Finding underrated Korean dramas can be an adventure in itself, especially when there are so many interesting options that are often overlooked.
Sometimes, a drama with a unique storyline, strong characters, and a talented cast may not get the attention it deserves. It’s time to explore some dramas that may not be widely known, but are actually very worth watching.
Here we have summarized 7 underrated Korean dramas that deserve to be on your watch list!
Chicago Typewriter (2017)
Chicago Typewriter is a Korean drama that combines historical and modern elements in an engaging story. Set in the 1930s and 21st century, the drama follows the lives of three main characters who are interconnected through their various lives.
Han Se Joo, played by Yoo Ah In, is a modern-day bestselling author who is facing writer’s block. Despite her success, she feels stuck and unable to write.
On the other hand, Yu Jin Oh, played by Go Kyung Pyo, is a great ghost writer in the present. However, in his past life, he was a bar owner who was involved in political and social struggles.
Jeon Seol, played by Im Soo Jung, is a former Olympic athlete who now lives as a book lover and delivery service manager. In her previous life, Jeon Seol was a sniper with a background full of struggles and challenges.
Chicago Typewriter offers a layered narrative with an interesting mix of love stories, friendships, and personal struggles. The drama not only explores interesting characters but also delves into big themes of identity and the past.
Gaus Electronics (2022)
The story of Gaus Electronics focuses on the lives of the members of Marketing Team 3 in the home appliance department at the Gaus Electronics headquarters.
This marketing team consists of about 10 employees with various unique characters. Lee Sang Sik, played by Kwak Dong Yeon, is a man who has a pure heart, but often has trouble understanding other people’s emotions.
Meanwhile, Cha Na Rae, played by Go Sung Hee, is an assistant manager with anger issues who sometimes makes the atmosphere tense.
On the other hand, there is Baek Ma Tan, played by Bae Hyeon Seong, the heir of the competing company Gaus Electronics.
Gaus Electronics is a comedy drama full of slapstick humor. While the puns may be hard to understand for viewers who are not fluent in Korean, the physical comedy can make anyone laugh.
With diverse characters and colorful situations, “Gaus Electronics” is an interesting and fresh watch.
Two Weeks (2013)
Jang Tae San (Lee Joon Gi) is a member of a criminal organization who decides to quit the world of crime after finding out his girlfriend is pregnant. However, before he can truly quit, he is forced to bear the guilt of a murder committed by his boss, or else his girlfriend will be killed.
To save the woman he loved, Tae San broke off their relationship, had his girlfriend have an abortion, and ended up going to jail.
Two Weeks is an action drama that offers plenty of suspense and exciting action. However, what really steals the show is Tae San’s character development.
Although the main story lacks a romantic subplot, the flashbacks showing the love between Tae San and the mother of his daughter provide some relief and make the story even more touching.
A Piece of Your Mind (2020)
Moon Ha Won (Jung Hae In) is known as an AI expert who created an advanced device to revive a person’s voice. He is known as a very kind person and loved by many, but his heart was broken after losing his childhood friend, Ji Soo.
Although he remains kind-hearted, this loss makes him constantly sad and difficult to move on. Meanwhile, Han Seo Woo (Chae Soo Bin) is a classical music recording engineer who has no family.
When Ha Won and Seo Woo meet, their lives begin to change slowly. A Piece of Your Mind is not your typical Korean romance drama.
It’s slow-paced, full of deep feelings, and requires viewers to be in a certain mood to really enjoy it.
Even so, the realistic relationship between Ha Won and Seo Woo, coupled with the stunning cinematography and poetic dialogue, makes this drama very interesting and makes you want to watch it until the end.
Mask (2015)
Byun Ji Sook (Soo Ae) lives a life that is far from normal. Since childhood, she had to face difficult situations because her father was always in debt and chased by loan sharks.
She coincidentally meets Eun Ha, a woman from a wealthy family who looks very similar to her.
Seeing a golden opportunity in front of her eyes, Ji Sook decides to take over Eun Ha’s identity. In this way, she hopes to leave behind her old life of trouble and start living a new, more prosperous life.
Mask is a romance drama that manages to combine elements that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
One of the main attractions of this drama is the standout acting of Soo Ae who manages to carry two very different characters in a very convincing way.
Boyhood (2023)
Boyhood tells the story of Jang Byung Tae (Im Siwan), a physically weak, academically average, and socially awkward high school student from Onyang in South Chungcheong Province.
Throughout his life, Byung Tae has constantly been the victim of bullying at school. However, when he moved to another village in Chungcheong Province, he saw an opportunity to start a new, better life. At the new middle school, the students mistake Byung Tae for Jang Gyeong Tae (Lee Si Woo).
With Gyeong Tae’s identity, Byung Tae ends up getting the top spot in his new school for a while. However, what will happen when the original gangster returns?
Looking at the synopsis and trailer, Boyhood may seem like another teen drama about an underdog rising to the top, but the entire cast, especially Im Siwan’s acting, and the realistic plot make this K-drama stand out among many dramas with similar genres.
Yonder (2022)
Yonder takes viewers into a highly sophisticated future world through the story of Kim Jae Hyun (Shin Ha Kyun), a man whose life is shattered after his wife, Cha Yi Hoo (Han Ji Min), dies of cancer.
When life feels empty and aimless, Jae Hyun suddenly receives a mysterious message from the deceased Yi Hoo. The message invites him to come to Yonder, a mysterious place that lies between life and death.
With curiosity and hope to rediscover the meaning of life, Jae Hyun decides to leave the world he knows and search for Yi Hoo in Yonder.
Set against the backdrop of futuristic technology, this drama offers more than just stunning visuals, it also presents a deep reflection on how we view life and death.
Is life without death really better? And how do we find meaning in the midst of nothingness? While the story focuses on sci-fi elements, at the heart of Yonder is a deep exploration of human existence, happiness, and the meaning of life.
