K-dramas in the 21st century have captivated audiences worldwide by amplifying diverse voices and, in the process, forever changing the world of pop culture and entertainment. From heartfelt love stories and powerful social commentaries to horror series that will send shivers down your spine and grand-scale adaptations — read our pick of the 25 best, most influential K-dramas released since 2000. As you dive into the list, we hope you’ll uncover a hidden gem or revisit a beloved favourite that’s perfect for a binge.
While television was the main platform for K-dramas to establish their artistic credibility, the advent of streaming platforms further expanded the ability of Korean shows to reach unprecedented global viewers in the last 25 years.
Our list of the 25 best K-dramas of the 21st century stands as a testament to the power and versatility of both mediums over the last two decades. From smalltown saga Winter Sonata (2002) and Jeon Si-kang’s classic teen romance Boys Over Flowers (2009), which kicked off the Hallyu Wave in the wake of the new millennium to Hwang Dong-hyuk’s global pop culture phenomenon Squid Game, which amassed 1.65 billion viewing hours in the first 28 days after its premiere on Netflix in September 2021.
Winter Sonata yielded over USD 27 billion and made a massive contribution to tourism in South Korea, with the number of visitors to Namiseom (the island where the series was filmed) growing from 250,000 to over 650,000. Boys Over Flowers, on the other hand, became a pioneer in teen high school romance and gave K-drama fans their first Hallyu heartthrob, Lee Min-ho.
Meanwhile, Squid Game further proved its stature with season 2 and clocked 125.2 million views in just 11 days after its release in December 2024. The most-watched non-English series on Netflix, season 3 of the survival game franchise is all set to premiere worldwide on 27 June 2025.
Other notable K-drama gems of the 21st century include thought-provoking fiction like SKY Castle (2018), It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) and The Good Bad Mother (2023); award-winning historical romances like Mr. Sunshine (2018) and The King’s Affection (2021); apocalyptic horror franchise like Sweet Home (2020-24); and riveting crime thrillers like Taxi Driver (2021-) and The Glory (2022-23).
Selection methodology
To pick the 25 best K-dramas in the first quarter of the 21st century (so far), we used the following criteria:
1. Must have a minimum rating of 7 on IMDb.
2. Must have had massive cultural significance during its run.
3. Must be a landmark in some respects. For this purpose, shows that won major awards, boosted a franchise, attained high viewership ratings during their run, had an indelible impact on global pop culture and were the breakout projects of now-famous actors have been explored.
Mr. Sunshine, Squid Game and Hospital Playlist are among the 25 best K-drama titles of the 21st century
Jump To / Table of Contents
- 1 SKY Castle (2018)
- 2 Reply 1988 (2015)
- 3 Squid Game (2021-)
- 4 It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
- 5 Mr. Sunshine (2018)
- 6 The World of the Married (2020)
- 7 The Glory (2022-23)
- 8 Sweet home (2020-24)
- 9 Hospital Playlist (2020-21)
- 10 Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
- 11 Flower of Evil (2020)
- 12 Taxi Driver (2021-)
- 13 Twinkling Watermelon (2023)
- 14 Our Blues (2022)
- 15 Vincenzo (2021)
- 16 Goblin (2016)
- 17 The Good Bad Mother (2023)
- 18 The Worst of Evil (2023)
- 19 Bloodhounds (2023-)
- 20 Healer (2014)
- 21 Alchemy of Souls (2022-23)
- 22 Mr. Plankton (2024)
- 23 Boys Over Flowers (2009)
- 24 Winter Sonata (2002)
- 25 The King's Affection (2021)
SKY Castle (2018)
Directed by: Jo Hyun-tak
Cast: Yum Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra, Kim Seo-hyung.
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 8.5
Synopsis: Four rich women — Han Seo-jin (Yum), Lee Soo-im (Lee), No Seung-hye (Yoon), Jin Jin-hee (Oh), live in Korea’s most wealthy neighbourhood SKY Castle along with their families. While they all lead successful lives, behind their happy facade are psychological traumas and extreme pressure to maintain their wealthy status.
About the show: Considered one of the best black comedies to come from South Korea, SKY Castle is popular due to its relatable storyline about the country’s toxic education system.
Awards won: Four major awards at the 2019 Baeksang Arts Awards — Best Director Television for Jo Hyun-tak, Best Actress Television for Yum Jung-ah, Best Supporting Actor Television for Kim Byung-chul and Best New Actress Television for Kim Hye-yoon.
