When producing the drama about a group of contestants participating in games with deadly stakes, Squid Game, South Korean executives certainly did not anticipate its radical success with worldwide audiences. Thanks to globalization and the ever-dynamic Internet, South Korean dramas have been getting increased attention from not only Tinseltown. Fortunately, there is a lot to choose from.

Thankfully, K-dramas are becoming more and more prevalent in every corner of the world for their perfect balance between originality and the ability to strike an emotional connection with viewers. Yet, many great K-dramas do not have the same amount of attention that series like the global phenomenon received for their captivating stories. From Work Later, Drink Now to My Mister, these are some of the best and most underrated Korean dramas, ranging across all different genres, that viewers should give a chance to.

12 'Work Later, Drink Now' (2022)

Creator: TVING

Work Later Drink Now
Image via TVING

What happens when a broadcasting writer, a yoga instructor, and an origami Youtuber walk into a bar? You get Work Later, Drink Now. "Compared to words, true friends believe in drinking a toast." This South Korean web series based on Kakao Webtoon's Drinker City Women by Mikkang tells the story of three women who can not go without one drink at the end of the day.

Work Later, Drink Now is definitely the go-to show if you're interested in South Korea's alcohol binge-drinking culture and seek a light-hearted drama about empowering female friendships. Albeit light-hearted for most of the running time, the show is not afraid to delve into serious issues such as teenage suicides and the side effects of chain drinking.

Watch on ODK

11 'We Are Peaceful Brothers' (2017)

Creator: Naver TV

Noh Sang-hyun and Kim Min-gue in We Are Peaceful Brothers
Image via  Naver TV

A webtoon adaptation of the same title, the underrated K-drama We Are Peaceful Brothers is essentially about... brothers. Older brother Lee Yoon (Noh Sang-hyun) is a designer, while the younger brother Lee Sang (Kim Min-kyu) is still a student. The show comprises a series of shorts depicting the love-hate relationship between the two brothers, who manage to live together despite having vastly different personalities.

Each episode is roughly 5 minutes, so this drama is a great pick for anyone who's incredibly busy with their lives but still wants something short and lighthearted to kill time. We Are Peaceful Brothers makes for an engaging watch throughout, appealing to different types of viewers.

We Are Peaceful Brothers is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase.

10 'Kill It!' (2019)

Directors: Ji-Sook Ahn, Sung-Woo Nam

Kill It
Image via OCN

Kim Soo-hyun (Jang Ki-Yong) is an elite assassin with impeccable skills and complete anonymity. Protected by his altruistic facade as a veterinarian, he is sought after by criminal gangs and organizations worldwide who seek his lethal dexterity. On the other hand, Do Hyun-Jin (Im Jin-ah) is an excellent but conceited detective whose cold-hearted exterior hides her empathy towards victims and the painful past of losing her lover.

In Kill It, Soo-Hyun and Hyun-jin engage in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game but discover clues that insinuate that the two share more things in common than meets the eye. With such an intriguing plot, Kill It is enthralling and holds audiences' interest well, ultimately resulting in an absorbing time in front of the screen.

Watch on Viki

9 'The Tale of Nokdu' (2019)

Director: Kim Dong Hwi

The Tale of Nokdu
Image via KBS2

In order to find out the culprit responsible for attacking his family, Jeon Nok-du (Jang Dong-yoon) disguises himself as a woman and enters a mysterious village inundated with widows. During his time there, he meets Dong Dong-ju (Kim So-hyun), a hot-tempered woman who also seeks revenge for her family and refuses to become a gisaeng, where women from enslaved or outcast families are trained to be courtesans.

Set in the Joseon period, the underrated Korean drama The Tale of Nokdu offers a refreshing take on the cross-dressing archetype while showcasing one of K-dramas' best on-screen couples with great chemistry. Needless to say, it is an essential watch for period piece lovers with an incredible pairing at its center.

Watch on Kocowa

8 'The Light In Your Eyes' (2019)

Director: Kim Suk-yoon

The Light In Your Eyes
Image via JTBC

This drama follows 26-year-old Kim Hye-Ja (Han Ji-min), who discovers a mysterious watch that allows her to manipulate time, but with a hefty price. Unable to cope with her father's death from a car accident, Hye-Ja abuses her newfound power to rewind time until she accidentally becomes a 70-year-old lady overnight. Struggling with her new identity, Hye-Ja goes on a journey of self-discovery as she deals with family issues and unfulfilled promises.

Receiving accolades from both critics and audiences for its innovative but touching storytelling about time-traveling, the touching K-drama The Light In Your Eyes is not mentioned enough when it comes to discussions related to the best dramas of all time. Due to its moving narrative, it can be hard to sit through at times. However, it is 100% worth the tears.

Watch on Netflix

7 'Through the Darkness' (2022)

Director: Park Bo-ram

A scene from the K-drama Through the Darkness
Image via SBS

Despite its high IMDb score, Through the Darkness is hardly a popular K-drama among global audiences and is definitely worth checking. Based on the 2018 non-fiction book of the same title, co-written by South Korea's first criminal profiler Kwon Il-yong and author Ko Na-mu, the series follows Song Ha-young (Kim Nam-gil), a member of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team who struggles to decipher the behavioral patterns of real-life monsters.

