Hi, everyone!

I am looking for K-drama recommendations, so I figured I would make my post. I have always loved South Korean movies, but I am newish to K-dramas.

All the K-dramas I have watched so far are:

Goblin/ A Shop for Killers/ Strangers from Hell/ Squid Game/ A Killer Paradox/ The Frog/ Bad and Crazy, and My Liberation Notes.

Of all the above-listed, my top three would be Squid Game, My Mister, and My Liberation Notes.

What I love about Squid Game is how gripping the storyline is. I was hooked from the first episode, and the cast does a fantastic job. I was very invested in Gi-han's journey throughout the series. I also really enjoy the concept of the show, and of course, the games are anxiety-inducing and keep you on edge!

My Mister. I finished this last week, and I just love it so much. Lee and IU put so much heart and soul into these characters, and their unspoken bond kept me hooked on the story. The writers added so much depth to both characters, and the pacing of how it was all revealed through the series was the perfect speed. Nothing felt rushed. It also felt extremely true to life, so the show's relatability really influenced how I loved it. I feel that My Liberation Notes follows in the same footsteps, which is no surprise as the shows both have the same writer.

Suggestion-wise, I'd prefer that people recommend thrillers, dramas, or horrors that are incredibly gripping and keep you on the edge of your seat. I also don't enjoy really over-the-top melodramatic stuff, where people overact and find themselves in situations that just seem totally unrealistic if the drama is based on everyday situations centering around regular people.

This is what I love so much about all the above titles, as none of them feel that way. Goblin had its cheesy moments but was full of humor and heart, and the story was interesting and engaging. With My Mister, My Liberation Notes, and even Squid Game, I feel the characters react and respond to things how most people would in everyday life, or at least in a realistic way regarding the situations they find themselves in. I say this because I don't want to put people off suggesting things that aren't realistic storyline-wise, such as Goblin. This is a fantastical world, so if it is within the show's context, I don't mind it. It is more so the dramas centering around everyday people and situations who react in such over-the-top, unrealistic ways.

I also don't mind suggestions that center around slice-of-life type dramas, so long as they feel true to life.

Here are some of my favorite Korean movies, too, should that help with my taste preferences:

Train to Busan, The Wailing, Burning, The Chaser, A Taxi Driver, The Man from Nowhere, Parasite, Memories of Murder, New World, and Decision to Leave.

Thanks, everyone!

Of your drama list I've seen Goblin and Squid Game so based upon that, possibly...

  • Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area (distinctive aesthetics, shorter length, both have a large cast, both involve the characters trying to get money through illegal/unethical ways, and the vibe reminds me of Squid Game)
  • Tale of the Nine-Tailed (like Goblin both have a fated relationship between an immortal ML and human FL, and the theme of reincarnation)
  • Doom at Your Service (immortal ML/human FL in a fated relationship, similar vibes to Goblin)
  • My Love from the Star (immortal ML/human FL, mix of humor and tragedy with a heart like Goblin)

Also it seems you like thrillers so I'd recommend:

And based upon the zombie theme of Train to Busan, you might like Happiness.

I'll just recommend drama that makes me thrilled and touched which also keep me engaged and hasn't been recommended by others:

  • D.P. (a team of two military men assigned to capture runaways)
  • Extraordinary Attorney Woo (an attorney with autism) 
  • Hospital Playlist (5 specialist who have a band practice every ehm week? but never actually perform and their daily work, love, family, problems, and more)
  • Little Women (three sisters vs chaebol, money laundering)
  • Mouse (sociopath)
  • Mr. Sunshine (period drama so espionage, death, and more)
  • Revenant (body possesion, curse)
  • The Good Bad Mother (I don't know how to describe it without spoiling too much, let's say a good mother try to teach her amnesiac and disable ex-prosecutor son to be independent)
  • Under The Queen's Umbrella (a queen mother teaching and disciplining 4 sons for upcoming new crown prince competition)
  • While you Were Sleeping (reporter who gets propethic dreams, a prosecutor, and an police officer cooperating to win cases)

Some thrillers with very good plotlines:

Missing the other side

The guest

Through the darkness

Taxi driver