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  • There are two types of people in the world, people who like Korean TV shows, aka K-Drama, and people like me who could care less. No, I haven’t seen Alchemy of Souls or Crash Landing on You, but that won’t stop me from admitting that Korean films are the best inventions since the first caveman decided to fry plantain. 

    Korean cinema has been delivering insane content long before and after 2019’s Parasite became a cultural phenomenon. If you’ve seen Parasite, and you’re looking for more Korean content to satisfy your craving, this list is for you. But if you’ve not seen any Korean films at all, then omo, I curated this list especially for you. 

    Burning, 2018

    If there’s one film that captures the term slow burn to a “T”, it’s Burning. Featuring Steve Yeun, who you might recognise from Jordan Peele’s Nope or the Netflix road rage series, Beef, this unpredictable thriller starts simple but descends into chaos as it spirals towards its end. After all, what could go wrong in a story about a man, his childhood friend who asks him to look after her cat while she’s away, and the mysterious man she comes back with? Basic, right? 

    Mother, 2009

    Few films have been able to stress me out the way Mother did. Mother is one of those films that stays with you long after the end credits hit the screen. The murder mystery places a single mother at the centre of its story as she embarks on a mission to clear her mentally ill son’s name after he’s accused of killing a young schoolgirl. Let me say that nothing, I repeat, nothing will prepare you for the final scene. Good luck, though. 

    The Handmaiden, 2016

    The Handmaiden is a masterclass in delivering twist after twist and turning a story on its head countless times. When you think you know where the film is going, this iconic queer thriller throws another wrench that leaves your jaw on the floor. The Handmaiden follows the relationship between a wealthy-ass Japanese heiress, the handmaiden hired to look after her, the con man who hired the handmaiden to help scam the heiress and lots of steamy sex. The Handmaiden is one Korean film I wouldn’t advise you to watch with your family, dear. 

    Memories of Murder, 2003

    Not to sound biased, but Memories of Murder is the greatest Korean murder mystery of all time, up there with David Fincher’s Se7en as one of the GOATs, period. Memories of Murder tells the story of a pair of local police officers whose lives are changed by a serial killer who targets young women and the big city investigator who comes to their village to help solve the case. Disturbing, hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time, the film is allegedly based on a true story, making it even more unsettling. 

    Train to Busan, 2016

    Zombie apocalypse films have been done so many times (Resident Evil one to 100) that they don’t slap anymore. The characters don’t feel human, so just like the zombies, we start viewing them as disposable slabs of meat. Train to Busan, however, makes its audience connect and root for the humans as we follow a divorced dad, his daughter and several other colourful characters who try to survive a zombie attack on a moving train. It didn’t help that I watched this movie in 2020, right before the coronavirus gist started spreading. 

    Parasite, 2019

    Parasite is the most popular Korean film from the last decade, and for good reason. The first non-English film to win Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020, Parasite is a dark comedy that explores class differences through the eyes of two families, one rich and the other poor. A major achievement in filmmaking, Parasite will leave you all up in your feelings as you watch that “eat the rich” saying come to life right before you. 

    RECOMMENDATIONS: Everybody Likes Lee Min Ho, but in 2022? Come On

    The Wailing, 2016

    Let me start by saying The Wailing is long and confusing AF. I’ve seen it twice, and honestly, I’m not sure I get the whole gist. This is not to say that The Wailing is bad; it’s just hard to grasp fully, but best believe you’ll feel like you’ve seen a masterpiece when you’re done. The horror film follows a police officer who embarks on a race against time to save his daughter and his village from a mysterious sickness that turns its victims into unhinged demons. You know a horror film means business when a child is involved. 

    Old Boy, 2003

    Before Parasite became an international hit, Old Boy was arguably the biggest Korean film to hit the market in the early 2000s, inspiring a bland American remake with Elizabeth Olsen (of WandaVision). This intelligent and super violent thriller follows a man who, when freed from 15 years of confinement, is given five days to find and exact revenge on the people who stole over a decade of his life. 

