The 17 Most Addictive Korean Shows On Netflix

1. Squid Game

Starting with the obvious, if you're one of the few people on the planet left who haven't watched Squid Game yet, it's not too late to jump on board. It's about a group of debt-ridden people who get caught up in a deadly game in which they compete to win millions at the risk of their actual lives. There's a reason it became Netflix's most-watched show of all time: it's completely addictive and full of plot twists, stylized violence, dark humor, and emotionally brutal moments.  

2. Hellbound

With just six episodes, Hellbound is a short but intense ride through an actual hellscape, exploring what happens to humanity in some of the most extreme conditions. When "angels" start appearing and predicting the time of people's deaths and condemning them to hell — predictions that turn out to be violently true — the world falls into chaos. 

3. Hotel del Luna

A romantic and quirky series about an immortal woman who runs a hotel that caters to ghosts on the way to the afterlife, and the human man she tricks into working there. By turns funny, mysterious, and very sad, the series features gorgeous costumes and sets and a wonderful cast. 

4. My Name

What's more addictive than a good revenge plot? My Name is about a young woman who yearns for vengeance after the murder of her father. To achieve her goal, she teams up with a powerful crime boss and enters the police force undercover at his request. It's full of action that will have you on the edge of your seat.

5. It's Okay to Not Be Okay

A whimsical romance that's like a dark modern fairy tale, about a troubled children's book author and an equally troubled caretaker who works in a psychiatric ward while also looking after his disabled brother. Exploring themes of mental health and found family, it's ultimately quite tender and sweet, and the leads have incredible chemistry. 

6. Extracurricular

What do you get when a top high school student turns to a life of crime in order to be able to pay for college? A totally bingeable drama, of course. Like so many of the best Korean shows, Extracurricular balances brutal moments with dark humor, and is full of so much tension you'll have to remind yourself to unclench. 

7. Sweet Home

Post-apocalyptic fun in which a teen boy who lives alone must team up with his neighbors to fight to survive as the people around them turn into monsters. The horror and action elements are strong, but what really makes you want to keep watching are the setting and the characters. 

8. Crash Landing on You

The premise of this show is slightly over the top, but once you get past that it's a heartfelt — and heart-wrenching — romance that you want to watch for hours on end. It follows a rich South Korean heiress and businesswoman who is caught in a tornado while paragliding and ends up crash landing in North Korea, where she meets and falls in love with a soldier. It's an angsty love story, but there are also plenty of lighter moments to give you breathing room. 

9. Signal

A police procedural with fantasy elements, Signal is about a profiler who finds a walkie talkie that allows him to communicate with the year 1989, and specifically a cop who helps him and his colleague solve cold cases in return for their help solving his "current" cases. As with all timey-wimey stories, there are a lot of unintended consequences to their actions, and plenty of twists. 

10. Romance Is a Bonus Book

A thirtysomething divorcee trying to re-enter the workforce fakes her qualifications in order to get a lower level job at the publishing company where her best friend works. It's a bit like Younger, but better. It might not have the action of other series, but this sweet rom-com is addictive because you just want to spend time with these characters and their world — and get to the moment when they finally confess their feelings and/or kiss. 

11. Mr. Sunshine

Set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Mr. Sunshine is about a poor Korean boy who flees to the United States and becomes an army officer. When he returns home, he falls for an aristocrat and gets caught up in international intrigue and the fight for independence. The show is stunning visually, with excellent writing and performances. 

12. Oh My Ghost

Part quirky romance, part murder mystery, Oh My Ghost is about a shy chef who gets possessed by the spirit of a horny ghost (yes, really) who falls in love with her boss. Cue a super-weird love triangle that is hilarious and occasionally heartbreaking. The subplot around what happened to the ghost and how she died is a bonus addictive element. 

13. Stranger

This show is on the longer side for a Korean drama — 2 seasons of 32 episodes in total, but it's a good thing because it's the type of series you can't get enough of. It's about a prosecutor who loses his empathy and social skills after a surgery, and who teams up with a police officer to solve a murder, leading them to uncover a corruption conspiracy. It's a gripping, tightly plotted series.

14. Because This Is My First Life

Another series for the hopeless romantics, this drama features the classic fake dating trope as two platonic roommates actually get married in order to save money (for plot reasons) and naturally begin to develop feelings for each other. It's a bit weird but very sweet, and you'll definitely be shipping the main pair. 

15. Vincenzo

If you love a mafia story, Vincenzo is a must-watch. It's about a Korean man who is adopted by an Italian family at a young age and becomes a mafia consigliere. After an assassination attempt, he flees to Korea, where he seeks to recover a hidden fortune while doing battle with a corrupt corporation. The action is a wild ride, and the quirky cast of characters is a lot of fun.

16. Kingdom

Do you love zombie shows? What about period dramas? Why not both? That's exactly what Kingdom is — set during the Joseon dynasty, it follows a crown prince who must deal with political conspiracy as well as a mysterious plague sweeping the land that seems to resurrect the dead. It's a refreshing take, expertly blending different genre elements to create a compelling series.

17. Boys Over Flowers

Boys Over Flowers came out in 2009 and has frankly not aged particularly well, but it's still completely addictive. If you switch off your brain for a bit, it's hard to resist this class K-drama about a poor girl who gets noticed by four rich boys, with one in particular becoming obsessed with her. It's the kind of all-consuming teen love story that you cringe away from while simultaneously wanting more.

I would also recommend watching The k2, Man to Man & Memorist. These set of movies are filled with lots of suspense, action and plot twist. I hope you like them.