16 BINGE-WORTHY KOREAN DRAMAS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2023

1. 'Love to Hate You'

You'll start to believe in the adage "opposites attract" after watching this eagerly awaited K-drama. A lawyer at Gilmu Law Firm named Yeo Mi-Ran (Kim Ok-Vin), and actor Nam Kang-Ho are the subjects of the romantic comedy (Teo Yoo). As the story progresses, we see how the two diametrically opposed characters develop a love-hate connection with one another before falling in love.

2. 'Queenmaker'

A forthcoming K-drama by Oh Jin-Seok centers on two women, Hwang Do-Hee (Kim Hee-Ae) and Oh Seung-Sook (Moon So-Ri), who, in spite of their differences, work together to pursue justice. While Oh is vying for mayor, Hwang manages the strategic planning team. The two women face off against one another throughout the series as they gradually develop a warm friendship.

3. ‘Taxi Driver 2’

In the second season of the criminal drama Taxi Driver, Lee Je-Hoon plays Kim Do-Ki once more. A former special forces soldier named Kim and his crew, Rainbow Taxi, are the subjects of the current season, which is an adaptation of the webcomic The Deluxe Taxi. His staff is evidently working to exact justice and retaliation on individuals who have been victimized. The show takes an even darker turn when we learn that Kim has been the focus of someone trying to find him.

4. ‘Our Blooming Youth’

The newest historical romance centers on Lee Hwan (Park Hyung-Sik), a crown prince who bears a strange curse as a result of his brother's passing. His circumstances change when he meets Min Jae-Yi (Jeon So-Nee), who is charged with killing her family. As Min assists in freeing him from his curse, they start to build a romantic bond.

5. ‘ Crash Course in Romance’

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s director, Yoo Je-newest won's rom-com, delves into the competitive world of private education. Nam Haeng-sun (Jean Do Yeon), a banchan (Korean side dishes) shop owner, prepares her daughter for a university entrance exam in the series. Yoo's life is turned upside down when she meets Choi Chi-yeol (Jung Kyung Ho), a charismatic tutor known for his innovative teaching methods.

6. 'Agency'

This office drama follows the career of Go A In, played by Lee Bo Young, a South Korean actress best known for her role in the 2013 drama I Can Hear Your Voice. Go strives to become the first female lead executive in a major advertising agency and climbs the corporate ladder with her dedication to hard work and strong desire for success. Son Na Eun from Ghost Doctor and Han Joon Woo from Be Melodramatic also appear in the series.

7. ‘The Girl Downstairs’

Based on the webtoon, Lee Doona, this romance K-drama is directed by Crash Landing on You's Lee Jung Hyo and stars A-list actors such as My Country's Yang Se Jon and Start Up's Bae Suzy. Bae was also a member of the now-disbanded K-pop group Miss A. The main character in the story is Won Joon (played by Yang), a college freshman who falls for his retired K-pop idol and neighbor, Lee Doo Na (played by Bae). Lee, like Bae, was the main vocalist of a popular K-pop band before retiring to pursue her studies. We watch as the couple grows closer, eventually forming a romantic relationship.

8. ‘The Glory’

Song Hye-kyo reunites with The Descendants writer Kim Eun-sook in The Glory, playing a woman seeking vengeance on her childhood bullies from high school. The trailer shows Moon Dong-eun (Song) hatching an elaborate plan to make one of her newlywed classmates' lives a living nightmare. If the trailer is any indication, the drama will be remembered as "a grim drama, like a breathtaking sword dance," as Kim wishes.

9. ‘A Time Called You’

Director Kim Jin-Won takes us on a time-traveling love story starring Jeon Yeo-Been and Ahn Hyo-Seop in this remake of the hit Taiwanese TV drama Someday Or One Day (2019). Han Jun-Hee (played by Jeon) is consumed by grief after her boyfriend's death and finds herself traveling back in time to live as high schooler Kwon Min-Joo. Here, she meets Nam Si-Heon (Ahn), a fellow student who reminds her of her late boyfriend. This Netflix show is both romantic and emotional, and it investigates whether true love can find a way to bridge insurmountable gaps.

10. ‘Mask Girl’

This Netflix thriller for adults, directed by Kim Yong-hoon, is based on a popular Korean webtoon and follows the double life of Kim Mo-Mi (played by Go Hyun-Jung), who makes up for her mundane office job by moonlighting as a masked performer on a live broadcasting platform. Her coworker, Joo Oh-Nam (Ahn Jae-Hong), discovers Mask Girl's true identity and develops feelings for her. When he goes missing, the story takes a dark turn, prompting his mother to launch a desperate search.

11. ‘Celebrity’

The grittier side of the glitzy influencer culture is explored in this drama directed by Kim Chul-Gyu. There's a dark underbelly of uncertainty, fear, struggles, and heartaches beneath the glittery surface of celebrity lifestyle, and this Netflix show exposes it with the help of cast members Park Gyu-Young, Kang Min-Hyuk, Lee Chung-Ah, and Jeon Hyo-Sung. If you've ever been sucked in by YouTuber drama, you'll love this.

12. ‘Gyeongseong Creature’

Fans are buzzing about this historical thriller directed by Jung Dong-Yoon because of its star-studded cast, which includes Park Seo-Joon and Han So-Hee. This Netflix series, set in 1945 Gyeongseong, South Korea, under the Japanese regime, follows wealthy Jang Tae-Sang (played by Park) and bounty hunter Yun Chae-ok (played by Han) as they fight monstrous creatures born of human greed.

13. ‘Daily Dose of Sunshine’

Based on a nurse's real-life experiences, this medical drama set in a hospital's psychiatric ward has an uplifting message about the healing process. This Netflix original, directed by Lee Jae Gyoo and starring popular A-listers such as Park Bo-Young and Yeon Woo-Jin, has all the ingredients for success.

14. ‘Vigilante’

Based on a webtoon of the same name, this anti-hero drama to be released on Disney+ follows the adventures of Kim Ji-Yong (played by Nam Joo-Hyuk), a former police academy student who loses his mother in an unsolved homicide and takes seeking justice into his own hands, becoming a fugitive wanted by the authorities. Fans of action films will be captivated by the show's engaging plot and impressive fight scenes.

15. ‘The Worst Evil’

This crime drama, set in the 1980s, is perfect for fans of gritty action shows. This show, which stars Ji Chang-Wook, Wi Ha-Joon, and Im Se-mi, will take audiences on a tour of 1980s South Korean society.

16. ‘Moving’

This Disney+ superhero drama will transport you to a fantasy world where teenagers and their parents, all of whom possess supernatural powers, fight against the forces of evil in order to save society. This show, which is based on a webtoon of the same name, was announced in 2021 and features an all-star cast that includes Zo In-Sung, Han Hyo-Joo, Kim Sung-Kyun, and Ryu Seung-Ryong.