    The Host, 2006

    Monster films like Godzilla, Jurassic Park and co, tend to be major blockbusters people love more for the grand scale of production and CGI than the actual story (if there’s any, to be honest). However, with The Host, we see a monster movie whose social commentary isn’t drowned out by green screen visuals or cool tricks. The horror film follows a man who must save his daughter after she’s snatched up by an S-shaped monster created from chemicals dumped into the Han River. 

    Decision to Leave, 2022

    If there’s one thing you’ll learn after watching Decision to Leave, it’s that sometimes, it’s good to mind the business that pays you and avoid trouble. This 2022 romantic thriller follows an insomniac detective who becomes infatuated with a widow suspected of killing her husband. Like, he heard she might be a murderer and still said, “Yes, baby. Off my pant.” In this life, fear men. 

    Silenced, 2011

    Based on the novel The Crucible by Gong Ji-young, and real-life events in a school in Korea, Silenced follows an art teacher who arrives at a school for hard-of-hearing children, only to discover that their teachers sexually and physically abuse the students. Silenced might be a hard watch, but it’s also a necessary one, as differently-abled people rarely get to have their stories told with such care and nuance. 

    I Saw the Devil, 2010

    In this bloody Korean thriller, an intelligence agent’s pregnant fianceé is brutally murdered by a psychopathic serial killer, forcing the agent to go rogue in a bid to ensure that the killer ends up suffering for an extended period of time, and not in prison. While I support letting the law take charge when it comes to crime, I also support the protagonist here. Like the popular Stanley Okorie song goes, “In this life, you reap what you sow.” 

    You can find these films on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or any streaming service you use.

    ALSO READ: The Ultimate K-Pop Beginner Playlist From One K-Pop Newbie to Another

  • If you’re like me, you’ve been in a K-drama slump since 2022 K-dramas decided to break our collective hearts. So we had to do some digging, and we discovered nine 2023 K-dramas worth watching that’ll fix that slump. If they don’t, come and fight us. 

    “Agency”

    A woman who loves money works her way up to becoming the first female executive in a major advertising agency. Agency is perfect for fans of movies with strong and ambitious female leads, like Search WWW.

    “Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist” Season 2

    It’s a  lighthearted series about medical practitioners in the Joseon era. This is the second season, and they’re finally focusing on the blossoming romance between Se-poong and Eun-woo. Watch this for a good laugh. 

    “Crash Course in Romance” 

    Secret Sunshine’s Jeon Do-yeon and Hospital Playlist’s Jung Kyung-ho star in this drama about two people who are like oil and water. She’s a cheerful former pro athlete who now runs a small store selling side dishes. He’s a celebrity maths teacher who’s always grumpy. Somehow, their lives get tangled up. Their love story will have you hooked.

    “Can We Be Strangers?”

    A legal drama that marks Kang So-ra’s comeback from Warm and Cozy as a legendary divorce lawyer who happens to be a divorcee herself. She meets her lawyer ex-husband again when they become colleagues at the same law firm. What could go wrong? Everything. 

    “Kokdu: Season of Deity”

    Kim Jung-hyun and Im Soo-hyang team up for a fantasy romance about a man who was turned into a grim reaper as punishment for his sins. Now, he possesses a human who looks just like him every 99 years. It’s sweet, it’s fantasy, and it’s romantic. 

    “Love to Hate You”

    A comedy about two people who don’t believe in love. One’s an entertainment lawyer, and the other is an A-list actor. Add a dating contract agreement and the chaotic celebrity life, and it’s every romcom lover’s dream series.

    “The Heavenly Idol”

    A fantastical tale that involves body swapping and devil fighting. Kim Min-kyu plays a high priest with divine powers who wakes up in the body of an unpopular idol from the band, Wild Animals. 

    “Taxi Driver 2”

    For fans of action-packed drama, Taxi Driver 2 is about a former special force captain who acts as an ace for a secret vigilante service. Who doesn’t love a good vigilante drama?

     

  • Until I started writing this article, I didn’t realise just how much Korean K-drama has taught me. This is your cue to watch your next K-drama without subtitles. Your brain secretly understands what they’re saying, we promise. This mini-dictionary is for non-fans. 

