Brief Summary
This video presents a curated list of 15 outstanding Korean dramas ("kdramas") that are highly recommended for their exceptional storytelling, acting, and memorable scenes. The dramas span various genres, including melodrama, romance, action, historical, and slice-of-life, and address themes such as revenge, coming-of-age, survival, crime, and social issues.
- The Glory: A dark melodrama about a woman's elaborate revenge on her high school bullies.
- 25 21: A heartwarming coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the Korean financial crisis.
- Healer: An action-romance thriller involving a mysterious night courier with exceptional skills.
- Happiness: A survival drama where residents of an apartment building are trapped due to a zombie-like disease.
- Signal: A crime drama with a time-bending element, where a profiler communicates with a detective in the past to solve cold cases.
- Crash Landing on You: A romantic comedy about a South Korean woman who accidentally lands in North Korea and falls in love with an army officer.
- Extraordinary Attorney Woo: A heartwarming story of a brilliant lawyer with autism.
- Mother: An emotional drama about a teacher who abducts her student to protect her from abuse.
- Mr. Queen: A historical comedy where a modern-day chef finds himself in the body of a queen from the Joseon era.
- Under the Queen's Umbrella: A historical drama focusing on a queen's efforts to protect and guide her troublesome sons.
- My Mister: A slice-of-life drama exploring the connection between a man facing midlife struggles and a woman caring for her sick grandmother.
- Alchemy of Souls: A fantasy historical drama about mages battling for their fates using a forbidden spell.
- Flower of Evil: A crime romance where a detective investigates her husband, who may be connected to a serial murder case.
- Weak Hero Class 1: A school drama about a seemingly weak student who uses his intelligence to defend himself against bullies.
- Move to Heaven: A heartfelt drama about a trauma cleaner with autism and his ex-convict uncle who uncover the stories of the deceased.
"The Glory" is a gripping melodrama that tells the story of a young girl who experiences severe bullying in her teenage years. Years later, she meticulously plans and executes revenge against her former classmates, who remain unrepentant. The drama highlights the serious issue of school violence and its long-lasting effects, sparking discussions about the roles of teachers and bystanders. The performances of both the younger and older actors are praised, and the narrative explores themes of support and resistance against bullying.
"25 21" is a heartwarming coming-of-age story that follows the lives of two main characters navigating the challenges of young adulthood. The female lead pursues her fencing dreams and connects with her idol, while the male lead struggles with his family's financial difficulties during the Korean financial crisis in the 1990s. The drama incorporates nostalgic elements, including fashion and popular manga of the time. As the two leads bond, their friendship evolves into a heartwarming romance, offering viewers a warm and fuzzy feeling.
"Healer" is a mystery action thriller centered around a night courier known as "Healer," who possesses exceptional parkour and self-defense skills. The drama combines elements of romance, hidden identities, and past trauma. The male lead and his love interest become entangled in a dangerous situation due to a hidden past. The performances of the main and supporting cast are highly praised, making it a captivating watch.
"Happiness" is a survival drama set in an apartment building where residents are trapped due to a zombie-like disease outbreak. The female lead, a special agent with quick reflexes, and her high school friend, now a detective, find themselves fighting for survival. As the building is sealed off, the characters face challenging moments and discover that the living can be more dangerous than the infected. The drama explores the best and worst aspects of humanity in a crisis.
"Signal" is a crime drama with true crime-like vibes, focusing on a male lead who, as a child, witnessed a kidnapping. Dissatisfied with the police's handling of the case, he becomes a criminal profiler. The drama incorporates a time-altering element through a walkie-talkie, allowing him to communicate with a detective in the past to solve cold cases. Some of the cases are based on real-life serial murders, adding a layer of authenticity to the story.
"Crash Landing on You" is a romantic comedy about a South Korean woman who accidentally paraglides into North Korea and is discovered by a North Korean army officer. She must hide under a fake identity while he tries to get her home safely. The journey is full of challenges and danger, but the two leads fall in love. The drama features a memorable friend squad and explores the tension between North and South Korea.
"Extraordinary Attorney Woo" tells the story of a brilliant lawyer with autism who graduates at the top of her class from Seoul National University. Despite her challenges in socializing, she possesses an incredible memory and an IQ of 164. Her co-workers eventually recognize her talent and ability in law. Supported by her family and a gentle male lead, Attorney Woo's heartfelt enthusiasm and whale stories resonate with viewers, making the drama highly rated.
