These are some of my reviews and essays about K-Dramas (and also Korean films and other Korean-centric projects). You may also read more about my take on Korean pop culture in outlets such as Rolling Stone, Mashable, Victoria & Albert Museum, TODAY, Teen Vogue, Variety, Salon and MTV News.
If you’d like to support my work, subscribe to my free Substack. My reviews and essays will be delivered straight to your in-box weekly-ish.
The reviews are listed below alphabetically (and I’m adding more every few days). Please note that the titles are listed by the first significant word and not the nonsignificant words (e.g. A, An, The) at the beginning. (i.e. “A Time Called You” is alphabetized under T.)
And if you’re curious about what my goal is for this Substack newsletter, you may read an intro here.
☆ to ☆☆☆☆
Absolute Boyfriend (절대 그이) | Yeo Jin-goo, Bang Min-ah | 2019 | ☆☆
Agency (대행사) | Lee Bo-young, Son Na-eun | 2023 | ☆☆☆
All of Us Are Dead (지금 우리 학교는) | Yoon Chan-young, Park Ji-hoo | 2022 | ☆☆☆½
📽️ Always (오직 그대만) | So Ji-sub, Han Hyo-joo | 2011 | ☆☆☆
Angry Mom (엄마가 뿔났다) | Kim Hee-sun, Ji Soo, Kim Yoo-jung | 2015 | ☆☆
Answer Me 1997 (응답하라 1997) | Jung Eun-ji, Seo In-guk | 2012 | ☆☆☆
Answer Me 1994 (응답하라 1994) | Go Ara, Yoo Yun-sook | 2013 | ☆☆½
Answer Me 1988 (응답하라 1988) | Lee Hye-ri, Ryu Joon-yul | 2015-2016 | ☆☆☆½
📽️ Be With You (지금 만나러 갑니다) | So Ji-sub, Son Ye-jin | 2018 |☆☆☆
Big (빅) | Gong Yoo, Lee Min-jung | 2012 | ☆½
Big Mouth (빅마우스) | Lee Jong-suk, Im Yoon-ah | 2022 | ☆☆☆
Black Knight (택배기사) | Kim Woo-bin, Kang You-seok | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Bloodhounds (사냥개들) | Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Boys Over Flowers (꽃보다 남자) | Lee Min-ho, Ku Hye-sun | 2009 | ☆☆☆
📽️ Broker (브로커) | Song Kang-ho, Lee Ji-eun, Bae Doona | 2022 |☆☆☆½
BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star | BTS | 2023 | ☆☆☆☆
Castaway Diva (무인도의 디바) | Park Eun-bin, Chae Jong-hyeop | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Celebrity (셀러브리티) | Park Gyu-young, Kang Min-hyuk | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Cheese in the Trap (치즈 인 더 트랩) | Kim Go eun, Park Hae jin | 2016 | ☆☆☆½
📽️ Cheese in the Trap — The Movie (치즈 인 더 트랩) | Kim Go eun, Park Hae jin | 2018 | ☆☆
CEO-dol Mart (사장돌마트) | Lee Shin-young, Hyungwon | 2023 | ☆☆
Coffee Prince (커피프린스) | Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo | 2007 | ☆☆☆
Come and Hug Me (이리와 안아줘) | Jang Ki-yong, Jin Ki-joo | 2018 | ☆☆
Crash Landing on You (사랑의 불시착) | Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin | 2019-2020 | ☆☆☆½
Daily Dose of Sunshine (정신병동에도 아침이 와요) | Park Bo-young, Yeon Woo-jin | 2023 | ☆☆☆½
Descendants of the Sun (태양의 후예) | Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo | 2016 | ☆☆☆
Divorce Attorney Shin (신성한, 이혼) | Cho Seung-Woo, Han Hye-jin | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (도도솔솔라라솔) | Go Ara, Lee Jae-wook | 2020 | ☆☆½
