Korean TV shows are popular worldwide. Netflix says that four out of five users watch Korean-language content. So, K-dramas are now a big part of American culture. This change comes from significant investments made by Netflix and other U.S. media firms. These include Disney, Paramount, and Amazon. They are investing in Korean entertainment to boost profits and attract more subscribers.
American streaming giants are getting involved in K-dramas. This has upset many loyal viewers. Many loyal fans, mostly women, are not happy about it. Critics point out that international streamers are driving changes in the industry. They see a move away from the one-and-done season format. Plus, K-dramas now show more violence, sex, and nudity. International streamers are diving into Korean entertainment. This has increased and varied the global K-drama audience. Now, we have a broader range of K-dramas being made. Romantic melodrama remains a key element in the Korean TV industry. Yet, the success of Squid Game has sparked interest among international streamers. Now, they want K-dramas that appeal to a broader male audience as well.
Korean streamers are changing K-drama offerings. Platforms like Waave, Tving, and Watcha are backing new series and topics. These shows may struggle to get approved by major broadcasters like KBS, MBC, or SBS. They might also struggle on cable channels like tvN or JTBC. But platforms like China’s iQiyi are stepping in to meet that need worldwide. It employs a strategy like Viki’s. This helps attract more global viewers who are interested in Asian dramas. In many ways, it has never been an easier time to be an international K-drama fan, much like how the global appeal of instant withdrawal casinos has made online entertainment faster and more accessible for users worldwide.
Given the growth of players in the scene, many expected 2024 to be a big year for Korean TV. Yet, from a viewing standpoint, it has been quite ordinary. Many major productions have fallen short of expectations. This includes the return of hit shows like Hellbound and Sweet Home. Projects featuring top Hallyu actors, such as Uncle Samsik and Queen of Tears, also fell short. In 2024, K-drama showcased the underdog. The best series didn’t always have big budgets or top talent. Instead, many of the standout shows were simple yet captivating.
Mr. Plankton (Netflix)
Many K-drama romances don’t end happily. Yet, Mr. Plankton revealed the male lead’s fate right away. It used dramatic irony to share its bittersweet story. Netflix released a new 10-episode series just in time for the year’s end. It’s written by Jo Yong, known for It’s Okay Not to Be Okay. This series takes romantic comedy in an exciting new direction. So, he kidnaps his ex-girlfriend Jo Jae-mi (Lee You-mi from Strong Girl Namsoon) on her wedding day. He asks her to join him on a deeply personal journey to locate the father he’s never known. The result is a messy adventure of hijinks and healing. Mr. Plankton stands out from other series on this list. It doesn’t end with a miracle where love defies death. This choice makes the story stronger.
Death’s Game (Amazon Prime)
A surprising number of hit K-dramas originated as digital comics or webtoons before being adapted for the screen. Death’s Game is a manhwa that captures the essence of the webtoon. It might even improve on the original reading experience. What unfolds is a high-stakes reincarnation thriller, centered on a man desperate to escape the fate he once chose for himself. Choi Yee-jae (played by Seo In-guk from Cafe Minamdang) has struggled for seven years to find a job in Korea. He decides to end his life. This makes Death angry—played by Cinderella and the Four Knights’ Lee So-dam, who is a real character in the story. She gives Yee-jae 12 doomed lives. He will be reborn as different people and will lead various lives. If he can survive this high-stakes, action-packed life, he can keep living it. But if he can’t, he’ll face the consequences. Death’s Game debuted its first half in December 2023. The final episodes came out in January 2024. Go Youn-jung, who starred in Alchemy of Souls Season 2, takes on a much larger role here as Yee-jae’s former partner. Under Ha Byung-hoon’s direction, the narrative evolves from a philosophical tale into a gripping action series. It’s more than the original tale.
Marry My Husband (Amazon Prime)
Sometimes, as *Mary My Husband* shows, revenge works best with time travel. In 2023, Kang Ji-won, played by Park Min-young from *What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim*, faces cancer. Things take a darker turn when she discovers her husband is cheating—with her best friend, no less.
