The best K-dramas to watch in 2025

For most of us, watching our favourite K-dramas brings an overwhelming mix of cathartic sadness and healing. With gripping plots that hook you within minutes, it’s no wonder we end up binge-watching episodes not just at home, but even on our daily commute. And with the flurry of new releases this year, it’s clear the K-drama industry shows no signs of slowing down. But the big question is: which K-drama should you watch next?

The most-watched K-dramas of 2025

Among the many choices, some of the most popular titles this year include Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring Park Bo-gum and IU, as well as the highly anticipated Squid Game Season 3.

But if you’ve already raced through these series and are craving your next obsession, don’t worry. From heart-wrenching romances that will tug at your heartstrings to nail-biting thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat, we’ve rounded up some of the top K-dramas to watch in 2025.

Genie, Make A Wish

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This new show on Netflix isn’t like your average K-drama. Here, Ka-young (played by Bae Suzy) is a woman who keeps her emotions under lock and key — no empathy, no attachments, just survival. That is, until she unknowingly frees Iblis (played by Kim Woo-bin), a genie who’s been imprisoned for a thousand years. The catch? He’s actually Satan in disguise, determined to prove that humans are selfish and easily swayed. As he offers her three wishes, his chaotic, tempting energy starts to collide with her perfectly controlled world — and somewhere between manipulation and magic, an unexpected romance begins to take shape.

Genie, Make A Wish is now on Netflix 

Would You Marry Me 

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This new series on Disney+ follows the lives of Kim Wooju—who’s also known as the fourth-generation heir to Korea’s oldest bakery— as well as Yoo Meri, a local designer who recently called it quits with her fiance. However, when Yoo Meri finds out that she won a lottery for a townhouse, she’s forced to work together with another man called Wooju, who shares the same name as her ex-fiance, to prove to the lottery board that she’s happily married and is still eligible to claim the house. But with an investigator ever-lurking, things won’t be as easy as they seem.

Would You Marry Me is now on Disney+ 

My Troublesome Star 

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Im Se-ra has it all — fame, beauty and a fiery temper to match her talent. But when South Korea’s brightest star wakes up 25 years later in the body of a frumpy 50-year-old woman living in a cramped rental flat, everything changes. With no memory of how she got there and her glory days long gone, Se-ra must face a world that’s moved on without her. What follows is a sharp, funny and deeply moving story about reinvention, second chances, and the messy pursuit of finding yourself again.

My Troublesome Star is now on Viu

To The Moon 

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At Marron Confectionary, four employees from completely different worlds find their lives unexpectedly intertwined. Jung Da-hae, a contract staffer on the PR team, is desperately trying to secure a permanent role. Beside her are fellow contract workers Kang Eun-sang and Kim Ji-song, each juggling quiet battles outside the office. Then there’s Ham Ji-u — the second-gen chaebol who seems to have everything, except purpose. When Ji-u’s path crosses with Da-hae’s, their encounter sparks subtle but powerful shifts, forcing all four to question ambition, sacrifice and what happiness really costs in a world that demands success.

To The Moon is now on Viu 

Tempest

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Tempest follows Seo Munju (played by Gianna Jun), a former diplomat who finds herself entangled in a deadly political conspiracy after an attempt is made on a presidential candidate’s life. When whispers surface that the candidate was once accused of being a North Korean spy, Munju digs deeper, only to uncover a dangerous web of deception, state secrets, and international power plays that reach as far as the White House. Guarded by Paik Sanho (played by Gang Dongwon), a mercenary with a mysterious past and his own hidden agenda, Munju is constantly under fire as the truth edges closer. But as the stakes rise, can Sanho protect her and his own feelings before it’s too late?

Tempest is now on Disney+

My Youth

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Song Joong Ki returns to our screens this September in this new drama on Viu. In the show, he plays Hae Sun-woo, who trades the spotlight for a quiet life as a novelist and florist. However, things start stirring up when he crosses paths with his first love, Je-yeon (Chun Woo-hee), after more than a decade. 

Je-yeon, who was once from a wealthy family, is now a fiercely ambitious team leader determined to rebuild her life. As the two reunite, buried emotions resurface, forcing them to confront how much they’ve changed and what they still mean to each other.