"Mother" is an emotional drama about an elementary school teacher who decides to abduct one of her students to protect her from abuse. Adapted from a Japanese drama, the Korean adaptation follows a teacher and bird researcher who becomes a substitute mother to a young girl. Together, they face many hardships as they prioritize the child's life, blurring ethical lines in this thrilling melodrama.
"Mr. Queen" is a historical comedy about a male sous chef who wakes up in the body of a young queen in the Joseon era. Confused by his new female form and the historical setting, he grapples with his situation. The drama features comedic antics, palace politics, and a rivalry cook-off between the queen and the royal cook. The young king eventually falls for the strange queen, adding a romantic element to the story.
"Under the Queen's Umbrella" is a historical drama that symbolizes a queen's love and effort to protect her sons. Despite their frequent troubles, she aims to transform them into proper crown princes. Known for her temper and use of swear words, this queen stands out from typical refined royalty. The drama follows her journey and the princes through the complex world of palace politics.
"My Mister" is a brooding slice-of-life drama that explores the connection between a man facing a midlife crisis and a woman struggling to care for her sick grandmother. The male lead deals with unemployed brothers and a cheating wife, while the female lead witnesses an incident at her company. As their paths cross, they find solace and support in each other, leading to a thought-provoking and psychologically rich drama.
"Alchemy of Souls" is a fantasy historical drama set in the fictional country of Daeho, where mages battle using a forbidden spell that transfers souls. The female lead's soul ends up in another body, and the male lead recognizes something special about her eyes. He takes her on as a servant and mentor, and their bond and chemistry captivate viewers. The drama's high production quality, set designs, and special effects contribute to its popularity.
"Flower of Evil" is a crime romance melodrama about a man with a hidden identity and a detective wife investigating a serial murder case from 15 years ago. As unnerving signs point to her husband, she begins to question everything she knows about him. The drama tests the couple's love and trust as new developments unfold, leaving viewers wondering if the male lead is responsible for the crimes.
"Weak Hero Class 1" is a school drama that focuses on student bullying and dangerous associations outside the classroom. The male lead, despite appearing weak, uses his intelligence and calculations to defend himself. He befriends two other students who have a significant impact on his life, creating a strong sense of bonding and loyalty. The drama features brilliant fight sequences and a compelling plot, leading to high ratings.
"Move to Heaven" is a heartfelt drama based on the essay "Things Left Behind" by a trauma cleaner. It follows a young man with autism who loses his father and continues their company that cleans and moves items left behind by the deceased. His ex-convict uncle becomes his guardian, and together they uncover the emotional stories of those who have passed away. The drama inspires hope and provides an inside look into how characters handle loss and grief.
Summarize any YouTube video in seconds
Get summaries like this one for any video, in your language, with the free Summ app.
Transcript
Full transcript of “15 Kdramas SO AMAZING They Make Everything Else Seem Like Trash! [Ft HappySqueak]”. Click a timestamp to open the video at that moment. Need another video? Use the YouTube transcript generator.
0:01 [Music] 15K drama gems that are so good they make everything else seem like trash if you're a kdrama fan you know that not all dramas are created equal some just stand out Above the Rest and leave a lasting impression in this video we'll be showcasing some of the best kdramas out there these are dramas that you absolutely must watch if you haven't already they've got everything great actors captivating story lines and Unforgettable scenes that will keep you coming back for more so without further Ado let's get started foreign the glory beginning in late 2022 the glory shook viewers with its raw and terrifying story of the brutal bullying of a teenage girl who suffered at the hands of her ruthless classmates the
0:47 adult version of our female lead was played by songhe Kyo she then devised and plotted to get her revenge against these terrible humans who even now show No Remorse and still have the same vile personalities as when they were teens the thrilling melodrama received high ratings and reviews across many platforms and social media by netizens who were disturbed by the story but empathized for our female lead and hoped she'd succeed in her revenge the subject of school bullying and school violence and dramas often appears to be overlooked by teachers and even other students who may not wish to become targets and this may also reflect some real life situations as well the dramas shed more light on the topic and brought it out into open discussions the cast did a phenomenal job both the younger cast and the older adult versions of the
1:34 care characters as the story transitions our female lead will have others supporting her actions and helping to take a stand against her bullies [Music] number 14 25 21 in this heartwarming tale we explore the challenges of coming of age into young adulthood Through The Eyes of our two main leads who are facing different life transitions our female lead uses her fencing talent to meet her athlete Idol while our male lead struggles to keep his simple life together after his father abandons her family due to the Korean financial crisis set in the 90s viewers can look