    Saguek  

    A Korean historical drama, usually set in the Joseon era.

    Oppa 

    Younger women use this word as a cute way to refer to their older brothers or boyfriends.

    Chaebol  

    Dirty, “will buy your family’s silence”, stinky rich businessmen who are also always the bad guys or the ones paying the bad guys. 

    Second lead syndrome  

    When the second male lead has more chemistry with the female lead than the main male lead, so you start rooting for him instead. It always ends in tears.

    Makjang 

    You know those dramas with unnecessarily exaggerated or weird plot twists? This is how we describe them. *Coughs The Penthouse: War In Life series.

    Hallyu 

    Nollywood is Nigeria what Hallyu is to Koreans. Or better still, popular Korean culture. 

    Kimchi slap

    Back in the good old K-drama days, you couldn’t watch a K-drama without someone getting slapped with a kimchi covered hand.

    Noona 

    Term of endearment for older sisters. Or a younger man can use it to refer to his older girlfriend.

    Ahjumma 

    It means “older woman”, but is mostly used to describe those nosey-ass older female characters in K-drama.

    OST 

    Everyone knows OST means the “original soundtrack” of a drama. But it’s particularly popular in K-drama because it usually features popular K-pop artists.  

    Saranghae

    This means “I love you” in Korean. It’s usually followed by a finger heart or those big full-body ones.

    Soju 

    The principality and powers in alcohol form Koreans drink like water in K-drama.  

    PPL  

    Product placement in a drama. If you’re a K-drama fan who uses a Samsung, I’m not saying it’s years of conditioning, but hmm. PPL is basically that shameless but craftily hidden brand promo in a K-drama.

    Jjimjilbang 

    This is a Korean bathhouse. Characters go there to relax, wearing matching sets provided by the establishment. Fights or love at first sight usually start here. 

    Ajusshi 

    This is how Koreans refer to older men. These characters are usually ill-tempered or very nice and wise. No inbetween.

    Yeobo  

    This is the Korean version of “Honey”, the popular married couple endearment.

    Hanbok 

    This is the traditional Korean clothing often seen in historical K-dramas.

    Geunyang

    This means “Just because”. Sometimes, things happen just because, and you don’t want to have to explain it, so you say, “Geunyang”. Mostly used by K-drama mums when their pissed with their kids.

    Aigoo 

    Characters use this to express regret, disappointment or annoyance. It translates to “Oh my goodness”.

    Pabo

    You know how we call foolish people “Ode”? Well this is the Korean equivalent.

    Daebak 

    This is basically the Korean version of “Ehen”. Depending on your tone, it can be an exclamation of excitement, amazement or disbelief. 

    PaliPali  

    This just means “hurry up”. Especially when the character in question is being rushed so all their books can fall out of their bag just so they can meet the love of their life.

    Melo  

    Short for “melodrama”. When K-drama fans watch a really emotional drama, they refer to it as a melo.

    Umbrella scene 

    It’s not a romantic K-drama without the scene where the male lead protects the female lead from the rain by giving her his umbrella. Bonus point if it’s yellow.

    Healing drama

    A drama that brings you so much comfort you just know you’ll end up rewatching it for years to come. A lot of 2022 dramas had that energy.

    “Fighting!” 

    Usually pronounced “Hwiting!” This is how characters encourage each other. It can mean “I believe in you” or “You can do this”. It’s always so emotional to hear them say this.  

  • I’ll be first to admit I underestimated just how many Kims exist in the K-pop world. Not to be mistaken for relatives of Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of North Korea, here are all the Kims any true K-stan knows and loves.

    Kim Yujin

    If you’re a big fan of fantasy movies and saw the American TV show, Lost, growing up, then you’ve seen this actress before. She’s most popular for her role in Money Heist though.

    Kim Bum

    Probably one of the most underrated South Korean actors, he’s also a singer, dancer and model. You may know him from Boys Over Flower, Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Ghost Doctor or 18 Again.

