Are you craving a K-drama binge that will leave you captivated, shedding tears, and shouting “OMO!” at your screen? Look no further than the best Korean series of 2023 whirlwind! From rom-com that flipped the script on happily ever afters to thrillers that twist time and reality, this year’s shows were an emotional rollercoaster worthy of an Olympic medal.
So, ditch the FOMO and grab your kimchi-flavored popcorn. I’m about to unveil the 20 best Korean series of 2023 that stole our hearts. Buckle up, because we’re diving into the world of enchanting couples, gripping suspense, and stories that will linger in your hearts.
1. Twinkling Watermelon
Eun Gyeol, a high school student and a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) with hearing-impaired parents, possesses a musical talent. During the day, he is a diligent and model student, but at night, he rocks out as a guitarist in a band. One day, he stumbles upon a strange yet alluring music store and is transported back in time to 1995. There, he encounters his father, Ha Yi Chan – as a high schooler! He discovers that his father had a crush on someone other than his future mother, Cheong Ah! In a bid to put things “right,” Eun Gyeol joins a band “Watermelon Sugar,” led by his future father.
Stream this Korean drama on Viki.
2. Moving
Adapted from Kang Full’s webtoon of the same name, the series is a supernatural drama. The storyline follows three students (Kim Bong-Seok, Jang Hui-Soo, and Lee Gang-Hoon) who attend the same high school. They look like ordinary students, but they have special abilities inherited from their parents. Some of their abilities include the power to fly, swift recovery from injuries, and uncanny power and speed. While the students try to hide their special abilities from other people, their parents struggle to protect them from being used by other people.
Watch this Korean drama on myasian tv.
3. The Glory (Season 2)
“The Glory,” a gripping K-drama, follows the journey of a woman who seeks revenge on her classmates who severely bullied her as a teen. With her entire adult life devoted to meticulous planning, she takes on the role of a homeroom teacher at the elementary school attended by the child of the bullying leader, setting the stage for her revenge.
It is the latest addition to a series of Korean dramas that use school bullying as a plot point, and its storyline comes from real-life incidents of school violence in Korea.
Watch this Korean drama on Netflix.
4. Dr. Romantic (Season 3)
At Doldam Hospital, Dr. Kim Sa Bu and his team are dedicated to saving lives. Following three years, a state-of-the-art trauma center is set to open, featuring the latest advancements in medical technology.
Before the center’s official opening, a crisis unfolds on a North Korean ship that has drifted into South Korean waters. Doctors from Doldam Hospital rush to help the critically injured on the ship. However, the patients need to be transported to the hospital. Further complicating the situation, the South Korean government wants to return the North Korean patients to their country as part of diplomatic efforts with their neighboring nation.
Amidst the chaos, Cha Jin Man—the father of Cha Eun Jae and a former rival of Dr. Kim Sa Bu—is appointed to oversee the operations of the new trauma center.
Watch this Korean drama on myasian tv.
5. The Good Bad Mother
Young-Soon, a single mother managing a pig farm, raised her son Kang-Ho alone, hoping he wouldn’t follow her path. Kang-Ho, now a grown-up and a cold-hearted prosecutor with a hidden secret distanced himself from his mother while pursuing his career. After an unexpected accident causes amnesia, reverting him to childhood, he returns to his hometown to restart his relationship with his mother, Young-Soon.
Stream this Korean drama on Netflix.
6. Taxi Driver (Season 2)
After completing their last mission, some members of the revenge team at Rainbow Taxi decide to go their separate ways. While the leader Kim Do-Ki continues at Rainbow Taxi alongside Owner Jang Sung-Chul, others take on new jobs and careers. Fast forward 2 years, and Kim Do-Ki travels to Vietnam to help a father find his missing son, who went there for employment. As the case grows more complex and dangerous, Ahn Go-Eun, Choi Kyung-Koo, and Park Jin-Eon (the members who have left) decide to reunite with Rainbow Taxi to do what they do best. Additionally, Rainbow Taxi welcomes a new recruit On Ha-Joon.
Stream this Korean drama on Viki.
7. My Dearest
In the Joseon period when people went through severe hardships due to the Qing invasion (Jan. 3, 1637 to Feb. 24, 1637), a love story blossoms during challenging circumstances.
