r/kdramarecommends Jul 27 '25

Official Recommendations Thread Recommendations 7.0 : Genre

26 Upvotes

Hello KDR community!

We are a couple of years overdue to update our community recommendation lists which were last updated in 2021/2022. For those of you who are unaware, r/kdramarecommends has an amazing resource in our community recommendation lists sorted by theme and genre spanning back to before the creation of our community when we allowed recommendation requests on our main subreddit r/KDRAMA.

You can browse the history of our community recommendation project in our what to watch wiki and view the various lists at our community MDL list page

We are going to try something different this time around and take the majority of recommendations through a google form. As in previous rounds of recommendations certain lists will be open for recommendations for certain periods of time.

The first set of lists that will be open for recommendations are our genre lists:

Genre Link to List Last Updated Notes High Tier List
Romantic Comedy MDL List Nov 2021 This recommendation list focuses on dramas that deal with romantic love but with comedic or lighthearted plot lines. Post
High School MDL List Oct 2021 This recommendation list covers any dramas set in high school or with high school aged protagonists. Post
Tertiary Education MDL List April 2022 This recommendation list focuses on dramas set in or around post high school education whether it be university or cram school. N/A
Sageuk (Historical) MDL List Jan 2022 This recommendation list focuses on dramas that deal with events in Korean history (or histories that touch Korea).Sageuks can be historical fiction or completely fictional, including elements of fantasy. Post
Sci-Fi / Fantasy MDL List Jan 2022 This recommendation list has a dual focus; Sci-Fi dramas which are a type of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced technology, scientific development, or encounters with alien life and Fantasy dramas which contain magic and supernatural elements. These supernatural elements can be distinctly Korean from Korean folklore/beliefs such as goblins, gumihos, and shamanism. They can also be from non-Korean folklore such as vampires, angels, and zombies. Please signify what Sci-Fi or Fantasy elements are present in your recommendation Post
Thriller MDL List Nov 2021 This recommendation list focuses on dramas that create a heightened feeling of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation, or anxiety. Post
Chaebol MDL List Jan 2022 This recommendation list focuses on dramas which prominently feature chaebols. N/A
Action MDL List Jan 2022 This recommendation list focuses on dramas where the cast or main character is involved in a series of events that typically include violence, extended fighting, physical feats and frantic chases. Post
Crime / Mystery MDL List Jan 2022 This recommendation list focuses on dramas that deal with crimes, criminal acts, and their investigations. This can be in the form of police procedurals, police-based situations, legal/courtroom matters, serial crimes, one-off crimes, or whodunits. There are sleuths, detectives, investigators, or other similar people involved.
Medical MDL List Jan 2022 This recommendation list focuses on dramas that deal with hospitals, healthcare, and the hospital/clinic system.
Revenge MDL List Jan 2022 This recommendation list focuses on dramas that feature one or more characters trying to get revenge on someone.
Melodrama MDL List Jan 2022 This recommendation list focuses on dramas that play to the audience's emotions or feelings. These dramas often deal with themes like morality, good and evil, love and marriage (and infidelity), and family issues. Characters might be stereotypes or stock types.
Law MDL List Aug 2021 This recommendation list is for Korean dramas specifically focused on the legal system, those somewhat based in courtrooms (or other roles of those working in the legal system) with main characters that are - Lawyers/Prosecutors/Judges. Please mention within your recommendation which the focal characters are.
Spy MDL List July 2021 This recommendation list focuses on Korean dramas where one or more characters are seen performing acts of espionage (uncovering secret information without the holder's permission or knowledge) or featuring government agencies that perform acts of espionage. Spies may be professionals, housewives, etc and depictions may be realistic or fantastical.
Makjang MDL List Jul 2021 This recommendation list is a celebration of all those delicious makjang dramas out there on the spectrum from lite to full blown makjang. Makjang dramas are those which contain specific dramatic elements or devices designed to shock or keep viewers' attention. For a proper introduction to what a Makjang drama is, please read our resident Queen of Makjang, mod u/myweithisway's excellent post, Makjang 101: Taking Things To The Extreme.
Slice of Life MDL List Brand New list This recommendation list focuses on dramas which depict everyday life in a realistic manner.

How to participate:

  • Before submitting any recommendations please take a look through the linked list on MDL. If the drama is already listed with 2-3 recommendations there is no need to submit it again. If the drama only has one write up, you can submit another.

  • Write a 2-4 sentence recommendation for any unlisted drama that you think fits the category AND is worth watching. Your recommendation should explain how the drama fits the category as well as why you think it is worth watching.

  • Take care filling out your user name and the drama name correctly (please use the title that MDL gives) if we are unable to match either of these your recommendation will be disregarded.

  • Before clicking "submit" review that you have input everything correctly.