    Kim Taeri 

    Our baby-faced fave is the actress who had a breakout role in the award-winning movie, The Handmaiden, and the heart-breaking 2022 high school drama, Twenty-five Twenty-one.

    Kim Go Eun

    The queen of tears. Are you even a K-drama fan if you don’t know Go Eun from Cheese in the Trap, Goblin, and, more recently, Little Women?

    Kim Seokjin

    He’s the oldest member and lead vocalist of BTS, currently serving in the South Korean army.

    Kim Jongin

    Probably one of the best dancers in K-pop, EXO-Ls will never forget him in his iconic red suit from that Love Shot fam cam. The rapper and model is a member of the 3rd-gen group, EXO.

    Kim Jisoo

    She’s the lead vocalist of the global girl group, BLACKPINK, who made her debut as an actress in the romantic K-drama, Snowdrop. She’s also the group’s “visual”; BLINKs call her “Miss Korea” for perfectly meeting the Korean beauty standard.

    Kim Namjoon 

    If you don’t know who this is, we should actually fight you. Popularly known as RM (Rap Monster), Namjoon is the leader and main rapper of BTS.

    Kim Min Kyu

    Everyone’s current fave, the South Korean actor, went viral for his role as the second male lead in Business Proposal. Rumour has it that he was a former trainee set to debut with SEVENTEEN, but we still get to see his idol side in his new drama, The Heavenly Idol. 

    Kim Jennie

    The other piece of the BLACKPINK Kim duo, Jennie is the main rapper of the global girl group. But like most K-pop idols, her acting career is brewing as she’s set to star in The Weeknd’s drama series, The Idol.

    Kim Doyoung

    The main vocalist of NCT 127 who sang the OSTs for popular dramas like Soundtrack#1, Tale of Nokdu, Yumi’s Cells and School 2017. He also starred as the lead in To X Who Doesn’t Love Me. 

    Kim Taehyung

    Popularly known as V, Kim Taehyung is a member of BTS. With his unique baritone voice and pretty face, he’s managed to steal all our hearts. He also starred in the popular K-drama, Hwarang.

    Kim Mingyu

    One of the good K-pop rappers, he’s also a model (best in taking boyfriend pictures) and can cook pretty well. This SEVENTEEN member is multitalented.

    Kim Chaewon

    She’s the leader of the viral 4th-gen girl group, LE SSERAFIM, but OG K-pop stans know her from her days in IZ*ONE and the talent survival show, Produce 48.

    Kim Seungmin 

    You know him as the lead vocalist of the boy group, Stray Kids, but Stays know he’s secretly the lead rapper. You’ve probably seen him in some of your favourite K-dramas too. 

  • I’ve been watching Crash Course in Romance, and it shows the extreme lengths Korean parents go to when it comes to their kid’s academics. This comes up in every K-drama that focuses on high schoolers. 

    Like Koreans, Nigerians value education and often have high expectations for their children’s academic achievements, but here’s how Nigerian parents enforce it differently.

    They’ll never stalk your lesson teacher

    Sorry to Korean parents, but Nigerian parents aren’t jobless. They won’t even remember your lesson teacher’s name unless you fail after they’ve wasted their money. Why would they waste their fuel or transport like that? The mum in Crash Course In Romance stalked her daughter’s after-school teacher, with her child in the car, like it’s normal. And she later hired a detective to do the same thing.  

    RELATED: The Horrible Practices in High School K-drama that Nigerians Can Relate To

    What’s their business with what you do after school?

    In K-drama, the parents are always pressed about what their kids do with their time after school. But if Nigerian parents think for a second that you’re playing too much, they’ll just lock you in boarding school. Someone will give them your gist without them making effort anyway.

    How you pass is up to you. Just pass

    Nigerian parents expect you to pass by divine understanding and a few low-budget lesson teachers. Korean parents enrol their children in private academies called “hagwons“, after school or on weekends, to supplement their regular education. Korean mums stand in long queues to make sure their kids get the best seats in front of the board, pay an arm and a leg to get their kids into top tutorial centres and might even kill if need be.

