The Korean Wave, or Hallyu, has swept across the globe for decades, but its most potent and accessible vehicle has undoubtedly been the Korean drama, or K-drama. These series are more than just television; they are cultural phenomena that blend compelling narratives, high production values, and profound emotional depth. While hundreds of excellent dramas exist, a select few have achieved legendary status, breaking viewership records, defining genres, and captivating international audiences like never before. These are the dramas that form the essential canon for any newcomer and remain cherished favorites for seasoned fans. They are famous not just for their popularity, but for their quality, innovation, and lasting impact.
This article delves into five of the most famous and best K-dramas of all time: Crash Landing on You, Squid Game, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin), Descendants of the Sun, and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. We will explore why each one resonates so powerfully, examining their stories, characters, and the unique alchemy that made them global landmarks.
Genre:Â Romance, Comedy, Melodrama
Starring:Â Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Kim Jung-hyun, Seo Ji-hye
If one drama can be credited with supercharging the global K-drama boom on streaming platforms, it is Crash Landing on You (often abbreviated as CLOY). Written by Park Ji-eun, the drama masterfully takes an impossibly fantastical premise and grounds it in such genuine human emotion that audiences willingly suspended all disbelief.
The Story and Its Appeal:
The plot follows Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), a wildly successful and glamorous South Korean heiress to a conglomerate. While paragliding, a sudden storm sweeps her across the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where she crash-lands in a tree in North Korea. There, she is discovered by Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin), a stoic, disciplined, and noble captain in the North Korean Army. From this outlandish setup unfolds a story of breathtaking risk, heartwarming comedy, and epic romance.
The genius of CLOY lies in its setting. The North-South Korean divide is one of the most politically charged and intriguing borders in the world. By placing a romantic comedy here, the show immediately created unparalleled stakes. The constant threat of discovery and its dire consequences infused every moment with tension. Yet, within this tension, the drama found immense warmth and humor through its supporting characters—particularly Jeong-hyeok’s squad of soldiers and the women of the surrounding village. Their interactions with Se-ri, from their awe of South Korean snacks to their unwavering loyalty, provided a hilarious and heartfelt counterpoint to the central romance.
The Central Romance and Chemistry:
The relationship between Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok is a slow burn built on mutual respect, sacrifice, and protectiveness. Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin delivered performances of such nuanced depth and palpable chemistry that rumors of their real-life relationship swirled throughout the broadcast—rumors that were later confirmed when they married in 2022, making them the ultimate “happily ever after” for devoted fans. Their love story felt earned and profound, transcending political ideology and national borders, becoming a metaphor for connection in a divided world.
Cultural Impact:
CLOY didn’t just break ratings records in South Korea; it became a viral sensation across Asia and on Netflix worldwide. It sparked intense interest in North Korean culture, fashion trends (like Seri’s coats and lipsticks), and even its filming locations in Switzerland. It demonstrated the global appetite for well-produced, character-driven romantic stories and remains the gold standard for the genre, a perfect entry point for anyone new to the world of K-dramas.
2. Squid Game (2021)
Genre:Â Survival, Thriller, Horror, Social Drama
Starring:Â Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon
If Crash Landing on You represented the peak of K-drama’s romantic appeal, Squid Game represented its explosive, paradigm-shifting power to dominate global pop culture. Created by filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk, this brutal and brilliant series became a worldwide conversation overnight, becoming Netflix’s most-watched series of all time upon its release.
The Story and Its Appeal:
The premise is deceptively simple: 456 deeply indebted and desperate individuals accept a mysterious invitation to compete in a series of children’s games for a cash prize of 45.6 billion won. The catch is lethal: elimination means death. The games—like “Red Light, Green Light,” Dalgona candy carving, and tug-of-war—are simple childhood pastimes twisted into nightmares, overseen by masked guards and a mysterious Front Man.
Squid Game works on two levels. On the surface, it is an incredibly tense, visceral, and gripping survival thriller. The stakes could not be higher, and the visceral horror of the violence is shocking. But beneath the surface, it is a scorching critique of modern capitalist society. The contestants are not villains; they are victims of a system that has failed them—a failed businessman, a migrant worker scammed by her employer, a man with mounting medical debt. The wealthy VIPs who bet on their suffering represent the ultimate form of dehumanizing inequality. The show holds a dark mirror to the audience, asking uncomfortable questions about debt, class, and what desperate people are forced to do to survive.
Characters and Performances:
The ensemble cast is phenomenal. Lee Jung-jae is everyman Seong Gi-hun, a flawed but inherently good man whose humanity is tested at every turn. Park Hae-soo is superb as the ambitious and complex Cho Sang-woo. Jung Ho-yeon, in her acting debut, delivered a heartbreaking performance as Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector, instantly becoming an international fashion icon. Their struggles make the violence emotionally devastating, not just gratuitous.
Cultural Impact:
Squid Game was a true global event. Its imagery—the pink guards, the green tracksuits, the giant doll—became instantly recognizable. It sparked countless think pieces, memes, and Halloween costumes. It proved that foreign-language content could not only cross over but could become the biggest show on the planet, fundamentally changing the strategy of global streaming services and opening doors for more international productions.
3. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin) (2016-2017)
Genre:Â Fantasy, Romance, Melodrama, Comedy
Starring:Â Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na
Before the Netflix wave, there was Goblin, a drama that achieved mythical status for its cinematic scale, poetic storytelling, and unforgettable characters. Written by the renowned Kim Eun-sook, it is a masterclass in blending genres, weaving together fantasy, romance, comedy, and heart-wrenching melodrama into a seamless and breathtaking tapestry.