After they accidentally kill her, Ji-won wakes up in 2013. Now, she can pass her life’s troubles onto others. Some of the most cathartic K-dramas feature unlikable characters. Mary My Husband had some of the year’s best villains. This allows viewers to express their frustration, anger, and hatred on screen. This series might not have the deep themes of other K-dramas. But for this revenge drama, that simplicity is its biggest strength.
Pyramid Game (Paramount+)
The Pyramid Game is not to be confused with other K-dramas about games. It follows Seong Soo-ji, played by Kim Ji-yeon (also known as Bona from Twenty-Five Twenty-One). She is an army brat, starting at the prestigious Baekyeon Girls’ High School. Soo-ji is a master at blending into new social settings. She’s an eternal transfer student. She is not ready for the Pyramid Game. This app-based “game” shows the social hierarchy of Classes 2-5. It puts people into two groups: winners and losers. Those with the highest monthly votes hold immense “popularity” power. Those who receive no votes are often bullied and humiliated. Soo-jin must decide if she wants to try to win the game or eradicate it.
The Judge From Hell (Hulu)
This year, Korean TV had many male anti-heroes. Yet, Park Shin-hye stood out. Her role as Justita, a demon judge, was pure entertainment. She plays a character who was banished from hell. This happened because she wrongly sent Judge Kang Bit-na to eternal damnation. Park Shin-hye’s performance is delightfully devilish and unforgettable. To return to the underworld, Justita must kill ten unremorseful human murderers in a year. She has to do this while in Kang Bit-na’s body. Justita’s job gets harder because of Han Da-on (Kim Jae-young). He may appear to be a justice-driven detective, but he’s hiding a significant truth of his own. Not all K-dramas need to change everything. The Judge From Hell shows how fun a silly, supernatural series can be. It’s an excellent pick for American viewers who miss the old shows from networks like The CW.
The Atypical Family (Netflix)
While Hollywood’s superhero era limps along, the Korean TV industry has quietly and steadily been churning out some of the best superpowered stories of the past few years. In 2023, Disney+ premiered its multigenerational movie. Netflix’s standout in 2024 is the understated yet emotionally rich The Atypical Family. While Moving’s characters faced global issues, The Atypical Family focuses on local matters. It centers on the Boks, a family with superpowers. They have sadly lost their talents due to ongoing issues. These include depression, insomnia, and obesity. The Atypical Family made a big mistake. Rather than casting a plus-size actress, the production controversially chose to use a fat suit on Claudia Kim. Instead, they should have cast a fat actress for the role of Bok Dong-hee.)
Jang Ki-young (My Roommate is a Gumiho) plays Bok Gwi-ju. He’s a grieving father, emotionally frozen in time since the loss of his wife. When Da-hae (The 8 Show’s Chun Woo-hee), a quiet con artist, flirts with Gwi-ju, he feels too down to notice. She has her eyes set on the Bok’s wealth. As Gwi-ju’s powers begin to awaken, both Gwi-ju and Da-hae have to face their new and tricky feelings for each other. This is one of the best romances in K-drama this year. It’s part of a larger story that slowly unfolds. The themes include trauma, healing, and family.
A Shop For Killers (Hulu)
Some K-dramas strike like a skilled assassin. They hit hard and vanish quickly. A Shop for Killers is one of them. This eight-part thrill ride from early 2024 fits that mold perfectly. Lee Kwon co-created, co-wrote, and co-directed this Kill Bill-like drama. The story starts in the middle. We meet the main character, Jeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun), during an assassination attempt on her. The series explains why Ji-an is in her current situation. It does this in a non-linear way. We see flashbacks of Ji-an’s life. These moments show her ties to her uncle, Jeong Jin-man, played by Lee Dong-wook from Goblin. His sudden death has turned her into a target. A Shop for Killers stands out for its superb acting, stylish visuals, and quick pace. It’s a standout example of the variety found in K-drama.
Conclusion
In 2024, we didn’t see many blockbuster hits. But it showed us that strong storytelling can stand out without all the flashy extras. These seven K-dramas stand out for their unique takes on romance, revenge, fantasy, and action. These dramas show the bold creativity and variety in K-drama. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or new to it, they are worth your time.