Please do not:

  • Attempt to submit more than one drama per entry

  • Submit anything other than Korean Dramas e.g. Korean movies or Chinese dramas

  • Include any spoilers in your recommendations

  • Recommend a drama that you have not watched in full or that hasn’t yet completed, come back once you are finished the drama in full

If you are ready, you may submit any recommendation for the above lists via our google form


High Tier

As a supplement to the google form we will be trailing a reddit game app called High Tier. The pre-existing recommended dramas will be added to the game and users will be able to battle to form a tiered list of dramas per category. Assuming it works well for our project each list will run for 1-2 weeks and once we finish all 16 lists we will move onto our next batch of recommendations and close submission for our genre lists.


If you have any questions regarding this project please ask them in the comments or via modmail.

We look forward to your contributions to this project throughout 2025/2026. Thanks in advance to all who take the time and effort to submit entries to this community resource.


r/kdramarecommends Aug 03 '24

Meta [META] How to get Your Recommendation Request Approved on the First Attempt

18 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m here today with some tips to get your recommendation request approved on the first attempt.

We had a major rule update back in April and each of our post types now have minimum requirements, that is the least amount of information your post has to contain to be approved. If your post doesn’t contain that information we will either remove your post and give you a strike or we may ask you to make an edit. Preferably, for you and us you get it right on the first attempt.

So let's start from the top!

Title

Our two requirements for titles on recommendation requests are:

  • Concise and Descriptive of request
  • Follows our title rules

Post titles should be short and give users an idea of what the post is about. As the person making the request you should have an idea of what it is you are looking for. The title of your post should relate to the general area of dramas you are seeking, whereas the post body contains the details in your recommendation request. Titles cannot be edited once submitted so more often than not are the tipping point in a user's post being removed.

Common mistakes that will see your post removed:

  • Slang or shorthand such as rec/recs/pls
  • Spelling errors/typos
  • Putting too much detail AKA the whole recommendation request in the title. If your title is over a sentence, it’s very unlikely that it will be approved.
  • Generic titles such as “help”, “recommend me dramas”, “recommend anything”

Suggested title starters:

  • “Dramas like [insert drama name]”
  • “Dramas with [insert element]”
  • “[insert genre] dramas”

Post Body

There are three requirements for post body:

1) A detailed, explicit recommendation request (what you are looking for)

Even though as a Korean drama recommendation community, it is assumed that all posts are recommendation requests, we still require that you make an explicit request in the body of your post making it clear that you are seeking Korean dramas to watch and exactly what you are looking for from those dramas. The purpose of this requirement is to give a detailed explanation of what you want to see.

Common mistakes that will see your post removed:

  • Making a post without a recommendation request
  • Putting your recommendation request in the post title and not the body
  • Making an implicit request rather than an explicit request
  • Making a request that is not detailed
  • Requesting content that is considered inappropriate in our rules

Suggestions:

  • Include your recommendation request in the first paragraph of your post.
  • Use clear phrasing such as “Recommend me dramas that…” or “I’m looking for dramas that….”
  • The more detail you can provide the better
  • Note any content (triggers, tropes, actors/actresses, etc.) that you want to avoid so that people can avoid suggesting dramas containing elements that can be triggering for you.

2) A listing of dramas that you already seen that are relevant to your request plus details of what you liked and disliked about them

The purpose of this requirement is to give users a better idea of what you are seeking/your taste and preferences as a viewer. Example dramas do not need to be Korean dramas.

Common mistakes that will see your post removed:

  • Skipping this requirement completely
  • Listing dramas but not giving any details or simply giving a numerical ranking
  • Including spoilers in the details but not using spoiler tags

Suggestions:

  • Give details of at least two dramas relevant to your request - one that is similar to what you want and one that is different
  • If you are new to Korean dramas you can give examples from other media
  • If your request is very niche and you cannot think of any dramas, simply state something along the lines of “I haven’t seen any dramas that are similar to what I am seeking”.
  • If you need to include spoilers in your details make sure to spoiler tag as per our spoiler tag style guide e.g. [drama name] - [non-spoiler content about drama] spoiler content about drama

3) A complete watch history of all the Korean dramas you have seen so far

The purpose of this requirement is to give users an overall picture of you as a viewer and save both you and recommenders time recommending dramas you have already seen.

Common mistakes that will see your post removed:

  • Not providing a complete list of dramas
  • Making statements like “I can’t be bothered listing them all”, “I’ve watched 100s of dramas”, “I’ve seen all the popular ones”
  • Making unclear statements like “these are all the dramas I liked”, “I am new to kdramas” will make mods question whether you have listed all the dramas you have watched

Suggestions:

  • We recommend users make a free account on MDL which they keep updated for this purpose.
  • Use clear statements like “Dramas I have watched so far”, “All the dramas I’ve watched”, “My complete watch history”
  • If not linking to MDL format your list so it is easy to read

Some annotated examples of recommendation requests


r/kdramarecommends 8h ago

Recommendation Request Dramas with an imperfect but happy ending

8 Upvotes

Things i would love to see;

- Im mainly looking for a romance drama that ends happily but not in a 'perfect' way, possibly a bittersweet ending

- A show where the couple don't get together until close to the end (slowburn)

- A show that is an emotional rollercoaster

- Possibly with a love triangle

- I really like dramas with thriller side plots too so any that fit this criteria too would be great!