Doctor Cha (닥터 차정숙) | Uhm Jung-hwa, Kim Byung-chul | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Doona! (이두나!) | Bae Suzy, Yang Se-jong | 2023 | ☆☆☆
D.P. (디피) Season 1 | Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan | 2021 | ☆☆☆½
D.P. (디피) Season 2 | Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Dream High (드림하이) | Kim Soo-hyun, Bae Suzy | 2011 | ☆☆½
Five Fingers (다섯손가락) | Ju Ji-hoon, Ji Chang-wook | 2012 | ☆☆
Flower of Evil (악의 꽃) | Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won | 2020 | ☆☆☆
📽️ The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil (악인전) | Ma Dong-seok, Kim Mu-yeol | 2023 | ☆☆
Ghost (유령) | So Ji-sub, Lee Yeon-hee | 2012 | ☆☆½
The Glory (더 글로리) | Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (쓸쓸하고 찬란하신 도깨비) | Gong Yoo, Kim Go-Eun, Lee Dong-Wook | 2016-2017 | ☆☆☆½
The Good Bad Mother (나쁜엄마) | Ra Mi-ran, Lee Do-hyun | 2023 | ☆☆☆½
Gyeongseong Creature (경성크리처) | Park Seo-joon, Han So-hee | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Happiness (해피니스) | Han Hyo-joo, Park Hyung-sik | 2021 | ☆☆☆☆
Healer (힐러) | Ji Chang-wook, Park Min-young | 2014-2015 | ☆☆☆☆
If You Wish Upon Me (당신이 소원을 말하면) | Ji Chang-wook, Choi Soo-young | 2022 | ☆☆☆
I’m Sorry, I Love You (미안하다 사랑한다) | So Ji-sub, Im Soo-jung | 2004 | ☆☆½
Inspector Koo (구경이) | Lee Young-ae, Kim Hye-jun | 2021 | ☆☆
The Interest of Love (사랑의 이해) | Yoo Yeon-seok, Moon Ga-young | 2022-2023 | ☆☆
Itaewon Class (이태원 클라쓰) | Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi, Kwon Nara | 2019 | ☆☆☆
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (사이코지만 괜찮아) | Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji | 2020 | ☆☆☆½
Jinny’s Kitchen (서진이네) | Park Seo-jin, Choi Woo-shik, V (Kim Tae-hyung) | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Joseon Attorney: A Morality (조선변호사) | starring Woo Do-hwan, Bona | 2023 |☆☆☆
Jung Hae-In’s Travel Log | Jung Hae-in | 2019 | ☆☆☆
Juvenile Justice (소년 심판) | Kim Hye-soo, Kim My-yeol | 2022 | ☆☆☆
The Killing Vote (국민사형투표) | Park Hae-jin, Park Sung-woon, Lim Ji-yeon | 2023 | ☆☆☆
King the Land (킹더랜드) | Lee Jun-ho, Im Yoon-ah | 2023 | ☆☆☆
The K2 (더 케이투) | Ji Chang-wook, Im Yoon-ah (임윤아) | 2016 | ☆☆☆
Let's Eat (식샤를 합시다) | Lee Soo-kyung, Yoon Doo-joon | 2013-2014 | ☆☆
🎼 Love Wins All | IU (Lee Ji-eun), V (Kim Tae-hyung) | 2024 |☆☆☆☆
Mask Girl (마스크걸) | Lee Han-byeol, Yeom Hye-ran | 2023 |☆☆☆
The Master’s Sun (주군의 태양) | So Ji-sub, Gong Hyo-jin | 2013 | ☆☆½
📽️ Midnight Runners (청년경찰) | Park Seo-joon, Kang Ha-neul | 2023 | ☆☆☆
📽️🇺🇸 Minari (미나리) | Steven Yeun, Alan Kim | 2021 |☆☆☆☆
Mine (마인) | Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-hyung | 2021 | ☆☆☆½
Misaeng (미생) | Im Si-wan, Kang So-ra | 2014 | ☆☆☆
📽️ Miss Granny (수상한 그녀) | Shim Eun-Kyung | 2014 | ☆☆☆☆
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area (종이의 집: 공동경제구역) | Yoo Ji-tae, Park Hae-soo | 2022 | ☆☆☆
