Must-watch 2023 K-dramas
In 2023, plenty of good K-dramas aired to the point that you can’t choose what to watch or how to watch them all together. It’s been a jampacked year for K-dramas, and I must say, all of these K-dramas are so worth the watch.
And now that we are about to wrap up 2023, let’s list down 20 K-dramas that aired this year that a K-drama fan like you might enjoy!
Crash Course In Romance
Cast: Jung Kyung Ho, Jeon Do Yeon, Roh Yeon Seo, Lee Chae Min
Where to watch: Netflix
“Crash Course In Romance” follows the story of Nam Haeng Seon, played by Jeon Do Yeon, a former national athlete and now a side dish store owner, and Choi Chi Yeol, played by Jung Kyung Ho, a popular Math instructor in South Korea. The two met when Haeng Seon’s niece, Nam Hae Yi, played by Roh Yeon Seo, enrolled in Choi Chi Yeol’s academy. Haeng Seon and Chi Yeol hated each other at first, but they formed a friendship and eventually, fell in love.
The Heavenly Idol
Cast: Kim Min Kyu, Go Bo Gyeol, Lee Jang Woo
Where to watch: Viu
Pontifex Rembrary, played by Kim Min Kyu, has the most powerful divine ever. While fighting with the devil, he gets transported to a different world in the body of the K-pop idol named Woo Yeon Woo. Woo Yeon Woo is a part of the boy group Wild Animal and as Rembrary is living in his body, he has to learn how to be an idol in his world while looking for solutions on how he can go back. There, he met Kim Dal, played by Go Bo Gyeol, Woo Yeon Woo’s long-time fan, and she eventually became the group’s manager.
Oasis
Cast: Jang Dong Yoon, Seol In Ah, Choo Young Woo
Where to watch: Viki
Set in the 1980s and 1990s, “Oasis” tells the story of 3 young people whose lives got intertwined. It’s a story about friendships, dreams, love, and family.
Lee Doo Hak, played by Jang Dong Yoon, and Choi Cheol Woong, played by Choo Yeong Woo, are childhood friends and rivals. They met Oh Jung Shin, played by Seol In Ah, and both liked her. One incident changed their lives forever, leading to the misfortune of the other and the success of the other.
The Good Bad Mother
Cast: Ra Mi Ran, Lee Do Hyun, Ahn Eun Jin
Where to watch: Netflix
Choi Kang Ho, played by Lee Do Hyun, is a successful prosecutor and was raised by his single mother, Jin Young Soon, played by Ra Mi Ran, by running a pig farm. Young Soon raised him strictly, fearing that her son would end up like her and her late husband. He grew up to be a successful prosecutor but is very cold and distant from his mother. One day, he got involved in a tragic accident which resulted in him becoming child-like. He returned to his hometown and his mother took care of him. As he healed himself, he started to discover the truth behind his father’s death.
Family: The Unbreakable Bond
Cast: Jang Hyuk, Jang Na Ra, Chae Jung An, Kim Nam Hee
Where to watch: Disney+
“Family: The Unbreakable Bond” follows the story of the married couple Kwon Do Hoon, played by Jang Hyuk, and Kang Yu Ra, played by Jang Na Ra. In what seems like a simple family, both of them are hiding their true identities from each other. With the appearance of Kang Yu Ra’s old acquaintance, Jo Tae Gu, played by Kim Nam Hee, the couple’s peaceful lives are disturbed by unfortunate events.
See You In My 19th Life
Cast: Shin Hye Sun, Ahn Bo Hyun, Ahn Dong Gu, Ha Yoon Kyung
Where to watch: Netflix
Ban Ji Eum, played by Shin Hye Sun, remembers all the past lives she’s lived. In her 19th life, she’s living as Ban Ji Eum. In her 18th life, she was Yoon Joo Won and met a kid named Moon Seo Ha. They grew very close but due to an unfortunate accident, Joo Won died. Then, she was reborn as Ban Ji Eum and met the adult Moon Seo Ha, played by Ahn Bo Hyun, again. At first, Seo Ha finds her suspicious but eventually opens his heart to her and learns about her identity.