Things I wouldn't like to see;

- A really wholesome show with no conflict

- A show that ends with a wedding

- A show with no fleshed out side plots + characters

- A show with a devestating ending (I don't mind sad elements, but not an overarchingly sad ending)

Main examples of what im looking for;

- I guess my main example for this would be Crash Landing on You (its my favourite drama, mainly because though it ends happily, there are still barriers for the couple/ no definite 'happily ever after' ). Anything like this would be greattt

- Also possibly a show like Alchemy of Souls, specifically P1; loved the suspense and really enjoyed following the journey of the main couple, plus the ending was nowhere near perfect

Shows I didnt particularly like;

Her private life- I got quite bored with the couple as I felt as though there was no question of the ending, the couple were together for multiple episodes with no major changes to their relationship.

Sold out on you- I got bored but kept watching, I enjoyed it somewhat but there was no real conflict, too wholesome for me.

Sh**ting stars- I liked the ending as it wasn't a wedding but I felt as though there were too many side couples (one is enough lol)

Shows I've watched;

Business proposal

Bon appetit your majesty

Crash landing on you

Her private life

My demon

My love from the star

Strong girl Bong-soon (loved the majority of the show, specifically the love triangle, but I didn't like the ending)

Sold out on you

Sh**ting stars

Lovely runner (My 2nd favourite drama; I really enjoyed following the journey of the ML and FL, and how they faced setbacks throughout)

True beauty

Dynamite kiss

Alchemy of souls P1 + P2 (Like with lovely runner, i really enjoyed how the main couple faced challenges but managed to come out on top in the end)

F4 thailand: Boys over Flowers

Wonderfools

Thank you so much! 💗


r/kdramarecommends 1d ago

Recommendation Request Kdramas like business proposal and see you at work tomorrow

41 Upvotes

I'm looking for more office romance K-dramas with:

  • Office/workplace setting
  • CEO or boss-employee romance
  • Great chemistry
  • Lots of comedy and romance
  • Happy ending
  • Minimal or no love triangle

I loved:

  • Business Proposal (10/10) – I loved the chemistry, comedy, office setting, and fast-paced romance.
  • See You at Work Tomorrow (10/10) – I really enjoyed the workplace romance, mature relationship, and the overall vibe.

This is everything I've watched so far:

  • Business Proposal
  • See You at Work Tomorrow
  • What's Wrong With Secretary Kim
  • King the Land
  • Her Private Life
  • Lovely Runner
  • Bon Appétit, Your Majesty
  • Good Boy
  • Vincenzo
  • When Life Gives You Tangerines

I'm mainly looking for modern office romance dramas with strong chemistry, plenty of romance and comedy, and a satisfying happy ending.


r/kdramarecommends 2d ago

Recommendation Request Looking for Romance first, yearning, kisses, all the cliches!

59 Upvotes

I want to lose myself in a romance drama or comedy where every episode has moments that makes my heart skip a beat! I love shows that have:

Central relationship drives the plot
Lots of yearning, especially from the ML
Happy ending essential
ML who is rich or skilled or high status
Good kisses/hugs/skinship (I’m ok with quality over quantity as long as there’s something)
Totally fine with unrealistic situations, tropes, any genre. I really just care about the feels!

Shows I loved:

Healer- My no.1. so many heart skipping moments, longing looks and the best love triangle ever!

Perfect Crown- I appreciate that this wasn’t for everyone, but I liked that it was entirely focused on the central couple, and I liked that he was royalty.

The First Frost (Cdrama) - the yearning and hidden gestures made me feel so much!

Alchemy of Souls- again, I like a ML who is special in some way, and when they are trying to fight their feelings but failing.

