Are you looking for some best Korean drama recommendations to watch?
Why not chose your next kdrama to watch from the Korean dramas that has won the Best Drama awards in Korea’s most prestigious awards. Here is the complete list of the best Korean dramas over the decade (2011-2020). You will be amazed to see how many precious dramas have been there this time. Most of them have even got international acclaim. Some of them have even got one or two remakes and international awards.
These are the must-watch Korean dramas for every fan. Let’s see how many you have watched!
1. Secret Garden (2010-2011)
Secret Garden is a fantasy romance comedy drama that released on 13 November 2010 on SBS channel. The drama has won many awards including the Best Drama Award at both Korean and Baeksang Arts Awards.
It tells the love story of CEO Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin) and stunt-woman Gil Ra Im (Ha Ji Won). One day something happens and their souls gets swapped with each other.
2. My Husband Has Got A Family (2012)
Released on 25 February 2012 on KBS2 “My Husband Has Got A Family” has won the Best Drama award at the 5th Korean Drama Awards.
It tells a family romance comedy story of a working woman Cha Yoon Hee (Kim Nam Joo) who is married to Terry Kang (Yoo Jun Sang). Her husband is an orphan but one day he finds out his birth parents who happen to be their neighbors. Cha Yoon Hee now has to experience the burden of her newly found mother-in-law.
3. Moon Embracing The Sun (2012)
Along with the best director, the best actor and more the drama “Moon Embracing The Sun” (MBC) has also grabbed the Best Korean Drama Award at the 48th Baeksang Arts Awards.
It is a historical romance drama based on a novel of Jung Eun Gwol. Kim Soo Hyun, Han Ga In, Yeo Jin Goo, Kim Yoo Jung and more in the main cast. It tells a romance story of the Joseon King with the palace Shanman centered around the political tensions of the palace.
4. My Daughter Seo Young (2012-2013)
Released on 15 September 2012 family romance drama “My Daughter SEO Young” (KBS2) has won many awards. also the Best Drama award at the 6th Korean Drama Awards. It also became the highest rated Korean drama in 2013.
The drama tells the story of Seo Young (Lee Bo Young) who doesn’t have a good relationship with her father (Chun Ho Jin). Her twin brother helps them to reunite again.
5. The Chaser (2012)
An action thriller “The Chaser” (SBS) released on 28th May 2012 has won many awards along with the Best Drama award at 49th Baeksang Arts Awards. Not only this the drama has won the best drama awards in many award ceremonies of Korea as well.
“The Chaser” tells the story of detective Baek Hong Suk (Son Hyun Joo) whose happy life is ruined after his wife and daughter passes away. Later he finds out the reason of her daughter’s death. So he decides to take revenge against the corrupt politicians and officials.
6. My Love From Star (2014)
Besides receiving international acclaim drama “My Love From Star” (SBS) is laced with many awards as well. One of them is the Best Drama award at the 7th Korean Drama Awards.
“My Love From Star” tells the story of an alien (Kim Soo Hyun) who is struck on Earth. Finally after years, he gets a chance to return to his planet. But during his last days on Earth he falls for a top celebrity (Jun Ji Hyun) in Korea.
7. Good Doctor (2013)
Korean drama “Good Doctor” (KBS2) which released on 5 August 2013 has many remakes of it including in Japan, Turkey and America. It’s excellency in writing, directing, cast and more has grabbed the drama many awards including “Best Drama Awards” in many prestigious Korean Awards.
“Good Doctor” tells the story of an autistic savant Park Si On (Joo Won) who becomes a pediatrician. He must prove himself as a good doctor for both his patients and peers who highly doubt his reliability as a doctor.
8. Misaeng : Incomplete Life (2014)
Based on a must-read comic in South Korea “Misaeng : Incomplete Life” (tvN) has won many prestigious awards. Also including the Best Drama awards for almost every Korean drama award ceremonies.
It tells the story of Jang Geu Rae (Im Si Wan) which relates a lot to the people of twenties and thirties in the corporate world. After failing for his dream to become a Baduk player Jang Geu Rae enters the corporate world. There he learns about his new job by comparing his experiences with the Baduk game.
9. Heard It Through The Grapevine (2015)
Released on June 2, 2015 “Heard It Through Grapevine” (SBS) has won the Best Drama award at the 51st Baeksang Arts Awards.
