Kdramas that may have escaped your notice!!
- koreanunnie2001
- Aug 13, 2020
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 12, 2020
Here is a list of some of unique/underrated kdramas which you may have missed or may have hesitated to watch but are assure you, they are a must watch!!
1) Search: WWW
“Search: WWW” is a 2019 kdrama which revolves around the live of three women who work for the top search engines of South Korea, Unicon and Barro. They together navigate relationships; overcome work related problems and attempt to bring out the best of themselves .
This drama very well portrays women empowerment in different industries and girl friendship. Also instead of showing overused setting, the drama explores the world of web portals which was quite new and fascinating. It did not refrain to show how politics impacts the independence of search engines. It also touches upon other various topics like gaming industry and how a couple goes through a divorce where neither wanted to get married to each other.
Search: WWW is packed with funny moments and well-crafted, strong female characters. The chemistry of all the couples were amazing, especially the second lead couple, Scarlet and Seol Ji-hwan. You would love their cute interactions and opposite personalities.
Check out Search: WWW on Viki
2) Kingdom
The drama Kingdom is set in Joseon period which revolves around a crown prince, Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) who unveils a life threatening conspiracy while investigating a mysterious plague that has plagues the kingdom while travels across the kingdom with trusted aide, a physician and a mysterious warrior
The drama in the beginning starts really slowly and takes its time in setting up the characters but the story makes up for it. It really makes your skin crawl, while seeing the beheadings, zombies and all the dead bodies. Though the story picks up late but the situation really rings true to how the virus is being handled now.
Check out Kingdom on Netflix
3) Graceful Family
Graceful family follows the story of Mo Seok-hee (Im Soo-hyang), the only daughter of the MC Group. Her grandfather is the founder and majority shareholder of the chaebol and her father is the President of the MC Group. Seok-hee was forced to go to the United States by her father after her mother was murdered. She comes back after 15 years when the will is to be announced and takes on her family with the help of an uptight lawyer who believes in justice.
Im Soo-hyang really embodies her characters well ranging from the insecure and shy girl from My Id is Gagnam Beauty, to Seok-hee who is a bold and fearless girl, ready to take on her enemies headstrong. I genuinely enjoy her schemes and how she outwits her father and his family. Instead of just saying that she is a worthy person to become a CEO, it is actually shown why she would be able to handle the company.
Check out Graceful Family on Viki
4) Because this is my first life
Because this is my first life is about Nam Se Hee and Yoon Ji Ho are in their 30's. Yoon Ji Ho is an assistant writer who gets suddenly homeless because of his brother who gets her girlfriend pregnant. On the other hand, Nam Se Hee is a stoic and disciplined man who is looking for roommate to match his requirements, which his older roommates failed to fulfill. Nam Se Hee and Yoon Ji Ho accidentally become roommates due to a minor mishap in names. Later they decide to enter into a contract marriage as it benefits both of them.
This drama exactly what one should watch after a stressful day to laugh your worries away. It has three couple all knowing each other to others and are friends.
There are several funny moments in drama especially when Nam Se Hee is involved. Despite being shown emotionless, he has a good character development by the end. Also it handles the topic such as unemployment, marriage and how to rejuvenate your passion after a burnout, which are so relatable for most people in their thirties.
Check out Because this is my first life on Netflix
5) Miss Hammurabi
Miss Hammurabi is a legal drama which explores the lives of three judges, each of them having different ways of handling a case and how they come together to negotiate the unfair legal systems.
I genuinely love dramas with amazing female characters especially the ones who are badass yet have compassion and our lead exactly like that. She makes some mistakes in beginning and is somewhat too naive and sees the world from her lens only but as she keeps working, she has a character growth and is always able to admit her mistakes. In the beginning seeing her naivety is a bit hard to watch seeing her make wrong judgements and believing others easily but it becomes better and the end. All the characters just brings this drama to life as each of them has interesting story and personality.
check out Miss Hammurabi on Netflix
6) Madame Antoine
Go Hye-rim (Han Ye Seul) is a fortune teller and café owner who goes by the name of Madame Antoine. She isn’t an actual fortune tell but relying on her powers of observation and her street smarts she is able to become popular and in-demand. On the other hand, Choi Soo-hyun (Sung Joon) is a psychotherapist specializing in women's psychology, who decides to set his practice above Go Hye-rim’s café. When both of them meet they immediately butt heads aver their ideas about love and their practices. Soo-hyun, a non-beliver of love decides to prove his hypothesis and tricks Hye-rim into being his subject.
This drama should be a must-watch for the one’s studying psychology so they find mistakes in what Soo-hun was doing wrong. I really liked the bickering between the main couple and their persepectives on love which are really refreshing and fun to see.
This drama does have some things that will make it seem not fun to watch and many not being okay with Soo-hyun’s method to do experiment. Still, I would recommend it as it is really fun and the lead have an amazing chemistry and also Hye-rim’s deductions are amusing to watch. Also Soo-hyun going high and below to make fool Hye-rim is honestly fun.
Check out Madame Antoine on Viki
7) Oh my Ghostess
Na Bong-sun (Park Bo-young) has an extremely timid personality and low self-esteem, doesn't have any close friends, and is constantly getting reprimanded at her job as an assistant chef at Sun Restaurant. She also occasionally sees ghosts, thanks to a shaman grandmother. One day, Bong-sun gets possessed by a lustful virgin ghost named Shin Soon-ae (Kim Seul-gi). Soon-ae believes that if she loses her virginity she would be able to move on without regrets.
