Some K-dramas can make you laugh while others can break your heart—and there are those that will put you in a moral dilemma. These are the series that are so, so good, you start asking yourself if things are right or wrong: Is it okay to keep a hefty amount of money left by a departed friend? Is it right to plot revenge? Should you change your beliefs just because someone says so?
Get ready to have mind-bending questions with these K-dramas on Netflix:
1. Little Women (2022)
Who's in it: Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun, Park Ji Hu, Wi Ha Joon
NGL, we initially thought that Little Women is a Korean adaptation of the classic novel of the same name. It turns out, it's only loosely based on it and the plot is way different—this one's darker and has more plot twists. Little Women shows class conflict and it centers on three sisters who grew up poor. As they try to make ends meet, an influential family adds more burden to their existing problems.
2. Vincenzo (2021)
Who's in it: Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Been, Ok Taecyeon
Mafia consigliere Vincenzo Cassano is determined to claim his gold bars hidden in a sketchy building. And so he flies back to South Korea with that goal in mind, only to stay in the country fighting for the tenants' rights. With his ruthless nature, he swears vengeance against those who belittle them and makes them suffer a slow death (setting someone on fire while playing their fave Zumba music, anyone?).
3. Hellbound (2021)
Who's in it: Yoo Ah In, Kim Hyun Joo, Won Jin Ah, Park Jung Min
Complex characters form this webtoon-based, terror-inducing Netflix masterpiece (which is set for a second season, BTW). A dark fantasy at its core, Hellbound is what real nightmares are made of: On the surface, an organization looks like a newly-risen religion but it's actually a cult. If you're curious about blind fanaticism, this K-drama is just right up your alley.
4. Extracurricular (2020)
Who's in it: Kim Dong Hee, Park Ju Hyun, Jung Da Bin, Nam Yoon Su
Oh Ji Soo is your normal school guy: He gets good grades and doesn't get into trouble. But that's only when he's inside the classroom. Outside, he's a SPOILER ALERT pimp and one of his classmates is involved in his illegal business. Ji Soo resulted in this kind of extracurricular activity while finding a way to survive as a self-funded student
5. Sky Castle (2018)
Who's in it: Yum Jung Ah, Yoon Se Ah, Kim Seo Hyung, Oh Na Ra, Lee Tae Ran
ICYDK, Korean parents are hell-bent to send their children to Seoul National University, (a.k.a the top school in South Korea) and Sky Castle realistically portrays their highly-pressurized school life. From long hours spent studying to the millions paid to get exclusive access to the best tutors, this drama will have you staring into space and on the edge of your seats.
6. Squid Game (2021)
Who's in it: Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo, Jung Ho Yeon, Wi Ha Hoon, Lee Byung Hun
Are you willing to kill for 45.6 billion won? In the Netflix sensation that is Squid Game, 456 players compete to win that huge amount. Whether it's a stranger or a long-lost friend, they would stop at no one and it has something to do with their desperate backgrounds. Most of them are knee-deep in debt.
7. Juvenile Justice (2022)
Who's in it: Kim Hye Soo, Kim Moo Yeol, Lee Jung Eun
Judge Shim Eun Seok is known for despising juvenile offenders and her traumatic past is the reason behind her actions. She believes that these delinquents are bound to commit the same crime (if not the worst) again unless they're properly disciplined. However, some of the people around her think otherwise. If there's an underrated K-drama that we recommend you to watch, Juvenile Justice would be it!
8. Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area (2022)
Who's in it: Park Hae Soo, Yoo Ji Tae, Lee Hyun Woo, Jeon Jong Seo, Jang Yoon Joo, Kim Ji Hoon, Kim Yunjin
Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area is a spinoff of the Spanish series and it focuses on unifying the South and the North. In the midst of the plan, a group of masked robbers pulls off a heist and prints loads of paper bills. After watching all six episodes (everybody say: Bitin!), we only have one question left in our heads: Why are we rooting for the robbers?
*This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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