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

This is Part 2, a continuation of the list of “the mixed dozen” of Korean dramas across various genres. Below are the final six (6) recommendations.

• To see the first six (6) recommendations, click Mixed Dozen ~ Part 1.

♦ (7) “Law School” (2021)

• Genre: Crime and Murder Mystery, Courtroom/Legal Drama
• IMDb Rating: 8 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: In “Law School” students at the prestigious Hankuk University Law School welcome Professor Yang Jong-hoon. The former prosecutor turned law professor is a brilliant legal scholar with a troubled past. Soon after his arrival he becomes embroiled in a murder case. It started out as a mock trial but one of the professors is found dead. A top law school student, Han Joon-hwi, is accused of killing the professor. The murdered professor is his uncle.

Jong-hoon has a troubled past and Joon-hwi has a mysterious family background. This is no longer “mock” but a real murder investigation. Somehow Professor Yang’s past connects him to the case. In addition, bits and pieces of the lives of both professors and students are uncovered and corruption in the legal system is exposed. The series will end with a dramatic courtroom showdown.

Main Characters:

• Yang Jong-Hoon (played by Kim Myung-Min, “Detective K”, “Your Honor”)
• Han Joon-Hwi (played by Kim Beom, “Tale of the Nine-Tailed”, “Ghost Doctor”)

♦ (8) Nevertheless (2021)

• Genre: Romance, College Youth, Webtoon
• IMDb Rating: 7.1 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: In “Nevertheless”, Yoo Na-bi, a talented art student at Hongseo University, who has no longer in the mood for love after a painful breakup. She is determined to focus on her art and personal growth and development. However, she finds herself drawn to Park Jae-eon, another art student who is very popular and has a reputation for being a big flirt. He is known for leading women around without serious intentions, and Na-bi does not want to be another one of his fleeting encounters.

Nevertheless, Na-bi’s strong attraction to Jae-eon diminishes her resolve to avoid romantic entanglements. But isn’t life all about relationships? A painful breakup should not define her future life. Na-bi reasons that perhaps she should confront her fears about love and explore the possibility of finding true love and happiness. Little does she know, Jae-eon is also skeptical about falling in love.

Main Characters:

• Yoo Na-bi (played by Han So-hee, “My Name”, “Gyeongseong Creature”, “100 Days My Prince”)
• Park Jae-eon (played by Song Kang, “My Demon”, “Sweet Home”)

♦

(9) “My Liberation Notes” (2022)

• Genre: Romance, Slice of Life, Biographical
• IMDb Rating: 8.2 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: In “My Liberation Notes”, we meet the Yeom family: the eldest sister, Yeom Gi-jeong; the second sibling, a brother, Yeom Chang-Hee; and the youngest sibling, a sister, Yeom Mi-Jeong. Three (3) siblings lead a humdrum-boring existence in a small rural town, Sanpo Village, and they all yearn for change. In other words, they long to be liberated.

• Yeom Gi-jeong feels trapped and is dissatisfied with both her personal and professional life. She is high-spirited and somewhat rebellious but she doesn’t know what she can do to liberate herself so that she can live a life with a sense of purpose and freedom.
• Yeom Chang-Hee, the second sibling, who would love to leave his hometown but … ??? … but where would he go? That’s his problem. He doesn’t really have a dream or a plan to liberate himself. But surely anything is better than the way he is living now.
• Yeom Mi-jeong is the youngest sibling who is just as disillusioned as everyone else. She is quiet and introverted and imagines liberating herself. There must be a better way to live than her current boring and uneventful life.

Mr. Gu is a stranger from who knows where … who wandered into Sanpo Village one day. His presence is mysterious and his behavior is enigmatic. The Yeom family does not know his real identity, yet his interactions with them compel them to face their desires and fears. All of the siblings have emotional struggles, but they are determined to transform themselves and move away from their dismal everyday life. The siblings hope to liberate themselves and find the paths that lead them to a happy life with meaning and purpose. Will they be able to? 

Main Characters:

• Youngest Sibling, Yeom Mi-Jeong (played by Kim Ji-Won, “Queen of Tears”)
• Middles Ibling, Yeom Chang-Hee (played by Lee Min-Ki, “Behind Your Touch”)
• Oldest Sibling, Yeom Gi-Jeong (played by Lee El, “Battle for Happiness”)
• Mr. Gu (played by Son Suk-Ku, “A Killer Paradox”)

♦ (10) “Bulgasal: Immortal Souls” (2022)

• Genre: Fantasy or Supernatural, Mystery, Revenge
• IMDb Rating: 7.4 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: In “Bulgasal: Immortal Souls”, several questions are posed:

• Would you rather be an immortal soul and live in this world forever OR not be an immortal soul and leave this world?
• Would you rather cast off your immortality, become reincarnated as human, and live in this world (under a secret identity so that you can get revenge on some people who wronged you)?