2:19 forward to nostalgic fashion and settings not to mention a glimpse into the popular manga of the time what exactly were they reading back then our female leads friends portray a group of high school students who come together in pursuit of their dreams and exhibit their independent determination as our two main leads Bond strengthens over time their friendship will later blossom into a heartwarming Romance the drama Stars Kim tari and Nam hack this is a youthful romp with deep Slice of Life undertones that will leave viewers feeling warm and fuzzy foreign [Music] healer the KBS 2 Drama head fans tuning in weekly for new episodes which featured everyone's favorite night
3:05 Courier Savvy and parkour and also displaying some incredible self-defense moves the male lead known as healer to his clients was portrayed by The Talented ji Chang look stealing our hearts and attention in this mystery action thriller which also woven an element of romance between him and his love interest played by Parkman young with elements of hidden identity past trauma and intelligent male lead and a sassy but hard-working female lead a hidden past might also make things dangerous for those who now become involved with healer our screens were lit with their amazing performances not just about OTP but The Supporting Cast as well [Music]
3:53 number 12 happiness a survival drama with a slow burn romance we'll follow our leading characters who will now find themselves trapped in an apartment building due to a terrifying disease that appears zombie-like will have our characters fighting for their very lives our female lead is a special agent gifted with quick reflexes and sharp wit after gaining the opportunity to move into an apartment complex that is just for civil servants by orchestrating a fake marriage to her high school friend played by Park young chick who's now a detective it will turn out the very disease he's investigating is the same one that now has some trapped within the building alongside other residents it's not long until this particular building is sealed off from the rest of the city our characters will face challenging
4:39 moments as they struggle to stay alive while discovering that some of the living could be deadlier than and those infected as the situation will bring out the best and worst of humanity [Music] number 11 signal the success of this kdrama which has gone on to have adaptations in China Japan and even a Thai remake has true crime-like Vibes the story follows our male lead who is a child witnessed a kidnapping of a young girl the girl was later found deceased our main character is later played by EG hoon and as he grows up he's very dissatisfied with how the police have handled things and it seems like nothing was accomplished within the cases for
5:26 True closure 15 years later he is now a police officer himself and a talented criminal profiler the drama also adds in a touch of time altering through a special walkie-talkie which enables him to get in touch with a detective in the past they try to make some Butterfly Effect like changes while trying to solve these cold cases together some of the cold cases presented in this drama were based around the actual croissant serial murders [Music] number 10 crash landing on you if anything the romantic action and pinch of Comedy kdrama gave viewers an Insight in what not to do while paragliding in a
6:12 tornado just kidding Sonia Jin stars as our female lead and after this paragliding incident she has been blown all the way into North Korea stuck in a tree and discovered by an incredibly handsome North Korean army officer who happens to be played by none other than Hyun bin crashing down right into him thus matching the title of Crash Landing on you she'll have to hide under a fake Alias until he's able to safely get her home but the journey will be full of challenges and danger fans and viewers were gifted with an incredible friend Squad in this drama whose unique personalities stood out long after the drama ended despite the stress and tension between North and South our leads fall for each other both in the drama and in real life [Music]
6:59 thank you number nine extraordinary attorney Wu adorable attorney Wu is played by the lovely park and Bin delivering a character full of genius and Charming personality attorney Wu is also a person who is on the autism spectrum and it was her heartfelt enthusiasm and whale stories splashed throughout which really touched viewers Hearts this bright attorney graduated at the top of her class at the prestigious Seoul national university for law adding to her talents she has an incredible memory also an IQ of 164. although her demeanor and thought process might seem a little unusual for her co-workers at first as attorney Wu has struggles in socializing they will come to recognize her talent and ability in law our female lead is much loved by her family and she's also
7:46 strongly supported by our male lead who also works in the same law firm and played by Kong taeyo his gentle and supportive manner netizens really felt the warmth of his character during the Airing of the drama he drew in a lot of attention even after filming wrapped the drama itself went on to gain very high rate things [Music] number eight mother tbn's drama mother comes highly recommended but covers some deep subject matter adapted from the Japanese Drama of the same name mother also known as okasan also inspired a Chinese remake and a Thai remake an emotional story as depicted in the original about an elementary school
8:31 teacher who makes a choice to abduct one of her students as the young girl is being badly abused by her actual mother the Korean adaptation mirrors this where our female lead is also a teacher and a bird researcher in an attempt to raise and look after her student as a substitute mother the young girl now has a sense of love and care for the first time these two will face many hardships and situations together in this thrilling melodrama that blurs the lines but ultimately put a child's life first no matter the consequence [Music] number seven Mr Queen this drama was the drama we all needed while some viewers
