Best Korean Dramas of 2022
Although the Year 2022 has been a forgettable year for so many reasons yet a Golden year for K-drama fans because of a truckload of amazing k-dramas aired in 2022. We got some memorable and worth re-watching K-dramas on the year of Lockdown and Corona Virus and Economic recession, fully packed hospital beds, ICUs and ventilators, terrifying death rates, and everything horrible but there was k-drama to make us forget our worries and help us cope with stress. So, from otherwise a year of horror, we have listed the best Korean dramas of 2022 below.
1. Hospital Playlist
The hospital playlist is the second instalment of the drama Reply 1988. It is a medical drama roaming around friendship and love between five friends. The story of drama develops around the lives of Doctors, Nurses, Patients, and their relationships. This drama was not only a big hit but also became the most-watched drama in Korean television history. Because of its excellent plot, excellent acting of casts, cast utilisation, and soundtracks, the theatre became one of the top dramas in Korean drama history.
Name: Hospital playlist
Network: TVN
Writer: Lee woo-Jung
Director: Shin won-ho
Main Cast: Jo jung-suk as Lee ik jun, Jung moon sung as Do jae hak, Moon tae yoo as Yong seak min, Kim dae myung as yang seok hyeong, Jeon mi do as Chae song hwa.
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Friendship
Number of Episodes: 12
Release date: 12 March 2020 to 28 May 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
Other related dramas: Reply 1988, Reply 1994, Dr Romantic, A Gentleman's Dignity, Go back a couple
2. It's Okay Not to be Okay
It's Okay Not to be Okay is one of those unconventional and unorthodox dramas where the main leads are a weak, emotionally hurt, seemingly arrogant female lead with an anti-social personality and a guilt-ridden male lead with nurturing and caring personality. And there are fun characters like the male lead elder brother who has Autism and helps his brother grow through pain while fighting his trauma. This drama is full of beautiful characters like the Hospital Director, the Hospital chef aka Nam Noori's mother, the CEO of the publishing house, Nam Joo-ri the nurse, and Yoo Seung-Jae the art director at the publishing house. As a result, the Drama was named 'Best International Drama of 2022' by The New York Times. It's a beautiful drama to watch for everyone as it has the flavours of thrill, suspense, comedy, and love. The drama portrays the journey of emotional healing, finding love and peace, and letting go of the hurt.
Name: It's Okay Not to be Okay
Network: TVN
Writer: Jo Yong
Director: Park Shin-woo
Main Casts: Kin S00-Hyun, Seo Yea-Ji, Jang Young-Nam, Park Jin-Joo
Genre: Drama, Romance
Number of Episodes: 15
Release Date: June 20-August 9, 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
3. Flower of Evil
Flower of Evil is a suspense drama, depicting the story of a man who hides his past and identity to live a normal life whereas his detective wife is determined to uncover the truth. The story begins with a perfect happy family of 3- A loving and caring Husband who cooks for the family, drops their daughter to school and works in his workshop, living a very smooth life, and an innocent Detective wife who trusts and loves her husband, sees what she wants to see, and relies on her husband and a daughter who is very of her Father. However seemingly perfect, one day the lingering shadow of his hideous past comes to destroy the peaceful life of the male lead and his family.
Characters in drama go through lies, deception, and heartbreaks, and finally gain love and trust back after wiping off the hidden lies. The drama goes as one of the top dramas in K-drama history because of its smooth plot, top-notch acting, settings, and all.
Name: Flower of Evil
Network: TVN
Writer: Yoon Jung-hee
Director: Kim Cheol-kyu
Main Casts: Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won, Jang hee-jin, Seo Hyun-woo
Genre: Melodrama, Suspense
Number of Episodes: 16
Release Date: July 29-September 23, 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.7
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
4. Once Again
Once again is the story of four adult siblings struggling with their lives. Drama roams around the Song family where the peace doesn't come even for a single day. Once Again has earned the reputation of being the best Family drama of 2020 among viewers as well as won many awards in categories such as best writer and best actors. The struggle that the siblings go through shows the struggle of being an adult and having to deal with outcomes.
Name: Once Again
Network: KBS2
Writer: Yang Hee-seung, Ahn Ah-reum
Director: Lee Jae-sang
Main Casts: Cheon Ho-jin, Cha Hwa-Yeon, Lee Min-jung, Lee Sang-Yeob
Genre: Drama, Melodrama
Number of Episodes: 100
Release Date: March 28-September 13, 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
5. Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class has the best of everything handsome male lead with the best acting, badass decisive female lead, fun, supportive, and twisted supporting casts, strong plot, beautiful OSTs inspiring journey, and heartbreaks. The story begins with the high-schooler shy male lead, his crush, and a rich bully antagonist in the same class.
The story takes a sad turn with the restriction of Park Sae-or-Yi (male lead) from school, his father's death, and his being jailed for 7 years in the attempt of murder. He has to give up on his dream of becoming a Police. In those lonely, sad, and long 7 years of being in Jail, our hero doesn't give up rather plans to become Korea's biggest Chain Restaurant. However, despite the tragedy that the male lead goes through, the story has comedy and fun too. Our extraordinary female lead brings savageness to the screen. Itaewon class is a must-watch for Korean drama lovers.