King The Land
Cast: Im Yoon A, Lee Jun Ho
Where to watch: Netflix
Gu Won, played by Lee Jun Ho, is an heir to the King Group. Cheon Sa Rang, played by Im Yoon A, is a hotelier working at King Hotel which is owned by Gu Won’s family. The two were like cat and dog at first but eventually developed romantic feelings for each other. As their relationship went on, the couple encountered problems that tested their love for each other.
Numbers
Cast: Kim Myung Soo, Choi Jin Hyuk, Choi Min Soo, Yeon Woo
Where to watch: Viu
“Numbers” follows the story of Jang Ho Woo, played by Kim Myung Soo, an accountant at Taeil Accounting Firm. Despite being the only employee in that firm with just a high school diploma, Ho Woo is very intelligent and competitive. Han Seung Joo, played by Choi Jin Hyuk, also works at Taeil Accounting Firm. His father, Han Je Kyun, played by Choi Min Soo, is the vice president of Taeil Accounting Firm, so there are very high expectations of him. Ho Woo and Jin Hyuk’s lives crossed paths at Taeil Accounting Firm without knowing that they were very much involved in the past.
My Lovely Liar
Cast: Hwang Min Hyun, Kim So Hyun
Where to watch: Viu
“My Lovely Liar” follows the story of Mok Sol Hee, played by Kim So Hyun, who has a special ability to detect lies. Her special ability became her source of income in which she helps her clients to know the truth. She meets Kim Do Ha, played by Hwang Min Hyun, a musician with a hidden past. Sol Hee will help Do Ha reveal the truth to clear his name.
Moving
Cast: Ryu Seung Ryong, Jo In Sung, Han Hyo Joo, Cha Tae Hyun, Ryu Seung Bum, Kim Sung Kyun, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Jung Ha, Kim Do Hoon
Where to watch: Disney+
“Moving” is an ensemble drama that tells the story of people with supernatural abilities. Kim Bong Seok, played by Lee Jung Ha, Jang Hee Soo, played by Go Yoon Jung, and Lee Kang Hoon, played by Kim Do Hoon, are students in the same high school. These three have special abilities which they inherited from their parents. Without them knowing, their parents met in the past and have known each other. Due to their special abilities, they are hunted by the government and their parents will do anything to save them.
Behind Your Touch
Cast: Han Ji Min, Lee Min Ki, Su Ho
Where to watch: Netflix
Bong Ye Bun, played by Han Ji Min, isn’t your ordinary veterinarian. She possesses a psychometry power in which she’ll able to see someone’s past if she touches their butt. She gets involved with Moon Jang Yeol, played by Lee Min Ki, a hotshot detective from Seoul but gets demoted to the small town of Mujin. The two started working together to solve crimes in Mujin leading them to a serial case. Meanwhile, Ye Bun has a crush on the mysterious convenience store worker Kim Seon Woo, played by Su Ho.
Twinkling Watermelon
Cast: Ryeo Un, Seol In Ah, Choi Hyun Wook, Shin Eun Soo
Where to watch: Viu
What if you go back in time and meet the teen version of your parents?
Ha Eun Gyeol, played by Ryeo Un, is transported back to 1995. There, he met his father’s high school version Ha Yi Chan, played by Choi Hyun Wook. Ha Yi Chan likes another girl named Choi Se Kyung, played by Seol In Ah, and he is starting a band for her. But since Ha Yi Chan is the future and is married his mom Yoon Chung Ah, played by Shin Eun Soo, Eun Gyeol is trying to stop his dad from pursuing her. Little did Eun Gyeol know, he had another mission in the past and he would do everything to stop that from happening to change his family’s future.
Daily Dose Of Sunshine
Cast: Park Bo Young, Yeon Woo Jin, Jang Dong Yoon, Lee Jung Eun
Where to watch: Netflix
Nurse Jung Da Eun, played by Park Bo Young, was transferred to the neuropsychiatry from the internal medicine department. She doesn’t know what to expect in this new environment. At first, being a neuropsychiatry nurse was so hard. Eventually, she learned more about the condition of the patients and how to deal with them. She met good people along the way who helped her when she was at the lowest point of her life.