Moon Embracing the Sun (해를 품은 달) | Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in | 2012 | ☆☆☆☆
Move to Heaven (무브 투 헤븐: 나는 유품정리사입니다) | Lee Je-hoon, Tang Joon-sang | 2021 | ☆☆☆½
Moving (무빙) | Han Hyo-joo, Jo In-sung | 2023 | ☆☆☆½My Dearest (연인) | Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin | 2023 | ☆☆☆½
Mr. Sunshine (미스터 션샤인) | Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok | 2018 | ☆☆☆½
My Dearest (연인) | Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin | 2023 | ☆☆☆½
📽️ My Heart Puppy (멍뭉이) | Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun | 2016-2017 | ☆☆
📽️ My Love, Don’t Cross That River (님아, 그 강을 건너지 마오) | Jo Byeong-man, Kang Kye-yeol | 2013 | ☆☆☆
My Love From Another Star (별에서 온 그대) | Kim Soo-yun, Jun Ji-hyun | 2013-2014 | ☆☆☆☆
My Magic Closet (Além Do Guarda-Roupa) | Sharon Cho, Kim Woo-jin, Jinkwon | 2023 | ☆☆
My Mister (나의 아저씨) | Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ji-eun | 2018 | ☆☆☆
My Name (마이 네임) | Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun | 2021 | ☆☆☆
My Secret, Terrius (내 뒤에 테리우스) | So Ji-sub, Jung In-sun | 2018 | ☆☆☆
📽️ Ode to My Father (국제시장) | Hwang Jung-min, Kim Yunjin | 2014 |☆☆☆
Oh My Venus (오 마이 비너스) | So Ji-sub, Shin Min-A | 2015-2016 | ☆☆☆½
📽️ Once Upon a Time in High School (말죽거리 잔혹사) | Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Jung-jin | 2004 | ☆☆☆☆
One More Time (헤어진 다음날) | Kim Myung-soo, Yoon So-he | 2016 | ☆½
One Ordinary Day (어느 날) | Kim Soo-hyun, Cha Seung-won | 2021 | ☆☆☆½
One Spring Night (봄밤) | Jung Hae-in, Han Ji-min | 2019 | ☆☆☆
One Sunny Day (좋은 날) | So Ji-sub, Kim Ji-won | 2014 | ☆☆½
Our Blues (우리들의 블루스) | Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-A | 2022 | ☆☆☆☆
🇺🇸 Pachinko | Minha Kim, Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Min-ho | 2022 | ☆☆½
📽️ Parasite (기생충) | Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Choi Woo-shik | 2019 | ☆☆☆☆
📽️🇺🇸 Past Lives | Greta Lee, Teo Yoo | 2023 |☆☆☆☆
Payback (법쩐) | Lee Sun-kyung, Moon Chae-won | 2023 | ☆☆½
Phantom (유령) | So Ji-sub, Lee Yeon-hee | 2012 | ☆☆½
Physical: 100 (피지컬: 100) | Yun Sung-bin, Choo Sung-hoon | 2023 | ☆☆
Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food (밥 잘 사주는 예쁜 누나) | Son Ye-jin, Jung Hae-in | 2018 | ☆☆☆
Prison Playbook (괜찮아, 사랑이야) | Park Hae-soo, Jung Kyung-ho | 2018 | ☆☆☆
The Producers (프로듀사) | Kim Soo-hyun, Gong Hyo-jin | 2015 | ☆☆☆
Queenmaker (퀸메이커) | Kim Hee-ae, Moon So-ri | 2023 | ☆☆☆☆
📽️ Rebound (리바운드) | Ahn Jae-hong, Lee Shin-young | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Reply 1997 (응답하라 1997) | Jung Eun-ji, Seo In-guk | 2012 | ☆☆☆
Reply 1994 (응답하라 1994) | Go Ara, Yoo Yun-sook | 2013 | ☆☆½
Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988) | Lee Hye-ri, Ryu Joon-yul | 2015-2016 | ☆☆☆½
