In recent years, Korean dramas (K-Dramas) have burst onto the global entertainment scene, building a fan base far beyond the borders of South Korea. This surge in popularity is part of the “Hallyu” or Korean wave. It has seen more people wanting to indulge in Korean culture, from music to cuisine and their films.
The success of Korean cinema on the world stage has paved the way for K-dramas to reach new heights. Films like Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, which made history as the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020, and Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari, which earned multiple Oscar nominations in 2021, have showcased the quality of Korean storytelling to global audiences.
K-dramas have capitalised on this momentum, offering viewers a diverse array of genres that cater to all tastes. From heart-fluttering romances and edge-of-your-seat thrillers to mind-bending time travel narratives and dark fantasy epics. Korean television series have proven their ability to cater to different people’s tastes.
After careful consideration and countless hours of binge-watching, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 very best K-drama of 2024 (so far):
1. Queen of Tears
This romantic comedy has taken the K-drama world by storm. Starring Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Ji-won, it tells the story of a chaebol heiress and her husband struggling to find love again amidst their rocky marriage.
A twist of fate fires up their love again, making viewers fall head over heels for this second-chance romance.
Queen of Tears has broken several records. This includes achieving the highest ratings for a weekend drama on TVN in 2024 with a banging 24.9% viewership rating. Its popularity has extended beyond Korea, becoming one of the most-watched non-English TV shows on Netflix globally.
It accumulated an average of 2.9 million viewing hours to 10.2 million viewing hours from the release of its first episode in late January to the last episode in early February.
2. Lovely Runner
Hot on the heels of Queen of Tears is the heartwarming Lovely Runner. A webtoon adaptation, Lovely Runner is a time-travel romance film series.
Starring Byeon Woo-Seok and Kim Hye-Yoon, it tells the tale of Im Sol, who travels back in time to save her idol, Ryu Sun-Jae. Their love story forms between 2008 and 2023, switching timelines, and creating a beautifully woven story.
Lovely Runner became the highest-rated K-drama in the history of TVN, a South Korean television network. It surpassed the impressive ratings of both Queen of Tears and Crash Landing on You.
3. Doctor Slump
This series follows the story of high school classmates turned burned-out doctors, Park Hyung-sik and Park Shin-hye. They rekindle their friendship years after graduating high school and find a new undeniable spark between them. The amazing chemistry between the two lead actors and the relatable storyline of life at work has made it a fan favourite.
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4. Parasyte: The Grey
If you enjoy a good scare, Parasyte: The Grey will not disappoint. A film adaptation of the Japanese manga Parasyte, this sci-fi series follows the story of a world where mysterious parasites take over a host of humans. They control the brains and bodies of their hosts and live off them.
It is a blend of horror and gripping action scenes that have attracted a diverse audience.
5. Marry My Husband
Buckle up for Marry My Husband, a drama filled with suspense and revenge. The story revolves around a woman who, after discovering her husband’s infidelity, teams up with his mistress to take revenge on him. The unpredictable plot keeps viewers guessing until the very end.
As we eagerly await the arrival of even more captivating K-dramas in the second half of 2024, these five exceptional series will for sure remain among the most beloved and talked-about of the year.