Reply 1988 (2015)
Directed by: Shin Won-ho and Yoo Hak-chan
Cast: Lee Hye-ri, Go Kyung-pyo, Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 9
Synopsis: In 1980s Korea, Sung Deok-sun (Hyeri) and Kim Jung-hwan (Ryu) lead a quiet life in Ssangmundong. When Deok-sun, Jung-hwan and their friends find it challenging to navigate their teen years, they lean on each other and their families to set a path for the future.
About the show: The show successfully initiated the newtro (a mixture of new and retro) boom in the nation and recreated the sounds, sights and social dynamics of 1980s Korea, allowing viewers who lived through that era, to reminisce their childhood and experience a wave of nostalgia once again in the 21st century.
Awards won: One of the highest-rated tvN dramas of all time, Reply 1988 won multiple major awards. These include Best Director for Shin Won-ho at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards, Best New Actor for Ryu Jun-yeol 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards and Grand Prize (Daesang) Drama at the tvN10 Awards.
Squid Game (2021-)
Directed by: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Gong Yoo, Jung Ho-yeon, Wi Ha-joon, Oh Yeong-su
Episodes in season 1: 9
Episodes in season 2: 7
IMDb rating: 8
Synopsis: On a mysterious island in Korea, 456 debt-ridden people are recruited to play a series of games. The participants risk their lives to play multiple levels of children’s games that end with a deadly twist. The one making it alive in the end wins a sum of 45.6 billion won as a reward.
Awards won: Six Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Hwang Dong-hyuk and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Lee Jung-jae.
It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
Directed by: Park Shin-woo
Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Oh Jeong-se, Jang Young-nam
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: Psych ward caretaker Moon Kang-tae (Kim) meets antisocial writer Ko Moon-young (Son) when the former’s brother attends one of Moon-young’s book reading sessions. The trio grow fond of each other and begin a journey of self-discovery. However, when Moon-young and Sang-tae realise that they share a tragic past, their bond is put to the test.
About the show: With depression being a taboo topic in South Korea, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay received critical and commercial acclaim, primarily for its unique premise, visual storytelling and the importance given to mental health. After the release, the nightmare and dinosaur dolls from the show were put on sale and sold out soon. Not just that. The outfits worn by lead actor Seo Yea-ji raised the demand of multiple Korean fashion designers, jewellery brands, handbags and nightwear all at once.
Written by the legendary Jo Yong, this romance drama earned eight nominations at South Korea’s 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. The show also received a nomination at the 49th International Emmy Awards in the Best TV Movie or Miniseries category.
Awards won: Most Popular Actress Television for Seo Yea-ji and Best Supporting Actor Television for Oh Jung-se at the 2021 Baeksang Arts Awards.
Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Yoo Yeon-seok, Byun Yo-han
Episodes: 24
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: Born a slave, Eugene Choi (Lee) escapes to the US during the tragic 1871 Shinmiyangyo (US expedition to Korea). He then becomes a US Marine Corps officer and returns to Korea only to fall for an aristocrat’s daughter, Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri). However, the couple’s life is turned upside down when Choi learns about a plot by foreign forces to colonise Korea.
About the show: The period drama received great critical acclaim for its brilliant cinematography and storytelling, as well as its strong female characters and portrayal of the struggle of the lower classes in Joseon.
Awards won: Best Actor for Lee Byung-hun at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards, Drama of the Year at the 6th APAN Star Awards and Best Supporting Actor for Yoo yeon-seok at the 2nd Seoul Awards.
The World of the Married (2020)
Directed by: Mo Wan-il
Cast: Park Hae-joon, Kim Hee-ae, Han So-hee, Seon-yeong
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.9
Synopsis: Ji Sun-woo (Kim), a renowned associate director in a hospital, is happily married to Lee Tae-oh (Park), who runs a small entertainment firm. Everything seems perfect till Sun-woo learns about her husband’s infidelity. What follows next is a series of lies, betrayals and revenge.
About the show: The highest-rated K-drama in cable TV history, The World of the Married broke its own record by surpassing the 15th episode rating of 24.44 per cent with a solid 28.371 per cent finale rating according to Nielsen Korea. It is based on BBC’s popular psychological thriller Doctor Foster (2015-2017).