Lee Jang-Hyun emerges as a mysterious man in societal circles, presenting himself as cheerful while concealing a complex persona with a deep and dark secret. His life takes a turn when Yoo Gil-Chae, the daughter of a noble family, enters the scene. Yoo Gil-Chae, a confident and lovely woman, undergoes personal growth and falls in love with Lee Jang-Hyun amidst the chaos caused by the Qing invasion.
Watch this Korean drama on Viki.
8. Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938
An unexpected case transports Lee Yeon back to 1938, where he reencounters Ryu Hong Joo. formerly a guardian spirit of the western mountain, she is now the owner of a high-end restaurant in the capital city of Gyeongseong. During this journey, he also encounters his younger brother, Lee Rang. Meanwhile, another former guardian spirit and former friend, Cheon
Moo Young, has turned hostile. Lee Yeon faces challenges as he strives to return to the present, to be with his loved one.
Watch this Korean drama on DramaCool..
9. Daily Dose of Sunshine
Jung Da Eun, a dedicated nurse, recently moved from the internal medicine department to neuropsychiatry for the first time. The new environment poses numerous difficulties and awkward moments, but Jung Da Eun is putting in her best efforts to handle patients. Chief Nurse Song Hyo Jin becomes a guiding light for Jung Da Eun during this transitional phase.
Dong Go Yoon, a doctor specializing in proctology, observes Nurse Jung Da Eun’s pure and genuine approach to her work. As he watches her, he realizes that her mere presence brings a smile to his face and even provides a sense of healing for him.
Meanwhile, Jung Da Eun is friends with Song Yoo Chan, who appears to be a bright person. However, beneath his cheerful exterior, he holds pain inside that remains hidden from everyone.
Stream this Korean drama on Netflix.
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10. D.P. (Season 2)
An Jun-Ho and Han Ho-Yeol attempt to heal from the traumatic events following the capture of Private Cho Suk-Bong, each coping in their own ways. They continue their service in the D.P. team that attempts to capture military deserters. Meanwhile, Sergeant Park Beom-Gu faces pressure from higher-ups to cover up recent incidents. A mass shooting unfolds in the military barracks after a soldier was mercilessly bullied.
Stream this Korean drama on Netflix.
11. Revenant
As the door to another world opens, demons emerge. Ku San Young falls under the possession of one of these demons, visible to Yeom Hae Sang. together, they try to figure out the truth behind the mysterious deaths connected to five sacred objects.
Ku San Young manages part-time work during the day while dedicating his nights to studying for a low-ranking public officer position. Yeom Hae Sang comes from a wealthy background and teaches Korean folklore at a university. On the other hand, Lee Hong Sae, a lieutenant in the violent crimes investigation team, focuses solely on advancing his career in the police department. Due to Ku San Young and Yeom Hae Sang, he gets involved in mysterious cases.
12. Bloodhounds
Derived from a webtoon of the same name, this is a noir action drama centering on Kim Gun-Woo, a talented boxer. His mother finds herself entangled in debt to the formidable loan shark Kim Myeong-Gil, a powerful notorious figure in the money-lending business. In a bid to settle his mother’s debts, Kim Gun-Woo quits boxing and begins to work for President Choi.
President Choi, once a legendary figure in the moneylending business, disappeared suddenly. Upon his unexpected return, he started offering interest-free loans to people in trouble.
Watch this Korean drama on Netflix
13. See You in My 19th Life
Ban Ji Eum has an extraordinary ability; she can recall memories of all her past lives. Enduring repeated reincarnations for nearly a thousand years, she lives each life diligently. She hates recalling her past lives, and as each life nears its end, she wishes to be free from rebirth and the burden of memories. In her 18th life as Yoon Joo-Won, at the age of 12, she formed a close bond with a kid named Mun Seo-Ha. In her current 19th life as Ban Ji-Eum, she again meets Mun Seo-Ha, now a grown man. Fully aware of Mun Seo-Ha’s identity, Ban Ji-Eum approaches him with affection.
Meanwhile, when Mun Seo-Ha was a kid, he endured the loss of loved ones, including his first love, Yoon Joo-Won. Since then, he has avoided forming relationships with others. However, his life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a strange woman named Ban Ji-Eum.