My Youth is now on Viu

When Life Gives You Tangerines

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Ae-Sun and Gwan-Sik (played by IU and Park Bo-Gum respectively) were born in 1950s Jeju, South Korea. Ae-Sun is a free-spirited, book-loving rebel with big dreams of becoming a poet, even though her family’s financial struggles keep her from attending school. Despite the odds, she never stops chasing her passion, wearing her heart on her sleeve and speaking her mind without hesitation. Gwan-Sik, on the other hand, is a quiet, hardworking soul—someone who lets his actions speak louder than words. He may not say much, but his love and respect for Ae-Sun are unwavering. In the show, their fated bond blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs — proving love can endure across generations.

When Life Gives You Tangerines is available on Netflix

Squid Game (Season 3)

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Picking up where Season 2’s jaw-dropping cliffhanger left off, we find Gi-hun at rock bottom. But the game doesn’t stop for anyone. This time, the stakes are higher, the games deadlier, and the consequences even more brutal. Gi-hun is pushed to his limits, forced to make impossible choices as each round threatens to destroy what little hope he has left.

Elsewhere, Front Man (aka In-ho) is back to host the twisted show for a fresh group of enigmatic VIPs. But trouble’s brewing—his brother Jun-ho is closing in, still searching for the truth about the island… not knowing there’s a mole in his path.

Squid Game (Season 3) is available on Netflix

Good Boy

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The series follows a squad of former elite athletes who—after leaving behind their glory days—sign up to become police officers through a special Olympic recruitment programme.

Think of them as a kind of “Olympic Avengers” unit: each team member brings their sporting prowess to the force, tackling violent crimes and rooting out injustice with skills honed on the field. As they take on a major case, they come face to face with some seriously corrupt criminals. Think–hard-hitting action, unexpected laughs, and a team you’ll want to root for.

Good Boy is available on Amazon Prime. You can get a free 30-day trial if you’re not an existing Prime member.

Unmasked

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After years of steering clear of advertisers and breaking some of the country’s biggest, most controversial stories, the Trigger investigative news team is now facing its toughest challenge yet. Their careers are on the line after airing an exceptionally contentious story, and with the clock ticking, they have one last shot to turn things around. To save their jobs, they must pull off the impossible: unmask the insider leaking their personal secrets and solve a 20-year-old cold case about a famous actor who vanished without a trace. The show sees the likes of Kim Hyesoo as tenacious presenter Oh Soryong, Jung Sungil who plays the role of the rookie producer Han Do, and Joo Jonghyuk as contractor Kang Giho.

Unmasked is available on Disney+

When the Stars Gossip

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From two different worlds and with separate missions, an astronaut and a space tourist entangle in space — only to start falling for each other. The show will feature actors including Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin.

When the Stars Gossip is available on Netflix

Brewing Love

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Chae Yong-joo, a fiercely determined sales rep at a struggling liquor company and a former special forces soldier, is on a mission to save her sales branch from shutting down. Meanwhile, Yoon Min-joo, a game-changing brewmaster making waves in the beverage industry, is creating the buzz everyone’s talking about.

When Yong-joo takes on the challenge of selling Min-joo’s newest creation, their worlds collide, sparking a journey packed with surprising twists, heartfelt moments, and an undeniable connection that neither of them saw coming.

Brewing Love is available on Viu

Bogotá: City of the Lost

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Starring the ever-so-charming Song Joong-ki, who plays Guk-hee, Bogotá: City of the Lost tells the story of how Guk-hee and his family move to Bogotá with his family following the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, wishing for a better life, only to end up living from hand to mouth. As he struggles to survive in unfamiliar territories, Guk-hee starts working under Sergeant Park, who holds power in the Korean Merchants’ Association, where he starts to handle dangerous deals to survive in Bogotá. He later goes against all odds to dominate Bogota’s black market.

Bogotá: City of the Lost is available on Netflix

Buried Hearts

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To stay alive, one man hacks into a two trillion-won political slush fund. The other—an elusive powerbroker—loses that fortune after unknowingly killing the wrong man. The hacker, a secretive corporate secretary with big ambitions, sees this as his chance to take over the company. But the powerbroker, a former intelligence chief who thrives on control, isn’t about to let his empire slip away. As their worlds collide, survival turns into a ruthless game of power, deception, and high-stakes revenge.

