Starter Pack Dramas
These are dramas that I think all new fans should watch early on when getting into k-dramas. If you watch them after the newer ones, you'll never get through them and they are too culturally significant for you not to watch them.
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1. Boys over Flowers
Korean Drama - 2009, 25 episodes
I'm being so real when I say getting this out of the way early is smart because watching this drama is hard enough as is. I love the vibes but its a nightmare to push through. Do yourself a favor.
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2. Coffee Prince
Korean Drama - 2007, 17 episodes
My favorite of the list and is easily one of my top dramas of all time. This will create a Gong Yoo obsession, so beware.
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3. The Heirs
Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes
I've rewatched this drama more than I care to admit considering how much I disliked Lee Minho and Park Shin Hae due to this drama (tbh I don't think my opinion of park shin hae will ever recover). That being said, this is THE template! Every high school drama you can think of after this was released was inspired by Heirs or BOF. Mandatory viewing for a reason.
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4. Secret Garden
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
Yes, I have not watched this... to be fair I waited too long and that's one of the reasons I made this list. Tbf, I still think that the Big Bang parody is sufficient for understanding the cultural context but I still wish I had watched the whole thing.