12 K-Dramas Across Various Genres (Pt 1 of 2)

Korean drama lovers often have problems deciding what to watch. Fans started surfing the Korean Wave over two decades ago and there are lots of genres to choose from.

The list provided in this two-part article is a mixed dozen, i.e. 12 Korean dramas released between 2020 and 2022, which includes a variety of genres, except sageuk. Below are the first six (6) recommendations.

• (NOTE: PopGeeks has already published several reviews for Korean dramas released in 2023 and 2024.)

♦ (1) “Tell Me What You Saw” (2020)

• Genre: Crime, Thriller
• IMDb Rating: 7.6 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rating: 9.4 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: Oh Hyun-jae was once a renowned criminal profiler but withdrew from society when he lost his fiancée in a tragic incident. However, a new series of gruesome murders similar to his past cases emerges and the police investigators need his help solving the crimes. Cha Soo-young is a young police officer with the ability to recall every detail she sees. She works with Oh Hyun-jae and her gift proves to be invaluable in unraveling the complex web of clues the killer leaves behind. Hyun-jae is still battling with psychological and emotional trauma and the cases he is investigating are causing the bad memories to resurface. The line between justice and revenge becomes blurred.

Main Characters:

• Oh Hyun-Jae (played by Jang Hyuk, “Family: The Unbreakable Bond”)
• Cha Soo-Young (played by Sooyoung)
• Hwang Hwa-Young (played by Jin Seo-Yeon)

♦ (2) “Mystic Pop-up Bar” (2020)

• Genre: Fantasy or Supernatural, Comedy
• IMDb Rating: 7.9 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: “Mystic Pop-up Bar” is the perfect blend of fantasy or supernatural, comedy, and drama. There is a mysterious, magical bar that pops up and operates in the afterlife. Weol-ju is a spirit and the owner of this wondrous business establishment. Her loyal employee is Han Kang-bae and they both have supernatural abilities. Together they help troubled souls who still have unfinished business and lingering issues that must be resolved so that they can move on to the afterlife.

The bar opens at night and serves customers from the living and the dead. But the thing is that Weol-ju is being punished for her sins by being bound to her earthly existence and helping others is how she must redeem herself. Kang-bae also struggles with his past, but he has the ability to get people to reveal their innermost thoughts and feelings and help them work through their unresolved issues.

Main Characters:

• Weol-Ju (played by Hwang Jung-Eum, “The Escape of the Seven”)
• Han Kang-Bae (played by Yook Sung-Jae)

♦ (3) “365: Repeat the Year” (2020)

• Genre: Fantasy or Supernatural, Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
• IMDb Rating: 7.9 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rating: 9.3 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: In “365: Repeat the Year”, the “Time Traveler” is a mysterious figure who offers ten (10) people the ability to reset their lives by going back a year. Since they are dissatisfied with their lives and want to correct past mistakes, most gladly accept the offer. However, when they redo the year, they find themselves entangled in a series of unsettling and deadly events. How is it that a second chance is a nightmare? With the repeat they find themselves caught in a web of murder and betrayal. Why didn’t the Time Traveler tell them that during the reset year, they would end up in a struggle for survival? In their present life, they were just dissatisfied. But in their reset life, they don’t even know if they will survive.

• Shin Ga-Hyun is one of the ten (10). She has published a popular webcomic series titled “Hidden Killer”. One day she was involved in an accident that upended her life. She jumped at the opportunity to reset her life. But the reset was not what she expected.
• Ji Hyung-Joo is a detective who chooses to repeat the past year. Everything was fine until he realized that the others who accepted the reset offer were involved in various cases.

Main Characters:

• Ji Hyung-Joo (played by Lee Joon-Hyuk, “Stranger”)
• Shin Ga-Hyun (played by Nam Ji-Hyun)

♦ (4) “The Cursed” (2020)

• Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy or Superntaural
• IMDb Rating: 7.1 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: In “The Cursed”, Im Jin-hee is a reporter trying to uncover sinister secrets of a powerful South Korean conglomerate. Jin Jong-Hyun, the chairman of the IT corporation believes in shamanism. There is a group known for its nefarious dealings and dark practices. They are a mysterious and malevolent force that use cursed objects and rituals to extend their influence into the supernatural realm.

When Im Jin-hee starts investigating because of a series of unusual and deadly occurrences, she becomes entangled in this dark web of corruption. Baek So-jin is a teenage girl who has the power to summon and control cursed objects. She will use her ability to unravel the mysteries, expose the group’s sinister activities, and combat the evil forces at play.

Main Characters:

• Im Jin-Hee (played by Uhm Ji-Won, “Jung_E”)
• Jin Jong-Hyun (played by Sung Dong-Il)
• Baek So-Jin (played by Jung Ji-So)

♦ (5) “The Penthouse: War in Life” (3 seasons; 2020-2021); Award-winning

• Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
• IMDb Rating: 7.9 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated each season 9+ out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE:  “The Penthouse: War in Life” is a Korean drama series with a story that unfolds over three seasons. It’s about the lives of the wealthy and influential residents of a luxury apartment complex called Hera Palace. 

• Season 1 (2020-2021): The three (3) main characters are Shim Su-ryeon, a wealthy socialite who tries to keep her past hidden; Cheon Seo-jin, a manipulative diva who is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain her status; and Oh Yoon-hee, a struggling singer who gets entangled in the upper-class society because her daughter was admitted to a prestigious school. The residents of Hera Palace do anything to present the image of wealth, prestige, and the good life while doing everything to keep the ugly truths about their private lives hidden.
• Season 2 (2021): The storyline from Season 1 continues with the residents getting more and more desperate. Shim Su-ryeon wants justice and revenge, while Cheon Seo-jin’s manipulative schemes reach a new level of craziness and insanity. New characters are introduced, along with plot twists, that add extra complications to already complicated and conflicting relationships. Although they try to avoid it, many must ultimately face the consequences of their actions.
• Season 3 (2021): The power struggles or the “War in Life” among the residents ends with a series of dramatic and tragic events.

Main Characters:

• Oh Yoon-Hee (played by Eugene or Kim Yoo-Jin)
• Cheon Seo-Jin (played by Kim So-Yeon)
• Shim Su-Ryeon (played by Lee Ji-Ah)

♦ (6) “Youth of May” (2021)

• Genre: Historical, Political, Romance
• IMDb Rating: 8.3 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: “Youth of May” is a love story set against the backdrop of a significant, turbulent, and tragic chapter in South Korean history: May 1980, the Gwangju Uprising. The personal stories of various individuals are blended with the larger political and social upheaval of the time. Hwang Hee-tae is an intelligent and idealistic medical student, and Kim Myung-hee is a compassionate nurse. Hee-tae is sent to help at a local clinic where Myung-hee works and that’s how they meet. In their personal lives a passionate romance blooms. But the politics of the day disrupt both their professional and personal lives.

It is impossible to ignore the broader struggles surrounding them. Student protesters are fighting for democratic rights and social justice and they face violence and repression. Amidst a brutal crackdown, the youth prove their commitment, strength, resilience, and hope, even though there are emotional and psychological scars that remain after surviving this tumultuous period in history. Students in democratic nations or nations fighting to become democratic can appreciate the history lesson of the K-drama series. Despite the political unrest and the danger involved with protests, the youth actively challenge the powers and authorities and still find time to open their hearts to romance and love.

Main Characters:

• Hee-Tae (played by Lee Do-Hyun)
• Myung-Hee (played by Go Min-Si)