The 10 Best K-Dramas Of The 2010s

May 18, 2024, 4:10 p.m.

Movies

The 10 Best K-Dramas Of The 2010s

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Summary The best K-dramas of the 2010s remain timeless and are still beloved by international audiences today.

Streaming platforms like Netflix have made older K-dramas more accessible and allowed them to remain relevant.

Each K-drama from the 2010s, from historical romances to crime thrillers, has left a lasting impact on the genre.

The best K-dramas of the 2010s are similar to the most popular TV shows airing today, and they hold up extremely well when compared to contemporary dramas. Coming from a wide variety of genres and featuring some of the best actors in any K-dramas, the 2010s were a heyday for the series as they were gaining traction with international audiences and the production value was increasing with each year. Though some have faded out of mainstream popularity over time, they should be remembered for their contributions to and influence on K-dramas to this day.

However, before streaming, the success of a K-drama was determined by viewership numbers on cable and critical reception.

One of the reasons that K-dramas from the 2010s have reached wider audiences is because of their availability on streaming platforms like Netflix. Recently, Song Kang's K-dramas have taken the world by storm, and he's become the biggest heartthrob of Netflix K-dramas. However, before streaming, the success of a K-drama was determined by viewership numbers on cable and critical reception. This is still the case for a variety of reasons, but the addition of K-dramas from many different years on big platforms means older TV shows can stay relevant and continue to inspire generations of audiences.

Related The Best K-Dramas Of All Time, Ranked K-Dramas have been enjoying a lot of success and fan adoration as of late, and these are the best K-dramas of all time.

TV Show IMDb Rating Love In The Moonlight (2016) 7.8 / 10 Healer (2014-2015) 8.4 / 10 Extraordinary You (2019) 7.8 / 10 Reply 1988 (2015) 9.1 / 10 Guardian: The Lonely And Great God / Goblin (2016) 8.6 / 10 Signal (2016) 8.5 / 10 My Mister (2018) 9.1 / 10 Mr. Sunshine (2018) 8.7 / 10 Stranger (2017–2020) 8.4 / 10 Crash Landing On You (2019) 8.7 / 10

10 Love In The Moonlight (2016)

Starring Kim Yoo-jung & Park Bo-gum

One of the best historical K-dramas of all time, Love in the Moonlight, follows the forbidden love story between a young prince, Lee Yeong (Park), and a young woman posing as a eunuch in his court, Hong Ra-on (Kim). It takes place during the Joseon Dynasty and was inspired by an online novel. Not only does the narrative center heavily on the budding romance between Ra-on and Yeong, but it also examines the gender dynamics of the period, as Ra-on disguises herself as a man in order to search for her mother and her greater personal freedom.

Watch Love in the Moonlight on Viki or Prime Video.

Watching Love in the Moonlight immerses the audience in the 19th century as the costumes, music, and performances dedicate themselves fully to a rich representation of the period. Not only do the main characters fall in love, but they also grow into fully developed individuals, and Yeong learns to take on his responsibilities as Prince and future King. The political and social mysteries that surround palace life are also a great addition to the story and make Love in the Moonlight a timeless watch.

Love in the Moonlight (2016) Cast Park Bo-gum , Kim Yoo-jung , Kwak Dong-yeon , Chae Soo-bin , Jung Jinyoung , Kang Ki-doong , Kim Yeo-jin , Jeon Mi-seon Release Date August 22, 2016 Seasons 1

9 Healer (2014–2015)

Starring Park Min-young & Ji Chang-wook

In the show, three individuals with a penchant for justice and truth come together to investigate murders and shine a light on injustice in their community.

Both a thriller and a story of personal growth, Healer is surprisingly heartfelt in the midst of its intense action and fight sequences. In the show, three individuals with a penchant for justice and truth come together to investigate murders and shine a light on injustice in their community. While it sounds as though Healer is a mortality tale or overtly political, this isn't necessarily the case. Much of its larger themes and tone are merely emphasized by the journalistic work done by the protagonists.

Watch Healer on Viki or Prime Video.

The main characters, Seo Jung-hoo (Ji) and Chae Young-shin (Park), are a classic case of enemies-to-lovers, as Jung-hoo is hired to protect Young-shin from the media conglomerate targeting her. At first, neither is happy with the arrangement, but it doesn't take long for feelings to blossom. Healer pushes both the characters and the audience to think about right and wrong and does so through a familiar tale of love and acceptance. Even in its most thrilling scenes, the emotional core of the series is what makes it so enduring.

8 Extraordinary You (2019)

Starring Kim Hye-yoon & Rowoon

It plays with the tropes and pitfalls of romance comics ingeniously and interweaves the story of two comics.

