Best of 2023: From The Glory, Doctor Cha to A Time Called You, here are 10 Korean dramas that impressed us

It’s a WRAP!

With December quickly racing towards Christmas, the year-end is almost knocking at the door. However, before we embrace the new year wholeheartedly, it is significant to praise the major sources of entertainment that made the year terrific. The Hallyu wave magnified its impact after the pandemic and swept the world with its magnetic charm in Korean pop music, culture, and Kdramas.

Ever since the advent of OTT platforms, the popularity of Korean dramas and culture roared to new highs over consecutive years. The streaming platforms offer a plethora of Korean dramas and films to cater to your entertainment.

While Netflix stoically provided several hit dramas on its platform, other streaming giants like Prime and Hotstar are also setting new benchmarks by releasing Hindi dubbed versions for their Indian viewers.

Be it the charismatic leads, absurd humor, or the enthralling plots— you won’t regret binge-watching Kdramas, once you absorb in their journey.

Before wrapping 2023, let’s turn back the wheel of time and cherish the Kdramas that stirred the global fan base.

King the land

This feel-good drama narrates the tale of two unlikely lovers - Goo Won, a rich heir of luxury hotels, and Cheon Sa-rang, a hotelier. With unlimited absurd humor and coworker romance, the ongoing inheritance battle takes a backseat. Their sweet clashes will remind you of Business Proposal!

Cast: Lee Jun-ho, Im Yoon-ah, Son Byong-ho, Nam Gi-ae

Episodes: 16

Streaming on Netflix

Island 2

The sequel to the 2022 kdrama Island is adapted from a graphic novel and takes the viewers on a journey of horror and mystery. When evil takes over good, three people team up to drive the darker forces from their hometown of Jeju Island. Cha Eun-woo took the internet by storm after a few clips of his role as a priest doing exorcism went viral. Indeed who doesn’t like a charismatic priest?

Cast: Kim Nam-gil, Lee Da-hee, Cha Eun-woo, and Sung Joon.

Streaming on Prime

Doctor Cha

This medical drama is probably one of those rare dramas that revolve around a unique yet slice-of-life genre.  The plot narrates the story of a middle-aged housewife who decides to return to her career after a gap of twenty years and experiences personal growth and self-discovery during the crisis.

Cast: Uhm Jung-hwa in the titular role, also includes Kim Byung-chul, Myung Se-bin, and Min Woo-hyuk in supporting roles.

Streaming on Netflix

Strong Girl Nam Soon

This kdrama is a spin-off of the highly popular fantasy/rom-com Strong Girl Bong Soon and is an action-packed drama with an equal amount of humor and fantasy!

It spans the life of Bong Soon’s cousin Gang Nam-soon who has the hereditary gift of superhuman strength. While she searches for her birth mother and biological family, she gets entwined with a drug kingpin along with her mother and grandmother.

Streaming on Netflix

Cast: Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Hae-sook, Ong Seong-wu, and Byeon Woo-seok.

Episodes: 16

Worst Of Evil

If you’re looking for some action, thriller, and suspense – WOE is the ideal kdrama for you as it deviates from the usual rom-com to depict a tale of illegal drugs and a dangerous mafia boss trying to make big in the criminal organization. Don’t fret! The handsome Ji Chang-wook plays the role of an undercover cop who accepts the high-stakes project to prove his worth to the taunting in-laws. The cat and mouse game becomes more interesting with dual identities, police action, and dramatic violence.

Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Wi Ha-joon, Im Se-mi, and Bibi.

Episodes: 12

Streaming on Disney+Hotstar

A Time Called You

Based on the Taiwanese television series Someday or One Day- This mystery kdrama uses the concept of time travel to portray different aspects of love on a non-linear timeline. A riveting tale of grief and emotional healing takes Jun-hee back in time magically as she bereaves her boyfriend's death in 2023. In the alternate timeline, she inhabits the body of some girl and realizes the twist of fate when meets a boy with an uncanny resemblance to her lost lover.

Cast: Ahn Hyo-seop, Jeon Yeo-been, and Kang Hoon

Episodes: 12

Streaming on Netflix

Vigilante

Nam Joo Hyuk returned in his 2022 hit kdrama era after Twenty-Five Twenty but this time he traded his charismatic reporter role with a model police student role living dual lives. Based on a webtoon, this legal drama narrates the tale of vigilante justice when justice turns a blind eye!

Cast: Nam Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Joon-hyuk, Kim So-jin

Episodes: 8

Streaming on Disney+Hotstar

The Good Bad Mother

A drama about a second chance! This slice-of-life kdrama delves into the strained relationship of a single mother and her cold-hearted prosecutor son. Their lives take a striking turn when an unfortunate accident makes Choi Kang-ho forget everything. In a state of amnesia, he returns to his mother Jin Young-soon. Will the second chance change their lives for the better? Watch the heartfelt family drama to know!

Cast: Ra Mi-ran, Lee Do-hyun, Ahn Eun-jin and Yoo In-soo.

Episodes: 14

Streaming on Netflix

Twinkling Watermelon

Another fantasy romance with a time-travel element. The series narrates the life events of a CODA boy, brought up by his dead/dumb parents. His life turns upside down when he is struck by a time travel miracle as travels back in 1995 and meets younger versions of his parents, who are then high school students. Together he forms a music band while trying to better his parents’ life and future.

Cast: Ryeoun, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah, and Shin Eun-soo

Episodes: 16

Streaming on Rakuten Viki, Viu

The Glory Part 2

Song Hye-kyo aces the negative character as she plots a mastermind revenge plan against her high school bullies after becoming a homeroom teacher for the bully’s child. Part 2 revolves around the melodramatic backstory which makes you sulk for this unlikely villain.

Cast: Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yeon, Yeom Hye-ran, Park Sung-hoon, and Jung Sung-il

Episodes: 8

Streaming on Netflix