    They won’t bully the person who does better than you

    In Crash Course in Romance, a mum made sure a child got kicked out of a program just because she did better than her daughter. Nigerian parents will be proud of your competition and ask you if they have two heads. Your beef is not their beef.

    Limiting your social activities

    As a Nigerian kid, what even is a social life? If you want one, wait till you’re a doctor with three children. This is probably the one thing both parents have in common. But Korean parents go the extra mile by tracking their kids’ phones or picking you up from school themselves. 

    They won’t move just to be close to better schools

    No, no. Nigerian parents don’t inconvenience themselves for you. You better get used to that four-hour-a-day commute because they’ll send you to that good school, but move closer to it? Never.

    Or relocate to a different country 

    My brother in Christ, your best bet as a Nigerian kid is to learn how to take care of yourself because you’ll relocate alright, but alone. In Our Blues, a dad who was struggling to provide for his family moved abroad for his child’s golfing career and education. And the child still wanted to quit after everything. Imagine trying that with a Nigerian dad.

    You must take responsibility for your bad test scores

    Nigerian parents only intervene with prayer, shouting, flogging, and when they’re sure your head is actually just a basket, they get a lesson teacher. In high school K-drama, parents will blame themselves for not waking their kids up or taking them to school on time, or having enough money to pay for tutorials. Culture shock for real. 

    I can’t even tell which is worse, the ones who stress you out and make you forget you’re a kid or the ones who don’t stress you out but still keep you from enjoying your childhood. Sha, we move. 

    READ ALSO: Korean Parents Are Nigerian Parents in Disguise, Here’s Why

  • Most Korean actors are versatile. They try their best to switch it up from time to time. But some have taken it to such great lengths that it’s like they have a split personality on screen. Here are some actors who’ve played both Patience Ozokwor and Chioma Chukwuka-like roles. 

    Ok Taec-yeon

    His role as the naive intern who turned out to be the evil mastermind in Vincenzo still has me shook nearly two years after, mostly because I’d never seen him play a role like that. He’s usually the charming male lead who acts gruff but has a soft heart, like in Dream High, Bring It On Ghost or his super cheerful character in Secret Royal Inspector Joy. All I know is I’ll be looking extra hard at whatever character he chooses to play next. 

    korean actors versatile

    RELATED: 10 Actors Only Real K-Drama Fans Know

    Kim Da Mi

    If she’s not one of your favourite Korean actresses right now, you don’t like good things. Kim Da Mi knows how to switch things up. She can be a super feisty genius sociopath, like in Itaewon Class, or a fearless evil spirit (or whatever that was) in The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, who murders her rival, Choi Woo-shik (her romantic love interest in Our Beloved Summer). Whew, can’t she do it all?

    korean actors versatile

    Park Bo Geum

    Based on his cute face alone, there are some roles you won’t expect to see Bo Geum play, but I laugh in “original ekun egbere”. If you’re like me, you fell in love with him after watching him play Taek, an internationally renowned genius Baduk player, in Reply 1988. He was the quietest of all his friends and the baby of the group. Then I watched him play the cunning and emotionless serial killer who was also a lawyer in Hello Monster. I couldn’t believe my eyes, but he’ll always be cute Taek to me sha. 

    korean actors versatile

    Lee Dong Wook

    When he plays evil Patience Ozokwor characters, I expect it; he looks evil. But when he’s nice, my chest starts to pain me. For a grim reaper in Goblin, he was super adorable, and I was even rooting for him. Then I saw him in Strangers From Hell, where he plays a dentist who was a little too friendly. He turned out to be a psychopathic murderer, and my heart actually rested because it made sense. Have you ever met a nice dentist? Don’t watch Strangers From Hell if you have a weak heart o.

    korean actors versatile

    Uhm Ki Joon

    When this man plays a villain, you’ll find yourself praying to God for all the people who find his trouble. But when he’s the victim, he’s so cute and sweet. One of his sweeter roles was as Kang Oh-Hyuk, a teacher who believed in all his students, in Dream High. He fought for them even though they nearly gave him a heart attack and made him lose his job. So when you meet his character in Penthouse — a super convincing psychopathic businessman who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants — you’ll wonder if it’s the same person. 