9:17 might not be interested in the historical genre but Mr Queen consistently receives rave reviews for its time-altering time travel action and hilarious Antics it also includes a pinch of comedic romance with its fair share of Palace politics our male lead is an attractive and famous sous chef but he has an incident and when he wakes up he'll find himself in the body of a young Queen in a Joe sunset time period confused and with all the mannerisms of a modern alif guy he'll come to terms with his now female form and his overall situation despite not being able to make sense of it for a few episodes viewers will catch his voice over as the thoughts of the female lead but when she speaks we'll hear her natural voice and at times very unfitting for her royal things also heat up in the kitchen between her majesty and the Royal cook
10:03 not frantically but in a rivalry cook-off sense the visuals here might appeal to Foodies the young king will also come to fall for our Strange Queen [Music] number six under the Queen's umbrella another historical here with under the Queen's umbrella which symbolizes how much love and effort the queen extends to our sons to cover and shield them making her actions of that of an umbrella which seems to be reflecting the meaning within the title however her sons often have troubles surrounding them and many disruptive situations her goal is to have them transition into proper young Crown princes despite any mistakes they make along the way this
10:49 queen has a big temper and an even bigger heart but she's been known to cuss and use swear words so not the typical refined royalty you might expect as such this made her stand out and we rooted for her and the princes through the Sea of Palace politics [Music] number five my mister well it would seem that TBN has a lot of gems making our list my Mr Stars IU and isan kyun in a brooding Slice of Life drama with some sad insights and how the small Silver Lining of thoughtfulness from another person can really make a huge difference our male lead might just be facing his midlife struggle he has the burden of
11:34 two unemployed brothers and a wife who is cheating on him he'll then cross paths with our female lead who is struggling to look after her sick grandmother she's also a witness to a certain incident within the company a bribe will be presented to him in regards to her so the office entanglements and drama will thicken but the situation will bring him and our female lead closer together the drama also has some psychological and thought-provoking moments [Music] number four Alchemy of souls season one and two were so successful on Netflix and loved by viewers so much it's no question that this drama would make our drama gem list a fantastic historical
12:20 set in the fictional country of dejo Mages will battle it out against one another as they try to maneuver around their Fates all because of a forbidden spell known as the Alchemy of souls transferring who casts a spell into the body of another which is exactly what happens to our female lead noticing something special about her eyes our male lead presently has her as a servant but also Mentor when discovering her true identity their bond in chemistry stole everyone's hearts and their love made this one of the most watched kdramas in 2022 continuously ranking High among viewers and netizens The Supporting Cast set designs special effects were all so well done season two had everyone in anticipation foreign [Music]
13:11 number three flower of evil crime romance and melodrama are the main themes within this drama depicting a male lead with a hidden and secret identity he was a gifted metal worker and his wife is a detective currently working a Serial murder case which took place 15 years ago but unnerving implications and signs seem to point in the direction of her loving husband who has secrets of his own the couple also have a daughter together the love they have cherished might not be all that it seems and the challenges of the case will definitely test our female lead as new developments begin to unfold which has things starting to unravel for our male lead viewers might initially wonder if he really is responsible for the crimes connected to the cases thrilling and at times with a cliffhanger ending
13:56 the star-studded cast features ijin GI and moon taewon as our OTP [Music] number two weak hero class 1 this school set drama focused on pretty much student bug lives and dangerous associations outside of the classroom our male lead might not look very strong but is intelligent calculations have him throwing punches with perfect timing and needing to use his fists when he has no choice but to defend himself he'll get befriended by two other students who will make a huge impact in his life with a strong sense of bonding and having one's back the success of the first drama has fans eagerly waiting for the
14:43 next installment to see where the story will take our male lead played by Park jihoon the first season also starred chehan work and Hong kyung the drama featured brilliant fight sequences between the characters which led to its high rating for its action and plot [Music] number one move to Heaven move to heaven was one of the most cherished and heartfelt dramas of 2021 based off the essay called things left behind it was written by a professional trauma cleaner known as kimsabial the drama follows our autistic young lead who loses his father together they had operated a company that assisted with the moving and cleaning of items left behind by those
15:30 who had passed away when his ex-convict Uncle returns and becomes his Guardian the size of Life moments between the two and those they involve with were very emotional here we'll have an inside look into the reactions of the characters depicted who have lost someone and how they each differently handle themselves in these heartbreaking situations the drama inspired hope the touching moments between the characters might bring you to tears so be sure to keep a box of tissue handy [Music] and that wraps our list do you agree with these gems and do you have any more that you would add to this list you can let us know in the comments section down below follow us for more recommendations
16:15 and top lists