When we first hear the term "K-dramas," we usually think of swoon-worthy, epic romances like Goblin or fan-favorite Crash Landing On You. But if you're a true fan, or even if you're just getting started, you should look into some of the hidden gems. From heartwarming comedies to thrilling murder mysteries, these Korean dramas are woefully underappreciated and deserve their binge-watching session.
For various reasons, these dramas do not always live up to the public's expectations and are either swept under the rug or only become known after the series has concluded. In any case, the purpose of this feature is to shed light on some of those dramas that you may not have known were worth watching! Make sure to read part one of this feature's solid list here.
1. Kill It
Kim Soo Hyun, a veterinarian by day and an assassin by night, is played by Jang Ki Yong. Do Hyung Jin (Nana) moves into the same building as Soo Hyun's animal hospital and makes an effort to befriend him. Hyun Jin approaches Soo Hyun and turns to him for assistance, despite his cold exterior. Soon, the two realize that their childhoods are intertwined and that they are both searching for the same secrets.
The Drama’s real focus is on Kim Soo Hyun and his dark past, which has led him to the dangerous life he leads. There isn't much good in his life, so when he meets Do Hyun Jin, she brings him some warmth and kindness. The action scenes are also of film quality and extremely badass!
2. Chicago Typewriter
If you enjoy shows about history and reincarnation, this is the one for you. Han Se-Joo, Jeon Seol, and Yoo Jin-oh are the main characters in the story. Han is a famous writer who is suffering from writer's block when he meets Jeon, a fan, and Yoo, a mysterious ghostwriter, both of whom suggest that he can help him get out of his rut. Soon, the trio realizes they are linked by their past, as they are the reincarnations of three friends who lived and rebelled during the Japanese occupation in the 1930s.
3. Doctor John
This was the first Korean television series to discuss euthanasia and the ethical concerns that surround it. It was also praised for its unique take on a medical drama, portraying each case as an unsolved crime that the lead anesthesiologists must solve. It follows Cha Yo-han, a brilliant anesthesiologist who can determine the source of pain in his patients in less than 10 seconds. Then there's Kang Shi-young, a resident anesthesiologist who works under Cha. They collaborate to cure their patients and find a way to treat Cha's excruciating pain.
4. Beating Again
Beating Again, also known as Falling for Innocence, is about Kang Min-ho, a cold-hearted and ruthless investor who has no time or value for emotions in his life. After suffering a near-fatal heart attack, he needs a heart transplant, and the donor is a young detective who is engaged to Soon-Jung, the daughter of Kang's father's secretary who betrayed him. His personality has completely changed as a result of the surgery. He is friendlier and more sensitive to those around him than he was previously. He also begins to have strange feelings for Soon-Jung and gradually realizes that he has fallen in love with her.
5. Voice
Kim Jae-Wook starred in this thriller as the intriguing (and terrifying) Mo Tae-goo before proving to the world that he can play a romantic lead like no other in Her Private Life. After a tragedy involving a terrifying serial killer who bludgeons his victims to death, the lives of two detectives become intertwined. Kang Kwon Joo, a police officer who is an expert in voice profiling due to her unique ability to distinguish sounds that are not normally heard by the human ear, and Moo Jin-hyuk from the Golden Time Team, which takes on emergency cases where time is of the soul. They soon discover an insidious link between the murders they're looking into and the tragedy that connects them.
6. Welcome To Waikiki
Sang Dong-goo, an aspiring film director, Chef Joon-ki, a struggling actor, and Bong Doo-Sik, a small-time writer, have all accepted that their dreams may come to naught. They co-own a guesthouse, which is also struggling. Just as they are about to give up on all of their dreams and declare bankruptcy, a single mother and her child arrive at their door, giving their dreams new life.
7. Stranger
This award-winning crime thriller follows renowned prosecutor Hwang Si-Mok after he undergoes corrective surgery for a neurological disorder and loses his sense of empathy and social skills. When police lieutenant Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doona) assists him in solving a murder, their paths cross. As their investigation progresses, the two uncover a larger scheme linking the prosecutors' office to a large corporation. The show was renewed for a second season, which will premiere in August of this year.
8. Suspicious Partner
Ji Chang-final work’s drama before enlisting in the military in 2017 was this one. Unlike his previous two action and thriller dramas, Healer and K2, Suspicious Partner is a lighthearted series. He portrays Noh Ji-Wook, a prosecutor in charge of a murder case involving prosecutor trainee Eun Bong-hee, who was falsely accused of murdering her unfaithful ex-boyfriend. Despite the prosecutor's office's pressure to close the case as soon as possible, Ji-Wook eventually finds evidence to prove Bong-innocence hee's while the true murderer remains at large. As a result, he resigns as a prosecutor and establishes his law firm.
Years later, when Bong-hee gets a job at his law firm, the two reunite. As they set out to find the true murderer, feelings between Bong-hee and Ji-Wook begin to develop.
9. A Beautiful Mind
Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein serves as inspiration for A Beautiful Mind. Jang Hyuk portrays Lee Young-oh, a brilliant neurosurgeon who, due to a medical condition, is unable to empathize with others.
When a series of mysterious deaths occur in the hospital, he finds himself collaborating with police officer Gye Jin-sung, played by Parasite Actress Park So-dam, to try to find the truth. Things get worse when people start accusing Young-oh of being a psychopath because of his inability to feel empathy.
10. Come And Hug Me (2018)
When they were younger, Chae Do-jin and Han Jae-Yi met and fell in love. This encounter, however, was cut short when Do-father jin's – a notorious serial killer – murdered Jae-parents. I’s Do-jin, determined to be different from his father and right the wrongs he has committed, sets his sights on graduating from the police academy. Meanwhile, Jae-Yi is a rising actress who has developed a panic disorder as a result of the incident.
As this pair of tragic lovers reunite, they try their hardest to overcome their tragic fate and rekindle their love for each other.