    korean actors versatile

    Lee Seung-gi

    I wouldn’t usually list Lee Seung-gi as someone with range because most of his characters feel the same. He’s usually funny, light-hearted and doesn’t take things too seriously, even when he’s on the brink of death — watch My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, King 2 Hearts Gu Family Book and A Korean Odyssey. That changed in Mouse, where he played a police officer who turned out to be a psychopathic serial killer. It doesn’t help that it was based on a true story (I still have shivers thinking about it). 

    korean actors versatile

    Ji Sung

    Ji Sung is the king of versatility. In Kill Me Heal Me, he played Cha Do Hyun, a character with seven alter egos, including a teenage girl. He has the funniest facial expressions that keep you laughing even in serious scenes, but he can also switch it up. In Devil Judge, he was so unsympathetic, I wanted to slap him through my screen. That’s how you know an actor is good at his job. 

    korean actors versatile

    Jo Jung Suk

    If you were introduced to Jo Jung Suk in Hospital Playlist, you’ll assume he’s the sweetest and funniest actor. He was a great, super-friendly dad who made silly jokes. But in Hit-And-Run Squad, he played a stinky rich and arrogant race car driver. Like a rich Nigerian, his character assumes he’s above the law. I’ve since chosen to unsee that character, but I’m proud of his range still. 

    korean actors versatile

    Kim Go Eun

    When you see Kim Go Eun in a movie, you expect tears. But in Monster, she played an aggressive and weird character who wanted nothing more than revenge for her sister’s death. And she deserved a standing ovation for her role in Pretty Women because, wow. What a deceit. I can’t wait to see her play a proper villain though.

    korean actors versatile

    Kim Hyun Joo

    My queen, the original IT girl, Kim Hyun Joo, has spent years showing us what versatility looks like. She makes you forget any character she’s played before the one on your screen. In I Have A Lover, she played twin sisters separated at birth. One was a super cold and apathetic lawyer, and the other, a sweet and funny pregnant woman. In the Watcher, she’s a ruthless and manipulative lawyer who doesn’t understand team spirit at all. If she’s not winning, what’s the point? Then you see her play a terminally ill woman in Fantastic and wonder if she’s Chioma Chukuwka’s twin because, why are you crying buckets of tears every second?

    korean actors versatile

    READ ALSO: Korean Actresses That Made Us Obsessed With K-drama

  • We’re confident about two things, according to the Zikoko Bureau of Statistics. The first is Valentine’s Day can be hard when you’re single. The second? Rewatching these iconic K-drama episodes will soften it. Just trust us.

    The King: Eternal Monarch: Ep. 11/12

    I mean, it’s a movie starring Lee Min-ho as Emperor Lee Gon. Every scene is romantic, but especially that one scene where he gathers all his guards, police, helicopters and citizens of his fictional country, Corea, to save his queen. That might not be your current reality, but watching it will keep your heart racing like it’s happening to you. 

    READ ALSO: QUIZ: Can You Guess the K-drama From Its Iconic Line?

    Our Beloved Summer: Ep. 16

    From the first episode to the last, this show will have you cheesing, especially if you keep thinking about your ex. But the final episode is one of the very best. Ung returns to Korea to surprise Yeon-su and finally tells her he loves her. You also get to see how all the other sub plots end,what more could you want?

    Hospital Playlist 2: Ep. 12

    Everyone and their dads can see how badly Ik-jun wanted to be with Chae Song-Hwa in Hospital Playlist 2. He’d already confessed his feelings to her in the first season, and if you have all day, you can rewatch the whole thing from the first season. Or you could go to episode 12 in season 2 and experience how it felt to hear Song-hwa finally confess to him while having coffee in the car in the pouring rain — like they always do. Infact, I’m going to rewatch too. 

