10 Korean Dramas of 2020 to Binge Watch in 2021

Gone are those days when we used to think 2016 was the best year of K dramas. Amidst the pandemic, 2020 gifted an array of quality content that is super binge-worthy and introduced me to a lot of great talent. Needless to say, 2020 was the best year of K drama giving a wide variety of genres. If you are looking for some K drama suggestions or just starting your K drama adventure this year, then here are the top best Korean dramas of 2020 that you can binge-watch this New Year.

10. Start-Up

15 years ago, Seo Dalmi (Bae Suzy) was going through tough times and her only comfort was the letter that was written by Han Jipyeong (Kim Seon-ho) who used the name Nam Do-san, a math olympiad at the time.

Present, Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) is the founder of SamSang Tech along with his two other friends, but their company is not doing well. Dalmi wants to start her own business but in order to do that she needs to enter SandBox, a place for aspiring Entrepreneurs. Jipyeong is one of the mentors at SandBox who secretly cares for Dalmi and her grandmother. Seo Dalmi falls for Nam Dosan but later, finds out the letters were written by Han Jipyeong. Will Seo Dalmi choose her 15 years old love who wrote her the letters or the Nam Dosan she met in the present? Will Seo Dalmi achieve her dream by starting her own business? Start-up is the most-watched Korean series on Netflix and did I forget to mention that Han Jipyeong is the most loved character of the entire season? If you have not experienced a second lead syndrome then this series will definitely guarantee it. This drama had the most fan wars, so If you are watching this show, which team are you on? Team Namdosan or team Jipyeong?

9. The Uncanny Counter

The story follows four counters who catch evil spirits that possess the human body as a hostage in order to avoid the afterlife to gain immortality. Each counter has a Yung that is the partnering spirit in their body. One of the counters loses life after fighting with a level 3 evil spirit and their partner spirit Yung finds its way into Jung Cheol-joong (Jo Byung -Gyu) a high school student. The three counters were in a coma and the Yung gave them a healthy body and strength that is three times stronger than a normal human body. The story is a thrilling adventure of the four counters catching demons and reconnecting with their past. If you enjoy the action-fantasy genre then you can stream this series on Netflix.

8. Crash Landing on You

Crash Landing on You AKA CLOY, is the most loved Korean drama internationally of 2020 and had risen to the spotlight. Yoon Se-Ri (Son Ye-jin) is a successful businesswoman and comes from a wealthy family in South Korea. Yoon Se-Ri one day goes paragliding and somehow finds herself in the heart of a tornado that takes her to the borders of North Korea. Yoon Se-Ri meets Captain Ri Jeong Hyuk (Hyun Bin) in North Korea who gives her shelter. Yoon Se-Ri lives as a North Korean in order to survive but eventually, she falls in love with Ri Jeong. Will Yoon Se-Ri ever get to go back to South Korea before the authorities find her truth? CLOY definitely tops the's romantic genre series of 2020 and Kim So Hyun's guest appearance is the highlight of the series. A tiny spoiler alert, the leads get a happy ending in reel and real life.

7. Mr. Queen

Jang Bong Hwan (Choi Jin-hyuk) is a free-spirited chef who works at Blue House for the president. One day he gets into an accident and somehow his soul gets into the body of Queen Kim So-young (Shin Hye-sun) who lives in the Joseon era. Queen Kim So-young is married to King Cheoljong (Kim Jung-hyun), a young wise king but holds a secret. The series keeps the audience engaging with some hilarious scenes but the biggest question is how will Jang Bong Hwan return back to the present? Mr. Queen is a historical comedy series that is based on the Chinese novel Go Princess Go. The no-touch rule in this series has a separate fan base. Shin Hye-sun is one of the most versatile actresses I have seen in the Korean Entertainment industry. This series is super popular in South Korea and is a must-watch for everyone looking for a comic series.

