Before moving to South Korea in 2016, I hadn’t watched a single Kdrama. My interests leaned more toward anime and Western films and series. But as I started learning Korean, I figured watching local content would help. The problem? Almost every recommendation was a rom-com. Just watching the trailers made me cringe.
Don’t get me wrong—South Korea excels at romance dramas, which is why they dominate Netflix’s global charts. But if you’re used to anime or Western storytelling, jumping straight into rom-coms can feel like a huge shift.
Back then, I specifically searched for non-romance kdramas, and that’s what helped me ease into the genre. Now, with so many great series out there, I’ve picked five that truly stand out.
A quick heads-up: This list contains spoilers. While I’ve kept them minimal, some details are unavoidable when explaining why these dramas deserve a spot on my list.
Misaeng; Incomplete Life
Genre: Workplace, Drama, Slice of Life
Main Cast: Im Si-wan, Lee Sung-min, Kang So-ra, Kang Ha-neul
Plot: Jang Geu-rae, a former baduk (Go) player, struggles to find his place in the corporate world after securing an internship at a prestigious trading company. Lacking formal qualifications or office experience, he faces skepticism from colleagues and the brutal realities of Korean corporate culture. As he navigates office politics, unfair hierarchies, and intense competition, he slowly learns how to survive in this unforgiving environment.
Why It Stands Out
This is the kind of story that most people will love; an underdog in a competitive world who rises above the challenge. It is also a very realistic office drama and I rewatched it and appreciated it more after getting a job here in Korea. The scenes were not over the top, yet evoked emotions to most of the working class. If you ask most Koreans which office drama is realistic, they’ll probably recommend Misaeng.
The first few episodes perfectly capture the struggles of a new office worker. Jang Geurae(Im Si Wan) Jang Geu-rae (Im Si-wan) wants to be helpful but has no idea what to do. One particularly relatable scene is when he struggles with the office photocopier, asks a co-worker for help, and receives a cold response. He tried his best, only to look completely useless as he and his senior grappled with the copy paper.
Im Si-wan delivers a brilliant performance, perfectly capturing Geu-rae’s quiet determination, awkwardness, and desperation to prove himself. His chemistry with Lee Sung-min, who plays his gruff but deeply caring mentor Oh Sang-shik, is one of the show’s biggest highlights. Unlike many workplace dramas that focus on romance or dramatic power struggles, Misaeng remains grounded in reality, showing the emotional toll and silent battles that workers face daily.
Signal
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Main Cast: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, Cho Jin-woong
Plot: A criminal profiler from the present (Park Hae-young) finds an old walkie-talkie that allows him to communicate with a detective from the past (Lee Jae-han). Together, they attempt to solve cold cases and prevent crimes before they happen. However, meddling with the past has consequences, and every solved case brings unforeseen ripple effects in both timelines.
Why It Stands Out
I rarely rewatch mystery dramas since knowing the twists takes away the suspense, but Signal is an exception. Even on a second or third watch, the storytelling, performances, and emotional depth keep me hooked. The time-travel concept has been done before, but rarely this well.
The cases in Signal are loosely based on real unsolved crimes in South Korea, making them even more chilling. The storytelling is masterful, weaving past and present together seamlessly. The emotional weight is heavy—there are no easy wins, and every case leaves a lasting impact.
The cast delivered incredible performances, making every character feel like a lead rather than just supporting roles. This drama has a little bit of romance in the past timeline, though I think it wasn’t a big part of the plot, and I think it was unnecessary. That is the only thing that I didn’t like about this drama.
Death’s Game
Genre: Fantasy, Thriller, Drama
Main Cast: Seo In-guk, Park So-dam
Plot: A man who has lost all hope in life chooses to end it, only to be punished by Death itself. Instead of dying, he is forced to experience death multiple times—reincarnating into different lives, each one ending in a tragic or violent way. As he desperately seeks a way to break the cycle, he learns the true value of life and the unseen struggles of others.