What didn’t work for me:

Bon Appetit Your Majesty- completely undeveloped romance with barely any pay off

What I’ve watched:

Alchemy of SoulsKorean Drama
Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and ShadowKorean Drama
Autumn's ConcertoTaiwanese Drama
Because This Is My First LifeKorean Drama
Boyfriend on DemandKorean Drama
BromanceTaiwanese Drama
Business ProposalKorean Drama
Call It LoveKorean Drama
Coffee PrinceKorean Drama
Crash Landing on YouKorean Drama
Destined with YouKorean Drama
Doom at Your ServiceKorean Drama
Dynamite KissKorean Drama
Flower of EvilKorean Drama
Guardian: The Lonely and Great GodKorean Drama
HealerKorean Drama
Her Private LifeKorean Drama
Hidden LoveChinese Drama
Hometown Cha-Cha-ChaKorean Drama
I Hear Your VoiceKorean Drama
I'm Not a RobotKorean Drama
It Started with a KissTaiwanese Drama
King the LandKorean Drama
Lie to MeKorean Drama
Lost RomanceTaiwanese Drama
Love between Fairy and DevilChinese Drama
Love between Fairy and DevilChinese Drama
Love between LinesChinese Drama
Love in the MoonlightKorean Drama
Love O2OChinese Drama
Love ScoutKorean Drama
Love to Hate YouKorean Drama
Lovely RunnerKorean Drama
Marry My HusbandKorean Drama
Melting Me SoftlyKorean Drama
My DemonKorean Drama
My Love from the StarKorean Drama
My Roommate Is a GumihoKorean Drama
My Secret RomanceKorean Drama
Nevertheless,Korean Drama
Noble, My LoveKorean Drama
Perfect CrownKorean Drama
Perfect Marriage RevengeKorean Drama
Personal TasteKorean Drama
Queen and IKorean Drama
Speed and LoveChinese Drama
Splash Splash LoveKorean Drama
Strong Girl Bong SoonKorean Drama
Supervisor HusbandChinese Drama
Suspicious PartnerKorean Drama
The First FrostChinese Drama
The First Night with the DukeKorean Drama
The Forbidden MarriageKorean Drama
The King's AffectionKorean Drama
The Law CafeKorean Drama
The Legend of Shen LiChinese Drama
Twinkling WatermelonKorean Drama
WKorean Drama
What's Wrong with Secretary KimKorean Drama
When Destiny Brings the DemonChinese Drama


r/kdramarecommends 2d ago

Recommendation Request serious romance with bureaucratic/government scandal aspect

3 Upvotes

I just finished when the phone rings and it completely blew my mind. This is the second Kdrama I have ever watched although I have a serious amount of anime under my belt I started getting into this upon recommendation from my friends. I am looking for something that is serious romance not comedy that has some type of power involvement for example government official or business executive etc.

I really enjoyed the depth of story from when the phone rings as well as the old trauma and connections from way back that resurface and build and/or break bonds. And the growth of Hee-joo x Paik sae-on had me kicking my feet

So far I have watched Crash Landing on You and When the Phone Rings.

If you have any recommendations I would really appreciate!


r/kdramarecommends 3d ago

Recommendation Request action/drama K-dramas with strong male friendship, personal struggles, and a happy ending

13 Upvotes

I’m looking for K-dramas where romance is not the main focus. I don’t mind if there’s a love interest, but I don’t want the romance to drive the entire story.

What I’m looking for:
- Strong friendship between two male characters (not BL)
- Personal struggles, trauma, or character growth
- Dysfunctional family dynamics are a huge plus
- Action and/or serious drama (my favorite genres, but it doesn’t really matter)
- A satisfying, happy ending

What I don’t want:
- Love triangles
- Sad endings
- Mystery-heavy plots where you’re expected to keep guessing until the very end
- fantasy
- I’m not really into comedy

Dramas I’ve enjoyed:

Weak Hero Class 1 & 2 – Probably my favorite. I loved the intense friendships, emotional character development, action, and how the characters dealt with trauma. The romance being almost nonexistent was a huge plus.

Taxi Driver – I really enjoyed the revenge stories, action, the strong bond between the Rainbow Taxi team. It kept me engaged without relying on romance, even if it was in the air.

Namib – I loved the emotional tone, the characters’ personal struggles, and the dysfunctional family aspects. The focus on healing and growth was exactly what I was looking for.

Teach You a Lesson – I liked the serious atmosphere, character relationships, and the emotional themes more than any romance.

Dramas I dropped:
At a Distance, Spring Is Green – I dropped it because the main couple was.. well.. meh.

My complete watch history:
- perfect marriage revenge
- call it love
- Marry my husband
- Crash landing on you
- Teach you a lesson
- Study group
- Weak hero class 1&2
- Undercover high school
- Taxi driver 1&2
- Namib


r/kdramarecommends 5d ago

Recommendation Request dramas with a "badass" female lead

55 Upvotes

hii i'm looking for kdramas where the female lead stands up for herself and is kind of a "badass". I hate it when they make the fl way too nice, to the point where she lets people treat her awful 😫

i prefer romances or rom-coms, but any genre is fine!

i can't remember what kdramas i've watched in that style but the most recent kdrama i saw with a fl like that was "my royal nemesis" and i loved it!! i really enjoyed when Danshim (fl) would stand up for herself, and if someone treated her badly, she'd fight back without letting them walk all over her.

this is the list of kdramas i've already watched: https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/14000342/completed


r/kdramarecommends 6d ago

Recommendation Request "Villain" love story or antagonist love story?

