9 best Korean shows on Netflix to watch (and 3 to skip)

Netflix has a great selection of Korean dramas on its platform, and over the years, it’s become one of the go-to places for some of the best Korean content. But although there’s tons of content, not all of the Korean shows on Netflix are actually worth watching. I wouldn’t say they’re bad. They’re just not that enjoyable to watch.

Since there are so many Korean series of different genres available to stream, it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones are good and entertaining. Nobody wants to waste their time watching something boring.

That’s why I decided to share a list of some of the best Korean shows on Netflix while also sharing some shows I recommend skipping over. However, it’s important to mention that these are my opinions. You might think differently, and that’s okay. Now, let’s get into the list.

The first Korean series I want to discuss is My Demon.

My Demon

Watch! My Demon stars Song Kang as a powerless demon and Kim Yoo-jung as a icy chaebol heiress who after entering into a contractual marriage with each other soon find themselves falling in love. Jeong Gu-won is a 200-year-old demon who ends up losing his powers after getting involved with wealthy business heiress, Do Do-hee. But Do Do-hee is also the key to regaining them back. That's how they end up in a contract marriage. But as much as they want to say they detest each other, they eventually begin to grow closer and fall in love.

Castaway Diva

Skip! I wanted to like Castaway Diva badly, but it just couldn't keep my attention. I personally wouldn't recommend watching it, but I've seen many positive reviews. So, maybe you should still give it a try to see if you like it. It's a show following a young aspiring singer who ends up stranded on an uninhabited island after an unfortunate accident. After 15 years have passed, she's finally rescued and reenters modern society. Now, she's more determined than ever to pursue her dream of singing.

Park Eun-bin, who is known for starring as Woo Young-woo in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, plays the protagonist, Seo Mok-ha. Joining her in the cast are Kim Hyo-jin, Chae Jong-hyeop, Cha Hak-yeon, and Kim Joo-hun.

King the Land

Watch! This is a show that’ll leave you wanting more every time you finish an episode. It’s one of the better Korean rom-coms, and I don’t really have anything negative to say about it. It has great acting, relatable characters, and is filled with silly comedy. And don’t get me started on the strong chemistry between the two leads. Im Yoon-ah from the popular K-pop girl group, Girls’ Generation, and Lee Jun-ho from the well-known K-pop boy group, 2PM, star in the leading roles. Please, sign me up!

It tells the love story between an heir to a luxury hotel conglomerate and his hardworking employee whom he absolutely can’t stand. Go Won-hee, Kim Ga-eun, Ahn Se-ha, Kim Jae-won, and many others are also in the cast.

All of Us Are Dead

Watch! You just had to be there when All of Us Are Dead dropped on Netflix in January 2022. It was a smash hit, and it deserved all the love and praise it received. The first season was well-paced, action-packed, and entertaining from start to finish. There were so many likable characters that you couldn’t help but root for, as well as characters that made you angry. Luckily, we haven’t seen the last of this zombie series because it’s been renewed for a second season. It’ll be interesting to see how the story continues.

All of Us Are Dead follows a group of trapped high schoolers who band together and fight to survive amidst a zombie outbreak. Yoon Chan-young, Park Ji-hu, Cho Yi-hyun, Park Solomon (Lomon), Yoo In-soo, Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Byung-chul, and many others make up the cast.

Sweet Home

Watch! Sweet Home isn't your typical Korean drama, meaning it's not a rom-com or a romantic drama. It's more on the horror and thriller side, and it's definitely a show that'll have you on the edge of your seat with each episode.

The story begins with 19-year-old Cha Hyun-soo who moves into the rundown Green Home Apartments after his entire family dies tragically in a car accident. But soon after he arrives, weird occurrences begin to happen. People start transforming into monsters, forcing Hyun-soo and his neighbors to band together to fight for survival.

There are two seasons of this Korean series so far, with a third season confirmed to be coming out in the summer of 2024. So, you might want to get started on this show as soon as possible.

The Inheritors

Skip! The Inheritors, also known as The Heirs, just wasn’t my cup of tea. Although I loved the star-studded cast, the show had too many cringey moments, and the plot was predictable. Also, I just didn’t see the chemistry between the leads. There were so many cast members and barely any character development. Lastly, the show didn’t need 20 episodes to tell a complete story. It just kept going on and on when things could’ve been wrapped up sooner. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to suggest you skip this one.

The Glory

Watch! The Glory is one of those Korean shows on Netflix that you can watch over and over again. You’ll become a fan from the first episode, and much of it has to do with the stellar acting, top-notch cinematography, and well-written scripts. It stars well-known South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo as a woman on a revenge mission. She plays Moon Dong-eun, a former victim of bullying, who plans the best way to enact her vengeance on her tormentors. The rest of the cast includes Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yeon, Yeom Hye-ran, Park Sung-hoon, Jung Sung-il, and others.

Gyeongseong Creature

Watch! Like Sweet Home, Gyeongseong Creature is another Korean show that isn't in the romance genre. It's a horror series set during the time when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. More specifically, during the spring of 1945 in Gyeongseong. At the mysterious Ongseong Hospital, a wealthy businessman and a sleuth confront a strange creature born from human greed and then must battle for survival. Itaewon Class's Park Seo-joon stars as the wealthy entrepreneur, Jang Tae-sang, while My Name's Han So-hee plays the role of the sleuth, Yoon Chae-ok.

The complete 10-episode first season is available to stream on Netflix, and a second season is currently in the works.

Welcome to Samdal-ri

Watch! Welcome to Samdal-ri is set in a charming town on Jeju Island. It tells the love story of Cho Yong-pil and Cho Sam-dal, two childhood best friends who eventually enter into a relationship. But when Cho Sam-dal moves to Seoul to pursue her photography dream, they end up parting ways.

Flash forward some time, and Cho Sam-dal is a successful photographer working in Seoul while Cho Yong-pil works as a weather forecaster on Jeju Island. But after being entangled in a work scandal, Cho Sam-dal is forced to return back home to Jeju Island where she reconnects with Cho Yong-pil. As they work on rebuilding their relationship, they soon realize that they still love and care deeply for one another.

South Korean actors Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hye-sun star in the leading roles as Cho Yong-pil and Cho Sam-dal.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Skip! This might be an unpopular opinion, but Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha was not enjoyable to watch. I had a tough time making it through the entire series. It was too slow-paced for my liking, and that’s what ruined it for me. The cast and plot were okay, but it’s another show that could’ve wrapped up things earlier on.

Doctor Slump

Watch! You absolutely must check out Doctor Slump on Netflix. It stars the amazingly talented South Korean actors Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik. They play the roles of former high school rivals who reunite as adults during a time when they're both down on their luck in their careers. However, their unexpected reunion eventually ignites a new romance. The full series isn't out yet. As of Feb. 2, only two episodes have been released so far, but new episodes are dropped every Saturday and Sunday.

Crash Landing on You

Watch! I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person thinking that Crash Landing on You is one of the best Korean shows on Netflix. It was an instant hit when it came out in 2019, even winning many prestigious awards in South Korea. It tells a delightful and heartwarming love story of a chaebol heiress and a North Korean military officer.

When chaebol heiress Yoon Se-ri accidentally crashes into North Korean territory in a paragliding accident, she meets emotionally reserved North Korean military officer Ri Jeong-hyeok, who decides to protect and help hide her.

The two main leads, Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin, have sizzling chemistry, making everything believable. Additionally, the acting is on point, the plot is full of twists, and the soundtrack is chef’s kiss. If you haven’t already watched this series, we highly recommend that you do.

Stay tuned to Netflix Life for more Korean show recommendations!