News

5 K-Dramas To Watch If You Like Tastefully Yours! ( Photo Credit – Netflix )

We often watch K-dramas that revolve around genres like thrillers or rom-coms. But there are also a few dramas that involve food and cooking in the plot, which not only makes the storyline more interesting but also much more appetizing. Food and cooking have been used in some series to bring characters together, while in other shows, restaurants have been incorporated in scenes to add a sense of purpose to the setting.

Currently, Netflix series Tastefully Yours, featuring Go Min-Si and Kang Ha-Neul as the lead characters, is creating a lot of buzz and is leading the global charts. In the drama, Min-Si plays a determined chef while Ha-Neul portrays a nonchalant, money-loving restaurant chain manager. Whether love blooms between them or not, in the process, only time can tell, but so far, the storyline is going great.

So,...

While K-dramas, the blanket term for South Korean scripted television programming of any genre, are increasingly beloved around the world, certain shows aren't without controversy. Korean audiences are understandably sensitive about how aspects of their culture and history are represented in television, and depictions received as below standards have endured substantial backlash. More than just public complaints and plunging viewership, some shows that have endured high levels of controversy have lost sponsors or been swiftly canceled entirely. On several occasions, the controversy has erupted from international audiences who are similarly unhappy about how their cultures have been depicted in K-dramas, leading to formal apologies.

Simply put, not all K-dramas are as universally celebrated as some of the industry's more critically lauded and enormously popular shows. This isn't to say that the shows included on this list should be shunned to unexplored corners of Netflix's growing K-drama library. Instead, it's important to see how audiences,...

The problem with a short and sweet K-drama is that it can be devoured in one sitting and then leave you empty for days after. Of course, there isn’t really anything sweet about Weak Hero except the friendship between the kids, but you know what I mean. For many, K-dramas used to be synonymous with cringy romance and rom-coms that were “only meant for women.” However, after years of trying to sell the idea of K-dramas to a wider audience, we die-hard fans can finally breathe easy thanks to Netflix. Not only did it open doors for global K-drama lovers, but it also allowed non-fans to explore the world of K-dramas and realize that there is much more to it than they’d judged it to be. I bring this up because, for the uninitiated, the idea of an entire school-based subgenre may seem unusual, but this is a...

5 historical fantasy K-Dramas that you must watch! ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Who doesn’t like a little romance set in a historical timeline with a hint of fantasy or mystical elements? Well, I do. And before Lee Jae-Wook and Jo Bo-Ah’s upcoming K-drama, Dear Hongrang, can sweep into our screens and hearts, here are five historical K-dramas from The Red Sleeve to Alchemy of Souls – that you must binge-watch over this weekend. These are my trusted recommendations.

For those who don’t know about Dear Hongrang, it’s a mystery romance drama set in the late Joseon Dynasty and revolves around the stories of a wealthy family. Mysterious things happen when their long-lost son, Hongrang (Lee Jae-Wook), returns after years with no memory of his childhood. While everyone is convinced he is the disappeared prince, his half-sister Jae-i (Jo Bo-Ah), sharp and intelligent, thinks there’s more to it and...

5 amazing K-dramas about historical romance that you must watch (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Lee Jae-Wook and Jo Bo-Ah have paired up together for their upcoming historical romantic K-drama, ‘Dear Hongrang’. Let’s look at 5 such K-dramas before the new series hit the screens.

‘Dear Hongrang’ is Netflix’s upcoming K-drama featuring Lee Jae-Wook and Jo Bo-Ah. The first look has been unveiled, and already, the show has been making quite a buzz online. The storyline of the mystery romance set in the Joseon dynasty follows the disappearance of Hong Rang (Jae-Wook). He is the son of a powerful merchant family. On the other hand, Jae-Yi (Bo-Ah) who is his step-sister, searches for Hong Rang for years.

But things start to get messier when Hong Rang returns with a secret and some unknown emotions toward Jae-Yi that may either be sibling love or a romantic attraction. Fans are very excited to see...

Every now and then curiosity doesn’t just kill the cat, it makes its entire life implode. In that vein, Following transforms the age-old voyeur trope into a tense situation where seeing too much is just as risky as knowing too little. The movie itself shines the spotlight on Koo Jung-Tae (Byun Yo-han), a real estate agent whose interest in his client’s personal lives is as creepy as it is unsettling. His M.O. involves slipping into their homes while they are away, but it’s not to steal anything in the traditional sense of the act. It’s more of a way to keep an eye on them, capturing moments they would rather not share with a total stranger. Unfortunately, his little hobby goes off the rails when he becomes fixated on Han So-Ra (Shin Hye-sun), a social media influencer whose life seems picture-perfect at face value.

Quick Links Stealing Antiques Under Seoul in 'Collectors' Possible Sequel for 'Collectors'?