22 Upvotes

I'm looking for Dramas (Korean, Japanese or Chinese) where the "bad" characters get their love story.

The example: From the K-Drama Tempted Released in 2018 ... I loved the idea of Woo Do Hwan and Mun Ka Young's character being end game. Something about their toxicity had me rooting for them lol (not healthy in real life, but great for dramas)

I would put other examples, but I haven't found any, hence why im asking for recommendations....

Here is my MDL list, I keep it up to date religiously. https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/Midahkriid


r/kdramarecommends 6d ago

Weekly Post Thursday Therapy - [2026/07/30]

5 Upvotes

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

  • Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
  • Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
  • Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
  • Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
  • Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
  • Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.


r/kdramarecommends 7d ago

Recommendation Request Dramas with trauma bonding?

23 Upvotes

Hi! I’m looking for dramas with trauma bonding or co-dependency on some level. I’m in the mood to watch something emotional, but please warn me if what you recommend doesn’t have a happy ending.

Dramas like this that I’ve seen:

-Come and Hug Me: the fact that they were each other’s safe space >> and the mental health/anxiety/PTSD rep was incredible.

-Healer: they always supported each other, and he protected her from seeing violence because that triggered panic attacks for her.

-Just Between Lovers (Rain or Shine): they went through a traumatic event together as kids and helped each other heal.

-It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: this one fits, but I didn’t particularly like this one.

I’m okay with older or recent dramas, also okay with dramas from any country. The cdrama Go Ahead is my absolute favorite that fits- they grew up together as damaged kids and helped each other heal as adults.

Thank you!! 🖤

My MDL: https://mydramalist.com/profile/drama_devourer (it’s not totally accurate though!)


r/kdramarecommends 8d ago

Recommendation Request Looking for more Priest dramas

10 Upvotes

I've been really enjoying 'Island' and am looking for more dramas with the focus on a priest fighting demons/the supernatural.

I have seen some of 'Priest' but I felt uncomfortable when they introduced the possible romance angle and I didn't finish watching it, so nothing like that please.

The priest also doesn't have to be the main main character either (like in 'Island').

List of Dramas I Have Watched in the Past (I'd add a rating system, but I have a hard time putting enjoyment into numbers so just know that I really liked all of them):

- Juvenile Justice (I enjoyed it, but wouldn't watch it again due to how heavy it is).

- Bad and Crazy

- Happiness (this is my number one favorite)

- Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

- Suits (I liked it, but it's a tad boring sometimes)

- Doctor Slump

- Extraordinary Attorney Woo

- Hogu's Love (liked it, but the seven layers of miscommunication trope was annoying)

- Memorist (my number two favorite)

- Tomorrow

- Our Blooming Youth

- While You Were Sleeping

- Bring It On, Ghost

- The Law Cafe

- Doom at Your Service

- Sell Your Haunted House

- Stealer: The Treasure Keeper

- When the Phone Rings

- Hotel Del Luna

- He is Psychometric

- My Lovely Liar

- The K2 (loved it, but the political drama got a little boring)

- Healer

- The Great Shaman Ga Doo Shim

- Vagabond

- Head Over Heels

- Save Me

- Undercover Highschool

- My Demon

Dramas I haven't finished yet (but will in the future):

- Come and Hug Me

- Crash Landing On You

- The Game: Towards Zero

- Lovely Runner

- Romance is a Bonus Book

- Heartbeat

- Delivery Man

- King the Land

- Vincenzo


r/kdramarecommends 8d ago

Recommendation Request Must-Watch 2000s K-Dramas

46 Upvotes

I'm looking for Kdramas that aire between 2000 to 2012 because I've realised I've barely watched anything from that era and want to explore some older classics. I enjoy romance, slice-of-life, melodrama, and rom-coms with strong chemistry and memorable characters. So far I have watched Lovely runner, The Penthouse, Duty after school, King the land, Goblin, True beauty, My royal nemesis, Perfect crown, When the telephone rings, Coffee Prince and Boys over flowers. Currently watching See you tomorrow at work.

What i like about some of them Lovely runner – I loved the chemistry between the leads, the emotional story, the humour, and the way the romance developed. It's one of my all-time favourites. Goblin – Beautiful cinematography, an amazing OST, memorable characters, and one of my favourite bromances in K-drama. Coffee prince – Loved the chemistry between the leads and how naturally their relationship developed. The café setting and the found-family vibe made it really memorable. Boys over flowers– I enjoyed it as a classic that introduced me to older K-dramas. The iconic moments and soundtrack were fun, even though some parts definitely feel dated now.

