At this point you’ve heard the hype, seen the memes, and maybe even dipped your toes in by watching Netflix’s smash-hit Squid Game. You’re possibly thinking that maybe this Korean drama (Kdramas) thing might be worth looking into some more.
A few things first though: if it’s possible for you, do watch the series with subtitles instead of dubbing. Either way there’s nuance lost with translation, but you lose less with subs. Secondly, be warned that episodes are long – anything from 45 to 80 minutes in some instances. Finally, know that you’re going to fall into a deep, deep rabbit hole that you won’t want to leave.
Where to watch
On to the basics: where to watch Kdramas. While you could certainly sail the high seas for some of the harder to find dramas, for the most part you’ll be well taken care of with Netflix, YouTube, iQiyi, and (if you use a VPN) Viki and WeTV are options too.
Excluding pay service Netflix, all of the options above have free-to-view dramas. You likely did a double take when I mentioned YouTube, but South Korean broadcasters KBS and JTBC are all about sharing some of their series on their YT channels (just turn on the subtitles). You’ll find a mix of older and newer dramas; they even go so far as to split an episode into four parts, to make it easier to get your fix.
iQiyi is mostly there for your Chinese series, but it also gets Kdramas that you might not find elsewhere. A few of the options on this platform are only for VIP account holders, but I’ve not had any problems just using it generally. iQiyi’s biggest issue, though, is that it never keeps track of which episode you were watching.
One final note is that with Viki and WeTV, to access Asian TV series and movies you need to use a VPN, and set your region to basically anywhere but South Africa.
What to watch
So, you’ve sorted out where to watch, but what to watch is something else. There are so many online recommendation lists, friends with opinions and just an overwhelming volume of choices in general. It can all get a bit much. Before you know it, you may find yourself just rewatching your go-to show.
Whenever I’m asked for Kdrama options, I find it’s best to suss out what genres of series, books, films and games the person generally enjoys, and what mood they’re in. You want to enjoy the amazing stories out there, and aligning with personal tastes is a good starting point.
I’ll dive deeper into the different genre picks in future articles, but in the meantime, here are a few basic guidelines.
- Stay away from Kdramas pre 2014 or so. Post 2014 there was a major film/technology leap and the more polished finishing on series is noticeable. Yes, there are totally-worth-the-hype dramas from before that date, but you want to be really into Kdramas before exploring those.
- Look at the synopsis for shows on My Drama List. Don’t read the reviews yet; wait till you have a better feel for what works for you.
- Give your chosen drama a two-episode chance at least. Because the general Kdrama model is two episodes a week when airing, aspects of the story are better conveyed (and experienced) over two episodes than one.
- If you watched something and love it, great. If you don’t love it, that’s also great. Just don’t be discouraged.
Shows to try right now: An “If you liked…”shortlist
If Squid Game was your jam, consider watching bloody survival tale Sweet Home. If zombies thrill you, then the historically-set Kingdom is a “must watch” contender. For comedy, boys-run-a-guesthouse Welcome to Waikiki is a strong choice.
If you lean towards slice of life, Hospital Playlist is a winner – it’s one of the series with longer individual episodes, because it released as one episode per week, not the two standard. Continuing the theme, if medical dramas are an entertainment staple for you, there’s also Dr. Romantic or Good Doctor – the Korean one came first, for the record. “Gods among us” romance Goblin is a classic for a reason, and you’ll spot a very familiar handsome face.
Finally, for all the feels, sample Move to Heaven. And, the inverse, if you’re craving action, Terius Behind Me, or Taxi Drama, are great options.
Next up in this series of articles on Kdramas, we’ll investigate different genres and tropes.