The Story and Its Appeal:
The story centers on Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), a legendary general from the Goryeo Dynasty who was betrayed and executed by a young king. Cursed by the gods, he is granted immortality and powerful abilities as a “Goblin,” but must live forever watching all he loves die. His only chance to end his immortality is to find his destined “Goblin Bride,” a human who can pull the sacred sword from his chest and grant him peace. Centuries later, he meets Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), a cheerful but lonely high school student who can see ghosts and claims to be his bride.
The narrative is epic in every sense, spanning centuries and exploring profound themes of fate, memory, life, and death. The romance between the ancient, weary Goblin and the vibrant, persistent Eun-tak is both whimsical and deeply tragic. Their chemistry is electric, filled with moments of laugh-out-loud comedy and soul-crushing pain.
The Bromance and World-Building:
Equally iconic is the “bromance” between Kim Shin and the amnesiac Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-wook), who is cursed to ferry souls while haunted by the sins of his past life. Their hilarious squabbling and eventual deep bond became a cornerstone of the show’s appeal. The drama’s production value is movie-quality, with stunning cinematography filmed in Quebec, Canada, and a sweeping, iconic orchestral score that elevates every scene.
Cultural Impact:
Goblin set new benchmarks for production quality in television. It sparked massive tourism to its filming locations and its OST dominated music charts for months. It solidified the writer’s reputation and the stars’ status as A-listers. It remains the benchmark for fantasy romance, a beautifully crafted story about finding family and love across the boundaries of time and life itself.
4. Descendants of the Sun (2016)
Genre:Â Romance, Action, Melodrama, Military
Starring:Â Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-won
Descendants of the Sun was a national fever dream in Korea and across Asia. It was a paradigm shift in how K-dramas were produced and consumed, being fully pre-produced before airing—a rarity at the time—allowing for high-quality filming on location in Greece and seamless editing.
The Story and Its Appeal:
The drama follows the whirlwind romance between Captain Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki), the charismatic leader of a special forces unit, and Dr. Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), a talented and dedicated surgeon. They meet in a hospital in Korea and have an instant, electric connection, but their contrasting careers—one takes life to protect others, the other saves lives at all costs—create immediate conflict. Their paths cross again in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk, where their love is tested amidst disaster, duty, and danger.
The appeal of Descendants of the Sun was its perfect blend of slick, Hollywood-style action sequences and a classic, sweeping romance. Song Joong-ki became the ultimate heartthrob with his portrayal of the smooth-talking, capable, yet deeply principled captain. The chemistry between the two leads, known as the “Song-Song couple,” was off the charts, driving massive hype.
Cultural Impact:
The drama achieved “culture dome” status in Korea, where streets would empty during its broadcast. It was a massive hit throughout Asia and was one of the first dramas to be simultaneously broadcast in China, creating an unprecedented frenzy. It popularized the trend of product placement (PPL) as an art form and made military and medical romances a staple genre. It proved the immense economic and cultural power of the Hallyu wave and set the stage for the global streaming success that would follow.
5. It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
enre:Â Romantic Drama, Psychological, Healing
Starring:Â Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Oh Jung-se
While many dramas entertain, few aim to heal. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a bold, beautiful, and groundbreaking series that tackles mental health, trauma, and neurodiversity with unprecedented sensitivity, artistry, and narrative courage.
The Story and Its Appeal:
The drama revolves around three deeply wounded individuals. Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) is a community health worker who has spent his life caring for his older brother, Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se), who is on the autism spectrum and witnessed their mother’s murder. Gang-tae represses his own trauma, moving from town to town whenever his past threatens to surface. Their lives are upended by Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji), a famous children’s book author with antisocial personality disorder. She is rude, narcissistic, and fascinated by Gang-tae, forcing her way into their lives.
The show is a masterpiece of character development. It doesn’t use mental health as a simple plot device; it explores its characters’ conditions with depth and respect. The central romance is not about “fixing” each other but about learning to embrace their own and each other’s broken pieces. Oh Jung-se’s portrayal of Sang-tae is a tour de force, a performance that won him every major supporting actor award and is celebrated for its authenticity and lack of caricature.
Artistic Vision and Storytelling:
The drama is visually stunning, employing a dark, gothic, and fairy-tale-like aesthetic that mirrors Moon-young’s storybooks. These animated stories, woven throughout the narrative, serve as powerful metaphors for the characters’ inner struggles. The writing is intelligent and empathetic, arguing that it is okay to be flawed, to be broken, and that healing is a journey taken with the support of those who love you.
Cultural Impact:
The drama was a critical darling, praised by mental health advocates for its responsible portrayal of its themes. It started important conversations about trauma, therapy, and acceptance. It’s celebrated for its strong, complex female lead, a departure from many K-drama tropes. More than just a famous show, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a meaningful piece of art that left its audience feeling seen, understood, and a little less alone.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Storytelling Excellence
These five dramas represent the pinnacle of Korean storytelling. From the epic romance of Crash Landing on You and the social fury of Squid Game to the cinematic fantasy of Goblin, the blockbuster action of Descendants of the Sun, and the healing power of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, they showcase the incredible range, depth, and quality that K-dramas offer the world. They are famous because they are, simply put, among the best television has to offer, anywhere. They are the perfect starting point for a journey into a rich and rewarding world of storytelling.