Bong-sun's boss is arrogant star chef Kang Sun-woo (Jo Jung-suk), whom she secretly has a crush on but he doesn’t pay attention to her. When Bong-sun seemingly gets rid of her shyness and suddenly changes into a confident, dynamic woman, she finally catches his eye. On the other hand there consists a mystery surrounding Soon-ae's death involves Sun-woo's brother-in-law, a kind police officer, Choi Sung-jae (Lim Ju-hwan), who may not be what he seems.
This was the drama that introduced me to horror comedy genre and is one of the best in the genre. Knowing that the cast consists of Park Bo-young and Jo Jung Suk, you know its has to be a promising one. I really loved how this drama managed to balance out the humorous romance and the serious aspects like crime and murder really well. The acting is top- notch, especially of Park Bo Young as you see her playing two opposite type of characters in the same role.
8) Welcome to Waikiki
Welcome to Waikiki is about three young men joining forces in a guesthouse named, ‘Wakiki’ venture for a united dream of financing their own film project. Hilarity ensues.
This series though didn’t gain much attention in South Korea was received with immense love by international fans. Many love its humorous scenes, the banters and how the show was very light and funny. This drama really is something that can be watched after various thrillers or heavy dramas to make one laugh and don’t need to exercise your mind. I think, in all honesty, that this is the funniest and most original kdrama I've ever seen.
9) Familiar Wife
Cha Joo-hyuck (Ji Sung) is a banker and has been married for five years to Seo Jin-woon(Han Ji Man). However he regrets his marriage and wishes it never happened. This leads to him changing his life with his wife and best friend disappearing and he meeting is first love.
Despite the male lead not being incredibly likable at the beginning, as the story progresses you see him changing. How he realizes how much is life has changed. He moves from blaming his wife for his misery to understanding his own shortcomings. Also the relationships and marriages are dealt in a very mature and realistic manner.
Check out Familiar Wife on Viki
10) Go Back Couple
A couple whose love for each other has extinguished after 18 years and now are just left with disappointment and regret wish to turn back the time and start over. When they go back in time, their journey beginning again whether they will make the same choices or try to live a bit differently?
Go Back Couple starring Son Ho-jun and Jang Na-ra is a rom- com kdrama. It shows how the partners try moving with their lives, trying live without each other and getting new partners. But will they be able to do that?? Also instead of just focusing on the romance it explores familial relationships as well. Despite of having such a melo theme, the drama is quite funny and light.
Check out Go Back Couple on Viki
11) Age of Youth
Age of Youth is youth comedy following the lives of university students Yoon Jin-Myung (Han Ye-Ri), Jung Ye-Eun (Han Seung-Yeon), Song Ji-Won (Park Eun-Bin), Kang Yi-Na (Hwa Young) and Yoo Eun-Jae (Park Hye-Soo) share a house. These students are in their twenties navigating through life and various up and downs.
This drama is perfect for people who want to see some girl friendships and how various women with distinct personalities navigate through various things wok, romance, friendship and all. All women are main characters of their story and have a part to play in others life.
Check out Age of Youth on Netflix
12) Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine is about a young boy who ends up in the U.S. after the 1871 Shinmiyangyo incident and returns to Korea as an American soldier at a historical turning point and falls in love with a noblelady.
This is a bittersweet historical drama with some amazing cinematography. Filled with many tear- jerking scenes, what makes this drama interesting is that each character has their own story and who they help each other grow. The drama makes you wonder what will happen and whether the main couple will have a happy ending or not. A must watch for people who enjoy dramas set in the past.
Check out Mr. Sunshine on Netflix
13) Radio Romance
Radio Romance is story of Song Geu-rim (Kim So-hyun) an assistant writer at radio show with low ratings who decides to recruit a top actor, Ji Soo-ho as a RJ. She also aspires to writer her own show and come out of the shadow of her boss. Ji Soo-ho (Yoon Doo-joon), a top actor dealing with depression and can’t sleep without sleeping pills. They come together after Song Geu-rim convinces him to do a radio and shows the journey of them making their show a success and at same time end up getting close with each other.
The rom com story is really straightforward and does not try to be something it’s not. Though the female lead may seem a bit dull in the beginning but the story progresses and she interacts with other characters, it brings out different sides of her personality. I also love that the female knows that she is not talented in writing, but still improves herself for her love of radio. Also the second lead with his quirkiness and humour really gives the show a light air.
14) Romance is a Bonus Book
A former copywriter, Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young) searches for a job after she has been divorced and entangles with his old friend and now his chief editor Cha Eun-ho (Lee Jong-suk ). She struggles with her job as there is a big gap in her resume and she is a bit behind her time.
This is an amazing romance between and older woman and younger man. This feel- good drama has a simple but great storyline which focuses on our female lead’s growth and our male lead's one sided love. Lee Jong-suk really embodies the character of Cha Eun-ho, a genius writer and editor-in-chief and has a great chemistry with Lee Na-young.
Also I would recommend this drama to book-lovers, as this really throws light on how books are written and romanticized.
Check out Romance is a Bonus Book on Netflix
How did you like the recommendations, tell in the comments below??
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