K-dramasare often best known for their heartening andsteamy romances filled with drama, conflict, and intertwined backstories for the leads. While K-dramas have captivated an international audience with a blend of various genres and impeccable casting and acting,thought-provoking K-dramas stand out by integrating social commentary with compelling storytelling. These deep K-dramas can leave audiences questioning societal norms and urge viewers to critically examine society’s issues in real life.
Ranging from shows focused on mental health issues to crime and justice,highly-rated K-dramaswith storylines and characters that push boundaries and challenge the norm can spark conversation and provide an enriching view of real life issues. Despite being deeply rooted in Korean culture, K-dramas with complex themes not only tackle issues prevalent in Korean society and social dynamics, but alsotouch uponuniversal issues that audiences worldwide can relate to.
10Because This Is My First Life (2017)
Two Struggling Adults In Their 30s
The romantic comedyBecause This Is My First Lifeis a lighthearted yet deepK-drama centered two struggling adults in their 30swho enter a marriage of convenience and learn to live together. Through the main leads ofBecause This Is My First Lifeand supporting characters, the K-drama was able to examine life, love, and marriage through the eyes of multiple generations of people and their viewpoints and opinions.
10 K-Dramas That Are Considered Masterpieces
Masterpiece K-dramas have well-crafted characterizations, impactful storytelling, a well-paced plot, and thought-provoking conflicts that resonate.
Because This Is My First Lifeisn’t just a cute romantic comedy K-drama focused on the chemistry and burgeoning relationship between the leads, it also tackles issues like toxic workplaces, harassment in the workplace, and traditional gender roles in Korean society. The financial difficulties and responsibilities that set Nam Se-hee (Lee Min-ki) and Yoon Ji-ho (Jung So-min) on each other’s paths is a relatable and realistic portrayal ofthe universal crushing pressure of economic hardship and job stress.
Move to Heaven
Cast
Move to Heaven follows a meticulous trauma cleaner and his estranged uncle as they unravel the unsung stories of the deceased through their belongings. The series portrays their emotional journey to connect with loved ones left behind, highlighting themes of loss and reconciliation.
Move to Heavenis a heartfelt drama that reexamines life, family, and relationships through the lens of death, loss, and grief. The profound andsad K-drama seriesMove to Heavenfollows Han Geu-ru (Tang Jun-sang) and his uncle Cho Sang-gu (Lee Je-hoon) as they run the titular trauma cleaning company Move to Heaven.
As trauma cleaners, Geu-ru and Sang-gu sort through the belongings of the recently deceased and piece together clues about their lives based on their possessions. InMove to Heaven,the lead character Geu-ru is on the autism spectrum, and the K-drama respectfully portrayed Geu-ru’s neurodivergency and offered audiences a new perspective on autism and life.
Move to Heavendoesn’t shy away from death and its aftermath, and helps audiences find meaning in life and death through the eyes of the trauma cleaners as they sort through the deceased’s belongings. The unique K-drama stands out with its profound portrayal of life and death.
My Mister
My Mister is a South Korean drama series that explores the bond between a young woman and a middle-aged man amid life’s challenges. Released in 2018, it delves into themes of empathy and connection as the characters navigate their struggles and find solace in each other’s presence.
My Misteris a realistic and grounded K-drama that tells the tale of duty, hardship and healing. Thetear-jerker K-dramafollowsa man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s as they struggle with their obligations, bond, and learn to heal together.My Misterfocuses on Park Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun), a miserable 45-year-old man as he deals with his dysfunctional family and Lee Ji-an (Lee Ji-eun), a 21-year-old woman who faces financial difficulties as she struggles to care for her sick grandmother.
My Misteris a testament to the power of human connection and provides an optimistic outlook on a bleak life filled with financial worries and familial duties.
The unlikely bond and connection between Dong-hoon and Ji-an along with their relatable struggles helpsMy Misterhighlight humanity’s resilience through tough times and the burdens of financial hardships. Dong-hoon and Ji-an’s bond showcases how kindness and compassion can bridge people together and heal.My Misteris a testament to the power of human connection and provides an optimistic outlook on a bleak life filled with financial worries and familial duties.
