Unravel the tapestry of storytelling with 2023's top Asian dramas, your gateway to the continent's pulsating creative heart. These aren't just shows; they're cultural phenomena setting global trends. From Seoul's cutting-edge thrillers to Tokyo's soul-stirring journeys, these latest hit Asian series are your ticket to unparalleled entertainment!

BEST ASIAN DRAMAS of 2023

When his older brother is poisoned to death, Crown Prince Lee Hwan (Park Hyung Sik) becomes the prime suspect in his murder. To make matters worse, he receives a cursed letter containing a prophecy concerning his death. With his future looking grim, Lee Hwan finds a glimmer of hope in Min Jae Yi (Jeon So Nee), a noblewoman accused of murdering her family days before her wedding. Agreeing to help her if she agrees to help him find a way to break the curse, the two set out on an unexpected path toward love. Directed by Lee Jong Jae, this 2023 South Korean historical romance drama is as full of mystery as love.

Our Blooming Youth

🌸Blooming Love of Youth🌸

Xiang Yuan (Wu Qian) is given the difficult task of saving the Xi’an branch of her family's company from financial ruin. But when she starts the job, she is unexpectedly reunited with her childhood crush Xu Yan Shi (Vin Zhang), a budding navigation engineer. Meeting him again as an adult is awkward, considering the nature of her former one-sided adoration. But the duo tentatively starts to form an unexpected friendship. Can they help each other in their respective missions – and will they find love in the process? This 2023 Chinese romance drama was based on a novel by Er Dong Tu Zi and directed by Tien Jen Huang.

Here We Meet Again

🪐 My Orbit is You Team 💛

Tokyo MX

Shinohara Kanon (Okamoto Rei) is 33 years old. She works hard in her job as a home designer, but she has come to a crossroads in her life. She realizes that she is now entering her mid-thirties and spends her downtime drinking and generally being slovenly at home. She has had romantic experiences in the past, but is nowhere near marriage. Her financial situation leaves also leaves much to be desired... Life, it seems, is passing her by.

But one day, at an event organized by a friend, she bumps into a younger, handsome, well-dressed man. She learns that his name is Shirosaki Makoto (Nagatsuma Reo), that he is 28, and that he is the CEO of a company president. Later, he springs a surprise on her, asking her to marry him – on certain conditions. Unsure if this is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn her life around or a situation she should leave well alone, she hesitates. But Shirosaki Makoto is insistent – and as her 34th birthday approaches, could marriage really be in the cards for her?

“Marriage with Me? Seriously?” is a 2023 Japanese drama series that was directed by Hirokazu Fujisawa.

Marriage with Me? Seriously?

GMM One

As both a highly praised jewelry designer and a talented race car driver, Ratti (Thanapat Kawila) has made quite a name for himself. Known for his impeccable work and undeniable skill, Ratti loathes anyone who coasts through life on lies and schemes, rather than talent and hard work.&nbsp;

More than a little snobbish, Ratti takes a tremendous amount of pleasure in putting loathsome liars, cheats, and thieves in their place. So when he catches Chomjan (Bifern Anchasa Mongkhonsamai) in the act of selling fake jewelry, he wastes no time reporting her to the authorities. Happy to see Chomjan arrested, Ratti continues on with his day, not knowing that fate is about to deal him a very cruel hand.

Soon after his run-in with Chomjan, Ratti catches his girlfriend cheating on him with his stepbrother. Fleeing to Italy to nurse his broken heart, Ratti is forced to return when his stepmother threatens to sell one of his late mother’s favorite necklaces. Driven by rage, Ratti storms his ex’s wedding and steals the necklace, only to have his escape cut short. Quickly caught by a security guard, Ratti finds himself cuffed to an innocent and bewildered Chomjan. With no other choice, Ratti must rely on Chomjan’s help to escape but what could possibly persuade her to help the man who once had her thrown in jail?

A delightful romantic romp, “My Lucky Star” is a 2023 Thai action romance drama directed by Pook Pantham Thongsang.

My Lucky Star

Twinkle twinkle little star✨

Despite his wild popularity, Han Joon Oh (Kim Young Dae) is a star plagued by an overwhelming inferiority complex. Constantly fighting his insecurities, Joon Oh struggles to maintain the facade he puts up for his fans, until he’s involved in a near fatal accident and wakes up to find he’s been possessed by the spirit of Do Ha, an ancient nobleman. Do Ha is hellbent on exacting revenge on his wife who is reincarnated as Kang Yeong Hwa (Pyo Ye Jin), the brave firefighter who rescued Joon Oh from the accident and now works as his bodyguard. Can Joon Oh find a way to rid himself of this vengeful spirit or will his past insecurities keep him trapped by Do Ha forever? Based on the webtoon by Hye Yoom, this 2023 South Korean drama series was directed by Pyo Min Soo and Park Chan Yool.

