The popularity of Korean drama is increasing day by day and the quality of the drama is also commendable – a flawless storyline in every genre. Korean dramas have something for everyone, whether you’re into rom-coms or nail-biting crime thrillers. But if you don’t want to do much research here we have listed down some of the best award-winning Korean dramas for you, add these to your watchlist and enjoy them in your free time.
D.P
Awards: 2022 Baeksang Arts Award, Best Drama 2022 Blue Dragon Series Awards, Best Drama
Episodes: 6
Genre: Military, Dark-Comedy
Cast: Jung Hae-In, Koo Gyo-Hwan, Kim Sung-Kyun
An Jun Ho (Jung Hae In) is a quiet and inflexible man serving his mandatory military service. Park Beom Gu (Kim Sung Kyun) observes Jun Ho and transfers him to the D.P. team. An Jun Ho and Han Ho Yeol (Koo Gyo Hwan) team up to catch the deserters. D.P. is one of the best award-winning Korean dramas.
Vincenzo
Awards: 2021 Seoul International Drama Award, Excellent Korean Drama, 26th Asian Television Award, Best Drama Series (2021)
Episodes: 16
Genres: Comedy, Law, Crime
Cast: Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Bin, Ok Taec Yeon
An Italian family adopted Park Joo Hyung (Song Joong Ki) at the age of 8, and after that, his name was Vincenzo Cassano. He is a consigliere and works for the Mafia. But after his adopted father’s death, he went back to South Korea for a mission. He meets Lawyer Hong Cha Young (Jeon Yeo Bin) who can do anything to win a case. After her father’s death, she started looking at her father’s firm Jipuragi Law Firm.
My Dearest
Awards: 2024 Baeksang Arts Award, Best Drama 2023 Grimae Award, Grand Prize
Episodes: 10
Genres: Historical, Romance, Melodrama
Cast: Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun Jin, Lee Hak Joo, Lee Da In, Kim Yoon Woo
My Dearest is a historical drama. Lee Jang Hyun (Namkoong Min) is a mysterious man, he is hiding a secret that he doesn’t want to reveal to anyone. Yoo Gil Chae (Ahn Eun Jin) is the daughter of a noble family, she is a very cheerful and confident woman. After meeting Gil Chae Jang Hyun life changed as earlier he didn’t easily open up with anyone. They fall in love with each other.
Hot Stove League
Award: 2020 Baeksang Arts Award, Best Drama
Episodes: 16
Genre: Sports, Life
Cast: Namgoong Min, Park Eun-Bin, Oh Jung-Se, Joe Byeong-Gyu
Baek Seung Soo (Namgoong Min) is appointed as the new general manager of the pro baseball team. This baseball team ranks last in the league. Lee Se Young (Park Eun Bin) is a very positive lady and works as an operations manager of the team. Hot Stove League is one of the best award-winning Korean dramas.
Moving
Awards: 2024 Baeksang Arts Award, Daesang
Episode: 20
Genre: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Supernatural
Cast: Ryu Seung Ryong, Han Hyo Joo, Zo In Sung, Cha Tae Hyun, Ryu Seung Beom, Kim Sung Kyun, Lee Jung Ha, Go Youn Jung, Kim Do Hoon
Jang Hui Soo (Ko Yoon Jung) has transferred to a new school due to an assault incident at her previous school. She becomes friends with Kim Bong Seok (Lee Jeong Ha), a Class 3–3 student who doesn’t have other friends. Lee Gang Hoon (Kim Do Hoon) is the class president. They have a superpower that no one knows about.
The Glory Seasons 1 and 2
Awards: 2023 Baeksang Arts Award, Best Drama, 2023 Seoul International Drama Awards, Korean Drama Competition, Program 2023 Blue Dragon Series Award, Daesang
Episodes: 8 (each)
Genre: Crime, Revenge
Cast: Song Hye Kyo, Lee Do Hyun, Lim Ji Yeon, Park Sung Hoon
Moon Dong Eun (Jung Ji So) dreamed of becoming an architect. Meanwhile, she became a victim of bullying by her fellow students. She dropped out of school and planned revenge. Moon Dong Eun (Song Hye Kyo) becomes an adult and torments her bullies. Now it’s time to pay back for every torment she experienced during her childhood. This revenge drama proves that karma does come around. The Glory is one of the top 8 Korean dramas with satisfying endings.