Why It Stands Out:
Death’s Game is one of the most unique Kdramas in recent years, blending fantasy with deep philosophical themes. Instead of a traditional life-after-death story, it takes a bold approach by making its protagonist repeatedly face death in different bodies.
Seo In-guk’s performance is outstanding—he has to embody different personalities while still making the core character’s struggle feel real. Park So-dam’s portrayal of Death adds a fresh twist; instead of being a shadowy figure, she’s a ruthless yet oddly intriguing force. Out of all the dramas I’ve seen starring Seo In-guk, I think this is his best work.
What makes this drama so compelling is how it forces the viewer to think: If you had to live someone else’s tragic fate, would you still take your own life for granted? It’s a dark yet deeply thought-provoking watch, perfect for those who enjoy psychological and existential storytelling. Additionally, the cast for each of the lives I Jae lived were performed by incredible actors like Lee Do Hyun.
At first glance, the plot might seem like a simple ‘value life’ message, but the execution is exceptional.
Warning: this drama is violent and cruel that made some viewers drop it.
Squid Game
Genre: Thriller, Survival, Drama
Main Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon
Plot: Financially desperate individuals receive a mysterious invitation to participate in a series of children’s games with a massive cash prize. The catch? Losing means death. As the contestants struggle to survive, they must confront their morals, alliances, and the dark truths behind the deadly competition.
Why It Stands Out:
By now, almost everyone has heard of Squid Game. And yes, for those who think Kdramas are just cheesy romance stories—this one proves otherwise.
At its core, it’s more than just a survival game—it’s a brutal commentary on social inequality, human greed, and desperation. The show’s simplicity works to its advantage: childhood games twisted into deadly battles make for a visually striking and emotionally charged experience.
What sets Squid Game apart from similar survival genre shows is its character depth. The protagonist, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), isn’t just a generic action hero—he’s flawed, desperate, and sometimes frustratingly naive. The show forces you to question what you would do in his place. Every contestant has a story, and each elimination hits hard, making it more than just a spectacle of violence.
The production design is another standout feature. The colorful, playground-like sets contrast disturbingly with the life-or-death stakes, making it visually unforgettable. And while the show gained global fame, its themes—debt, class struggles, and exploitation—resonate particularly well in South Korea, where economic disparity is a major issue.
Strangers from Hell
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Horror
Plot: Yoon Jong-woo, an aspiring writer, moves to Seoul and rents a cheap room in a creepy, rundown goshiwon (a small dorm-like apartment). He soon realizes that his neighbors are anything but normal. As eerie events unfold, Jong-woo is slowly pulled into a nightmarish world where paranoia and reality blur.
Main Cast: Im Si-wan, Lee Dong-wook
Why It Stands Out:
Yes, it’s another Im Si-wan drama. I honestly think he excels in playing awkward or psychologically complex characters.
Strangers from Hell is one of the most unsettling Kdramas ever made. Unlike typical horror that relies on ghosts or supernatural elements, this series thrives on psychological terror. The tension builds up so well that even the smallest interactions—like a neighbor’s lingering stare—feel suffocating.
Im Si-wan delivers an outstanding performance as Jong-woo, a man slowly unraveling under extreme stress. He looks so normal on the outside, which makes you wonder—could anyone be hiding something sinister beneath the surface? But the true scene-stealer is Lee Dong-wook as Seo Moon-jo, the unnervingly charismatic dentist with a sinister edge. His calm demeanor and eerie smile make him one of the most terrifying Kdrama antagonists.
The show’s cramped, dimly lit setting adds to the suffocating atmosphere. The goshiwon itself feels like a character—its narrow hallways, flickering lights, and eerie silence create a sense of inescapable dread. The story explores themes of isolation, urban loneliness, and the horrors lurking beneath seemingly ordinary people.
What are your top five non-romance Kdramas? Did any of them make my list? Drop your recommendations in the comments—I’d love to check them out!