Buried Hearts is available on Disney+

Study Group

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Based on a popular webtoon with the same name, follow NUEST Hwang Min-hyun’s wild journey as Yun Ga-min, a student who aspires to ace in his studies but is only good at fighting. At one of the most notorious schools, he forms an unlikely study group, determined to face the fierce and daunting college entrance exams. Can they overcome the odds, or will their journey prove too challenging?

Study Group is available on Viu

Hyper Knife

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‘Hyper Knife’ follows the life of Seok, a visionary neurosurgeon who consistently pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the operating room. Tortured by her need for perfection, Seok suddenly finds herself tossed aside and stripped of her license after crossing her mentor. Unwilling to let go of what made her great, Seok continues to carry out back-alley operations until her former mentor comes looking for help. 

Hyper Knife is available on Disney+

The Art of Negotiation

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If the name Lee Je-hoon rings a bell, then you might know him from his previous shows like Taxi Driver and Escape. This month, the star will be returning in The Art of Negotiation as Yoon Ju-no - once hailed as South Korea’s top M&A expert, now a man on a mission. 

After a decade, Ju-no makes a dramatic comeback with one goal: to save the very company that abandoned him. With a powerhouse team by his side, including top lawyers, accountants, marketing experts, and patent attorneys, he sets out on a relentless quest for redemption.

The Art of Negotiation is available on Viu

The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos

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Based on the popular K-drama Bad Guys, The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos follows an unlikely group of heroes on a mission to restore justice.

When one of Korea’s most dangerous gang bosses escapes, Detective Oh Gu-Tak (Kim Sang-Joong) assembles a special investigation team consisting of convicted cop Yoo-sung (Jang Ki-Yong), ex-gang leader Park Woong-Cheol (Ma Dong-Seok) and con artist Jessica (Kim Ah-Joong).

Racing against time, and each other’s differences, can they capture the criminals before it’s too late?

The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos is available on Viu

Karma

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Featuring stars like Lee Hee-jun, Park Hae-soo, Shin Min-a, and Lee Kwang-soo, this slow-burn thriller series Karma, based on the webtoon of the same name, follows the Debtor (played by Lee Hee-jun), a man neck-deep in failed investments, months behind on rent, and under pressure from a loan shark who’s no longer playing nice.

Desperate for a way out, he hatches a get-rich-quick scheme. But when things spiral out of control, it sets off a violent chain reaction involving five other strangers—each with their own secrets, motives, and questionable choices.

Karma is available on Netflix

Resident Playbook

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If you enjoyed watching Hospital Playlist, then you’ll definitely enjoy this spin-off. This time, the spotlight’s on first-year OBGYN residents as they step into the real world of medicine.

Fresh out of med school, these young doctors are thrown into the deep end—navigating the chaos of their work and personal lives, all in their quest to become exceptional doctors.

Resident Playbook is available on Netflix

Undercover High School

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After a major failure leads to his demotion, a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent, Jung Hae-seong, is tasked with a new mission: go undercover as a high school student at the elite Byeongmun High to locate Emperor Gojong’s missing gold. His mission takes a turn for the chaotic when his new homeroom teacher, Oh Soo-ah, notices an uncanny resemblance between the new student and her childhood love - and heartbreak. Can Hae-seong complete his mission without exposing his true identity?

Undercover High School is available on Viu

Crushology 101

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When it comes to university, star student Ban Hee-jin—better known as Bunny—(Roh Jeong-eui) has only one weakness; her love life. When her first love leaves her heartbroken, lady luck shines her way with two new men. On one hand, there’s Hwang Jae-yeol (Lee Chae-min), the charming yet brooding student representative of the visual department who harbours a much softer interior than he lets on. On the other, there is the ever-so-perfect Cha Ji-won (Jo Joon-young), who might just be hiding secrets of his own underneath it all.

Crushology 101 is available on Viu

Way Back Love

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In a world where the Grim Reaper appears as the person you loved the most, Jung Hui-wan (Kim Min-ha) is stunned when her first love, Kim Ram-woo (Gong-Myung) returns 6 years after his untimely death.

