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Editor's Picks: The Best K-Dramas of 2024

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<p style="text-align:left">2024 was a spectacular year for K-dramas. There were many well-made shows across different genres. And while there were many hyped-up shows, I was also thrilled to have discovered hidden gems. It may already be 2025, but catching up on these impressive shows is not too late. Of those I&#x27;ve seen, here are my favorites:</p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>No Gain No Love</strong></div><p>Contract marriage plots are common in K-dramaland, but this rom-com goes beyond that, exploring deeper themes (such as discrimination against women in the workplace and adoption) and delivering refreshing plot lines and character dynamics. It has a balance of lighthearted and dramatic scenes. Shin Min A didn’t disappoint, and I honestly wasn’t expecting much from her chemistry with Kim Young Dae, but I thought they were a good match. As a bonus, we even got a cute second lead couple in Lee Sang Yi and Nam Ji Hyun (whose team-up made such an impact they even got a spin-off, <em>Spice Up Our Love</em>)<em></em>.</p><div style="text-align:left"><em>Where to watch: </em><a href="https://www.primevideo.com/detail/No-Gain-No-Love/0L6EHB1CGZVMW1LH8P4I91M3BR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Prime Video</em></a></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1735799717188no gain no love.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>Squid Game 2</strong></div><p style="text-align:left">Sequels are always tricky. <em>Squid Game</em> Season 1 was a success because it was a novelty. But to be fair, though not on the same level as the first one, the star-studded Season 2 was not bad at all. Like Player 456, Seong Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae), I expected the game to go the same route but it didn&#x27;t, making this binge-worthy! It was less action-packed and more of narratives and backstories which could be dragging to some, but with all these out already, it could also mean we might be getting all the much-wanted action in <a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/squid-game-season-3-plot-release-date-news" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Season 3</a>. While the cast was notably good, some stood out, like Park Sung Hoon as trans woman Cho Hyun Ju (Player 120). Lee Byung Hun as Oh Young Il (Player 001) was a welcome twist. The ending was a major cliffhanger, but it&#x27;s making me look forward to how else Kang Ha Neul&#x27;s Kang Dae Ho (Player 388), Im Si Wan&#x27;s Lee Myung Gi (Player 333), and Park Gyu Young&#x27;s Kang No Eul will contribute to the narrative.</p><div style="text-align:left"><em>Where to watch: </em><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81040344" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Netflix</em></a> </div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1735800685429Squid Game 2.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>Lovely Runner </strong></div><p style="text-align:left">Sun Jae-yaaa! What a phenomenal year for Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon! Their chemistry in this fantasy-romance series was outstanding. I&#x27;ve always been interested in time travel stories, but they tend to be confusing when the timelines are not woven together seamlessly. Thankfully, this show was clearly laid out, making it enjoyable from start to finish. <em>Lovely Runner</em><u></u> presented a time travel plot in a moving and, well, lovely manner. Not your ordinary rom-com, it also delves into more emotional themes that depict unconditional love that knows no boundaries. </p><div style="text-align:left"><em>Where to watch: </em><a href="https://www.viu.com/ott/ph/en/vod/2339488/Lovely-Runner" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Viu</em></a><em> or </em><a href="https://www.netflix.com/search?q=lovely%20runner&amp;jbv=81914565" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Netflix</em></a></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><em><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736129257949lovely runner.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></em><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong><br/></strong></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>A Killer Paradox</strong></div><p style="text-align:left">To me, Choi Woo Shik was a revelation in this crime thriller. His character, Lee Tang, is a university student/convenience store part-timer, who accidentally murders a man (apparently, a serial killer!); it&#x27;s a series of amateur-ish yet amusingly executed killings from there. Then you have this persistent detective (Son Suk Ku as Jang Nan Gam) piecing together all the puzzles of Lee Tang&#x27;s murders. With dark, gritty tones in storytelling, the plot twists in the series were much more exciting and compelling. Oh, and the Philippines has a cameo here!</p><div style="text-align:left"><em>Where to watch: </em><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81607354" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Netflix</em></a></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736148906066a killer paradox.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div><strong>Marry My Husband</strong></div><p>As a fan of revenge dramas, I thought this show’s narrative was well thought out, with a time travel twist. Lead actress Park Min Young came from rom-com dramas before this project, so it was refreshing to see her in a different genre. She pulled off her portrayal of a woman, Kang Ji Won, who&#x27;s a cancer patient and whose husband (Lee Yi Kyung as Park Min Hwan) cheated on her with her best friend (Song Ha Yoon as Jeong Su Min). Kang Ji Won then meets a man (Na In Woo as Yoo Ji Hyuk) who eventually helps her carry out her revenge plan. Though not perfect, <em>Marry My Husband</em>&#x27;s scenes were paced well, and the ending was satisfying for me. I love a good ‘ol glow-up/transformation spin, an element I also appreciated in this K-drama. </p><div><em>Where to watch: </em><a href="https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Marry-My-Husband/0U9LVA2T8NCPW1W1B51AGU7KCR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Prime Video</em></a></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736129523281marry my husband.