What a vintage year for South Korean dramas 2021 was: Seo In Guk and Park Bo Young reunited in “Doom at Your Service,” there was K-pop-themed fun in “Imitation” and “So I Married The Anti-Fan,” and Park Ji Hoon and Kang Min Ah tugged at our heartstrings in “At a Distance, Spring is Green.” Check out this list for all these and plenty more great K-dramas from 2021!

BEST KOREAN DRAMAS of 2021

Born blind, Hong Cheon Gi (Kim Yoo Jung) is a gifted painter who miraculously regains her sight and earns an unprecedented position at the prestigious royal art school during the Dan dynasty. In contrast, astrologer Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo Seop), despite his ability to see the future, lost his sight in a childhood accident. Fate brings Cheon Gi and Ha Ram together, and they quickly fall in love. However, their budding romance is threatened by political machinations of the royal court. Is their love fated to last or was it doomed from the start? Adapted from the novel of the same name by Jung Eun Gwol, this 2021 South Korean fantasy romance series was directed by Jang Tae Yoo.

Lovers of the Red Sky

For Your Eyes Only 👁‿👁  

For the past 999 years, the fox-like gumiho has been collecting human energy in a precious bead in an attempt to become human while posing as a professor named Shin Woo Yeo (Jang Ki Yong). But his plans are thrown into jeopardy when student Lee Dam (Hyeri) accidentally swallows his bead – threatening to end his hopes of becoming human… and kill Dam! In desperation, Woo Yeo suggests they live together until they can find a way out of this mess. Will this unconventional arrangement lead them to a solution… or to romance? This 2021 South Korean drama series was based on a webtoon by Na and was directed by Park Joon Hwa and Nam Sung Woo.

My Roommate is a Gumiho

How To Tame A Fox Team

Misfortune has struck webtoon editor Tak Dong Kyeong (Park Bo Young) for years, leaving her orphaned, diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, and broken-hearted. When she drunkenly calls upon the heavens to put her out of her misery, a Doom entity named Myeol Mang (Seo In Guk) appears. He agrees to grants her wish in 100 days if she is willing to pay the ultimate price.Things get complicated, however, when this leads them to start developing feelings for one another. Could love free Myeol Mang from his undead duties – and save Dong Kyeong from death? This 2021 South Korean drama series was directed by Kwon Young Il.

Doom at Your Service

My heart goes Doom 💕

Prince Yi San (Lee Junho) vows to become a benevolent monarch despite his cruel grandfather's reign. He falls for Sung Deok Im (Lee Se Young), an intelligent and spirited palace maid. Yi San aims to make her his concubine but Deok Im knows becoming a royal consort would restrict her freedom and rob her of joy. Undeterred by Deok Im’s misgivings, Yi San’s pure love slowly wins her over. Will their hard-earned love be able to withstand the turmoils of palace life? Based on the novel of the same name by Kang Mi Kang, this 2021 South Korean historical series was directed by Jung Ji In and Song Yeon Hwa.

The Red Sleeve

💞Love Finds A Way 🛣

Jirisan National Park, Korea's oldest and largest national park, is home to a team of dedicated rangers led by the exceptional Seo Yi Kang (Jun Ji Hyun), a skilled tracker known for saving countless lives. Alongside her is Kang Hyun Jo (Joo Ji Hoon), an ex-military lieutenant turned rookie ranger with impressive skills, and their colleague Jung Goo Young (Oh Jung Se), under the leadership of Jo Dae Jin (Sung Dong Il). As mysterious rumors begin to circulate about the mountain's unexplored regions, the rangers' expertise and courage are put to the ultimate test. They must confront the challenges of Mount Jiri's treacherous terrain and uncover its hidden secrets, risking their lives to protect visitors and unravel the mountain's mysteries. This 2021 South Korean drama explores the dangerous and compelling world of national park rangers.

Jirisan

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Yeo Joon (Park Ji Hoon), the privileged son of a wealthy family, is a first-year economics student who has everything he could want – except a true friend. When he is assigned to work on a class project with Nam Soo Hyun (Bae In Hyuk), a no-nonsense, straight-A senior, Joon sees an opportunity to change that. Despite Soo Hyun's initial skepticism, Joon's persistent efforts eventually pay off. However, their fledgling friendship is tested when a girl, Kim So Bin (Kang Min Ah), comes between them. This 2021 South Korean drama series was based on a webtoon by Ji Nyoong and was directed by Kim Jung Hyun.