Daily Dose of Sunshine
Daily Dose of Sunshine: Set in a psychiatric ward, this film follows a compassionate nurse dedicated to uplifting her patients. As she navigates the challenges of her profession, she strives to be a beacon of hope and positivity for those under her care.
Daily Dose of Sunshinefollows Jung Da-eun (Park Bo-young),a talented nurse determined to make life better for her patients in the psychiatric department. Da-eun has to learn how to deal with her own mental health issues while being a supportive caregiver and healthcare provider.
Park’s realistic portrayal of the sweet and brilliant nurse Da-eun is a highlight of the show and perfectly encapsulates the hard work and struggle of being a healthcare worker.Daily Dose of Sunshineaddresses mental health with sensitivity and helps take down the stigma around mental health issues.
The K-drama didn’t sensationalize the characters' mental health conditions and createdmultidimensional and relatable characters.Daily Dose of Sunshinechallenged society’s aversion to talking about mental health and examined how stigma and stereotypes prevented people from seeking help. Theheartwarming and thought-provoking medical K-dramadestigmatizes mental health without being preachy and heavy-handed about its message.
Avengers Social Club
Avengers Social Club follows a group of women who unite to seek revenge on their adversaries while exposing social injustices. This series delves into themes of empowerment, camaraderie, and the pursuit of justice as each member confronts personal and societal challenges.
Avengers Social Clubisa hilarious and thrilling tale of female rage and friendshipin the form of arevenge K-drama. The revenge thriller explores how women fight back against oppression and navigate through personal hardships with the help of supportive friends.Avengers Social Clubcenters around three women from various backgrounds who find themselves trapped in tough situations and exact revenge on those who betrayed and hurt them.
The leads inAvengers Social Clubdon’t let their bad situation keep them down and work to change their lives by taking down the people who are ruining their lives.Avengers Social Club’sperfect blend of humor and drama while talking about serious issues like domestic violence, abuse, and harassment ensures that the K-drama is entertaining without minimizing the seriousness of the social issues.
Top 30 Badass Female Leads From K-Dramas
While K-dramas are often enjoyed for their sometimes-saccharine romances and dramatic plots, there are more than a few iconic female leads, as well.
Kim Jung-hye (Lee Yo-won) and Lee Mi-sook’s (Myung Se-bin) troubled marriages provides audiences with an in-depth examination of traditional expectations of marriage in society.Avengers Social Clubshowcasesthe importance of female friendshipsand how they can bea form of support and resistance against the patriarchal norms entrenched in society.
Signal
Signal is a South Korean crime thriller television series that follows a detective from the present day who communicates with a detective from the past through a ham radio. They work together to solve cold cases and uncover the truth behind a mysterious crime.
The police procedural and crime thriller K-dramaSignalfollowsa criminal profiler in 2015 and a detective in 1989as they work together to solve a murder case across the decades. With a supernatural walkie-talkie connecting the investigators through time, thedetective K-dramais an intriguing and fresh take on the crime-drama genre.
Signalis a gripping K-drama thatexplores themes of justice and fate. The K-drama skillfully utilizes the time traveling elements to explore a character’s morality and ethical dilemmas as they have to wrestle with the responsibility of the unintended consequences of altering the past to prevent crimes. Park Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon) and Lee Jae-han’s (Cho Jin-woong) connection through the walkie-talkie despite coming from different times is the show’s focal point.
The growing bond between the two flawlessly serves as signal for human connection and hope.Signalreminds audiences that there is no perfect form of justice andsheds a light on the complex criminal justice system.Signalis a K-drama that forces viewers to pay attention to the complex narrative, and each case highlights how society’s failure allows for injustices.
It’s Okay, That’s Love
It’s Okay, That’s Love is a South Korean television series starring Jo In-sung and Gong Hyo-jin. Set in the world of psychiatry and mental health, the series follows the intertwined lives of a mystery writer and a psychiatrist, delving into their personal struggles and relationships. The show was written by Noh Hee-kyung and directed by Kim Kyu-tae.
The heartwarming romantic comedyIt’s Okay, That’s Lovetells the love story between a psychiatrist and an author with OCD and undiagnosed schizophrenia. The groundbreaking K-drama followsnovelist Jang Jae-yeol (Zo In-sung) and doctor Ji Hae-soo (Gong Hyo-jin) as they fall in loveand learn to adapt to their mental health conditions and embark on the journey of healing.
