
Korean dramas have mastered the skill of captivating fans with weaving and heartfelt stories that the audiences crave for more, long after the final episode. Thankfully, many iconic dramas have sequels, allowing viewers to dive deeper into its fascinating plots and uncover fresh twists, and see their favorite characters back on screen. Usually, the follow-up seasons build on the original stories. Adding more twists and exciting revelations. From heartwarming romance to action packed sequences, from mind-blowing mysteries, to slice-of-life narration, these dramas have something to offer everyone. If you are looking for some extended entertainment and an engaging storytelling experience, then you have come to the right place. Here is the best Korean drama with sequels you cannot miss.
1. Dr. Romantic
Dr. Romantic released in 2016 is a romantic drama starring Han Seok Kyu, Yoo Yeon Seo, and Seo Hyun Jin as the main leads. The first season of the drama revolves around Kim Sa Bu a famous surgeon at a major hospital, but suddenly gives up the big hospital and moved to a hospital in a small town. Meanwhile, Kang Dong Joo became a doctor as he grew up in poverty and now, only treats VIP patients to achieve success. On the other hand, we have Yoon Seo Jung, a passionate doctor but is haunted by her past mistake, and tries to get over with it. This drama has 3 seasons, Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Sung Kyun, and Kim Joo Heon plays the leading characters in the other two sequel.
2. Yumi’s Cells
Yumi’s Cells season 1, released in 2021, is a romantic drama starring Kim Go Eun, Ahn Bio-Hyun, and Park Jin Young as the main leads. The drama tells the story of an ordinary office worker from the perspective of the brain cells in her head. Yumi is an ordinary woman. Her love cells fall in comma after a failed relationship. On the other hand, there is Goo Woong, a game developer and an engineer to the core. He is not very emotionally expressive but he tries to wake her love cell up by his simple and honest personality. The story progresses as Yumi grows, as her cells work hard to improve her life. The second season introduces Jin Young as Babi after she breaks up with Goo Woong.
3. Love Alarm
Love Alarm was released in 2019 is a romantic comedy drama, starring Kim So Hyun, Jung Ga Ram, and Song Kang as the main lead. The story revolves around an app called Love Alarm, which was created to notify users when someone within 10 meters likes them, keeping the person’s identity anonymous. Kim Jo Jo is a high school student who lost her parents in a very young age and now lives with her aunt. On the other hand, Hwang Sun Oh is a popular student from a wealthy but emotionally distant family and attends the same school as Kim Jo Jo. The second season of this drama was released in 2021.
4. Alchemy of Souls
Alchemy of Souls was released in 2022, is historical fantasy drama, starring Lee Jae Wook and Jung So Min as the main leads. The drama is set in a fictional country of Daeho, where a young mages struggles to overcome his fate caused by a forbidden “alchemy of souls” a spell that swaps souls between bodies. Naksu is an elite assassin whose soul was stuck in the weak body of Mu Deo, who was a servant to the noble Jang family. This drama has a second season released in 2022, where Go Young Jung plays the lead character.
5. Squid Game
Squid Game was released in 2021 is a mystery thriller drama, starring Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo, Jug Ho Yeon, and Wi Ha Joon as the main leads. The drama was a massive hit of that year. The drama tells a story of Seong Gi Hun, who started gambling after a failed business venture. When his life hit a rock bottom, he received an offer that promised 45.6 billion in exchange for winning traditional Korean children game against 455 other players. Unaware of the deadly consequences, the players joined the game to win the prize money. After the massive hit of the first season, the second season was released in 2021. Where alongside Lee Jung Jae, Lee Byung Hun, Yim Si Wan, Kang Ha Neul, Wi Ha Joon, Jo Yu Ri, Yang Dong Geun, Kang Ae Shim, Park Sung Hoon, Lee Jin Wook, Lee Seo Hwan, Park Gyu Young, and T.O.P played the main characters.
6. Hospital Playlist
Hospital Playlist is a comedy-drama released in 2020, starring Jo Jung Suk, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jung Kyung Ho, Kim Dae Myung, and Jeon Mi Do as the main lead. The story revolves around a group of five friends who all are doctors. The story shows their ordinary days at a hospital where they work together in different departments. The drama has a second season released in 2021, building up on the first season of the drama with the same characters.
7. Sweet Home
Sweet Home is a horror action drama released in 2020, starring Song Kang, Lee Jin Wook, and Lee Si Young. The drama revolves around Cha Hyun Soo, who moves into a new apartment after the death of his family. But, his quite life got disturb after strange incidents that start occurring in his apartment and the entire city. And Hyun Soo and the residents of the building try to survive. The drama has three seasons released in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with the same star cast.
8. The Penthouse: War in Life
The Penthouse: War in Life was released in 2020, is a thriller mystery drama, starring Lee Ji Ah, Kim Se Yeon, and Eugene. The story revolves around the residents of Hera Palace, a luxury penthouse with 100 floors that has many secrets hidden within it. Sim Si Ryeon was born into a wealthy family and is the queen of the penthouse apartment. Cheon Seo Jin, does everything to provide for her daughter. On the other hand, Oh Yoon Hee comes from a poor family background but she strives her entry to this high society by becoming the queen of the penthouse. This drama has three seasons released in the same year.
9. Voice
Voice is a thriller drama released in 2017, starring Lee Ha Na and Jang Hyuk. The drama tells the story of Moon Jin Hyuk whose wife was murdered while he was at work, which made him guilt ridden. Kang Kwon Joo is a policewoman who is gifted with psycho acoustics skills, whose father killed after while she was investigating case. Three years later, they teamed up as “Golden Time Team” and solve cases together. The story progresses as they begin chasing after the serial killer who killed their loved ones. This drama has four seasons, released in 2018, 2019, and 2021 respectively. Lee Jin Wook played the lead character in second and third season and Song Seung Heon played the lead character in season four.
10. Welcome to Waikiki
Welcome to Waikiki was released 2018 is a comedy drama starring Kim Jung Hyun, Lee Yi Kyung, Son Seung Won, Jung In Sun, Go Won Hee, and Lee Joo Woo as the main lead. The story revolves around three young men Dong Goo an unlucky but aspiring film director, Joon Ki, an eccentric actor, and Doo Shik a lazy freelancer. The three together opened a guest house in Itaewon to fund their film. The story progresses as Dong Goo’s sister Seo Jun, Yoon Ah, a single mother, and Dong Goo’s ex-girlfriend Soo Ah joined then that created more chaos. The drama has a second season released in 2019 where Kim Seon Ho, Shin Hyun Soo, Mun Ka Young, Ahn So Hee, and Kim Ye Won joined the cast.