If you have dipped your toes into K-dramas then you will surely know that once you plunge into the K-drama pool, you can’t get enough of the ocean of content it has to offer. This statement particularly rings true in 2024 as wildly popular Korean dramas such as Queen of Tears have been consumed by millions and millions of viewers from across the globe. Notably, Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won’s series was the most-consumed K-drama on Netflix in the first half of 2024, so far, according to statistics released by the streaming platform. Similarly, many popular K-dramas that released post-pandemic have made it to the binge-worthy Netflix list…
Queen of Tears to King the Land, here are the 10 most-watched K-dramas on Netflix in 2024 that are guaranteed to make you a K-drama addict:
1. Queen of Tears
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Viewership (in hours): 689.5 million
Queen of Tears is a rom-com melodrama that explores the rekindled love story of a married couple — the Queens Group heiress and the legal director at his wife’s family conglomerate — who are on the brink of divorce. When the heiress is struck with a life-threatening crisis, the estranged couple band together and their supposedly forgotten feelings bloom into a memorable romance. Queen of Tears stars Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Ji Won, Park Sung Hoon, Kwak Dong Yeon and Lee Joo Bin.
2. My Demon
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Viewership (in hours): 311.2 million
My Demon is a fantasy rom-com K-drama chronicling a contractual marriage between Mirae Group’s devil-like heiress and a demon, who temporarily loses his powers to the former. While reluctantly trying to help each other, the eccentric pair fall in love. My Demon stars Kim Yoo Jung, Song Kang, Lee Sang Yi and Kim Hae Sook.
3. True Beauty
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Viewership (in hours): 293.5 million
True Beauty is a slice-of-life and coming-of-age teen rom-com K-drama that revolves around a high school student, who turns to makeup after a bullying incident leaves her mentally scarred. She immediately becomes her school’s popular student, but finds it difficult to manage her ‘twin’ identities at school and home. While navigating the true meaning of beauty, she gets tangled in a juicy love triangle with her cold-hearted scholar classmate and the latter’s ex-best friend, a good-looking bad boy with a heart of gold. True Beauty stars Moon Ga Young, ASTRO member Cha Eun Woo, Hwang In Yeop and Park Yoo Na.
4. Doctor Slump
Viewership (in hours): 258.1 million
Doctor Slump depicts the inspiring tale of two doctors, who are facing a life slump, professionally and personally. The quirky duo, who were academic rivals in school, reunite as adults during the worst phase of their lives when one of them starts living in the other’s rooftop room. They steadily warm up to each other given their aligned state of mind, and together, get past their slump while also making way for a relatable romance. Doctor Slump stars Park Hyung Sik, Park Shin Hye, Yoon Park, Gong Seong Ha and Oh Dong Min.
5. Welcome to Samdalri
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Viewership (in hours): 199.2 million
Welcome to Samdalri is a rom-com K-drama set in Jeju Island that depicts the endearing love story between two childhood friends-turned-lovers, who go through a bitter breakup. One is a hot-shot photographer in Seoul while the other is a talented weather forecaster back in his hometown. When the former is hit with a public scandal, she flees to her hometown and forcibly reunites with her ex-boyfriend. While they start off on an awkward note, the ex-couple’s supposedly lost feelings don’t take long to resurface. Welcome to Samdalri stars Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hye Sun.
6. King the Land
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Viewership (in hours): 198.2 million
King the Land is a workplace rom-com K-drama that is centred on the heart-fluttering romance between The King Group’s antisocial CEO and the ever-smiling hotel manager, who works at King Hotel’s VVIP lounge, King the Land. The ‘opposites’ have a bickering beginning, but are soon struck by Cupid. King the Land stars 2PM member Lee Jun Ho and Girls’ Generation member YoonA.
7. Gyeongseong Creature
Viewership (in hours): 134.4 million
Gyeongseong Creature is a horror thriller series set in the spring of 1945 in Gyeongseong (present-day Seoul). The intriguing storyline is focused on a wealthy pawnshop owner, who is Gyeongseong’s best informant, and a tracker specialist, who is searching for her missing mother. The unlikely duo partner up to fight against an otherworldly monster, who was born out of secret biological experiments held at Ongseong Hospital. Gyeongseong Creature spans two seasons and stars Park Seo Joon, Han So Hee, Claudia Kim, Kim Hae Sook, Jo Han Chul, Wi Ha Joon, Lee Moo Saeng and Bae Hyun Sung.
8. Crash Landing on You
Viewership (in hours): 131.2 million
Crash Landing on You is a cult rom-com K-drama that revolves around the star-crossed love story between an ambitious South Korean heiress and a reticent North Korean captain. The former lands up in North Korea due to a paragliding accident and quite literally “crash lands” into the latter’s arms. The soldier vows to help the heiress return to South Korea and amid their tumultuous escape journey, the unexpected pair fall in love. Crash Landing on You stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin aka BinJin alongside Seo Ji Hye and Kim Jung Hyun.
9. Parasyte: The Grey
Viewership (in hours): 126.8 million
Parasyte: The Grey is a live-action spin-off series of Parasyte, Hitoshi Iwaaki’s legendary manga. The sci-fi horror K-drama revolves around mysterious parasitic creatures, who attempt to gain power by living off of human hosts while also having the urge to kill humans. A young woman falls victim to one such parasite, however, it fails to take over her brain. She co-exists with the parasite in a bizarre combination, while a small-time gangster is tracking down these parasites to look for his missing sister. The otherwordly creatures are also hunted down by the team leader of Grey Team, a task force aimed to eradicate parasites. Parasyte: The Grey stars Jeon So Nee, Koo Kyo Hwan and Lee Jung Hyun.
10. Captivating the King
Viewership (in hours): 122 million
Captivating the King is a romance saeguk (historical drama) which depicts the complex love story between the lonely Joseon King and a noblewoman, who disguises herself as a man and becomes the monarch’s closest confidante over their shared love for baduk. The unconventional duo strike an instant attraction for each other, however, their equation is jeopardised by political unrest. This makes way for a carefully orchestrated revenge quest, but love comes in the way yet again for the forbidden pair. Captivating the King stars Jo Jung Suk, Shin Se Kyung and Lee Shin Young.