The Glory (2022-23)
Directed by: Ahn Gil-ho
Cast: Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yeon
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: After being abused as a high-schooler, Moon Dong-eun (Song) swears revenge. For years, she hatches an elaborate plan to avenge her bullies, especially their leader Park Yeon-jin (Lim). Helping Dong-eun in her dangerous mission is her lover Joo Yeo-jeong (Lee).
About the show: Written by Kim Eun-sook, known for hits like Goblin, Mr. Sunshine and The Heirs, The Glory‘s release rattled Korea with the issue of school bullying. Soon after, multiple victims came forward to report their ordeals.
Talking about the plot of the show, Kim shared in a press conference that her main inspiration behind writing the script was her teenage daughter’s question, “Which scenario would you find more distraught, your daughter abusing someone else or your daughter ending up as a victim of abuse?”
Awards won: Song Hye-kyo won her first Best Actress at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards in 2023. The Glory also won the Best Drama award the same day.
Also read: What is the true story behind Netflix’s The Glory?
Sweet home (2020-24)
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok
Cast: Song Kang, Lee Do-hyun, Kim Hyo-jin
Episodes in season 1: 10
Episodes in season 2: 8
Episodes in season 3: 8
IMDb rating: 7.2
Synopsis: Introverted high schooler Cha Hyun-su (Song) moves to a new apartment in the Green Home complex. He is left in shock when he witnesses his neighbours turn into deadly monsters a day later. Hyun-su must now join a group of survivors led by medical trainee Lee Eun-hyuk (Lee) and fight his way to safety.
About the show: One of the most-watched Korean dramas on Netflix, the show is based on the webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan, which recorded over 2.1 billion net views during its run, from 2017 to 2020.
Hospital Playlist (2020-21)
Directed by: Shin Won-ho
Cast: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Dae-myung, Jeon Mi-do
Episodes in season 1: 12
Episodes in season 2: 12
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: Five doctors — Lee Ik-jun (Jo), Ahn Jung-won (Yoo), Kim Jun-wan (Jung), Yang Suk-hyung (Kim) and Chae Song-hwa (Jeon) — have been friends since they first stepped into medical school in 1999. Now working in the same hospital, the group tries to navigate the everyday hurdles together, all the while sharing their passion for music.
About the show: The show’s release brought awareness of the importance of organ donation. According to the data shared by the show’s production house CJ ENM, the number of organ donors tripled in 2021 compared to the previous year, during the six weeks from July to August when the organ donation episodes of season 2 were aired, as stated by the Korea Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS).
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Directed by: Je Won-yu
Cast: Shin Min-ah, Kim Seon-ho, Gina Su
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.3
Synopsis: When dentist Yoon Hye-jin (Shin) sets up her practice in a seaside village in Korea, her path crosses with jack-of-all-trades Hong Du-sik (Kim). Soon, romance ensues.
About the show: The popularity of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha led to a surge in sales of the properties showcased in the series. There was also a noticeable increase in visitors to the various filming locations, which had a positive impact on Korea’s tourism. There was also a significant increase in inquiries about lead actor Shin Min-ah’s wardrobe after the show’s release.
Meanwhile, Kim Haeng-sook’s poetry book Portrait of Echo garnered renewed attention after one of its poems, “The Gatekeeper”, was read out by protagonist Du-sik in episode 10 of the series. Not just that. The Korean translation of Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 book Walden, which Du-sik read in episode 2 of the drama, became a bestseller in Korea soon after.
Flower of Evil (2020)
Directed by: Kim Chul-gyu and Yoon Jong-ho
Cast: Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won, Jang Hee-jin
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.5
Synopsis: Detective Cha Ji-won (Moon) and her doting husband Baek Hee-sung (Lee) are raising a beautiful daughter together. However, Ji-won’s peaceful married life is turned upside down when she is assigned a 15-year-old murder case, leading her to unravel dark secrets about her husband.
About the show: The show’s Hindi remake Duranga starring Gulshan Devaiah was released on ZEE5 in 2022.
Awards won: Best Director (TV) for Kim Cheol-kyu at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards.
Taxi Driver (2021-)
Directed by: Lee Dan
Cast: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram
Episodes in season 1: 16
Episodes in season 2: 16
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: A team of cab drivers called Rainbow Taxi, led by Kim Do-gi (Lee), secretly seeks revenge on criminals and delivers justice to the victims who are snubbed by the law in South Korea. However, with the police department declaring them most wanted, Rainbow Taxi is forced to rethink its ways of punishing the culprits.