Moon in the Day

🕓The awaited love❤️Team

Han Hae Na (Park Gyu Young) might seem like an average high school teacher, but she secretly suffers from an incredibly unusual curse: if she kisses a man, she’s doomed to turn into a dog! The only way to break the curse is to have the same man kiss her again while she’s in canine form. While she hopes her crush Lee Bo Gyeom (Lee Hyun Woo) might be the one to break the curse, it’s the dog-fearing Jin Seo Won (Cha Eun Woo) whom she ends up kissing in a drunken mistake. Now, she’s on a quest to win him over and steal a smooch before she ends up spending the rest of her life as a pooch! Kim Dae Woong directed this 2023 South Korean romantic drama series.

A Good Day to be a Dog

🐩 Woof, Woof, Kiss Me! 💋

Mango TV

Though a successful businessman, Song Hao Yu (Xie Bin Bin) is utterly hopeless when it comes to raising his son, Song Xing Chen (Zhang Yan Bo). In desperate need of help, this single father will do almost anything to better his relationship with his son, including proposing a marriage of convenience with Qi Si Le (Zheng Qiu Hong). A single mother in desperate need of a miracle, Si Le agrees to Hao Yu’s proposal, as doing so will provide her with the funds she needs for her daughter’s life-saving operation. Joining their single-parent families, Hao Yu and Si Le have no idea they’ve just started down that path that may ultimately lead them to love. This 2023 Chinese drama series was directed by Li Jie.

Please Be My Family

Welcome to the Family

When Punn Setthaphakdi (Ja Phachara Suansri) lands an internship working on the set of an upcoming drama, he feels like he’s living the dream. But when he meets the drama’s lead actor, "Achi" Shinashi Tiyaphirom (First Chalongrat Novsamrong), Punn’s life takes an interesting turn. Naturally drawn to Achi’s charisma, Punn can’t help falling in love with the superstar. But as nothing more than a lowly intern, does Punn stand a chance of catching this celebrity’s eye? Adapted from the novel “The Superstar and the Puppy on Set” by Orpheus, this 2023 Thai BL romance drama was directed by David Bigander.

Be Mine Superstar

Love Behind The Scenes

Rin (Pooklook Fonthip Watcharatrakul) is a woman who appears to have it all: She is a key member of the VIP customer management team at a major Thai department store. The team caters to the store’s super-rich clients, providing private shopping sessions and exclusive services. As well as being successful, she is also beautiful, and has a dashing and equally successful husband – Pakawat (Pong Nawat Kulrattanarak), the team leader of the same management team. But her life comes crashing down around her one late night, she hears Pakawat having a heated argument with someone on the phone...

Soon after, she receives an anonymous text message that reads: “Your husband is having an affair with someone from your team.” All of a sudden, Rin is consumed with suspicion, eager to find out who sent the message. She begins to suspect Pakawat may be cheating on her behind her back with someone she thought she could trust. Is Pakawat a love rat? And if so, who has he been cheating on her with…?

This drama was based on “VIP,” a 2019 South Korean series of the same name.

“VIP Thailand” is a 2023 Thai drama series that was directed by Mi Thanawat Panyarin.

VIP Thailand

VIP Love hides an affair🖤

As kids, Song Yan (Yang Yang) and Xu Qin (Wang Chu Ran) were childhood best friends who fell in love before their families put a stop to the budding relationship. Forced apart, he grows up to be a fire chief while she becomes an emergency room doctor. Now as adults, they are unexpectedly reunited due to their respective jobs – and forced to work together to save lives. With their complicated history, their renewed relationship gets off to a rough start. But as they begin to spend more time together, they start to grow close again. Will the flames of love ignite this time, or will their reunion end in another unhappy goodbye? This 2023 Chinese romance-themed drama was adapted from a novel by Jiu Yue Xi and directed by Li Mu Ge.

Fireworks of My Heart

Flames of Love

When hostile aliens launch a worldwide invasion, the South Korean military has no choice but to recruit all third-year high school students to join the forces. After arriving at Seongjin High School, platoon leader Lee Chun Ho (Shin Hyun Soo) guides students through rigorious training for combat. Meanwhile, class teacher, Park Eun Yeong (Im Se Mi) is determined to keep her students safe as they fight this war against aliens to save their world from the brink of extinction. Based on the webtoon written by Ha Il Kwon, this 2023 South Korean drama series was directed by Sung Yong Il.

Duty After School

It’s love at first sight when a sudden rain storm brings Zhang Lu Rang (Zhou Yi Ran) into Su Zai Zai’s (Zhang Miao Yi) life. Instantly smitten with the dashing young man, Zai Zai is thrilled to learn that Lu Rang is her new classmate. Though Zai Zai may be fond of Lu Rang, his cold exterior makes it difficult for her to get close. Can Zai Zai’s unwavering cheer and optimism melt Lu Rang’s cold exterior, allowing a beautiful relationship to blossom between them? Based on the novel “She’s a Little Crazy” by Zhu Yi, this 2023 Chinese drama was directed by Mao De Shu.

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