A compelling watch through and through, Through the Darkness is often compared to the highly prized David Fincher series Mindhunter, which also focuses on studying the minds of serial killers. This intriguing K-drama is gripping, thought-provoking, and captivating, making for the perfect pick for those who enjoy the crime genre.

Watch on Viki

6 'Doctor John' (2019 - )

Director: Jo Soo-won

Ji Sung and  Lee Se-young in Doctor John
Image via SBS

This medical drama TV show offers audiences a new take on the genre by depicting doctors' intense pursuit of the source of their patients' suffering in a very compelling manner, illustrating how modern medicine has developed and the hard choices that oftentimes must be made in the field. Doctor John's star is Yo Han (Ji Sung), a promising doctor who needs only 10 seconds to figure out a patient's condition.

With great performances by the lead actors and a thrilling storyline (also involving an electrifying romance and memorable central characters), the heartwarming 2019 K-drama is quite enjoyable and guaranteed to provide audiences with a great time, especially given how well-paced and intense it is.

Watch on Viki

5 'Welcome to Waikiki' (2018)

Director: Lee Chang-Min

Welcome to Waikiki
Image via JTBC

The heartwarming drama Welcome to Waikiki centers around three young men who aspire to make it big in the film industry. They manage a guest house named "Waikiki" in Itaewon as a means of gathering money for their upcoming film production. Facing strange situations ranging from bankruptcy to unexpected babies, the tenacious trio do everything they can to finance their film.

A balanced mix of comedy and drama, this 2018 show is among the many K-drama enthusiasts can not miss. On top of being gripping and hooking viewers from the beginning due to its premise, it is equal amounts hilarious. No doubt, the series is endless fun and a must-watch for fans of K-drama comedies.

Watch on Viki

4 'Chicago Typewriter' (2017)

Director: Kim Cheol-kyu

Chicago Typewriter
Image via THE UNICORN

In Chicago Typewriter, Han Se-joo (Yoo Ah-in) is a best-selling author who is dealing with writer's block. Yoo Jin-oh (Go Kyung-Pyo) is a talented ghostwriter who occasionally helps Se-joo with his writing. Jeon Seol (Lim Soo-jung) is a woman with varied expertise and happens to be an anti-fan of Se-joo.

The trio is not only linked to each other based on their current complex relationships but their previous lives as resistance fighters in the 1930s Japanese occupation of Korea. Will discovering the truth of their identities before reincarnation change their ongoing dynamics for the better or for worse? With a captivating plot and characters, there is a lot to unpack in this engaging series (which is certainly among the most underrated K-dramas).

Chicago Typewriter is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase.

3 'Prison Playbook' (2017)

Director: Shin Won-ho

Prison Playbook
Image via Prime Video

Saving his sister from an assailant, Squid Game's Park Hae-soo plays Kim Je-hyuk, a star baseball pitcher convicted of assault and who received a one-year prison sentence. With his debut right around the corner, Kim has to adapt to his new world of iron bars and eccentric prison mates. Despite excelling in baseball, Kim's air-headed personality constantly requires assistance from his best friend/prison guard Lee Jun-ho (Jung Kyung-ho).

From kleptomaniacs to drug junkies, Kim eventually finds the good in the supposedly "evil" prisoners, each with their own perils and unique outlook on life in this criminally underrated Netflix K-drama. The slice-of-life well-crafted series is certainly worth audiences' attention, especially considering the way it seamlessly blends humor with dramatic elements.

Watch on Netflix

2 'Navillera' (2021)

Director: Han Dong-Hwa

Navillera
Image via Studio Dragon

Navillera, which roughly translates to "like a butterfly," follows a 70-year-old retired mailman Shim Deok-chul (Hong Seung-hee) who comes of age during his golden years and finally pursues his love for ballet dancing after seeing Swan Lake at a young age.

Undeterred by his family's objections and societal standards, Shim enrolls in a local dance academy and becomes a student of the talented but struggling dancer Lee-Chae-Rok (Song Kang). The heartwarming feel-good K-drama series urges viewers to chase their dreams while they can and that life's too short for regrets and self-condemnation. Featuring superb acting, Navillera is a series many wish others would see and give the praise it deserves, and understandably so.

Watch on Netflix

1 'My Mister' (2018)

Director: Kim Won-seok

My Mister
Image via TVN

In the workplace drama My Mister, an unlikely friendship is formed between a middle-aged supervisor and his younger colleague, both grappling with the unbearable weight of their respective miserable lives. The supervisor is named Dong-hun (Lee Sun-kyun), a man who recently discovered that his wife is having an affair with the senior executive of his company. At the same time, his colleague Ji-an (Lee Ji-eun) is in severe debt and constantly harassed by loan sharks who subject her to intense beatings. Their fateful encounter begins when a stack of gift certificates worth 50 million won has gone missing.

While not exactly an upbeat series, My Mister is widely regarded as the best underrated K-drama; it seriously sticks with audiences and entices them to wish they could watch it for the first time again. Given that it is a bit slow and dark, it is surely not everyone's cup of tea. However, My Mister is a compelling watch guaranteed to surprise those who enjoy dramatic K-dramas.

Watch on Netflix

NEXT:The Most Mind-Bending South Korean Dramas on Netflix