil, the thrilling series is mysterious from start to finish. In Missing 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 9 is 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 9 truly is a hidden gem.
5
Numbers (2023)
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, & Drama
TV shows about lawyers, detectives, and doctors are popular all around the world, but Numbers focuses 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.
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What sets Numbers apart 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, but Numbers is nonetheless worth watching.
4
Save Me (2017)
Genres: Crime, Thriller, & Drama
Released in 2017 and starring Woo Do-hwan and Seo Yea-ji, Save Me tells 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 that Save Me doesn’t get talked about a lot, but it deserves to.
Save Me is 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 Me is a thought-provoking show that doesn’t shy away from delving into subjects that are usually avoided but nonetheless need to be talked about.
3
SF8 (2020)
Genre: Sci-Fi
Once in a while, an incredible series like SF8 arrives on the small screen, but it flies under the radar. SF8 is basically the Korean version of Black 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.
SF8 has eight episodes that run between 42 to 58 minutes.
Although each episode of SF8 was 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, SF8 is a thought-provoking series that invites audiences to deeply introspect into the issues that plague society.
2
Doctor Prisoner (2019)
Genres: Drama & Thriller
- Release Date
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2019 – 2019-00-00
- Network
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KBS2
- Directors
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Hwang In-hyuk
- Writers
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Park Kye-ok
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-
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Chae Dong-hyeon
Choi Dong-Hoon
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, like Doctor 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.
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Unlike many K-dramas, Doctor Prisoner doesn’t have romance. Instead, it focuses on Dr. Na’s revenge and how he executes it. Doctor Prisoner is 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.
1
Navillera (2021)
Genre: Drama
While Song Kang is one of the most famous South Korean actors due to his roles in Sweet Home and My 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 in Navillera’s cast, the series delves into the friendship between an old man who wishes to fulfill his dream of becoming a ballerina and Song Kang’s Lee Chae-rok, a 23-year-old ballerina.
Navillera is 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. Navillera is a slice-of-life K-drama that 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.