The landscape of Netflix was forever changed in September 2019 by a single decision. In an effort to strengthen its international offerings, the red and black streaming service decided to pick up director, producer, and screenwriter Hwang Dong-hyuk’s dystopian story about a secret and deadly contest. Squid Game was the name and the nine-episode first season made its premiere two years later to an outstanding ovation from both audiences and critics alike.

The story of a downtrodden man who thrusts himself into a deadly version of a children’s game (and conspiracy) quickly garnered immense public response and all sorts of official awards, including Primetime Emmys and Golden Globes. Even with Netflix having a reputation for canceling the fondest of shows, it was pretty clear this thriller wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Just as the first did,...

Several of the most well-known K-dramas fall in the romance or thriller genre, but there are a handful of series centered around friendships that are just as deserving of praise. Friendship is a universally understood concept and can be depicted in an endless amount of stories from the collaborative sports team in Racket Boys to the tight-knit neighborhood in Reply 1988. The best friendship K-dramas focus on a variety of relationships, including childhood duos and a group of roommates. More often than not, the platonic relationships seen in such K-dramas are lighthearted.

However, these series are not without a handful of heartfelt moments sure to tug at the audience's heartstrings. Though there are a few series that follow friends at older stages of life, those following adolescent characters chronicle the accomplishments and hardships in life. The best friendship K-dramas have a balanced amount of humor and heart, and, beyond critical acclaim,...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Officer Black Belt is a South Korean action comedy film written and directed by Joo-hwan Kim. The Netflix film follows the story of Lee Jong-do, a skilled martial arts fighter as he is recruited by a probation officer to help closely manage the criminals wearing electronic ankle bracelets to stop them from hurting innocent people. Officer Black Belt stars Kim Woo-bin in the lead role with Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Hae Young, and Kim Yool-ho starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the thrilling action, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in Officer Black Belt here are some similar movies to watch next.

Midnight Runners (Tubi & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Lotte Entertainment

Midnight Runner is a South Korean action comedy film written and directed by Jason Kim. The 2017 film follows two new students at the Korean National Police University...

From Yu Je-won and Shin Ha-eun, the people behind the phenomenal romantic comedy-drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, we just got a new South Korean series to swoon over in Love Next Door. Starring Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min in the lead roles, the tvN series follows the story of Bae Seok-ryu as she tries to reboot her life after calling off her marriage and leaving her job in America to move back home, where she meets her childhood frenemy Choi Seung-hyo, and they begin to fall for each other. So, if you loved the great leading couple, a heartfelt story, and relatable characters in Love Next Door here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a South Korean romantic comedy-drama series developed by Kim Je-hyeon. Based on a 2004 romantic comedy film titled Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong by Kang Seok-beom and Shin Jung-goo,...

Historical K-dramas provide Western audiences with captivating stories set in unfamiliar South Korean periods. Thanks to streaming sites like Netflix, viewers worldwide can easily enjoy the best historical K-dramas. The diverse narratives of historical K-dramas offer unique entertainment not often seen in popular US and UK shows.

K-dramas come in many genres, and historical K-dramas give Western audiences stories set in unfamiliar and exciting South Korean periods. Period dramas have always been popular, but European and American history has been thoroughly explored on-screen. So has South Korea's past, but it's only in the last few years that historical K-dramas set during the Choson dynasty or the Later Three Kingdoms period began to captivate US viewers en-masse. The best historical Korean drama storylines can involve conspiracies of the throne, political unrest, and maybe even some love and comedy.

The historical K-drama is just as binge-worthy as any modern tale. Thanks to...

Realtor Jeong-tae (Byun Yo-han)'s hobby is sneaking into strangers' homes and peeping into their lives. One day, an unfamiliar face in the area grabs his attention – an Instagram star, So-ra (Shin Hye-sun). Miraculously, So-ra leaves her house key at Jeong-tae's agency and Jeong-tae visits her home whenever he can, thrilled and excited. Like any other day, Jeong-tae makes another visit and finds what he hadn't expected: the dead body of So-ra. Jeong-tae is shocked and he can't call the police and report. But when he returns a few hours later with a client… So-ra's dead body is gone! Days later, Jeong-tae receives a red note saying ‘It was you, right?' Even worse, all evidence says that Jeong-tae is a criminal. Can he find the real killer and clear his name?...

Doctor Slump is bringing smiles and tears to millions of Korean drama fans with its two brilliant leads Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik. The Netflix series revolves around a plastic surgeon who gets entangled in a highly publicized criminal case because of a botched surgery and a doctor suffering from depression. When both of the leads meet each other again at the lowest moment in their lives, their high school rivalry starts to fade away as they start developing feelings for each other. So, if you are loving Doctor Slump here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Enemies to lovers is one of the most beloved tropes in Korean dramas, and this trope is used to perfection in the brilliant romantic-comedy series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Based on a 2004 film titled Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong by Kang Seok-beom and Shin Jung-goo, the series revolves around...

