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The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should
Image credit: KBS, jTBC, tvN, TVING, MBC, SBS

There's always something new to discover outside of the top-tier list of Goblin, CLOY and Squid Game.

Each of these series, with its unique plot and memorable characters, proves that there's so much more to K-Dramas than just the few that everyone talks about all the time (oh you know the ones, don't you?).

1. "Angel's Last Mission: Love" (2019)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 1Dan, an optimistic and carefree angel, is given a final mission to find true love for Lee Yeon-seo, a cold-hearted ballerina who doesn't believe in love due to her tragic past; as they work together, Dan finds himself breaking the ultimate celestial rule – falling in love with a human – as they both confront Yeon-seo's family secrets, her struggle to return to ballet, and the divine consequences of their forbidden love.

2. "The Beauty Inside" (2018)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 2Han Se-gye, an actress who mysteriously changes appearance for a week every month, crosses paths with Seo Do-jae, an airline executive who cannot recognize faces; as they fall in love, they navigate the challenges of her condition and his secret, finding ways to recognize and support each other despite the odds.

3. "Run On" (2020-2021)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 3Oh Mi-joo, a subtitle translator, and Ki Seon-gyeom, a former sprinter turned sports agent, form an unlikely bond as they support each other's dreams and aspirations, including Mi-joo's passion for translating and Seon-gyeom's transition from athletics to advocacy for athletes' rights, while facing personal and professional challenges.

4. "Romance Is a Bonus Book" (2019)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 4Kang Dan-i, a struggling single mother, and Cha Eun-ho, a successful author and chief editor, rekindle their friendship as Dan-i secretly begins working at Eun-ho's publishing company; their relationship deepens as they face their pasts, Dan-i's career challenges, and evolving feelings for each other.

5. "Yumi's Cells" (2021)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 5Yumi, an ordinary office worker, navigates her daily life and romantic relationships with the help of her brain cells that control emotions, logic, and love; as Yumi grows and learns from each relationship, her cells and personal life evolve, reflecting the complexity of human emotions and growth.

6. "One Spring Night" (2019)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 6Lee Jeong-in, a librarian, and Yu Ji-ho, a pharmacist and single father, meet and feel an instant connection; their relationship faces societal judgments about single parenthood and marital expectations, challenging them to choose between societal norms and their happiness.

7. "It's Okay, That's Love" (2014)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 7Jang Jae-yeol, a mystery writer with OCD, and Ji Hae-soo, a psychiatrist with intimacy issues, become housemates and eventually fall in love; their relationship is tested by Jae-yeol's schizophrenia diagnosis, leading them through a journey of healing, acceptance, and unconditional love.

8. "Search: WWW" (2019)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 8Bae Ta-mi, a talented employee at a leading tech company, navigates the competitive world of web portal management, clashing with rivals and allies alike; her professional journey intersects with personal growth and romance, challenging the digital and real-world power dynamics.

9. "Now We Are Breaking Up" (2021)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 9Ha Young-eun, a fashion company's design team leader, and Yoon Jae-guk, a wealthy freelance photographer, embark on a romantic relationship full of ups and downs, reflecting on their past loves and present challenges, ultimately confronting what it means to love and break up in the modern age.

10. "City Hunter" (2011)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 10Lee Yoon-sung, trained by his surrogate father to avenge his real father's unjust death, infiltrates the South Korean government as a talented IT expert; his mission for vengeance against five politicians takes a complex turn as he falls for Kim Na-na, a presidential bodyguard, and grapples with the moral dilemmas of his secret life.

11. "My Father is Strange" (2017)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 11When a popular actor, Ahn Joong-hee, discovers his real father is the head of a warm-hearted family he once thought was strange, he moves in with them to reconnect; his presence uncovers and resolves family secrets and dramas, ultimately bringing them closer together.

12. "Age of Youth" (2016)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 12Five college roommates at Belle Epoque, each with different backgrounds, personalities, and secrets, share their lives, loves, and struggles, providing a supportive community for each other as they experience the challenges and triumphs of youth and friendship.

13. "Secret Royal Inspector & Joy" (2021)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 13Ra Yi-eon, a low-ranking government official who dreams of owning a small dumpling restaurant, is unexpectedly appointed as a secret royal inspector; his missions to expose corruption and bring justice are intertwined with his accidental partnership with Kim Jo-yi, a woman seeking divorce from her horrible husband, leading to comedic situations and romance.

14. "Queen In Hyun's Man" (2012)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 14Kim Boong-do, a scholar from the Joseon Dynasty who discovers a talisman that brings him to the 21st century, meets Choi Hee-jin, an actress portraying Queen In-hyun in a drama; their love transcends time and space, as Boong-do navigates the political intrigue of his era and the peculiarities of the modern world, all while their romance challenges the fabric of time and tests their fate across centuries.

15. "The Master's Sun" (2013)

The Ultimate List: 15 K-Dramas You've Never Heard Of But Should - image 15After an accident, Tae Gong-shil develops the ability to see ghosts and meets Joo Joong-won, a greedy CEO who discovers that his physical contact with her silences the spirits; together, they solve the unresolved issues of the dead, while unraveling the mystery of Joong-won's kidnapped first love and Gong-shil's accident, growing closer with each ghostly encounter.