Dan Hwal, was once a nobleman during the Goryeo Dynasty and a military officer. While on what should have been his final military mission, he is transformed into a Bulgasal, a mythical being who is doomed to live forever and consume human blood to sustain himself. He considers immortality to be a curse. He’s been alive for 600 years and quite frankly, he’s getting tired of this curse! Certain people betrayed him in his past life, and that’s why he was cursed. Throughout the centuries, Dan Hwal encounters various people who are linked to his past life, each one reveals something about the curse and his history. He is on a quest for vengeance.

Min Sang-un is a woman he meets in the present day, but she somehow has a connection to his past. She was also immortal but now she is a human being who was reincarnated. Their timelines intertwine and she becomes entangled with Dan Hwal in his quest for vengeance. Together they uncover hidden truths about their past lives and unravel a complex web of ancient grudges and secrets.

Main Characters:

• Dan Hwal (played by Lee Jin-Uk, “Squid Game”, “Sweet Home”, “Doona!”, “The Three Musketeers”)
• Min Sang-Un (played by Kwon Na-Ra, “The Midnight Studio”, “Royal Secret Agent”, “Doctor Prisoner”, “Suspicious Partner”)
• Ok Eul-Tae (played by Lee Joon)
• Dan Sol (played by Gong Seung-Yeon)
  

♦ (11) “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (2022)

• Genre: Workplace or Office, Courtroom/Legal Drama, Romance
• IMDb Rating: 8.6 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: In “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”, Woo Young-woo is an intelligent young lawyer with an autism spectrum disorder. Despite her disability, she graduated at the top of her class from a prestigious law school and proved that she is capable of navigating the complexities of the legal world. Her autism causes difficulties and often affects her social interactions and communication skills. But her unique perspective on cases and her ability to see details others might overlook usually lead to innovative legal approaches.

Woo Young-woo works at Hanbada Law Firm, where her co-workers include a supportive supervisor, Lee Joon-ho, and a demanding boss, Jung Myung-seok. Woo Young-woo is assigned to various legal cases, from corporate disputes to criminal trials, and her approach to each case is described as unconventional but effective. Her presence in the legal field prompts discussions about diversity and inclusion. In her professional life as an attorney, she constantly grows and matures, gaining valuable work experience. In her personal and private life, she has a complicated relationship with her estranged father, and a romantic relationship with her supervisor, Lee Joon-ho. Attorney Woo is indeed extraordinary.

Main Characters:

• Woo Young-woo (played by Park Eun-bin, “Castaway Diva“, “The King’s Affection“, “The Ghost Detective“)
• Lee Joon-ho (played by Kang Tae-Oh, “The Tale of Nokdu“)
• Jung Myung-seok (played by Kang Ki-Young, “Queen of Divorce“)

16 Reasons Why “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” Should Be The Next Series You Binge On Netflix | BuzzFeed

♦ (12)  “Yumi’s Cells (2021-2022); 2 Seasons

• Genre: Romance, Drama: Animation, Webtoon
• IMDb Rating:8.1 out of 10 stars
• Where to Watch
• WATCH TRAILER

STORYLINE: Yumi is a single working woman in her thirties (30s) seeking fulfillment in her personal and professional life. Like almost everyone else, she wants to be loved for who she is and she wants to be successful in her career. Yumi’s cells take you into the inner workings of Yumi’s mind.

• Season 1: Yumi is an office worker who is 30+ and struggling personally and professionally. The animated cells represent her emotions and desires: Love, Hunger, Rational Thinking, etc. Goo Woong is a game developer, and also Yumi’s co-worker and boyfriend. Yumi has had past relationships that affected her self-esteem but that did not stop her from pursuing romance. She hopes to finally experience true love with her latest boyfriend; and achieve her career ambitions without having to sacrifice her personal life.
  Season 2: Yumi is in a new relationship with Yoo Ba Bi, a passionate and ambitious writer. The animated cells continue to provide a humorous yet insightful look into how Yumi navigates her emotions and makes decisions. She continues to grow professionally and personally, always intending to learn from her past and look forward to her future.

Main Characters:

• Kim Yu-Mi (played by Kim Go-Eun, “Little Women”, “The King: Eternal Monarch”)
• Ku Woong (played by Ahn Bo-Hyun, “Flex X Cop”, “See You in My 19th Life”, “Military Prosecutor Doberman”, “My Name”, “My Only Love Song”)
• Yoo Ba Bi (played by Jin-Young, “The Devil Judge”, “He is Psychometric”)

NOTE:  There is also Yumi’s Cells: The Movie, ONLY ON VIKI.

♦

The 20 Best Korean Dramas Of 2022 | Forbes