    Vincenzo: Ep. 20

    Vincenzo isn’t romance-focused, no one can deny the chemistry between Vincenzo and Hong Cha-young. After all the back-and-forth finally paid off in the finale, when they meet again, he says the iconic line, “See you in Malta”, revealing his location to her. Go and watch it ASAP. What do you need love for when you have K-drama?

    Crash Landing on You: Ep. 16 

    This whole show is like candy for your aching heart. But you see that scene where Se-ri and Captain Ri finally reunite in South Korea? It’s the least heartbreaking. You’ll enjoy the slow motion and soft smiles.

    Hometown Cha Cha Cha: Ep. 12

    The bucket list episode where Hye-in and Du-sik try to experience everything she’d ever wanted with a romantic partner. It’s cute and silly and so heartwarming, you’ll forget all your problems.

    Vagabond: Ep. 13

    More thriller than romance, but I live for that one hospital scene where Dal-gun and Hae-ri start to fall in love. He carries her up, and she puts her feet on top of him, almost like they’re dancing. God, when? 

    Hotel Del Luna: Ep. 16

    Who doesn’t love a good “star crossed lovers” drama? Chan-sung and Man-wol went through a lot for a love that could never happen, but at least, they got to share that kiss under the stars in episode 13.

    RELATED: How to Write the Perfect Romantic K-drama Series

  • You’re in love and in a happy relationship? How does it feel to be God’s favourite? As if you didn’t already have the gift of someone who’ll listen to you talk about how you want to deck your manager, we’ve decided to give you a list of K-dramas you should watch when you remember just how much you love your significant other.

    Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha 

    Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

    Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is one of those cute love stories that has the main characters falling in love in like the first two episodes, so you know it’s real. It’s 16 episodes short, and every time Hye in and Du Sik smile at each other, you can turn it into a game and kiss your partner. 

    RELATED: You Can’t Miss These 6 Recurring K-Drama Tropes

    It’s Okay to Not Be Okay 

    romantic k-drama series

    I won’t lie this is a heavy watch, but at least, you won’t have to watch it alone. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay goes deep into what dating with mental illnesses is like and how love doesn’t work without trust and connection. Starring Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji and Oh Jung-se, this drama follows the life of an antisocial writer and a psych ward caretaker whose lives intertwine. It’s also 16 episodes too short. 

    What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim 

    romantic k-drama series

    In this movie, a capable personal assistant decides to quit her job. But instead of her self-centred and childish boss to let her go, he falls in love with her. Add the rich boy trope, a cute backstory of them meeting as kids and some extremely cliche love scenes, and this is a recipe for the perfect movie night with your SO. 

    Twenty-Five Twenty-One

    Love is love, even if it’s from the point of view of teenagers who didn’t even end up together. This series beautifully depicts the life of Baek Yi-jin and Na Hee Do, a fencer and a reporter who fall in love at 18 and 21. It’ll help you reminisce young love and you might cry a lot because of how wholesome both characters are, but it’ll be worth it. 

    Love in the Moonlight

    Personally, I watched this series for Park Bo-gum’s smile, but don’t be like me. It follows a troublemaking prince and his eunuch/political counsellor, who unknown to him, is a woman dressed as a man. Of course, they fell in love, and it’s too cute, so have your tissues on standby. 

    Business Proposal

    At least once in your lifetime, a friend must’ve set you up with a rich romantic interest. No? Well, we can’t all be Meghan Markle. Ha-ri’s friend did it differently though; she used her to trick her prospective groom into ending their engagement, but the man fell in love. Then he turned out to be her CEO of the company. Expect cliche scenes en masse but stay for the humour. 

    Our Beloved Summer

    You can just tell when a woman wrote a romantic drama for women. Our Beloved Summer meets and exceeds all expectations. Sometimes, you love someone, but love is not enough, so you must take a step back and grow as an individual before reconnecting again; Choi Woo-sik and Kim Da-Mi’s characters understood that. They  filmed a documentary together in high school, which was how they fell in love, but they had to wait ten years for the love to take off. It’s cute, the characters are adorably awkward, and all the longing might make you faint. 

