A Beginner's Guide to Korean TV Dramas

Okay, I know it's a hard jump to make but hear me out.
I get it, you like sitting down after a hard day at work and relaxing on your couch to last night's recording of Scandal. Personally, I like my American and British shows more than I'm likely to admit as well! I can't pretend I haven't seen an obnoxious amount of Dance Moms.

But, my favorite thing to do when I'm feeling bored, upset, lonely, etc?

I sit down in my chair, grab my lovely pink blanket, and watch Korean television dramas.

Does your heart long for hilarious romantic comedies?
Do you dream about extremely overly dramatic scandals?
Maybe you want nothing more in your heart of hearts than a compelling medical drama?

Don't worry about it, Korea has you covered.

From contractual relationships, dating prime ministers, and amnesia plots to complicated surgeries, angst ridden flashbacks, and spectacular action scenes, you can be certain that there is a Korean show out there for you. It's like walking into a clothing store where the dress sizes actually make sense and fit your hips. Yes, even after that embarrassing McDonalds binge.

Also, the wait for new shows to watch is exponentially smaller than that of the American TV schedule- there's new shows ready to be enjoyed almost constantly! And, as a newcomer, you have a literally plethora of older shows to watch as well! And trust me on this, the older shows are just as good as the newer ones. Expect a page about that from me later!

Alright ladies and gentlemen, time to take the plunge! Don't worry, I'll be right here holding your hand in mine for an uncomfortably long amount of time.

First step: Pick a show.
Now, in order to help you get started I'll list out some genres with a good starting recommendation. Of course, you can always do your own research to find something that fits you better personally. But, these are some popular choices!
Historical: Jewel in the Palace, Dong Yi
Romantic Comedy: Boys Over Flowers, Coffee Prince
Dramatic Romance: It's Okay That's Love, Hotel King
Science Fiction: My Love from the Stars, Master's Sun
Medical Drama: Doctor Stranger, Emergency Couple
Melodrama: Secret, 49 Days
Action/Thriller: City Hunter, The Devil

Step Two: Where to watch?
My main recommendations are
Netflix (They have a constantly expanding amount of Korean TV Dramas, just search for 'Korean TV'.)
Viki (Streaming online kdramas, huge variety of shows! Has support for mobile devices.)
Dramafever (Similar to viki, online streaming with official support from Korean tv stations. They have apps on smart tvs and mobile devices.)
Soompi TV- (Online streaming, newer to the game than viki or dramafever but gaining popularity!)

Step Three: Sit back and enjoy!
Make sure you stock up on tissues, junk food, and cancel all your plans for the next week! Let me know how much you enjoyed these shows and come back anytime for more recommendations! As a 12 year kdrama veteran I'm here to help support my fellow fans whenever they need me!

Now, please excuse me while I make my dramatic superhero exit.