Beyond Evil
Award: 2021 Baeksang Arts Award, Best Drama
Episodes: 16
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Psychological,
Cast: Sin Ha Kyun, Yeo Jin Goo
Beyond Evil is about two hardworking detectives who sacrifice everything to find a serial killer. Lee Dong Sik (Sin Ha Kyun) and Han Joo Won (Yeo Jin Goo) are detectives. On this journey, they suspect everyone around them, including themselves. This drama is one of the top-rated dramas that has collected a few prestigious awards.
Pachinko
Awards: 28th Critics Choice Awards, Best Foreign Language Series (2023), 2023 Peabody Award, Entertainment
Episodes: 8
Genres: Historical, Romance, Melodrama
Cast: Kim Min Ha, Youn Yuh Jung, Jin Ha, Lee Min Ho
Pachinko is adapted from the novel “Pachinko”. It is the story of when Korea was under Japanese rule. Koh Han Su (Lee Min Ho) is a powerful person who lives in Osaka, Japan. He falls in love with Kim Sun Ja (Kim Min Ha), whose family background completely differs from Han Su. Baek Isak (Noh Sang Hyun) is a church priest who offers to marry Sun Ja.
Squid Game
Award: 2022 Baeksang Arts Award, Daesang (Television), Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Episodes: 9
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Game
Cast: Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo, Jung Ho Yeon, Wi Ha Joon
A group of 456 people is invited to risk their lives in a mysterious survival game for 45.6 billion won prize money. All these people are in debt so they want money very desperately. Seong Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae) gets fired from his job so he participates in the game. Cho Sang Woo (Park Hae Soo) is the head of an investment team at a securities company but now he is facing a financial crisis. Squid Game is one of the best survival Korean dramas that you should watch.
Descendants of the Sun
Award: KBS Drama Awards for Best Couple, KBS Drama Awards for Grand Prize, Baeksang
Episodes: 16
Cast: Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji Won
Genres: Action, Comedy, Romance, Melodrama
Yoo Shi Jin (Song Joong Ki) and Seo Dae Young’s (Jin Goo) bromance are perfect examples of a partner in crime, whether it is about work or personal life. They always support and help each other. Yoo Shi Jin is a captain and leader of the Alpha Team and Dae Young is a senior non-commissioned officer in the Alpha Team. Dae Young is Si-jin’s best friend and right hand.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Awards: 2023 Seoul International Drama Awards, Korean Drama Competition, Program 2022 Korean Drama Awards, Best Drama, Baeksang Arts Award Grand Prize in TV, Baeksang Arts Award for Best TV Director
Episodes: 16
Genre: Law, Crime, Psychological, Romance
Cast: Park Eun Bin, Kang Tae Oh, Kang Ki Young, Baek Ji Won
Woo Young Woo (Park Eun Bin) is an intelligent woman dealing with autism. She remembers everything but has poor social skills. Woo Young Woo is a brilliant student who graduated from the prestigious Seoul National University. Young Woo is the first autistic attorney in the Republic of Korea. She lives with her father who runs a restaurant. She started working at a Hanbada Law firm. There she starts solving cases in her style.
Big Mouth
Award: 2022 MBC Drama Award Winner, Drama of the Year
Episode: 16
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Crime, Investigation, Romance, Revenge
Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Im Yoon Ah, Kim Joo Hun, Kwak Dong Yeon
Park Chang Ho (Lee Jong Suk) is a lawyer whose winning rate is terrible. He is a very talkative person that’s why people call him “Big Mouth”. Chang Ho is involved in a murder case. Go Mi Ho (Im Yoon Ah) is the wife of Chang Ho and works as a nurse. She also helps her husband financially and psychologically in becoming a lawyer. When she finds that her husband is a murder case suspect she tries to clear his name.
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