I started down the rabbit hole of international dramas a while ago but never counted how many dramas I have actually watched! Here is a growing list with recommendations. How do you compare? Which are your faves?

Watched and counting...

Lee Yeong Joon (Park Seo Joon) is the arrogant hotshot vice president of his family’s company, thanks to the tireless efforts of his incredibly talented secretary, Kim Mi So (Park Min Young). With her by his side for the last nine years, Yeong Joon has been able to appear like the shining star he believes he is. But when Mi So suddenly decides to quit, Yeong Joon quickly realizes just how important she is... and not just to his career. Jealous over his older brother, Lee Seong Yeon’s (Lee Tae Hwan) growing relationship with Mi So, Yeong Joon decides it’s time to get his secretary back, no matter what. Based on the novel of the same name by Jung Kyung Yoon, this 2018 South Korean romantic comedy series was directed by Park Joon Hwa.

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim

The Perfect Secretaries Team

No Eun Seol (Choi Kang Hee), a feisty and unemployed young woman with a penchant for fighting, finally lands a job as a secretary – to the immature, eccentric, and utterly incompetent heir of DN Group Cha Ji Heon (Ji Sung). Ji Heon, riddled with social phobia and a deep-seated fear of public speaking, constantly clashes with his ambitious cousin and rival, Cha Mu Won (Kim Jae Joong), who is the perfect executive. As Eun Seol attempts to whip Ji Heon into shape, she finds herself not only protecting him from his own ineptitude but also from his manipulative family and their corporate machinations. Amidst office politics, hilarious mishaps, and growing feelings, Eun Seol helps Ji Heon mature into a capable leader, while inadvertently finding herself caught in a complicated love triangle and discovering her own potential.

Protect the Boss

The Bossy Team

Eighteenth-century Joseon Crown Prince Sado (Lee Je Hoon) yearns for a nation built on equality and enlightenment. His progressive ideals, however, oppose his father, King Yeongjo (Han Suk Kyu), who ruthlessly clings to absolute power and the intricate web of court politics. As Sado seeks to implement his reforms, he uncovers a horrifying secret: a conspiracy surrounding the death of his mother, implicating the very foundations of the monarchy. Can a son challenge a king, or will the "secret door" to truth lead only to tragedy? This drama was inspired by true events.

Secret Door

Secret Door Team

Hunan TV

In the tumultuous era of the Northern Wei, innocent citizens are kidnapped and enslaved, including Chu Qiao (Zhao Li Ying), who is cast into a forest to be hunted for sport by wealthy lords. Just as hope seems lost, she is rescued by Yan Xun (Dou Xiao), the Prince of Northern Yan, forging a powerful bond between them. However, her life takes another turn when she catches the eye of the influential Yuwen Yue (Lin Geng Xin) from the formidable Yuwen family. As tensions rise and loyalties are tested, Chu Qiao finds herself caught in a web of power struggles, forcing her to choose between her growing affection for Yan Xun and the allure of Yuwen Yue’s world. With her freedom and heart at stake, will she fight for love or succumb to the demands of her new reality? This 2017 Chinese drama series was directed by Wu Jin Yuan, based on the novel “Division 11's Princess Agent” written by Xiao Xiang Dong Er.

Princess Agents

The Dancing Fingers

Sohu TV

Lin Xin Chen (Zhang Yu Xi), an heiress with an illegitimate status, is pressured to marry well and sets her sights on the wealthy Zheng Chu Yao (Chen Bo Rong) at Four Leaf College. Initially mistaking the brooding Jiang Yu Nian (Mike D. Angelo) for Chu Yao, she seeks his help to learn tango in order to win Chu Yao's attention. Comically, Xin Chen keeps encountering Nian Yu in compromising situations while trying to impress Chu Yao, who seems more interested in Yu Yang Yang (Du Yan), a poor student admitted through her father's connections. As Nian Yu teaches her tango, Xin Chen begins to question her original romantic pursuit and wonder if her true destiny might lie closer than she expected. This is a 2016 Chinese drama series produced by Qi Wei.

My Little Princess

The Little Princesses

Lee Seol (Kim Tae Hee), an ordinary college student, discovers she is the great-granddaughter of the Joseon Dynasty's last Emperor, Emperor Sunjong. Park Hae Young (Song Seung Heon), the grandson of a powerful Daehan Group chairman, is tasked with teaching Seol royal etiquette to prepare her for potential monarchy restoration. As Hae Young guides Seol through her royal transformation, he finds himself unexpectedly attracted to her, creating a complex dynamic that threatens his own inheritance. Their growing connection becomes increasingly complicated as Seol's royal lineage could potentially disrupt Hae Young's family's power and wealth. This is a South Korean drama exploring royal heritage, personal ambition, and unexpected romance.

My Princess

Team My Princess

Alien Do Min Joon (Kim Soo Hyun) landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. With superhuman abilities like teleportation, enhanced vision, and slowed aging, he has lived a solitary life, meticulously observing humanity while waiting for his chance to return to his home planet. With only three months left until his departure, his carefully structured existence is disrupted by Cheon Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun), a wildly popular – albeit ditzy and often problematic – actress who moves in next door. Their initial clashes evolve into an undeniable attraction, forcing Min Joon to confront his long-held detachment from human emotions. As their unconventional romance blossoms, they face not only the impending deadline of his return but also a dangerous conspiracy surrounding Song Yi's career, forcing Min Joon to choose between his long-awaited journey home and the woman he has come to love.

Programas