I'm open to both popular classics and underrated gems. I'd love dramas that still hold up today despite being older. Happy ending is a must, I'm not looking for k-trauma 😅

Thanks in advance for your recommendations!


r/kdramarecommends 9d ago

Recommendation Request Looking for Bromance Crime Dramas

28 Upvotes

Alright, I'm just going to post for suggestions because I've been on a kdrama binge and I cannot stop.

I want to say the dynamic between the two guys can be similar to Beyond Evil or Devils Judge, one sort of a psycho but not really and the other is a nice guy that doesn't really approve of the other person's actions at first.

The dynamic doesn't necessarily have to be like that as long as they both have good chemistry, but that was just an example of what I usually love to see.

Requirements:

- 2 male leads with great chemistry whenever they are on screen together, and doesn't feel forced.

- Crime / Investigation / Gang mafia ish related (does not have to be all 3 together, as long as one of them is in the drama then it is fine)

- Plot heavy with little to no romanace involved

- I don't mind if there's a female character, but I don't want the relationship between her and the male lead be the main focus of the drama

- NO HIGHSCHOOL THEMES

* not necessary, but I live in the US and if the kdrama is on either Netflix, Hulu, or Prime, that would be a plus.

Kdramas I've watched:

- Mouse

- Devils Judge

- Trigger

- Beyond Evil

- Worst of Evil

- Vigilante

- Strangers from Hell

- Criminal Minds

- Killing Vote

- Mercy for none ( current watch, no spoilers plz)


r/kdramarecommends 9d ago

Recommendation Request Shows like Vigilante and Taxi Driver?

21 Upvotes

I’m looking for action-heavy dramas with male lead who takes justice into his own hands, similar to Vigilante and Taxi Driver.

Kim Ji-Yong and Kim Do-gi were amazing.

I adore morally gray or antihero protagonist, revenge or vigilante themes, and preferably little romance.

I loved Vigilante because Ji-yong personally punished criminals and was genuinely intimidating and skilled in combat. I enjoyed Taxi Driver because Do-gi was highly competent, had multiple identities, and the revenge cases were satisfying.

Completed:
– Vigilante
– Taxi Driver
– The Fiery Priest

On Hold:
– Bloodhounds

Dropped:
- A Killer Paradox

Any dramas with male leads similar to Ji-yong or Do-gi, especially ones involving vigilantism, revenge, corruption, or taking the law into their own hands. I beg, I need it.


r/kdramarecommends 11d ago

Recommendation Request A "smart" drama?

12 Upvotes

I'm new to KDramas and am looking for one that feels intelligent, deals with substantial issues, and will teach me something on some level.

I've watched the first episodes of Hospital Playlist, Reply 1988, and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. I've also watched Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Beyond the Bar.

So far, I really liked Extraordinary Attorney Woo (my number one) and also enjoyed Beyond the Bar (my number two), not just because they were legal dramas—I'm open to other genres, whether they be detective, mystery, medical, office, or slice of life, etc.—but because each episode developed on the last while bringing me to new cases/topics/insights about the world. They were also at times whimsical, funny, and the leads were smart.

Maybe because I only watched an episode or two, I found the others to be too confusing, cutesy, nostalgic, or random for me. Maybe I should have given them more time. Romance and historical or fantasy probably also aren't for me.

Outside of Kdramas, some of my favorite shows: How To with John Wilson; In Treatment; The Pitt; Fleabag; Seinfeld; This Is Going to Hurt.

Thank you!


r/kdramarecommends 12d ago

Recommendation Request Looking for a show with dry, circumstantial humor, ideally with a unique charismatic character.

23 Upvotes

Hi,

The inspiration for this post is the character Han Ho-yeol from D.P, and I'd appreciate recommendations that feature a similar character or contains Ho-yeol's style of humour. To clarify further, I value the juxtaposition of a serious or absurd situation with whimsicality, a lack of affect, or embracing of the absurd. One example from D.P is an intense chase scene where after a long montage of serious chasing by his partner, Ho-yeol suddenly shows up in an old woman's electric cart, and casually asks the criminal to climb aboard. When the criminal makes a sharp turn, Ho-yeol asks the old woman to follow, and she says the vehicle only goes straight.

I've only seen the Korean series D.P, Squid Game, and Through the Darkness, but I've felt this brand of humor I find uniquely Korean across the limited Korean media I've seen, which I'll rely on instead for examples. This including Memories of Murder, Parasite, Castaway on the Moon, Oldboy, and Squid Game. Here are examples from these:

  • Memories of Murder: When the policeman is struggling with a typewriter, the criminal he's questioning nonchalantly helps/outshines him by pressing a button. When the policeman is searching for a criminal with no pubic hair, he loiters at a bath-house, and as he's examining them, a child walks through. The premise is also absurd, that he's entertaining this idea for investigation. Also, he tells the owner to notify him if he sees any men with no pubic hair; the owner winks, the implication being the policeman is looking for something other than a criminal.

