10 must-watch K-dramas for newbies

Squid Game (2021-present)

Created, written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, this Netflix series revolves around players into a secret contest with children's games but deadly stakes to win million prize.

Queen of Tears (2024)

Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Lee Joo-bin-starrer series explores the nuances of a married couple going through a difficult time together.

When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025)

Written by Lim Sang-choon, directed by Kim Won-seok, the series stars IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, and Park Hae-joon.

Crash Landing On You (2019-20)

Written by Park Ji-eun, directed by Lee Jeong-hyo, and starring Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye and Kim Jung-hyun, it focuses on a South Korean heiress who paraglide drops in North Korea.

The Trauma Hero: Heroes On Call (2025)

The series follows the journey of Baek Kang-hyuk, a brilliant trauma surgeon who joins a struggling university hospital.

All Of Us Are Dead (2022-present)

Vincenzo (2021)

Starring Song Joong-ki as the title character, During a visit to his motherland, a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer gives a conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice.

Weak Hero (2022-25)

Written and directed by Yoo Soo-min with Kim Jin-seok and Park Dan-hee, starring Park Ji-hoon, it is based on the Naver webtoon Weak Hero by Seopass and Kim Jin-seok (Razen), which was published in 2018.

King Of The Land (2023)

Starring Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ah, this tells the story of Gu Won who is the heir of The King Group, a luxury hotel conglomerate.

Business Proposal (2022):

Directed by Park Seon-ho and written by Han Seol-hee and Hong Bo-hee, the series stars Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Se-jeong, Kim Min-kyu, and Seol In-ah.