Castaway Diva
Cast: Park Eun Bin, Chae Jong Hyeop, Cha Hak Yeon, Kim Hyo Jin, Kim Joo Hun
Where to watch: Netflix
Aspiring singer Seo Mok Ha, played by Park Eun Bin, was on her way to reaching her dreams when she got into an accident that left her stranded on a deserted island for 15 years. Due to this, she was left alone and people thought she was dead.
While doing an island clean-up, brothers Kang Bo Geol, played by Chae Jong Hyeop, and Kang Woo Hak, played by Cha Hak Yeon, accidentally see her and rescue her. Now, Mok Ha is back in Seoul and finally met her idol Yoon Ran Joo, played by Kim Hyo Jin. Mok Ha is adjusting to her new life in Seoul and also continuing to pursue her dreams of becoming a singer.
My Demon
Cast: Kim Yoo Jung, Song Kang
Where to watch: Netflix
Heiress Do Do Hee, played by Kim Yoo Jung, gets involved with demon Jeong Gu Won, played by Song Kang. Gu Won’s power got transferred to Do Hee, which means he has become weaker. The two agreed on a fixed marriage for them to always be together and also so Gu Won could save Do Hee from the danger that awaits her.
The Story Of Park’s Marriage Contract
Cast: Lee Se Young, Bae In Hyuk, Yoo Seon Ho, Joo Hyun Young, Jo Bok Rae
Where to watch: Viu
In Joseon, Park Yeon Woo, played by Lee Se Young, married Kang Tae Ha, played by Bae In Hyuk. Unfortunately, on their wedding night, he passed away. Now, the widow Yeon Woo has to live her life without her husband. One night, she got kidnapped and thrown into the well. The next moment she opened her eyes, she was now in present-day Seoul and was saved by a man who looked like his husband, Kang Tae Ha. Present-day Seoul Kang Tae Ha asked Yeon Woo to help him and marry him to favor his grandfather. Now, Yeon Woo has to adjust to her life in Seoul and also to look for a way to go back to Joseon.
My Man Is Cupid
Cast: Jang Dong Yoon, Nana, Park Ki Woong
Where to watch: Prime Video
Charismatic fairy Cheon Sang Hyuk, played by Jang Dong Yoon, is tasked to shoot people with an arrow for them to fall in love. One day, he met Oh Baek Ryeon, played by Nana. Baek Ryeon is an attractive woman but she can’t get into a relationship because men always had a near-death experience because of her.
Both Sang Hyuk and Baek Ryeon cannot fall in love or be allowed to be with someone, but these two decide to fight against all odds.
Welcome To Samdalri
Cast: Shin Hye Sun, Ji Chang Wook
Where to watch: Netflix
Famous photographer Cho Samdal, played by Shin Hye Sun, is involved in a scandal that made her go back to hide in her hometown in Samdalri on Jeju Island. In Jeju, she met people she hadn’t seen in years. She met her old friends and also her ex-boyfriend Cho Yong Pil, played by Ji Chang Wook. The two meet again after breaking up years ago and with Samdal’s return, their relationship develops romantically again.
Death’s Game
Cast: Seo In Guk, Park So Dam
Where to watch: Prime Video
After committing suicide, Choi Yi Jae, played by Seo In Guk, comes back to life but in another body. In front of the gates of hell, he faces Death, played by Park So Dam. Death gave him the punishment of experiencing death 12 times through different bodies. If he wants to avoid going to hell, he needs to survive any of the deaths.
Part 2 of Death’s game will be released on January 5!
Like Flowers In Sand
Cast: Jang Dong Yoon, Lee Joo Myoung, Yun Jong Seok, Kim Bo Ra, Lee Jae Joon, Lee Joo Seung
Where to watch: Netflix
Kim Baek Du, played by Jang Dong Yoon, is a ssireum prodigy and came from a prestigious ssireum family. One day, he decided to quit and retire from ssireum. His family is disappointed and is convincing him to just continue being a ssireum player. One day, his childhood best friend Oh Yu Gyeong, played by Lee Joo Myoung, who used to be called by the name Oh Du Sik, came back to town and became the ssireum team’s manager.
Which of these dramas have you watched this year? What do you think about them? Share it with us in the comments below!
All images are courtesy of their respective production companies
