K-Dramas on Netflix: A Beginner's Guide to the Best Shows
Newsweek|May 21 - 28, 2021 (Double Issue)
The South Korean culture pop culture wave that has been taking over the world conquers the small screen
By SOO KIM
K-Dramas on Netflix: A Beginner's Guide to the Best Shows

Movies like Parasite and Minari have been critical and commercial international hits and K-pop artists like BTS have broken records around the world. Now its K-drama’s turn. According to Netflix, South Korean-made shows like Kingdom and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay are being watched on the streaming service in more than 30 languages, including English, German, French, Swedish, Hindi, Portuguese and Bahasa Indonesia.

K-dramas have been one of the driving forces of South Korea’s entertainment industry for decades. In recent years, their quality has improved tremendously with bigger budgets and more varied characters and storylines than ever before.

The international success of Korean TV actually predates the K-pop explosion. The word hallyu (“Korean wave”) was coined in the late 1990s. The trend picked up steam in 2003, when the K-drama Winter Sonata became hugely popular in Japan. This year, Netflix announced it would be investing nearly $500 million in Korean content “to add more variety and diversity to our growing slate.”

Here are five of the most compelling Korean shows on Netflix now.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

The critically acclaimed romantic drama was hailed as one of the “best international television shows of 2020” by The New York Times.

This story is from the May 21 - 28, 2021 (Double Issue) edition of Newsweek.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 21 - 28, 2021 (Double Issue) edition of Newsweek.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEWSWEEKView All
Ramy Youssef
Newsweek US

Ramy Youssef

DESCRIBING RAMY YOUSSEF'S WORK ISN'T EASY, BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO settle on just one thing. \"I feel really inspired to connect in the way that it makes sense.\"

time-read
2 mins  |
March 29 - April 05, 2024 (Double Issue)
Tobias Menzies
Newsweek US

Tobias Menzies

HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE assassination of President Abraham Lincoln? That's a question Tobias Menzies hopes to answer in Apple TV+'s Manhunt (March 15).

time-read
1 min  |
March 29 - April 05, 2024 (Double Issue)
The Fall and Rise of Katt Williams
Newsweek US

The Fall and Rise of Katt Williams

He's had a string of run-ins with the law, yet the comedian's popularity continues to grow-with a recent podcast appearance blowing up the internet

time-read
6 mins  |
March 29 - April 05, 2024 (Double Issue)
AMERICA'S Greatest Workplaces for JOB STARTERS 2024
Newsweek US

AMERICA'S Greatest Workplaces for JOB STARTERS 2024

Getting a career started is never easy. First-day stumbling blocks can give way to larger questions about choosing the right career path. Imposter syndrome, information overload, the challenge of new colleagues: it's almost enough to make you miss the routine of sending out endless résumés to online job descriptions.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 29 - April 05, 2024 (Double Issue)
THE INCONCEIVABLE SEARCH FOR SPERM
Newsweek US

THE INCONCEIVABLE SEARCH FOR SPERM

Making MOTHERHOOD a reality in the face of virtually every cultural taboo

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 29 - April 05, 2024 (Double Issue)
I'm Suing Harvard Over Rife Antisemitism
Newsweek US

I'm Suing Harvard Over Rife Antisemitism

I applied to the university's Divinity School to be an ambassador for Orthodox Jews and build bridges with other cultures; instead I'm battling discrimination

time-read
4 mins  |
March 29 - April 05, 2024 (Double Issue)
Gen Z's Pockets Full of Cash
Newsweek US

Gen Z's Pockets Full of Cash

Digital wallets and bank cards might appear to be the modern way to pay, but physical money is making a comeback among young adults

time-read
4 mins  |
March 29 - April 05, 2024 (Double Issue)
Biden's Age Problem Tears Democrats Apart
Newsweek US

Biden's Age Problem Tears Democrats Apart

After being depicted as an 'elderly man with a poor memory,' questions surrounding the president's advanced years are dividing his party

time-read
6 mins  |
March 29 - April 05, 2024 (Double Issue)
Country Has Won Our Achy Breaky Hearts
Newsweek US

Country Has Won Our Achy Breaky Hearts

The genre has never been so popular-and with the likes of Beyoncé reminding fans of its roots, its mainstream appeal looks set to grow and grow

time-read
6 mins  |
March 22, 2024
'Deadly Risk' of Fat-Loss Drugs
Newsweek US

'Deadly Risk' of Fat-Loss Drugs

Diabetes treatment Ozempic has become popular among dieters due to its weightloss side effect, but a study warns of a link between the drug and suicidal thoughts

time-read
5 mins  |
March 22, 2024