Ji Chang-wook in Welcome to Samdal-ri ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Welcome to Samdal-ri, the Korean drama starring Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hye-sun ended last month. Released in December 2023, the Kdrama received a lot of love from viewers worldwide. Even though it has been 2 weeks since the last episode aired, fans can’t stop discussing the beauty of the show’s storytelling, the characters and the performances.

However, actor Ji Chang-wook recently faced flak from some fans for smoking. On January 26, the Welcome to Samdal-ri team released a behind-the-scenes video featuring Chang-wook and other actors. In the video, the Healer actor smokes an electronic cigarette on the set. To the uninitiated, it is not legal in South Korea to smoke or vape in public places. Smokers must smoke only in designated smoking areas.

In South Korea, fans don’t spare celebrities for breaking rules. Hence, after the video was released, many expressed their disappointment on social media.

The Bequeathed is Netflix’s latest Korean thriller series and after its release, it is gaining a ton of traction on the streaming service. The Bequeathed revolves around a college lecturer who inherits a burial ground from an estranged uncle. This prompts her to go to the family mountain but when she gets there all of the buried family secrets come out and ominous things start happening including a murder that might reveal everything the townspeople are trying to hide. If you liked the Korean series here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Stranger

Stranger is a hit Korean series with two seasons already out and a possible third season or a spin-off on the way. The Bequeathed seems very interested in digging up old wounds for our character and that’s the same thing you will see in this Korean drama. The story of the series revolves...

Welcome to Samdal-ri is a slice-of-life romantic comedy-drama series created by Kwon Hye-joo. The Netflix K-drama series is set on Jeju Island and the story revolves around Jo Yong-pil and Jo Sam-dal, who get separated because of their dreams but in adulthood, they meet once again when Jo Sam-dal returns to her hometown and reconnect with Jo Yong-pil.

Welcome to Samdal-ri – Episode Guide (When are the Episodes Coming Out?)

Welcome to Samdal-ri consists of sixteen episodes in total. The series is premiering on Netflix with its first episode on December 2, with the next episode coming out the next day on December 3. The rest of the episodes will continue to come out every week on Saturday and Sunday. Check out the full episode guide below:

Credit – Netflix Episode 1 “Tears of the Dragon” – December 2, 2023 Episode 2 “The Soulmates’ History” – December 3, 2023 Episode 3 “Tba” – December 9, 2023 Episode 4 “Tba” – December 10, 2023 Episode 5 “Tba” – December 16, 2023 Episode 6 “Tba” – December 17, 2023 Episode...

Welcome to Samdal-ri is a slice-of-life romantic comedy-drama series created by Kwon Hye-joo. The Netflix K-drama series is set on Jeju Island and the story revolves around Jo Yong-pil and Jo Sam-dal, who get separated because of their dreams but in adulthood, they meet once again when Jo Sam-dal returns to her hometown and reconnect with Jo Yong-pil. Welcome to Samdal-ri stars Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hye-sun in the lead roles of Jo Yong-pil and Jo Sam-dal. So, if you loved the Netflix K-drama series here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a superhit romantic K-drama series whose plot resembles Welcome to Samdal-ri. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha revolves around a dentist, who moves to her quiet seaside hometown after an incident in the city. In her town, she becomes quite close to the village’s go-to handyman who is always up for helping the village residents.

Korean dramas are getaway portals into the comfort zone for many passionate dreamers because they present romance in the most admirable way imaginable. Over the years, we've seen several dramas, such as The Legend of the Blue Sea, Goblin, and My Love From the Star, that set high standards that will be difficult to meet for many years to come.

Even in 2023, only a handful of romance K-dramas can compete with the aforementioned masterpieces. However, the K-drama industry has changed drastically over the years, focusing equally on all the mainstream genres such as romance, thriller, action, and comedy.

While we wait to see what changes the K-drama industry will bring once 2023 comes to an end, here are the best Korean dramas releasing in December 2023 to bring a suitable conclusion to the long and lovely year.

Sweet Home Season 2 Watch It on Netflix on Dec. 1 Close

Consider the possibility of a...

After two back-to-back K-drama sensations, Healer and The K2, Ji Chang Wook took a break from action dramas because the stunts he does on a regular basis were taking a toll on his body. Nonetheless, the actor thrived in romance dramas such as Suspicious Partner, Lovestruck in the City, and The Sound of Magic.

While the past few years have been eventful for the actor, fans are looking forward to what he has in store for them this year. That being said, prior to Welcome to Samdalri, Ji Chang Wook appeared in another drama named The Worst of Evil. It has garnered glowing reviews from viewers, but fans are more interested in the latter because it is a feel-good romance drama. With that in mind, here's everything we know so far about the upcoming K-drama Welcome to Samdalri.

Welcome to Samdalri: The Plot

Welcome to Samdalri has yet to release an official trailer,...