It’s Okay, That’s Lovedoesn’t demonize people with mental health conditions or treat them as abnormal and unlovable, it treats them as human beings who deserve respect.It’s Okay, That’s Lovereiterates and emphasizes that mental health is not an obstacle to love without romanticizing or stigmatizing mental illnesses.
10 Best Slice-Of-Life K-Dramas, Ranked
The best slice-of-life K-dramas highlight character relationships and everyday challenges that many audiences are able to identify with.
The lovable K-drama couple Jae-yeol and Hae-soo don’t “fix” each other, and instead support each other and grow together.It’s Okay, That’s Love’sportrayal of a healthy relationshipwhere the partners aren’t shamed for their mental health conditions and support each other.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Extraordinary Attorney Woo follows the life of Woo Young-woo, a young attorney with autism spectrum disorder, who navigates the challenges of the legal profession in South Korea. The series portrays her brilliant legal mind and unique approach to cases, highlighting her struggles and triumphs both in and out of the courtroom. Park Eun-bin stars in the titular role, delivering a poignant and nuanced performance.
Extraordinary Attorney WoofollowsWoo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), the first autistic attorney in South Korea, as she tackles prejudice and challenges while navigating the legal system. Initially, Young-woo struggles to fit in at the prestigious law firm as her neurotypical co-workers who perceive her to be awkward and peculiar.
Themasterpiece K-dramaExtraordinary Attorney Wooquickly became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea and made its mark with its respectful and thought-provoking depiction of neurodiversity and autism on screen.Extraordinary Attorney Wooutilized court cases for two purposes, each case highlighted Young-woo’s intelligence and unique problem-solving skills.
Extraordinary Attorney Woohas a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In addition,the cases in the K-drama also shine light on social issues and injustices. Park Eun-bin’s portrayal of Young-woo turns away from harmful stereotypes, and the K-drama challenges outdated preconceptions about autism while maintaining an intriguing storyline. This balance results inExtraordinary Attorney Woobeing an entertaining K-drama that resonates with audiences.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a South Korean drama series following Moon Gang-tae, a caretaker in a psychiatric hospital, and Ko Moon-young, a children’s book author with antisocial personality disorder. As their lives intertwine, they embark on a journey of emotional healing while grappling with their traumatic pasts. The show explores themes of mental health, relationships, and personal growth.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okayis a popularessential watch K-dramathat explores mental health, trauma, and healing ina heartfelt tale of resilience and human connection. The K-drama skillfully dismantles social stigmas around neurodivergency and autism.
The deep and honest K-drama teaches its audience that it is okay to not be okay, and that acknowledging that fact is the first step towards healing.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okayfollows an antisocial children’s book author Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji) as she bonds with the brothers Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) and Moon Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se) and the trio learns to open up and heal from their past trauma.It’s Okay to Not Be Okayput effort into making audiences understand Sang-tae, the autistic aspiring illustrator who was traumatized by witnessing his mother’s murder.
The K-drama uses visual storytelling and animation to showcase the inner thoughts and emotions that Sang-tae cannot verbalize. The deep and honest K-dramateaches its audience that it is okay to not be okay, and that acknowledging that fact is the first step towards healing.
Prison Playbook
Baseball star Kim Je-hyeok is about to make his Major League Baseball debut. However, due to some misfortune, he ends up in prison and must learn to survive in this new world full of life and death challenges.
Prison Playbookis a revolutionary K-drama set inside a prison that revolves around the daily lives of convicts and prison staff members.The prison drama highlights how the criminal justice system and prison complex impacts the lives of inmates.Prison Playbookfollows Kim Je-hyeok (Park Hae-soo), a former baseball star whose life is turned upside down after being arrested for violently assaulting a man who was targeting his sister.
The K-drama highlights how anyone can end up in prison and how it can drastically alter their life. Despite the bleak setting of a prison,Prison Playbookis aslice-of-life K-dramathat tells a heartwarming tale of redemption and friendship in the face of overwhelming adversity and societal limitations.
The K-drama boasted incredible characterizations and deeply emotional relationship dynamics between complex characters.Prison Playbook’sability to balance the hilarious antics and hijinks of the prison inmates with the distressing and heartbreaking moments cemented it as one of the bestK-dramas.
