Top 10 K-Dramas of All Time

A South Korean heiress accidentally paraglides into North Korea and falls for a military officer in one of the most romantic dramas ever produced. The show's nuanced portrayal of North Korean society combined with its sweeping romance made it a worldwide phenomenon.

An alien who landed on Earth in 1609 falls for a present-day Hallyu star in this genre-blending romantic fantasy that captivated all of Asia. Kim Soo-hyun's performance made him the highest-paid actor in Korean drama history at the time.

A 939-year-old goblin searches for his human bride to end his immortal curse in a visually stunning fantasy epic produced by tvN. The show's haunting soundtrack and Gong Yoo's magnetic performance made it the highest-rated cable drama of its era.

A detective in 2015 communicates via a walkie-talkie with a detective in 1989 to solve cold cases in this tightly plotted crime thriller. Signal is widely regarded as the finest procedural drama Korea has ever produced.

A caregiver at a psychiatric hospital and a self-centered children's book author heal each other's wounds in this visually gorgeous and emotionally complex drama. The show's frank portrayal of mental health disorders was revolutionary for Korean television.

A special forces officer and a surgeon fall in love amidst war and natural disasters in this military romance that broke ratings records across Asia. The show transformed Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo into the most famous couple in Korean pop culture.

Set during the twilight of the Joseon Dynasty, this sweeping historical epic follows a Korean-born American soldier returning to his homeland during Japanese colonisation. The cinematography, period detail, and complex political narrative set a new benchmark for Korean period drama.

Five families living in a Seoul alleyway in 1988 navigate friendship, first love, and the cusp of South Korea's economic transformation in this nostalgic masterpiece. The ensemble cast and warmth of its storytelling made it the highest-rated tvN drama of all time.

A failed professional Go player joins a trading company as an intern and finds corporate Korea to be as brutal and hierarchical as the game he trained for. The drama's unflinching realism about office culture resonated deeply with Korean millennials.

A South Korean heiress accidentally paraglides into North Korea and falls for a military officer in one of the most romantic dramas ever produced. The show's nuanced portrayal of North Korean society combined with its sweeping romance made it a worldwide phenomenon.

An alien who landed on Earth in 1609 falls for a present-day Hallyu star in this genre-blending romantic fantasy that captivated all of Asia. Kim Soo-hyun's performance made him the highest-paid actor in Korean drama history at the time.

A 939-year-old goblin searches for his human bride to end his immortal curse in a visually stunning fantasy epic produced by tvN. The show's haunting soundtrack and Gong Yoo's magnetic performance made it the highest-rated cable drama of its era.

A detective in 2015 communicates via a walkie-talkie with a detective in 1989 to solve cold cases in this tightly plotted crime thriller. Signal is widely regarded as the finest procedural drama Korea has ever produced.

A caregiver at a psychiatric hospital and a self-centered children's book author heal each other's wounds in this visually gorgeous and emotionally complex drama. The show's frank portrayal of mental health disorders was revolutionary for Korean television.

A special forces officer and a surgeon fall in love amidst war and natural disasters in this military romance that broke ratings records across Asia. The show transformed Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo into the most famous couple in Korean pop culture.

Set during the twilight of the Joseon Dynasty, this sweeping historical epic follows a Korean-born American soldier returning to his homeland during Japanese colonisation. The cinematography, period detail, and complex political narrative set a new benchmark for Korean period drama.

Five families living in a Seoul alleyway in 1988 navigate friendship, first love, and the cusp of South Korea's economic transformation in this nostalgic masterpiece. The ensemble cast and warmth of its storytelling made it the highest-rated tvN drama of all time.

A failed professional Go player joins a trading company as an intern and finds corporate Korea to be as brutal and hierarchical as the game he trained for. The drama's unflinching realism about office culture resonated deeply with Korean millennials.