Many of the best K-dramas are based on webtoons, and Extraordinary You comments on and subverts this trend by having its characters discover that they are living inside a comic. It plays with the tropes and pitfalls of romance comics ingeniously and interweaves the story of two comics. A few of the characters, notably the protagonists Eun Dan-oh (Kim) and Haru (Rowoon), are only side characters in one comic, but soon realize that they are the main characters in the dramatic period piece that serves as the secondary story.

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Extraordinary You calls into question the nature of fate and destiny, as each character bucks the idea that they can't take their life into their own hands. However, the deeper the characters get into the story and the more self-aware they become, the more ominous the consequences. Despite this, Extraordinary You has a positive message for all viewers as it encourages the audience to be their own persona and carve their own path, even if they don't perceive themselves to be the story's main character.

Watch Extraordinary You on Viki or Prime Video.

Extraordinary You (2019) Cast Kim Hye-yoon , Rowoon , Lee Jae-wook , Lee Na-eun , Jung Gun-joo , Kim Young-dae , Lee Tae-ri Release Date October 2, 2019 Seasons 2 Creator(s) Kim Dae-jin , Moo Ryuyee

7 Reply 1988 (2015)

Starring Lee Hye-ri & Ryu Jun-yeol

Reply 1988 might have premiered in 2015, but the story takes place in 1988, making it a more recent period piece, but still concerned with South Korean history. In the show, five families who live on the same street in Seoul have intersecting lives. It's the third installment of the Reply series, an anthology that features a different timeline and group of characters each season. However, Reply 1988 was by far the most successful iteration of the show, both in terms of ratings and critical acclaim.

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At the heart of the series is the central group of teenage friends, each from a different family in the neighborhood. Interweaving personal dramas with larger international events, Reply 1988 is well-paced and never grows boring thanks to the compelling dynamic between the friend group. The romantic tension between them is an enduring plot point throughout the show, making it relatable to a wide array of audiences. However, as time progresses and the years go by, the neighborhood changes and the families grow apart as a metaphor for aging and the overall changes of the nation.

Reply 1988 Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Lee Hye-ri , Ryu Jun-yeol , Go Kyung-Pyo Release Date November 5, 2015 Seasons 1 Creator(s) Lee Woo-jeong

6 Guardian: The Lonely And Great God / Goblin (2016)

Starring Kim Go-eun & Gong Yoo

Though Goblin isn't perfect, falling under criticism for the relationship between an ancient deity and a high schooler, the show was a phenomenon. It can't be overlooked when discussing important and prominent K-dramas. Combining fantasy, drama, and slice-of-life comedy, Goblin has something for everyone who watches it. Though there are just as many devastating scenes as there are light-hearted ones, they're well-balanced in the narrative. Additionally, the show's many layers and complex character development give the series an unexpected but well-earned depth.

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Goblin shouldn't be put in the same category as other comedic K-dramas, because although there are plenty of funny moments, it's distinctly serious and violent in many scenes. One of the lead characters, Kim Shin (Yoo), plays the Goblin, an immortal entity who has spent centuries waiting for the person who will break his curse and set him free. Though it appears that the Goblin is the only supernatural part of the show, it's later revealed that there are many things the characters don't know about themselves that have connected them across time.

Watch Guardian: The Great and Lonely God on Netflix.

Guardian: The Lonely And Great God (2016) Cast Gong Yoo , Kim Go-eun , Lee Dong-wook , Yoo In-na , Yook Sung-jae , Lee El , Jo Woo-jin , Kim Sung-kyum Release Date December 2, 2016 Seasons 1

5 Signal (2016)

Starring Kim Hye-soo & Lee Je-hoon

Unlike other crime dramas, Signal incorporates supernatural and fantastical elements to create a show unlike anything else on television. Loosely based on the film, Frequency, Signal was also inspired by true crime stories from across South Korea, which put it ahead of the increased interest in true crime content over the past few years. This connection to real events also makes Signal feel all the more intense and high-stakes in its storytelling, as it's easy to feel as though the characters are in real danger.

Watch Signal on Netflix.

In the show, detectives from the past and future are connected through a walkie-talkie that allows them to communicate across time and space. This is essential to the series' premise, as most of the cases the characters look into have been cold for many years. The show earned several accolades at the Baeksang Arts Awards and was recognized for giving equal weight and importance to the character's development as well as the criminal plot points.

Signal (2016) Signal is a South Korean crime thriller television series that follows a detective from the present day who communicates with a detective from the past through a ham radio. They work together to solve cold cases and uncover the truth behind a mysterious crime. Cast Lee Je-hoon , Kim Hye-soo , Cho Jin-woong , Jang Hyun-sung , Jung Hae-kyun Release Date January 22, 2016 Seasons 1 Creator(s) Kim Eun-hee , Kim Won-suk

4 My Mister (2018)

Starring IU & Lee Sun-kyun

Many moments in the story are emotionally poignant, and few audience members have come away from the series with a dry eye.