About the show: This K-drama is based on the webtoon The Deluxe Taxi by Carlos and Keukeu Jae-jin. Season 3 of the crime thriller franchise is set to release in 2025.
Twinkling Watermelon (2023)
Directed by: Song Jong-hyun
Cast: Ryeoun, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.9
Synopsis: High schooler Eun Gyeol (Ryeoun) is a CODA boy with a flair for music. When mysterious circumstances transport him back to the 1995s, Gyeol gets a chance to meet his father Ha Yi-chan (Choi) as a healthy school-going teen. Determined to cherish their time together, Gyeol forms the band Watermelon Sugar with his father and begins an adventure of a lifetime.
Our Blues (2022)
Directed by: Kim Kyu-tae and Lee Jung-mook
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-ah, Cha Seung-won
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: Lee Dong-suk (Lee) sells goods from the mainland for a living on Jeju Island. He comes across Min Sun-ah (Shin), a mysterious woman who came to Jeju to escape her troubled past. While Dong-suk tries his best to stay out of her way, he soon finds himself falling for Sun-ah.
Awards won: Best Screenplay for Noh Hee-kyung at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2022 and Best Supporting Actor for Yoon Byung-hee at the APAN Star Awards 2022.
Vincenzo (2021)
Directed by: Kim Hee-won
Cast: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-been, Taecyeon, Kim Yeo-jin, Kwak Dong-yeon
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 8.4
Synopsis: Vincenzo Cassano (Song) is a consigliere and lawyer who returns to his hometown in South Korea to avoid the Mafia wars in Italy. Upon arrival, he gets entangled in the illicit affairs of the corrupt Babel Pharmaceuticals Group. Vincenzo hatches a plot to wipe out the company. But with crime lord Jang Han-seok (Taecyeon) in his way, Vincenzo’s mission seems difficult.
About the show: The crime thriller is inspired by Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic The Godfather trilogy (1972-1990).
Goblin (2016)
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Yoo In-na, Lee Dong-wook
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: When the mighty Joseon Dynasty warrior Kim Shin (Gong) is betrayed and brutally murdered, the gods turn him into an immortal goblin. Decades later, Shin, fed up with his curse, decides to visit the modern world in search of the Goblin’s bride (Kim), the only person who can give him his freedom.
Awards won: Best Actor for Gong Yoo at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards and Outstanding Korean Drama OST for “I Will Go To You Like the First Snow” by Ailee at the 12th Seoul International Drama Awards.
The Good Bad Mother (2023)
Directed by: Sim Na-yeon
Cast: Lee Do-hyun, Ra Mi-ran, Ahn Eun-jin, Yoo In-soo, Seo Yi-sook
Episodes: 14
IMDb rating: 8.4
Synopsis: Single mother Jin Young-soon (Ra) hustles hard to give her son Choi Kang-ho (Lee) a good life. Kang-ho grows up and becomes a renowned prosecutor but cuts ties with his mother. However, when a fatal accident turns Kang-ho into a state of child-like dependence, he is forced to be in Young-soon’s care.
About the show: According to Nielsen Korea, it had a finale viewership rating of 12 per cent. The series was also nominated in four categories including Best Drama at the 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards.
The Worst of Evil (2023)
Directed by: Han Dong-wook
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Wi Ha-joon, Lim Se-mi
Episodes: 12
IMDb rating: 8.3
Synopsis: In 1980s Korea, undercover agent Kang Joon-mo (Ji) and narcotics officer Yoo Eui-jung (Lim) work together to dismantle a criminal organisation involved in illegal drug trading between Korea, China and Japan. However, with new drug lord Jung Ki-cheol (Wi) on their way, the duo’s mission becomes increasingly challenging.
Awards won: Best Director for Han Dong-wook at the 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards.
Bloodhounds (2023-)
Directed by: Jason Kim
Cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Park Sung-woong, Heo Jun-ho
Episodes: 8
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: Boxers Gun-woo (Woo) and Woo-jin (Lee) team up with moneylender Choi (Heo) to expose an evil loan shark, Myung-gil (Park). However, the pursuit of Myung-Gil soon leads Gun-woo and Woo-jin to the corrupt world of private loans.
About the show: An adaptation of the webtoon of the same name by Jeong Chan, this noir action drama became a global phenomenon after its release and recorded a total of 146,700,000 viewing hours. Season 2 of Bloodhounds is set to premiere worldwide on Netflix in 2025.
