It is always easy to find the best and most popular Korean dramas. Many of them get high ratings and are usually the talk of the town as they capture the hearts of their viewers. However, finding the less popular ones that are still worth watching is much easier said than done. These K-drama shows might not have gotten enough attention or swept under the rug and missed, however, they can be just as good or even better in some ways or another!
While these K-dramas might lack the popularity of others, they all are well worth watching in their own ways. Below, you’ll find 5 of some a few underrated K-drama shows that you would be watching.
1. Chicago Typewriter
Reincarnation is a common and recurring theme in many Korean dramas. However, Chicago Typewriter kicks it up a notch by featuring three people who, in the past, were friends and rebelled against the Japanese in the 1930s.
The story initially revolves around Han See-jo, a famous writer who finds himself unable to accomplish anything due to a serious case of writer’s block. He then chances upon a fan of his, Jeon Seol, and another person, who is a ghostwriter, Yoo Jin-oh. The two then suggest that they can help him get over his writer’s block.
Little do the trio know that this is just the start of their wild adventure! This epic story revolves around the friendship, love, and betrayal of the three characters that span 80 years.
2. Prison Playbook
What happens if an ace baseball player finds himself locked up behind bars before he can even make his debut?
The dark comedy, Prison Playbook, follows the story of Kim Je-hyuk, who is sent to prison after attacking the man who assaulted his sister. Due to his use of excessive force in his attack, he was sentenced to spend a year in jail. This drama revolves around the lives of convicts, their families, and the duty officers. It gives us a glimpse of the life of someone who was once so privileged but found himself in a world so far from his own.
For a good laugh and heartfelt emotions, this is one to add to your list!
3. The Queen’s Classroom
This is unlike any other K-drama out there. The Queen’s Classroom doesn’t feature any adult romance at all. Instead, the story focuses mostly on the fun and innocent antics of its diverse range of actors playing as students as they try to learn how to deal with their mysterious and scary teacher.
This drama is a bit of a tear-jerker, so be prepared to have a couple of tissues ready with you when you’re watching. You have been warned!
4. Doctor John
Doctor John is one of the first Korean TV series to talk about a couple of things that other shows would not even dare touch upon. This includes, mainly, the ethical concerns behind euthanasia and whether should be allowed or not.
While Doctor John isn’t the only Korean medical drama, it is one of the more unique ones. It follows the story of the genius, Cha Yo-han, along with his resident, Kang Shi-young, as they work together to find cures for their patients. Along the way, Shi-young finds out about a painful secret Yo-han has been hiding.
5. Soulmate
Soulmate takes the whole romance idea to a more realistic level with a twist. Although the more realistic view of relationships and dating portrayed in the show is more than welcome, what helps spice things up is the concept of being able to hear your soulmate’s thoughts at certain moments.
This strange “phenomenon” and the fact that the two leads are unaware that they are meant for each other is what makes Soulmate such a compelling watch.
Conclusion
Taking up a Korean language courses means indulging yourself in the language’s culture. One of the best ways to do this is by watching K-drama shows!
Now, while it doesn’t take an expert to list down some of the most popular and must-watch K-drama shows, digging up the more underrated ones need a bit of research. Lucky for you, we’ve already done the hard work. These underrated K-drama shows above will help give you a much better appreciation of the Korean language and their culture, as well as the sheer diversity and range of K-dramas, in general.
If you are searching for a Korean Language School, Sejong is the perfect place to start on your learning!