In 2024, we had over 160 K-dramas released and that means we had a whole year full of content, never a dull moment for K-Drama fans. So many K-dramas managed to capture the attention and hearts of many viewers. Some shows exceeded expectations and ended up on our best-of-the-year list. There were many disappointing ones, but some hidden gems that got lost and deserve more hype.
These are the shows that many Korean content lovers added to their watching list but never got to them. Hopefully, this list will inspire you to start binge-watching these shows because they are worth it. Without further ado, here is our list of the underrated K-dramas of 2024.
When The Phone Rings
Despite being a top K-Drama of 2024, its late November premiere kept it off most “best of” lists. This romance mystery thriller has kept us on the edge of our seats and has turned us into CIA agents as we try to figure out the plot.
Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo-bin have done an exemplary job of bringing the complex characters of this show to life. If you have not watched this show, you are doing a disservice to yourself.
Pachinko Season 2
Pachinko Season 2It is a crime to see how overlooked this intricate, multigenerational show following Su-jae’s life deserves to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award. The enhanced plot, nuanced performances, and impressive cinematography make Pachinko’s new season a significant improvement.
Unfortunately, little promotion and complex historical events told through multiple time jumps caused people to turn away from this exemplary work of art.
No Gain, No Love
No Gain, No LoveThe hype from Netflix’s Love Next Door took attention from this rom-com. No Gain, No Love had great comedic timing, an interesting yet cliche plot and the cast didn’t disappoint. Even though the story was as predictable as they come, it was still a worthy watch and a great drama to relieve stress.
High School Return of a Gangster
High School Return of a GangsterA timely drama about a boy dealing with bullying and a gangster stuck in a high school kid’s body. As soon as the show dropped, it became one of the highest-ranking shows on VIU that month. This was no surprise, given the stellar acting and moving story.
The show’s ending had us all supporting the hero, ready to pardon those deserving another chance, and excited to see how it ends.
Whirlwind
WhirlwindNetflix dropped this gem in June and didn’t give it the promotion it deserves. This intense political drama gave us some of the best acting from long-time renowned actors such as Sul Kyung-gu and Kim Hee-ae.
At a time when most countries are dealing with corrupt leaders, the storyline felt a bit too real and relatable in a few aspects. The twists in the show had us gasping and picking our jaws off the floors. Everything from the gripping performance, the impactful writing, and the well-paced execution was just right. Whirlwind is perhaps one of the best political thrillers we have seen in a long time.
Seoul Busters
Seoul BustersThis was the best mystery comedy of the year! Two episodes in and you will realise this is a masterpiece, and, unfortunately, many K-Drama fans have been sleeping on this one. What is there not to love in this police procedural drama?
The slapstick comedy is on point and doesn’t take away from the heavy themes in the show. Even with the characters’ excessive comedic antics, the excellent acting made it believable. The show maintained an engaging pace throughout the 20 episodes and not once did the writing or acting flatter.
Mr Plankton
Mr PlanktonArguably the best K-trauma show of the year, but for Woo Do-hwan, we will happily watch anything he is in. In this heartfelt drama, Woo Do-hwan teams up with the rising, talented star, Lee You-mi and the versatile Oh Jung-se.
Together, they gave us one of the best times. We laughed, we cried our hearts out and most importantly; they reminded us that life is a journey that comes once.
Throughout the ten episodes, we were fully immersed thanks to the angst-filled story and the humorous way these characters survived it all. Of course, Woo Do-hwan’s plentiful shirtless scenes were a welcome distraction from the touching story.
Connection
ConnectionJi-sung is no new kid on the block and his acting prowess is a well-acknowledged fact. He doesn’t disappoint in this fast-paced mystery thriller where he plays a cop trying to get to the truth about what happened to an old friend.
The suspense and narration had us hooked and, not forgetting, the action scenes and the outstanding cinematography.
Flex X Cop
Flex X CopThis is another police procedural drama that was highly underrated this year. This show starring Ahn Bo-hyun deserves more stars for its intriguing story, intense action and light comedy. There was not a dull episode in sight and the friendly, relatable characters made this show even more worthwhile.
Virtuous Business
Our in-house writer and toughest critic described this show as empowering and we concur. This was one of the best female lead shows we have seen this year. Many women could relate to the trials, tribulations and joy of the women in this show.
This realistic drama perfectly showed that we must always strive for a better tomorrow, seizing every opportunity.
So there we have it! Our list of the most underrated K-dramas that released in 2024. Do you agree with our picks? Think another should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below!