Stream this Korean drama on Netflix.
14. Doctor Cha
Cha Jung Sook is married to Seo In Ho, the chief surgeon at a university hospital known for his strict, sensitive, and thoroughgoing personality. Devoting twenty years to being a full-time housewife, Cha Jung Sook abandoned her career as a doctor during her medical resident years. After all these years, she makes the bold decision to restart her medical resident course.
Stream this Korean drama on Netflix.
15. Crash Course in Romance
After retiring from her career as a national athlete, Nam Haeng Sun now manages a modest side dish store. Her cheerful personality and boundless energy draw the interest of Choi Chi Yeol, a well-known and hardworking private instructor known as the “1 Billion Won Man.” despite his reputation, Choi Chi Yeol has grown increasingly distant and irritable as a result of his growing success.
As Nam Haeng Sun embarks on a new career in the private education field, she discovers an unexpected attraction to Choi Chi Yeol. Despite their different teaching styles, their mutual dedication to education brings them closer together. Collaborating closely, they discover a deeper bond that blossoms into a romance.
Watch this Korean drama on Netflix.
16. Love To Hate You
Yeo Mi Ran works as a novice lawyer at Gilmu Law Firm, a company that primarily serves the entertainment industry. With no interest in romantic relationships, she strongly dislikes losing to men in any competition.
Nam Kang Ho, a highly acclaimed actor in the entertainment industry, is widely popular throughout South Korea for his good looks, intellect, and benevolent nature. While being in high demand for romantic movie roles, he doesn’t have much faith in women.
Despite their mutual disbelief in love, Yeo Mi Ran and Nam Kang Ho unexpectedly become entangled in a romantic battle.
Watch this Korean drama on Netflix.
17. Celebrity
Entering the social media world as an influencer, Seo A-Ri discovers the potential to gain wealth and fame. With bold strategies, she grows her follower count, using her rising popularity for personal benefits. While enjoying her time in the spotlight, Seo A-Ri also confronts the darker aspects of celebrity culture.
Watch this Korean drama on Netflix.
18. Black Knight
Set in the year 2071, when the world has been devastated by toxic air pollution, leaving only 1% of the population alive. People rarely leave their homes without gas masks, and delivery drivers, known as knights, are tasked with protecting and delivering packages. Among these, the legendary Knight 5-8 meets a young refugee named Sa Wol who aspires to become a knight. With the help of Seol A, an officer in the Defense Intelligence Command, Knight 5-8 guides and trains Sa Wol, helping him achieve his dream in a dangerous and unforgiving world.
Watch this Korean drama on DramaCool or Netflix.
19. My Demon
Do Do Hee, the heir to the Future Group, harbors a profound distrust in others and holds a cynical view of love. Her life takes an unexpected twist as she becomes involved with a demon Jung Gu Won, resulting in a contractual marriage between them.
Jeong Gu-Won is a demon. He ensures his eternal existence by making dangerous yet sweet deals with humans who endure hellish lives. After arrogantly looking down upon humans for 200 years, he gets involved with Do Do Hee and, somehow, loses his power. To prevent his own extinction, he must now safeguard Do Do Hee, who has absorbed all of his power.
Watch this Korean drama on Netflix.
20. Agency
An office drama unfolds, showcasing the journey of a woman who breaks barriers to become the first female executive in her group, rising from first position to the highest level. Set within the dynamic environment of the advertising agency, the series delves into the daily challenges and behind-the-scenes battles faced by individuals in an industry that mirrors a battlefield. The show contains realistic stories of the daily lives of those navigating the highs and lows of professional life.
Stream this Korean drama on Viki or Netflix.
Wrap-Up
Whether you’re in a mood of exhilarating thrills, soul-stirring romances, or heartwarming slices of life, these 20 best Korean series of 2023 have something to offer for every viewer. From historical epics to sci-fi mysteries, these captivating dramas will transport you to vibrant worlds with unforgettable characters, leaving you yearning for more. So, grab your remote, and let out your inner K-drama fangirl or fanboy! and dive into this must-watch, best Korean series of 2023 – you won’t regret it!