As a reaper, he delivers a chilling truth: she only has a week left to live. Given the decision to pass peacefully by calling his name three times, Hui-wan refuses, unwilling to lose him again. Determined to help her embrace life, Ram-woo persuades her to create a bucket list, and together, they set out to complete it— one unforgettable moment at a time. 

Way Back Love is available on Viu

Nine Puzzles

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If you’re into moody thrillers, this one’s worth adding to your queue. Nine Puzzles kicks off with Yoon E-na, who, as a teen, witnessed her uncle’s murder—but couldn’t explain why she was even there, which made her a prime suspect. Fast forward ten years, and she’s now a criminal profiler, still haunted by the past. When a string of new murders starts surfacing—each tied to a mysterious puzzle piece like the one found with her uncle’s body—E-na finds herself pulled back in. To solve the case, she has to work with Detective Kim Han-saem, who, awkwardly, once thought she was guilty.

Nine Puzzles is available on Disney+

Tastefully Yours

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Tastefully Yours follows Han Beom-woo, a chaebol heir on a mission to find the best recipes so he can inherit his family’s food empire. He then meets Mo Yeon-joo, a low-key but insanely talented chef who runs a secret one-table restaurant in Jeonju. When their worlds collide, it’s not just the dishes that sizzle—romance starts to simmer too.

Tastefully Yours is available on Netflix

The Haunted Palace

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Yun-gap, a well-respected and strikingly handsome government official, finds his life turned upside down when he becomes possessed by an Imoogi—a mythical serpent spirit. Whispers begin circulating that he’s gone mad. The Imoogi’s fate is inexplicably tied to Yeo-ri, the only granddaughter of a famed shaman, who once had a crush on Yun-gap. Though she was born with a spiritual gift, Yeo-ri has turned her back on that destiny and now works as a glassmith. 

When the Imoogi seeks to use her body to ascend to Heaven, she refuses—and steps into the palace to confront it. There, she discovers the royal grounds are haunted by vengeful female spirits, harbouring deep grudges against the royal family. As these supernatural forces stir, reformist King Yi-seong —determined to build a stronger Joseon—finds himself facing the palace’s darkest secrets. Together, Yun-gap, Yeo-ri, and the king must unearth the truth behind the haunting before it’s too late.

The Haunted Palace is available on Viu

Mercy For None 

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Nam Gi-Jun (played by So Ji-Sub) was part of the notorious Bongsan Gang, and was once a feared figure in the underworld. He got into some of the most brutal fights and crushed his rivals, which solidified his status as one of the most ruthless and strategic gangsters. However, things took a turn when his younger brother, Nam Gi-Seok (Lee Jun-Hyuk), chose to join their enemy—the Joowoon Gang, led by Lee Ju-Woon (Heo Jun-Ho). To protect his brother, Gi-Jun made a dramatic exit from the gang life—severing ties by literally cutting his own Achilles tendon.

11 years later, Gi-Jun is living quietly, supplying drinks to Bongsan-owned businesses, far from the chaos of his past. But that peace is shattered when news breaks: his brother, now Joowoon’s second-in-command, is suddenly found dead.

Haunted by grief and driven by vengeance, Gi-Jun returns to the underworld in hopes of uncovering the truth behind his brother’s death.

Mercy For None is available on Netflix

Our Movie

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Lee Jeha, the son of a legendary filmmaker, is under pressure to live up to the hype after his breakout debut. Struggling with the fear of a sophomore slump, he hesitates to take on his next project—until he meets Lee Daeum, a terminally ill aspiring actress.

Casting her in the lead role sends shockwaves through the industry, but for Jeha, it’s the story he needs to tell. As they push through the emotional and physical toll of making the film, the two form an unexpected connection—one that’s rooted in shared pain, vulnerability, and a quiet kind of hope.

Our Movie is available on Disney+

Oh My Ghost Clients 

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No Mu-jin (Jung Kyung-ho) is a pragmatic labour attorney with a special ability to see ghosts. Only in it for the paycheck, he ignores the pleas of his clients - until he reluctantly teams up with a YouTuber (Seol In-ah) to expose corruption in the labour field.