Name: Itaewon Class
Network: JTBC
Writer: Gwang Jin
Director: Kim Sung-Yoon
Main Casts: Park Seo-Joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-Myung, Kwon Nara
Genre: Drama
Number of Episodes: 16
Release Date: January 31 - March 21, 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
6. The World of the Married
Drama The World of the Married as its name roams around a married couple, where a successful doctor wife is loyal and supportive of her husband and is widely envied among her friends for having love-filled married life. However, one day her happiness crumbles into pieces after she finds long hair on her husband's scarf. The journey of a couple going from perfect couple goals to breaking apart, having resentments, and finding their way out of misery depicts the story of Jee Sun-woo and Lee Tae-ho as the couple goes through a whirlwind of betrayal, resentment, and forgiveness. The drama takes viewers through various emotions and confusion as the story progresses. This is the drama for drama lovers who like to watch dark stories full of twisted emotions.
Name: The World of the Married
Network: JTBC
Writer: Joo Hyun
Director: Mo Wan-il, Kim Sung-jin
Main Casts: Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-Joon, Jeon Jin-Seo, Han So-hee
Genre: Melodrama, Romance, Family, Thriller
Number of Episodes: 16+2 special episodes
Release Date: March 27 - May 26, 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
7. The King: Eternal Monarch
This is the drama for Sc-fi lovers, who like to imagine the possibility of a parallel world and also for us who like to escape from here for a short while. To us escapists, drama shows the point of entering a parallel world and the technique of using the bamboo flute to open the gates to the parallel world, LOL Kidding. Anyway, Drama is such a visual treat along with out of a world story, I mean, it is a story based on the Parallel Universe.
Starring Koreas Hearthrob Lee Min-ho and Goblin stars Kim Go-Eun, Woo Do-han, Kim Kyung-Nam, Jung Eun-Chae, and Lee Jung-jin, drama soothes the eyes with beautiful faces and cheerful smiles. Of course, the story and soundtracks are equally beautiful too, we love the equation of Lee Gon and the Head Court Lady like Grandmother and Grandson, Bromance between Lee Go and his Jo Eun-snob. Similarly, the friendship between Jeong Tae-eul and her colleagues, and her incredible father.
Name: The King: Eternal Monarch
Network: SBS TV
Writer: Kim Eun-sook
Director: Baek Sang-hoon, Jung Ji-Hyun, Yoo Je-won
Main Casts: Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kin Kyung-nam, Jung Eun-chae, Lee Jung-jin
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Number of Episodes: 16
Release Date: April 17 - June 12, 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
8. Mystic Pop-up Bar
Story of Weol-Ju, a hot-tempered woman who is trapped in soothing 100,000 souls to atone for her past sin, which is committing suicide on a sacred tree, making it lose its power at a crucial time. Weol-Ju runs Mystic pop-up bar and gets the help of Han Kang-bae, who is gifted with making people confess through physical touch and has been an outcast because of it. Kang-bae wants to get rid of his gift so that he could lead a normal life and makes deal with Weol-Ju to help her soothe 100,000 souls in exchange. Later we discover the relationship between Weol-Ju and Kang-bae being the mother and spirit of her unborn son. He happens to be the son of Weol-Ju and Crown Prince Yi-hon. And Crown Prince is now the Manager of Mystic Pop-up Bar. Drama is fun and thrilling, a perfect binge-watch during Lockdown.
Name: Mystic Pop-up Bar
Network: JTBC
Writer: Ha Yoon-ah
Director: Jeong Chang-Geun
Main Casts: Hwang Jung-eum, York Sung-Jae, Choi Won-young
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Comedy, Supernatural
Number of Episodes: 12
Release Date: May 20 - June 25, 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
Also, read Top Anime Girls and Anime Boys
9. Start-up
Based on the imaginary Silicon Valley of Korea, SandBox, the story roams around young people struggling to find their stand in the start-up world. The story goes through heartbreaks, tears, failures, and lessons learned for growth and maturity.
The young, energetic and cheerful Seo Dal-mi dreams of becoming Koreas Steve Jobs, and with the push of confidence because of her encounter with Nam Dosan she leaves her job and enters a competition held by SandBox, along with Nam Dosan and friends, the team succeeds in making it to top 5 teams to be sponsored and mentored by Sandbox. While Dal-mi and Dosan are getting close with the misunderstanding of Dosan being her first love, a rental from 15 years ago, she is happy. While, her first love who she has never seen but always held dear is her mentor now, Han Ji-Pyeong, a successful Investor, who has been through all the hardships in life to reach where he is now.
Name: Start-up
Network: tvN
Writer: Park Hye-Ryun
Director: Oh Choong-hwan
Main Casts: Kim Seon-ho, Bae Suzy, Nam Do-san, Kang Han Na
Genre: Drama, Romance
Number of Episodes: 16
Release Date: October 17 - December 6, 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
10. The Uncanny Counter
In the fictional City, Jungjin, a disabled high-school boy Jo So Mun suddenly after being possessed by Jang Cheol-Joon, a hunter's spirit gets into a group of Counters, a group of demon hunters namely Counters. He soon starts noticing changes in his body and sees Jang Cheol-Joon in his dreams and finds out the truth in Ennis Noodles shop where the Counters group is employed as a restaurant employee. From there begins Jo So Mun's journey filled with thrill and a paranormal world, hunting the blood-thirsty demons. The Uncanny Counter is a complete package of drama, surely something one won't regret watching.
Name: The Uncanny Counter
Network: OCN
Writer: Yeo Ji-na, Yoo Seon-dong, Kim Sae-bom
Director: Yoo Seon-dong, Park Bong-Shop
Main Casts: Jo Byung-Gyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kin Se-Jeong, Yeom Hye-ran
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
Number of Episodes: 16
Release Date: November 28, 200 - January 24, 2021
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Where to watch: Netflix, Dramacool, Kissassian
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the Best Korean dramas of 2020, how many of these have you watched already, and what's your take on them? If you like to agree more to this list, please let us know in the comments. Check our other articles too for more information on K-dramas.