6. True Beauty

True Beauty is a rom-com series that is an adaptation of the famous webtoon by the same name. Im Ju-kyung (Moon Ga-young) is a high school student who used to be bullied for her appearance. Before transferring to her new school, she steps up her makeup game and becomes famous in her new school for looking like a goddess. However, one day Lee Su-ho (Cha Eun-woo) her classmate who is famous among the girls comes across her bare face. Lee Su-ho has his own dark secrets and hates being in the center of attention. Han Seo-jun (Hwang In-yeop) is another famous student who used to be best friends with Lee Su-ho. However, now he is hostile towards Lee Su-ho for the secret that happened in the past. This series shows their friendship and the love triangle between the three. The series character's resemblance to the webtoon characters is uncanny especially Han Seo-jun. After Start-Up, this was the second drama of 2020 that gave me another major second lead syndrome. Which ship are you on, team Su-ho or team Seo-jun?

4. Itaewon Class

Itaewon class was the most popular series of 2020 worldwide. Park Sea-Ro-Yi (Park Seo-Joon) goes to prison after assaulting his ex-classmate Jang Geun-Won (Ahn Bo-hyun) who is the son of Jang Dae-Hee (Yoo Jae-myung), CEO of Jagga group after Jang Geun-won gets into a hit and run with Sae Ro-yi's father. Sea-Ro-Yi decides to take revenge against Jagga by starting his own restaurant business in Itaewon. The story follows Sae-Ro-Yi journey on taking revenge and the people he meets in order to make his dream a reality. Itaewon class is one of the best Korean dramas I have watched and introduced some great actors. This series is not only inspirational but address gender discrimination and racism. This probably is Park Seon Joon's best performance to date.

4. Kairos

Kairos probably might be the most underrated series of 2020. The story follows Kim Seo-Jin (Shin Sung-rok) who is the director of a construction company who leads a happy and successful life with his violinist wife (Nam Gyu-ri) and daughter. Kim Seo-jin's life was perfect until his daughter disappears during a charity event. Soon the police confirm the death of their daughter. Meanwhile, Han Ae-ri (Lee Se-young) who works in a convenience store is taking care of her ill mother and has been saving up money for her mother’s heart surgery. One day her mother disappears from the hospital. The turning point of the series is when Han Ae-ri contacts Kim Seo-jin, only to find that he lives in the future. Together they try to change the past and realize they are connected to each other with a secret past. Kairos is an edge of the seat thriller series and should be on your watch list if you enjoy fantasy thriller. This series certainly did not get the attention it deserves, so make sure to check this out.

3. It’s Okay Not To Be Okay

Looking for a feel-good series? If so, It’s Okay Not To Be Okay will be the right series for you. This story follows three characters, Moon Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se) who is autistic and is scared of butterflies ever since he witnessed his mother’s murder. Due to his fear, he and his younger brother Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) move towns every year. When Moon Gang-tae takes up a job in OK Hospital which is located in the same city where he grew up, he comes across Ko Moon Young (Seo Yea-ji), a children's book writer who is obsessively in love with him. The story is about the trio’s friendship, healing from each other’s past wounds, family and most importantly moving on with life. The series is not just a rom-com but discuss mental illness. Every character has their own story and their way of finding peace.

2. The World of the Married

The series is based on BBC One’s Doctor Forest, also was unquestionably one of the best series of 2020 which became Korea’s highest-rated TV show ever and my most favorite. The story is about a doctor, Ji Sun-woo (Kim Hee-ae) who lives in a small town along with her husband Lee Tae-oh (Park Hae-joon) and her son Joon-young (Jeon Jin-seo). Ji Sun-woo was living her perfect life until she found that her husband is in a relationship with Yeo-Da-hyung (Han Seo Hee). This series is very different from most of the Korean dramas I have seen. Not only is the series thrilling and addictive but the characters are so good at what they do, that you will hate everyone in this drama. This definitely should be on your watch list, 10/10: recommended.

1. Flower of Evil

Starring Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won, the story follows Baek Hee Sung who is a craftsman and runs a metal-working studio. Baek Hee is the best father and ideal husband to his detective wife Cha Ji Won. When Cha Ji Won takes up a serial murder case from 15 years prior, she starts uncovering clues, finds out her husband is not the actual Baek Hee Sung but is the accused culprit with an antisocial personality everyone has been looking for. Will Cha Ji Won be able to confront Baek Hee Sung’s dark secrets and bring the killer to justice? Who is the real Baek Hee? This cat and mouse crime thriller undoubtedly was the best crime thriller series of 2020 and takes the top 1 on this list.

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Now that you have your 2020 watch list, you can grab the popcorn and start your binge-watch!