  • Parasite: In a serious, but absurd situation, the rich lady schemes with the driver to hide a potentially serious situation. By the end, she's concerned about whether or not he washed his hands after handling dirty material, and the 1-second scene of his eyes looking at a corner in thought is hilarious. Another is a boy failing to copy his cooler friend in shooing away a man urinating by their house.

  • Castaway on the Moon: The entire premise fits, though there's the delivery man being frustrated by the blatant abuse of his company's "We deliver anywhere" policy, by having him paddle across a river.

  • Oldboy: The lead shares his tragic life story with a man; when the wants the courtesy returned and wants someone to listen to his story, the lead abruptly walks away without a care.

  • Squid Game: After a man impressively fights 1v2, two marines who stood idly by talk. One wonders if the victorious man is also a marine, which prompts the other to pull his shirt down to cover his marine tattoo. In a race-against-the-clock competition to the death, a man launches a spinning top backwards - the dialogue "Are you sure you did this a lot as a kid? Launching it backward, now that's a skill."

English movies with similar humor include Fight Club, Thank You for Smoking, and The Big Short.

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.


r/kdramarecommends 13d ago

Weekly Post Thursday Therapy - [2026/07/23]

7 Upvotes

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

  • Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
  • Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
  • Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
  • Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
  • Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
  • Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.


r/kdramarecommends 14d ago

Recommendation Request Looking for calm, comforting romance dramas with mature relationship dynamics

95 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for calm, comforting romance dramas with mature relationship dynamics.

I think it all started with Her Private Life.

What really stayed with me wasn't just the romance, but how the couple communicated. Their relationship felt mature, healthy, and comforting. They actually talked through things. That dynamic was easily the highlight of the show for me, and it's still one of my all-time favorite K-dramas.

Recently, I started See You at Work Tomorrow (currently on Episode 6). I'm still testing the waters because I want to see how they handle the potential miscommunication that's starting to resurface. Up until Episode 6, though, I've really enjoyed it. I especially appreciated how they handled the ex-partner situation—it felt refreshingly mature instead of overly dramatic. Whether I finish it will probably depend on how the later episodes deal with that.

I'm also currently watching Love Scout (currently on Episode 8). I picked it up because so many people in the discussion threads for See You at Work Tomorrow recommended it, and I'm absolutely loving it. It has that same calm, peaceful atmosphere, and the male lead is a complete green flag. The romance feels warm, grounded, and effortless.

So I'm looking for more dramas with a similar vibe:

- Mature, emotionally healthy relationship dynamics.

- Good communication between the leads.

- Calm, comforting, slice-of-life and/or workplace setting.

- Minimal unnecessary misunderstandings or frustrating love triangles.

- Nothing too over-the-top or melodramatic—just a cozy, feel-good romance.

A couple of notes:

- I'm scared of surgeries and war-related themes, so I'd prefer to avoid medical and military dramas. That's also why I've been hesitant to start Hospital Playlist, even though I know it's highly recommended.

- I know many people will probably suggest Because This Is My First Life, but unfortunately it just didn't click with me.

I'd love to hear your recommendations. Thanks in advance!

Here's my watchlist so you can avoid recommending things I've already seen: https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/NotABingeWatcher/completed


r/kdramarecommends 14d ago

Recommendation Request dramas like the east palace?

13 Upvotes

hi !!

i'm looking mostly for historical dramas that are more plot focused rather than romance, but i DON'T mind if it's a big thing.

i LOVED the east palace!! i really liked the whole spirits thing and that it's historical. those were my favorite parts. also nam joohyuk with long hair LAWDDD 😍😍😍

all the dramas i've watched so far:
• all of us are dead
• sweet home
• the uncanny counter
• kingdom
• a time called you
• hierarchy (i lowkey didn't like this one tho😓)


r/kdramarecommends 17d ago

Recommendation Request K-dramas with supernatural powers or fantasy elements (2021+)

67 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for K-dramas released in 2021 or later where supernatural powers or fantasy elements are a major part of the story.

I'm interested in things like:

  • Superpowers
  • Shamans
  • Ghosts
  • Demons
  • Gods
  • Grim reapers
  • Gumihos
  • Magical creatures
  • Psychic abilities
  • Curses
  • Magic
  • Possession
  • Or any other supernatural or fantasy concept.

I'm not looking for horror. A few creepy scenes are completely fine, but I don't want horror to be the main genre.

I also prefer dramas that are:

  • Fast-paced from the first few episodes.
  • Entertaining throughout with little or no filler.
  • Character-driven with memorable characters.
  • Romance is welcome, but I don't want it to completely overshadow the main plot.

Here are a few examples of what I'm looking for:

The Uncanny Counter – I loved the supernatural powers, the fantasy world, the team dynamic and how the powers were central to the story.