It is a black comedy story of Korea’s upper class where a wealthy family life is turned upside down after their son Han In Sang (Lee Joon) impregnates his girlfriend Seo Bom (Go Ah Sung). The twist is that she is from an ordinary family.
10. Descendants Of The Sun (2016)
The most popular show of 2016 in Korea, “Descendants Of The Sun” has won the Grand prize at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards. It has also won the Best Drama at the Korean Drama Awards, Seoul International Drama Awards and many more.
The drama tells a romantic story between South Korea’s special force unit captain Yoo Si Jin (Song Joong Ki) and emergency room doctor Kang Mo Yeon (Song Hye Kyo).
11. Signal (2016)
Inspired by real life criminal incidents of Korea kdrama “Signal” (tvN) has won the Best Drama award at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards.
“Signal” tells the story of a profiler from 2015 who happens to discover a mysterious walkie-talkie, with the help of which he can talk to a detective from 1989. Together, they solve murder cases which happen to be somehow related to each other’s times. Park Hae Young is the criminal profiler and a police officer who doesn’t believe in the law. One day, while leaving the police station, he hears a voice coming from a walkie-talkie. The man who is talking through the walkie-talkie is detective Lee Jae Han from 1989. They start communicating through this walkie-talkie, and together with detective Cha Soo Hyun, they get engaged in solving a murder case in 2015 which is somehow related to 1989’s serial murder case.
12. The Emperor : Owner of The Mask (2017)
Released on May 13, 2017, Korean drama “The Emperor : Owner of the Mask” (MBC) was a hit in Korea that year. It won the Best Drama award at the 10th Korean Drama Awards.
“The Emperor : Owner of the Mask” is set during the Joseon dynasty in which the crown prince Yi Sun (Yoo Seung Ho) has to wear a mask to protect himself from Pyunsoo organization. They are the people who want to rule Joseon at all cost.
13. Dear My Friends (2016)
Won the Best Drama award at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards “Dear My Friends” is a tvN drama that released on May 13, 2016. It stars Go Hyun Jung, Kim Hye Ja, Na Moon Hee, Go Doo Shim, Park Won Sook and more in the main cast.
“Dear My Friends” tells the emotional stories of some friends who are in their last years of life. But despite their age, they all are much more lively and says words like “It is not the end, we’re still alive”.
14. Marry Me Now (2018)
Kdrama “Marry Me Now” (KBS2) has won the Best Drama award at the 11th Korean Drama Awards. It released on 17th March 2018 starring Han Ji Hye and Lee Sang Wo in the main cast.
“Marry Me Now” is a family drama that tells the story of a well-balanced multigenerational family.
15. Mother (2018)
Remake of the Japanese award-winning drama “Mother” (tvN) released on 24th January 2018. It has won the Beaksang Arts Award in Best Drama category in Korea. “Mother” has also grabbed the Best Drama award at the 1st Cannes International Series Festival and Best Series at Seoul International Drama Awards.
“Mother” tells the story of a teacher named Kang Soo Jin (Lee Bo Young) who upon realizing that one of her student is being abused at home, kidnaps her. She then tries to be her mother.
16. SKY castle (2018)
“SKY Castle” (JTBC) which become the top-rated cable television drama of that time has won the Best Drama award at the 12th Korean Drama Awards. It has also won a total of four awards at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards. “SKY Castle” released on 23 November 2018 starring Yum Jung Ah, Lee Tae Ran, Yoon Se Ah, Oh Na Ra and Kim Seo Hyung in the main cast.
“SKY Castle” tells the story of 4 women living in the luxurious SKY Castle neighborhood. They want to make their husbands and children more successful at all cost.
17. My Mister (2018)
Released on March 21, 2018, the drama “My Mister” (tvN) has won the Best Drama award at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.
“My Mister” tells the healing story of three middle-aged brothers (Lee Sun Kyun, Park Ho San and Song Sae Byeok ) and a cold-hearted woman (IU). All come together and heal each other’s past life and struggles.
18. Hot Stove League (2019-2020)
“Hot Stove League” received the Best Drama Award at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards and also the Outstanding Korean Drama Award at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards. It released on 19th December 2019 at SBS.
Starring Namkoong Min, Park Eun Bin, Oh Jung Se and Jo Byung Gyu in the main cast “Hot Stove League” tells the story of a baseball team that has received last position in the league for the past few years. Their new manager is hired who has zero experience in baseball.