Healer (2014)
Directed by: Lee Jung-sub and Kim Jin-woo
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Park Min-young, Yoo Ji-tae
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 8.4
Synopsis: Seo Jung-hoo (Ji), who works under the alias Healer, is assigned the task of acquiring the DNA sample of journalist Chae Young-shin (Park). To get close to her, Jung-hoo takes up the identity of a media intern. As the duo start working together, they discover they share a common past. Will this new revelation distract Jung-hoo from his real mission?
About the show: Healer is considered a classic for its unique cinematography, especially for introducing crash zoom in K-dramas, something that was particularly popular with Quentin Tarantino’s movies Kill Bill (2003-2004) and Django Unchained (2012).
Alchemy of Souls (2022-23)
Directed by: Park Joon-hwa and Bae Hyun-jin
Cast: Lee Jae-wook, Go Yoon-jung, Jung So-min, Hwang Min-hyun, Yu Jun-sang
Episodes in season 1: 20
Episodes in season 2: 10
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: The young master of the Jang family, Jang Uk (Lee), harbours a dark secret about his birth and looks for the best killer in Daeho to help him with a mysterious task. In the process, he learns about sorceress assassin Naksu (Go) and decides to seek her help. However, with Naksu’s soul trapped inside the weak body of a servant, Mu Deok (Jung), things seem to go awry.
About the show: One of the best Korean fantasy TV shows, Alchemy of Souls enjoyed a 9.2 per cent nationwide finale rating, according to Nielsen Korea.
Mr. Plankton (2024)
Directed by: Hong Jong-chan
Cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-mi, Oh Jung-se, Kim Hae-sook
Episodes: 10
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: Plagued by misfortunes, Hae Jo (Woo) decides to go on the final journey of his life. On his way, he meets his ex-girlfriend Jo Jae-mi (Lee), now a runaway bride. What happens when circumstances force Hae Jo and Jae-mi to accompany each other on the journey?
About the show: One of the top non-English TV shows on Netflix, Mr. Plankton was viewed for 33,300,000 hours on Netflix in just the first week of release.
Also read: Woo Do-hwan talks about his role in ‘Mr. Plankton’
Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Directed by: Jeon Ki-sang and Yoon Ji-ryun
Cast: Lee Min-ho, Ku Hye-sun, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Beom, Kim Joon
Episodes: 25
IMDb rating: 7.8
Synopsis: Gu Jun-pyo (Lee) is the leader of the Flower Boys, aka F4, in Shinhwa High School. He is also the heir to the global conglomerate Shinhwa. When scholarship student Geum Jan-di (Ku) transfers to his school, Jun-pyo falls for her. The duo start dating, but his powerful family opposes their relationship and plots to separate them.
About the show: Boys Over Flowers is considered a significant cultural force and widely credited with propelling the Hallyu by becoming a gateway show for the new international K-drama enthusiasts.
Awards won: Best New Actor for Lee Min-ho and Popularity Award for Kim Hyun-joong at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
Winter Sonata (2002)
Directed by: Yoon Seok-ho and Lee Hyung-min
Cast: Bae Yong-joon, Choi Ji-woo, Park Yong-ha
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 7.9
Synopsis: Architect Jung Yu-jin (Choi) is struggling to get over the death of her high school sweetheart Kang Joon-sang (Bae). After being pursued by her childhood friend Kim Sang-hyuk (Park), she finally decides to move on and marry him. But fate soon leads Yu-jin to Joon-sang’s look-alike Lee Min-hyung (also Bae), and her subdued memories reappear.
(Image: Courtesy Bae Yong-joon/Choi Ji-woo/Instagram)
The King's Affection (2021)
Directed by: Song Hyun-wook
Cast: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyung
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 8
Synopsis: When the crown prince’s wife gives birth to fraternal twins — a son and a daughter, the Joseon folks take it as an ominous sign. The royals decide to kill the daughter Dam-yi (Park) but the mother sends her away secretly. Years later, when the son passes away, the daughter returns to take his place posing as a prince. What happens when her tutor Jung Ji-woon (Rowoon) discovers her secret?
Awards won: It took home the Best Telenovela at the 2022 International Emmy Awards, becoming the first South Korean television series to win an International Emmy. Rowoon also bagged Best Actor as well as the Popularity Award, Actor, at the 2021 KBS Drama Awards.
(Hero and featured image: Courtesy Netflix)
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Written by
Sushmita Mahanta
Digital Writer (Growth) - Entertainment
Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
