Binge-Worthiest K-Dramas of 2020
Before Parasite created an international buzz by literally sweeping all the major categories at the Oscars (including best film), Asian culture and a global (dare I say) obsession with Korean Pop Culture has been on the rise. Thanks to this wave you may have heard of the boy band BTS, developed a taste for Kimbap, have a 10-step skincare routine, and have jammed out to the lyrics “light it up like Dynamite” on the radio. Television dramas have also become an indispensable part of the cultural fabric.
From suspenseful thrillers to delightful romantic comedies, there’s always something you can expect (and not expect) from dramas: The male and female leads aren’t going to end up together in the end? Arranged marriages are still a thing? It took three episodes for the leads to hold hands and nine episodes for them to kiss? While all of this may sound a little ridiculous, especially if you are used to American television where mature content themes are available for young audiences, it’s common in Asian television. They carefully and tastefully use mature content themes to entice the audience as well as try to air the more mature shows at times when children should be in bed.
So without further ado, here are my favorite and most Binge-Worthiest Chinese and Korean dramas that aired this year.
So much to watch, so *much* time — amirite?
Plot: Kyung Woo Yeon and Lee Soo have taken turns having a one-sided crush on each other for over ten years. Misunderstandings and missed timings have continued to keep them from becoming anything more than friends. While they finally confess and have a happy ending or will another misunderstanding keep them apart?
Fun Fact: Behind the scenes, videos from the crew share what it’s actually like before (or after) the cameras start rolling on set – it’s lots of laughter.
Plot: For centuries the mythical Nine-Tailed fox, Lee Yeon, has been eradicating supernatural beings that threaten the mortal world all while in search of the reincarnation of his lost first love. Talented television producer and urban myth obsessed Nam Ji Ah is on to him. Will Lee Yeon be able to save himself, Ji Ah, and those they hold precious from the wrath of the vengeful Imugi?
Fun Fact: Monsta X’s Shownu released his first solo OST in nine years as part of the Tale of the Nine-Tailed soundtrack.
Plot: Moon Kang Tae, a health worker at a psychiatric hospital, and Ko Moon-Young, a children’s book writer suffering from an antisocial personality disorder cross paths, and together they follow the extraordinary road to emotional healing.
Fun Fact: Due to the popularity of the show, the children’s book featured in the show were produced and are currently available to purchase.
Plot: Two actors and a makeup artist fight to make their way in the fashion and entertainment industries that weigh their economic backgrounds and social classes they were born into more than their dreams and desires to love.
Fun Fact: This was Park Bo Gum’s last drama series before his mandatory military enlistment.
Plot: A group of misfits lead by Park Sae-ro-yi in need of a second chance at life band together to achieve their dreams and seek revenge on the Jangga Company, the CEO and his son who destroyed Sae-ro-yi’s life years earlier (through expulsion, death of his father and prison).
Fun Fact: The writer of the webtoon that the show is based on, wrote the screenplay and script for the series.
Plot: Based on an adult webtoon, Jung Saet Byul, a former troublemaker applies for a job at a convenience store owned by the same man who she’s had a crush on for 3 years ever since he caught her smoking cigarettes with her friends underaged.
Fun Fact: Heavily criticized and even penalized for sexual innuendos, inappropriate and provocative scenes.
Plot: An emotionless psychopath changes his identity in an attempt to leave his dark past behind. Can he deceive his homicide detective wife and keep her and their daughter safe from his cruel past?
Fun Fact: Lead actors Lee Joon-Gi and Chae-won Moon previously played detectives at odds with each other in the Korean adaption of the American television series Criminal Minds.
Plot: After losing his job, receiving divorce papers from his wife, and severely regretting his life, 37-year-old Jung Da-Jung gets a do-over when his body changes into that of an 18-year-old. Now, with his regained 18-year-old body, he changes his name and begins to live a new life.
Where to Watch: DramaCool
Fun Fact: Lead actor Kee Do Hyun is a serious method actor and once broke up with his girlfriend to prepare for a role.
I’ll Go to You When the Weather is Nice
Plot: After a series of unfortunate events, cellist Mok Hae-won quits her job in Seoul and returns to Bookhyun Village to live with her aunt. There, she meets former classmate and neighbor, Im Eun-seob, and together, they try to survive the harsh realities of life, heal from their past wounds, and eventually fall in love.
Fun Fact: Lead actress Park Min Young is a muse in K-Dramas and is known as the queen of Romantic Comedy.
Plot: Follow the story of the ruthless attack of an unknown creature in the Korean Demilitarized Zone and the search operation of an elite special force to uncover the truth.
Fun Fact: Actors playing soldiers filmed scenes with over 50lbs of real military gear on.
Plot: Nosy, overzealous professional job hopper with a strong sense of getting involved in other people’s problems, Goo Se Ra decides to enter the ring by running for councilwoman of the District Assembly. With the help of stick-to-his-principles no matter what Seo Kong-Myung, can Se Ra get elected, stay elected and maybe fall in love?
Fun Fact: Nana and Park Sung Hung met up frequently before filming began to discuss the script, ideas, and more to ensure they had great chemistry that felt real on screen.
Plot: Ahn Eun-young is a school nurse with the power to see human desires, feelings, and spirits that exist in the form of “jellies”. Together with a fellow teacher, Hong In-Pyo, a man with a special energy field around him that protects him from jellies, she tries to solve these mysterious cases.
Fun Fact: While the first season only received a six order episode, it was recently renewed for a second season.
Plot: Young entrepreneurs aspiring to launch virtual dreams into reality compete for success and love in the cutthroat world of Korea’s fictional high-tech Silicon Valley known as Sandbox.
Fun Fact: Supporting actor Kim Seon Ho studied the field of startups, reading books, learning terminology, and watching various lectures to prepare for the role.
Plot: An energetic, down-on-her-luck-riches-to-rags-(to-riches) pianist named Goo Ra-Ra and a mysterious, warm-hearted multi part-time worker Sunwoo Joon gather in La La Land, a small piano institute in the countryside with secrets, pain, and stories to tell.
Fun Fact: This drama was Lee Jae-Wook’s first lead role, a well-deserved honor as he recently won the Best New Actor award at the 2020 Asian Artist Awards.
Plot: A modern-day emperor, Lee Min-Ho, obsessed with the mystery behind a police badge left by his childhood savior passes through a mysterious portal in the forest in the Kingdom of Corea and into Seoul where he encounters Violent Crimes detective, Kim Go-Eun.
Fun Fact: This drama signaled Lee Min-Ho’s return to acting after completing his mandatory military enlistment.
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