5 Korean Dramas Every K-Drama Beginner Should Watch
If you are a K-drama newbie you have probably seen a bazillion watch lists on TikTok, YouTube, or popular Korean drama blogs. Well! Here is yet another list.
From 2010 forward, the popularity of Korean dramas has exploded in the USA. Lots of streaming platforms, paid and free (with ads), offer a wide range of Korean movies and TV series to choose from. Some platforms even offer original content and you can only view the K-drama on their platform. Because there are so many genres, enthusiastic K-drama addicts like me never get tired of making watch lists and sharing them.
Below is my list of 5 Korean dramas beginners or newbies should watch. Since they were released BEFORE 2010, they might not appear when you search the database for “popular”, “trending”, “top picks”, or “recently added”. But trust me, they are old but gold.
♦ REVIEW SUMMARIES:
- Damo (2003) — During the Joseon period, a damo was a female investigative assistant/detective. Ha Ji Won, the Korean actress who played Empress Ki, is the lead actress in this series. Two siblings, a young girl and her older brother were trying to flee danger and got separated. They grew up, neither one of them knowing what had happened to the other. The girl grew up and became a damo. Her brother grew up and became a notorious criminal. She was assigned to go undercover and catch him, dead or alive, not realizing that he is her long-lost brother. He also does not realize that she is his sister. This story will break your heart.
- Memories of Murder (2003) — Serial killers terrify everybody. That’s why crime dramas that show dedicated detectives who will not stop until the killer is brought to justice are usually on everybody’s watch list. Song Kang-ho and Kim Sang-kyung star as detectives trying to capture a serial killer. Not just a killer, but a rapist and a murderer. The crimes began occurring in the 1980s and by 2003 they remained unsolved. This K-drama is based on a true story. Watch the trailer.
- Jumong (2006–2007) — This is one of those epic Korean dramas like Empress Ki and Six Flying Dragons. It has 60 episodes. For the longest time, it was not on streaming sites in the USA. But as of September 2023, it is on sites like Viki and Amazon Prime. Jumong is also called “Prince of Legend” and it’s the story, the tale, the myth, the legend … of the man who founded the kingdom of Goguryeo in 37 B.C. The male lead is Song Il-kook. Even though Jumong is considered part of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), special mention must always be made of “Jewel in the Palace”, the Korean drama series that started the Korean Wave.
- Iljimae (2008) AND The Return of Iljimae (2009) — Set during the Joseon Era, the series is based on the comic strip Iljimae, published during the 70s. The first series stars Lee Joon-gi as the male lead. The second series stars Jung Il-woo in the title role. Iljimae is a legendary hero of the people, who fights against corrupt royals and the nobility and brings relief to the poor and downtrodden. I know what you’re thinking and the answer to your question is: ”No! The world does not have enough silly stories about heroes who save the people!” Besides, this hero likes apricot blossoms.
- IRIS (2009) — An intense drama series: espionage, action, and spy thriller; starring Lee Byung-hun. “IRIS” is a secret society. An NSS (National Security Service) agent has no problem doing his job as an undercover agent. The problem occurs when he and his best friend both fall in love with the same woman. That woman is the one who picked them for their job. Love triangles are always complicated. But back to the real mission. There are those who seek to dissolve the division between North and South Korea. However, there are members of IRIS determined to prevent the reunification. In this thriller, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. In other words, the NSS agents did not know the IRIS agents had a hidden agenda. That’s the problem with being a secret agent. Everybody keeps dangerous secrets! (P.S. There is a IRIS Season 2, released 2013. Also, there is IRIS: The Movie, released 2010.)
Hope you appreciate this list.