    Crash Landing on You

    No romantic K-drama list can be complete without this series. It revolves around a South Korean heiress who accidentally lands in North Korea and is rescued by a North Korean soldier. Naturally, they fell in love, then the actors fell in love off-screen, and then, we fell in love with them.

    READ ALSO:2022 K-Drama Stunts I Do NOT Want to See This Year   

  • People who choose to watch an ongoing K-drama instead of a finished one are God’s strongest soldiers. We know you’re one of them and will relate to these avoidable struggles. 

    Insane cliffhangers

    When you binge-watch a completed drama, and an episode ends on a cliffhanger, you can just click on the next one, and your chest will stop being tight. But with ongoing ones, you get to sit with all your anxiety for a whole week, only to meet another cliffhanger at the end of the new episode. Fun stuff. 

    RELATED: How I Made My Typical Nigerian Dad Love K-Drama

    Delayed episode

    As if the weekly anxiety isn’t enough, the producers can decide to delay a new episode release for numerous reasons. Completed shows would never do that to you. 

    Online spoilers

    If you don’t watch an episode as soon as it’s released, or after the day of grace some people try to give, just forget it. Spoilers at every turn, and there’s nothing you can do about it. 

    You might forget about the show

    Especially if it’s not a weekend drama. You may lose interest or forget about the show because you started watching something else to fill your time. 

    Getting scammed by a false leaked episode

    When you see all the fake sites saying they’ve leaked the new episode, against your better judgment, you’ll open it. Only to be met with the worst edit in the history of edits. 

    The withdrawals

    Imagine going through all the above struggles only for the drama to have the audacity to end. Now, you don’t know what to do with yourself after ten weeks of watching the same show.

    Restarting the cycle

    Do you think people who put themselves through weeks of emotional turmoil would just stop? No nau. You’ll still find a new show, watch it weekly and wonder why you lowkey don’t have a life.  

    READ ALSO:2022 K-Drama Stunts I Do NOT Want to See This Year 

    Starting tomorrow (January 31st, 2023)

  • The part of me that loved and was stressed out by 2022 K-dramas keeps fighting for dominance. But really, why did they do all that to me? If they weren’t telling me a fencer can’t get together with a reporter, they were stressing my favourite main character with the evilest antagonist ever. Here are seven things I don’t want to see in K-drama this year.

    Stretching into two seasons

    I beg all the pardons of all the God’s they believe in but K-dramas should be wrapped up in one season. I can’t deal with any more cliffhangers in this life. Not every drama needs a second season, for goodness’ sake. Just give all of them happy endings.

    RELATED: You Can’t Miss These 6 Recurring K-Drama Tropes

    Anything that’ll make me cry

    I don’t want to cry too much, please. Why am I crying real heartbreak tears for a drama? Last year, Korean drama writers gave us back-to-back tears, and no, please, it have do. Any drama that’ll end in tears, let the cup pass over all of us.

    Rushed endings 

    They made dramas with two seasons, I took it. The drama made me cry, I took it. After doing all that, the ending will now still be rushed? That one, I won’t take. If I see any more K-dramas with the climax in the final episode, I’ll riot.  

    Wicked-ass antagonist 

    We really suffered with these antagonists last year. Good God. From Jin Mu to Won Sang-ah, just back-to-back wickedness with no character development. Please, it have do. 

    Plot holes

    I won’t mention names, but again, why does your show have two seasons that just keep widening the plot holes? Allow me to recommend shows to people with my chest.

    Too much slice-of-life

    Please, we’ve had too many slices. I didn’t even know slice-of-life movies could make you cry until I started watching K-drama. Give me more action and romance where they actually end up together. Don’t slice any more lives.

    Second lead syndrome on steroids

    Usually, we’d feel bad for these guys;, sometimes, we’d even hate them. But the brand of second lead characters in 2022 K-drama made me sympathetic to their plight. None of them had happy endings, just yearning and sadness. There’s wickedness, and there’s that. Let it end in 2022. 

    RELATED: How I Made My Typical Nigerian Dad Love K-Drama