IU is one of the many South Korean actresses who is also a talented singer and stage performer, but in My Mister, it's clear that acting is one of her strong suits. Alongside her is Lee Sun-kyun, an older veteran of the K-drama scene, but their age difference and different backgrounds only strengthened their onscreen connection. Their characters come from vastly different worlds but share a feeling of loneliness and discontent. Many moments in the story are emotionally poignant, and few audience members have come away from the series with a dry eye.

My Mister is special because the relationship between the two leads isn't romantic, but is one of the most sensitive and moving personal bonds seen in a K-drama. It elevates the importance of platonic relationships, which contemporary viewers appreciate seeing onscreen. Though there are intense topics like familial abuse, infidelity, and poverty, My Mister takes these parts of the story seriously and never plays them up to create unnecessary drama. It's a story full of heart and sadness, but this dichotomy makes it so enduring.

Watch My Mister on Netflix.

Related 10 K-Pop Idols Who Became Great Actors In K-Dramas With K-pop being more popular than ever, it's not surprising that so many talented K-pop artists have also had established careers in K-dramas, too.

3 Mr. Sunshine (2018)

Starrring Kim Tae-ri & Lee Byung-hun

Historical fiction and adaptation of real historical events are common themes in K-dramas of all genres, but Mr. Sunshine stands out because of how well it touched upon such monumental pieces of Korean history. It's told from the opposite perspective of a noblewoman, Go Ae-shin (Kim), and Eugene Choi / Choi Yu-jin (Lee), a Korean orphan who immigrated to the U.S. and became a Marine. Mr. Sunshine takes place in the late 1800s around the time of the Japanese occupation of Korea and the U.S.'s involvement in the conflict.

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The series is considered a close representation of this period and an accurate adaptation of what life was like for a wide range of individuals. Not only were the story and performances strong, but the entire show was visually compelling. It balanced the romance between the two leads well, while also centering on the political struggle. This was doubtlessly part of the reason that it drew such a large audience while it was airing, and remains a frequently rewatched K-drama in Netflix's catalog.

Watch Mr. Sunshine on Netflix.

Mr. Sunshine (2018) Mr. Sunshine is a historical drama television series that takes place in the late 19th century during the late Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The story follows Eugene Choi, a young boy who travels to the United States and returns to Korea as an American soldier, and Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-sin, an aristocrat's daughter who dreams of modernizing Korea. Cast Lee Byung-hun , Kim Tae-ri , Yoo Yeon-seok , Kim Min-jung , Byun Yo-han Release Date July 7, 2018 Seasons 1 Creator(s) Kim Eun-sook , Lee Eung-bok

2 Stranger (2017–2020)

Starring Bae Doona & Cho Seung-woo

In Stranger, she plays Han Yeo-jin, a police officer who investigates a murder alongside Hwang Si-mok (Cho), a prosecutor with a complicated past.

Bae Doona is one of the most successful K-drama stars to break out of the genre and be featured in content around the world, but her work within K-dramas is just as impactful. In Stranger, she plays Han Yeo-jin, a police officer who investigates a murder alongside Hwang Si-mok (Cho), a prosecutor with a complicated past. Stranger is decidedly part of the crime-thriller genre and is focused on corruption and backdoor deals that run rampant in the legal fields. Its success and the audience's interest were made clear as it's one of the few K-dramas to earn a second season.

Much of the quality of Stranger has to do with the strong atmosphere and amazing performances from the two leads. Their chemistry as partners in an investigation and as actors is prominent from the moment they share the screen. Though season 1 told a complete story, season 2 shines just as much in the writing and direction of the series. It's a well-paced murder mystery that leaves the audience questioning each character's motives until the very end. While it didn't reach an enormous audience, as other K-dramas do, its universal critical acclaim places it in a different category.

Watch Stranger on Netflix.

1 Crash Landing On You (2019)

Starring Son Ye-jin & Hyun Bin

Premiering at the tail-end of the 2010s, Crash Landing On You isn't just considered one of the best K-dramas of the 2010s, but one that will hold up well into the future. After Yoon Se-ri (Son) gets into a paragliding accident and finds herself stranded in North Korea far from her home in Seoul, she meets Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun), a Captain in the Korean People's Army. Like any good TV show, the romance between Jeong-hyeok and Se-ri is emotionally compelling and rich, but that's only the beginning of the epic drama of the series.

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Taking place in North and South Korea, the show explores the differences in the ways of life but simultaneously showcases how the people who reside in each country have more in common than they might think. Crash Landing on You was an international sensation, in part thanks to its availability on Netflix, but also the story’s universality. The trope of star-crossed lovers is taken to new heights in the narrative, but it doesn't veer into melodrama. Netflix's Crash Landing on You replacement differs from the drama but shows how much influence the 2019 series still has on Korean television.