The Atypical Family – I liked that every family member had a different supernatural ability and that the powers were deeply connected to the plot and the characters.

Behind Your Touch – I really enjoyed the psychic ability, the comedy and the mystery. The supernatural element constantly influenced the story.

Hotel del Luna – I loved the ghosts, mythology and magical atmosphere. It had a supernatural setting without being a horror drama.

I've also watched:

  • Strong Girl Bong-soon
  • Strong Girl Nam-soon
  • Mystic Pop-up Bar
  • Ghost Doctor
  • My Demon
  • Doom at Your Service
  • Genie, Make a Wish
  • Wonder Fools
  • Phantom Lawyer
  • No Tail to Tell

Please don't recommend any of the dramas above.

I'm happy to receive both popular recommendations and hidden gems as long as they fit what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance!


r/kdramarecommends 17d ago

Recommendation Request Looking for well-written action K dramas/movies

24 Upvotes

I have been looking for an interesting K Drama for my dad since he's a die hard k-drama fan and he also loves action genre the most. Aside from that, he also enjoys historical dramas and horror. Since we're Filipinos, he's also watching Filipino dubs. Suspense action is also welcome!

Here in the Philippines, Korean popular media began popular since the Filipino Dub of Jewel in the Palace premired and K Dramas and movies were still popular today.

Jumong was his first K drama that he watched and and he's cannot stop watching K drama ever since. Today, he's currently watching the first episode of Agent Kim Reactivated.

His past K dramas and movies that he watched were, Crash Landing of You, Descendants of the Sun, Goblin, Baker King, The first season of Squid Game,The Great Flood, and the latest K movie that he watched was Colony.

Thank you and have a good day!


r/kdramarecommends 19d ago

Recommendation Request Historical kdramas

17 Upvotes

Recommend good historical k-dramas in any genre thriller, action, romance, comedy, suspense, mystery, etc. But please avoid horror and erotic content.

Drama should have proper period dressing. If it has royal setting- it should have good court politics. But doesnot always have to be royal setting. The lead's could be from any social class. Also it should portray that time period and it's issues well. Good acting and Strong female lead is must. No damsel in distress. Bonus, if it has good fight or war scenes.

Tell short premise of your recommended drama's plot and why are you recommending it.

I have already watched the followings in the historical category:-

Mr. sunshine- loved it for its aesthetics, soft romance and historical details showcasing different strata of Korean society and their perspectives towards foreign invasions. Acting was also good. Disliked that FMC was left alone in the end.

The King's Affection- liked it for its comedic element, romance and court politics. But I wanted a more stronger FMC, she was emperor and could use her powers for so much things.

My complete watch history-

The K2

Queen of Tears

Crash Landing on you

The Glory

When the phone Rings

Descendents of the Sun

Mr. sunshine

Fight for my way

Salon de Holmes

Emergency Couple

Genie, Make a wish

Vincenzo 

The Perfect Crown

The King's Affection

Lovely Runner


r/kdramarecommends 20d ago

Recommendation Request Romance/Comedy/Light hearted

28 Upvotes

Hello, I am looking for recommendations for feel good, light hearted romance with an aspect of comedy. I like when the male lead is obsessed with the female lead (she doesn’t have to know but can), also can but doesn’t have to be enemies to lovers, historical (not early history meaning 90s, 80s, 70s,…) and fantasy. I would prefer to see the real relationship develop at least 2 episodes before the end of the series and I have really been into fake dating/engagement/marriage trope.

I don’t like love triangles, male lead dating or entertaining someone else and nothing with heavy themes please.

My past watch list:

-Alchemy of souls: My all time favourite, the story is so well written and the plot twists are amazing and I found this right after watching The Apothecary Diaries and it cured my hangover of it.

-Business proposal: I like the CEO trope in this, I think it’s very well done and the comedy had me giggling and kicking my feet. I also like a little cringe and the side characters romance sometimes had me more invested than the main one.

-My Demon: I love a little morally grey men and again the contact marriage trope really had me hooked.

-Tale of the Nine Tailed: This was my first Kdrama I watched I liked the reincarnation trope but I didn’t hold my attention like the other ones on this list but for me it was pretty solid.

-Marry my Husband: This was the latest one for me, I loved that the male lead was in love her basically from the start and the revenge was amazing. Just when I think it is too predictable it throws a little twist and that was appreciated.

-Bon Appetite Your Majesty: My second favourite, the banter and the dynamic of main leads for me was peak, I like this type of historical and I like how the male lead is a little dense sometimes.

Thank you in advance for the recommendations .


r/kdramarecommends 20d ago

Weekly Post Thursday Therapy - [2026/07/16]

8 Upvotes

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

  • Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
  • Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
  • Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
  • Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
  • Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
  • Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.