📽️🇫🇷 Return to Seoul (Retour à Séoul) (2022) (2023) | Ji-min Park, Oh Kwang-rok (🇺🇸) | 2022 |☆☆☆½
Rugal (루갈) | Choi Jin-hyuk, Park Sung-woong | 2020 | ☆☆
Search: WWW (검색어를 입력하세요: WWW) | Im Soo-jung, Lee Da-hee | 2019 | ☆☆☆½
📽️ Secretly, Greatly (은밀하게 위대하게) | Kim Soo-Hyun, Park Ki-woong | 2013 | ☆☆☆
See You in My 19th Life (이번 생도 잘 부탁해) | Shin Hye-sun, Ahn Bo-hyun | 2023 |☆☆☆
7 First Kisses (첫키스만 일곱번째) | Lee Cho-Hee, Ji Chang-Wook, Lee Min-Ho, Lee Jong-Suk | 2016-2017 | ☆½
Signal (시그널) | Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo | 2016 | ☆☆☆½
📽️ Silenced (도가니) | Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi | 2011 | ☆☆☆
Somebody (썸바디) | Kim Young-kwang, Kang Hae-lim | 2023 | ☆☆
Something in the Rain (밥 잘 사주는 예쁜 누나) | Son Ye-jin, Jung Hae-in | 2018 | ☆☆☆
Squid Game (오징어게임) | Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo | 2021 | ☆☆☆½
📽️ Suga: Road to D-Day | Suga | 2023 | ☆☆☆½
🇺🇸 The Summer I Turned Pretty | Lola Tung, Jackie Chung, Sean Kaufman | 2022 | ☆☆
Summer Strike (아무것도 하고 싶지 않아) | Kim Seol-hyun, Im Si-wan | 2022 |☆☆☆
Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 (구미호뎐 1938) | Lee Dong-wook, Kim Bum | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Taxi Driver (모범택시) (Season 2) | Lee Je-hoon | 2023 |☆☆☆
📽️ The Thieves (도둑들) | Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun | 2012 | ☆☆
Thirty-Nine (서른, 아홉) | Son Ye-jin, Jeon Mi-do | 2022 | ☆☆☆½
A Time Called You (너의 시간 속으로) | Ahn Hyo-seop, Jeon Yeo-been | 2023 | ☆☆☆
📽️🇺🇸 To All the Boys: Always and Forever | Lana Condor, Noah Centineo | 2021 | ☆☆½
📽️ Train to Busan (부산행) | Gong Yoo, Choi Woo-shik | 2016 |☆☆☆½
📽️ Tune in for Love (유열의 음악앨범) | Kim Go-Eun, Jung Hae-In | 2020 |☆☆☆
Tunnel (터널) | Choi Jin-hyuk, Yoon Hyun-min | 2017 | ☆☆
Twenty-Five Twenty-One (스물다섯 스물하나) | Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk | 2022 | ☆☆☆½
Twinkling Watermelon (반짝이는 워터멜론) | Ryeoun, Choi Hyun-wook | 2023 | ☆☆☆
The Uncanny Counter (경이로운 소문) | Jo Byung-gyu, Yoo Jun-sang | 2020-2021 | ☆☆☆
The Uncanny Counter 2 (경이로운 소문 2) | Jo Byung-gyu, Yoo Jun-sang | 2023 | ☆☆½
Uncontrollably Fond (함부로 애틋하게) | Kim Woo-bin, Bae Suzy | 2016 | ☆☆
Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹) | Kim Hye-soo, Kim Hae-sook | 2022 | ☆☆☆☆
📽️ Unlocked (스마트폰을 떨어뜨렸을 뿐인데) | Chun Woo-hee, Im Si-wan | 2023 | ☆☆☆
Vigilante (비질란테) | Nam Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ji-tae | 2023 | ☆☆½
📽️ Way Back Home (집으로 가는 길) | Jeon Do-yeon, Go Soo | 2013 | ☆☆
📽️ The Way Home (집으로) | Kim Eul-boon, Yoo Seung-ho | 2002 | ☆☆☆
Weak Hero Class 1 (약한영웅 Class 1) | Park Ji-hoon, Choi Hyun-wook | 2022 | ☆☆☆½
While You Were Sleeping (당신이 잠든 사이에) | Lee Jong-suk, Bae Suzy, Jung Hae-in | 2017 | ☆☆☆½
The Worst of Evil (최악의 악) | Ji Chang-wook, Wi Ha-joon | 2023 | ☆☆☆
🇺🇸 XO, Kitty (XO, 키티) | Anna Cathcart, Choi Min-young | 2023 | ☆
📽️ Yaksha: Ruthless Operations (야차) | Sol Kyung-gu, Park Hae-Soo | 2022 | ☆☆☆