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>Queen of Tears</strong></div><p style="text-align:left">This list is incomplete without the drama that gave us the #BaekHong couple. As a Kim Soo Hyun fan, in my eyes, he can do no wrong. But bias aside, this was worth watching, especially with its stunning visuals (i.e. impressive filming locations, striking fashion looks, glossy cinematography). The plot is compelling and emotionally-charged, albeit not groundbreaking, but I think what really made the show well-received was the chemistry between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, who are both fantastic actors. </p><div style="text-align:left"><em>Where to watch: </em><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81707950" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Netflix</em></a></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736129719023queen of tears.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/> </div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>Family by Choice</strong></div><p>Since I had been watching many action, crime, and thriller K-dramas, I turned to this series as a palate cleanser, and I’m glad I did. I liked how it explored the question “What does it truly mean to be a family?” It was so comforting to watch the dynamics of this unique family of five and how their relationships evolved through the years. In <em>Family by Choice</em>, life and its various struggles <em></em>brought together <em></em>Hwang In Youp’s Kim San Ha, Bae Hyeon Seong’s Kang Hae Jun, and Jung Chae Yeon&#x27;s Yun Ju Won; they grow up under the same roof as siblings with two dads (Yun Ju Won&#x27;s father, Yoon Jeong Jae, played by Choi Won Young and Kim San Ha&#x27;s father, Kim Dae Woo, played by Choi Moo Sung) guiding them in their journey to young adulthood. </p><div><em>Where to watch: </em><a href="https://www.viu.com/ott/ph/en/vod/2435976/Family-By-Choice" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Viu</em></a></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736143004923family by choice.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Lightshop Keeper</strong></div><p>To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from this star-studded, eight-episode series, as I didn’t get to read the webtoon. Knowing it&#x27;s the latest series from <em>Moving</em> creator Kangfull was enough to convince me this would be good. That it had a horror feel initially drew me in, but I was in for a surprise.  The pacing may be slow but its plotline is gripping enough that it made me want to keep watching until I find out the characters’ backstories. It turned out to be way more than the eerie feel and more of a heart-tugging, thought-provoking drama that makes you wonder about life, death, and the in-between. This series put a brilliant spin on the saying “the light at the end of the tunnel.” It&#x27;s no wonder the series has also become the second biggest Korean original premiere of all time on Disney+ globally, based on 12 days of views, second only to <em>Moving</em>.</p><div><em>Where to watch: Disney+</em></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736147506179lightshop keeper.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><strong></strong><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>The Judge From Hell</strong></div><p>Not rooting for evil, obviously, but Park Shin Hye as the fierce-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside demon judge Kang Bit Na was superb! I usually wait for a series to air all episodes before I binge-watch them in one go. But for this one, I watched the new episodes as soon as they were uploaded; I just couldn’t wait to see where the cliffhanger episode endings would lead, and they often turned out to be satisfying plot twists. As a bonus, in every episode, Park Shin Hye had a gorgeous outfit to match her feminine yet feisty onscreen persona. She was perfect for her character, and Kang Bit Na and Han Da On&#x27;s (Kim Jae Young) chemistry was irresistible. </p><div><em>Where to watch: Disney+</em></div><div><strong></strong><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736147643260the judge from hell.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><strong></strong><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>A Shop for Killers</strong></div><p style="text-align:left">The title itself intrigued me, and so did the unique plot. And then you have the versatile and talented Lee Dong Wook playing a mysterious uncle (Jeong Jin Man) in a meticulously crafted series. Matching the intensity of his acting was Kim Hye Joon in her bad*ss role (Jeong Ji An). The cast was incredible! The show is action-packed and fast-paced with a few emotional scenes to break the monotony. It had a tight storytelling, perfect at 8 episodes! Season 2, it seems, is on the way—can&#x27;t wait!</p><div style="text-align:left"><em>Where to watch: Disney+</em>  </div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736148362752a shop for killers.jpg" style="width:1080px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Runners-Up:</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Other K-dramas I enjoyed this year, which I think are also worth watching, include <em>Wonderful World</em>, <em>Red Swan</em>, <em>Chief Inspector 1958</em>, <em>Love Next Door</em>, <em>What Comes After Love</em>, <em>The Fiery Priest 2</em>, and <em>When the Phone Rings</em> (which just aired its finale last January 4)<em></em><em></em>. <em></em> <em> </em></p><div><br/></div><p>What is your favorite K-drama of 2024?</p><div><em></em><em></em><em></em></div>

Editor's Picks: 10 Must-Watch K-Dramas of 2024

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Editor's Picks: 10 Must-Watch K-Dramas of 2024

Grace Libero

Published January 06, 2025 04:00 PM PHT

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Updated January 07, 2025 12:29 PM PHT

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