At a Distance, Spring is Green

🌿  Spring is Green Team 🍃

Lee Ma Ha (Jeong Ji So), a struggling K-pop star with dreams of success, accidentally injures a member of the popular group Shax, sparking a feud with Kwon Ryeok(Lee Jun Young). Their paths cross again after they’re cast together in a drama series, where tensions rise and sparks fly. As Ma Ha fights to prove her worth and reclaim her dreams, Kwon Ryeok’s resentment and her childhood friend’s protective stance create a whirlwind of drama and rivalry. Will Ma Ha find her place in the spotlight, or will the challenges of the entertainment world prove too great? This 2021 South Korean drama, adapted from Park Kyung Ran's popular webcomic, was directed by Han Hyun Hee.

Imitation

Idols Team

Rookie cop Jung Ba Reum (Lee Seung Gi) is dedicated to justice and his job. While he’s content with his life, everything changes when a psychopathic serial killer terrorizes the nation. Teaming up with his partner, Go Mu Chi (Lee Hee Joon), Ba Reum hunts down the elusive murderer, but surviving a deadly encounter with the killer alters his life forever. Shaken by the experience, Ba Reum becomes obsessed with understanding the mind of a psychopath, diving into a dark and dangerous quest for answers. As the line between right and wrong begins to blur, Ba Reum must confront terrifying truths that may shatter everything he thought he knew. This 2021 South Korean mystery drama was directed by Choi Joon Bae and Kang Cheol Woo.

Mouse

🐭 The Mouseketeers Team 🐭 

Office worker Kim Yumi (Kim Go Eun) has suffered a sad and painful breakup that leaves her “love cells” comatose. While the rest of the cells in her body do what they can to revive the injured cells, none of their efforts to revive the love cells work. This leads Yumi to live with a heavy heart, grinding her way through a dull existence with no prospect of romance on the horizon. But an unlikely lifeline may be ahead for both Yumi and her sad love cells when she meets Gu Wung (Ahn Bo Hyun). An emotionally stunted video game developer, Gu Wung struggles to express his emotions, but something stirs within him when he meets Yumi. Can Yumi’s love cells reignite and help bring Yumi and Gu Wung together?

Yumi's Cells

The On Fire Penguins Team 🔥🐧

KBS2

Raised as a soldier since birth, ambitious Princess Pyeong Gang (Kim So Hyun) intends to become the first Empress of Goguryeo after she learns about her real identity. She will stop at nothing to realize her dream, but her plans hit a hitch when she meets the peace-loving On Dal (Na In Woo). The duo fall for each other, despite their very different outlooks. On Dal decides to do whatever it takes to help Pyeong Gang achieve her goal, even if it means turning his back on his values. But the Princess’ quest to take the throne could end up forcing her to pay a price she is hesitant to pay, as a deadly fight for power is about to break out. Will Pyeong Gang and On Dal – and their love – survive this bloody struggle? This 2021 South Korean drama series was based on the novel “Princess Pyeong Gang” by Choi Sa Gyu and was directed by Yoon Sang Ho.

River Where the Moon Rises

Godin Media

Magazine reporter Lee Geun Young (Choi Sooyoung)’s career takes a nosedive after she accidentally throws up on top celebrity Hoo Joon (Choi Tae Joon). She is fired, and assumes Hoo Joon orchestrated the sacking. So she stages a one-person protest outside his talent agency, becoming his most notorious “anti-fan.” A TV producer decides to capitalize on her 15 minutes of fame by casting Geun Young alongside Hoo Joon in a reality TV show where they must live together. Geun Young agrees, happy to get a paycheck, while Hoo Joon agrees, thinking it may boost his flagging popularity. Things get off to an explosive start as filming begins. But could Cupid arrive and smooth out their differences? This 2021 South Korean drama series was based on a novel by Kim Eun Jung and was directed by Kang Cheol Woo.

So I Married The Anti-Fan

🥀Hatefully Yours 🙃

Kang Yo Han (Ji Sung) is the "Devil Judge" who presides over a televised courtroom in a dystopian future South Korea, where justice is a public spectacle. His controversial methods expose corruption while blurring the lines between hero and villain. Jeong Seon Ah (Kim Min Jung), a powerful and ambitious foundation director, seeks to uncover Yo Han's secrets and challenge his authority. Childhood friends Kim Ga On (Jinyoung), a rookie judge, and Yun Su Hyeon (Park Gyu Young), a police officer, are drawn into this high-stakes battle for justice. As Yo Han's unconventional court captivates the nation, the complex dynamics between these characters threaten to unravel the very system of justice they seek to uphold. This is a 2021 South Korean drama series that was directed by Choi Jung Gyu.

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