As Mu-jin dives into the murky world of labour corruption, what starts as a half-hearted chase for clicks spirals into a life-or-death battle for truth, justice, and his own survival. Starring Jung Kyung-ho and Seol In-ah (‘Twinkling Watermelon’), ‘Oh My Ghost Clients’ is perfect for fans of investigative thrillers with heart and humour.

Oh My Ghost Clients is available on Viu

Pump Up The Healthy Love

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Do Hyun-joong (Lee Jun-Young), a former bodybuilding star, inherits a crumbling neighborhood gym and strives to balance between business operations and coaching his members. 

Lee Mi-ran (Jung Eun-Ji), a first-time gym-goer, joins Hyun-joong’s gym to recover from a recent breakup. What starts as a professional trainer-trainee dynamic quickly becomes something more as sparks fly and limits are pushed. Together, they fight through emotional baggage, physical hurdles, and personal demons - one rep at a time.

Pump Up The Healthy Love is available on Viu 

Trigger

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Set in a gun-free South Korea, things spiral when illegal firearms suddenly surface, throwing the entire nation into chaos. At the heart of it all are two men: a former cop and a shadowy arms broker, both caught in the dangerous aftermath of this explosive shift.

Trigger is available on Netflix

Law and the City 

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Law and The City follows Ahn Juhyeong, a ninth-year associate who’s sharp, experienced, and maybe a little too comfortable coasting in his career. Burnt out from defending clients he doesn’t fully believe in, Juhyeong’s perspective starts to shift when Huijim, a bright-eyed, freshly minted lawyer, joins a firm in the same building. Her drive and idealism shake something in him, reminding him of the purpose he once had.

Law and the City is available on Disney+

My Girlfriend is the Man!

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After a blind date leads to instant sparks, university student Park Yoon-jae quickly falls for the sweet and charming Kim Ji-eun. But just as their romance starts to blossom, things take a wild turn when Ji-eun mysteriously wakes up as a man overnight. Now going by the name Ji-hoon, she’s forced to navigate a whole new world as a man. With the support of her devoted boyfriend Yoon-jae, she embarks on a heartfelt (and hilarious) journey to figure out her new reality, and maybe, how to change it back.

My Girlfriend is the Man! is available on Viu 

Bitch x Rich 2

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Following the tumultuous events of the first season, Cheongdam International High School is thrown into chaos. Once an outsider, Kim Hye-in makes history as the first “Diamond 6” member from a humble background, while the once untouchable Baek Je-na is on shaky ground.

At the same time, Seo Do-eon is forced to confront hard truths as his ideas of love and loyalty are tested. And when a powerful new student arrives, fresh secrets and sharper ambitions, rivalries flare and psychological warfare ensues.

Bitch x Rich 2 is available on Viu

Beyond the Bar

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Beyond The Bar is a legal drama inspired by real-life cases, following the unlikely partnership between a cold, brilliant elite lawyer and a socially awkward yet confident rookie. Yoon Seok-hoon, the sharp-tongued leader of Yullim Law Firm’s litigation team, is a master of high-stakes strategy and utterly hopeless at small talk. Kang Hyo-min, on the other hand, the new attorney on his team, is righteous, outspoken, and unafraid to challenge him at every turn. Their constant clashes slowly give way to mutual respect as Hyo-min learns what it truly takes to be a lawyer.

Beyond The Bar is available on Netflix

Love, Take Two 

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This heartwarming slice-of-life comedy-drama follows a single mother and her medical student daughter as they leave the city behind for a fresh start in the countryside. Amid colourful characters and unexpected mishaps, the two navigate love, laughter, and life lessons they never anticipated. Warm, funny, and full of heart, Love, Take Two delivers a multigenerational spin on romance and family reconnection.

Love, Take Two is now on Viu

Our Golden Days

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Lee Ji-hyeok seems to have it all — confidence, success, and admiration in both work and love. But when his perfect façade crumbles, he’s forced to face the emptiness beneath it. In his lowest moments, he finds unexpected comfort in Oh Ji-eun, a cafe owner who once had feelings for him and, despite past rejection, stands firmly by his side. Meanwhile, his longtime friend Park Seong-jae, wealthy but lonely, grapples with unspoken feelings that threaten to blur the lines between friendship and love.

Our Golden Days is now on Viu

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