If you haven’t already succumbed to the Korean drama craze (cough, Squid Game), what have you been up to? Second, the year 2021 is as good a time as any to begin. Nothing beats a K-Drama for increasing my emotions and fangirling inclinations. I’m not sure what kind of power these dramas have. A Korean-language program will undoubtedly give a good laugh, a good cry, a good scare, or a pleasant dose of butterflies in your stomach (thanks to all the drop-dead-gorgeous stars). Yes, the time and effort required to read subtitles is totally worth it.

While there are plenty of great K-Dramas worth your time from prior years, this year’s roster features some fantastic new additions to the canon. From funny romantic comedies to series that study psychiatric trauma, you’ll find something to your preference. Here are some of the best Korean dramas to watch this year.

The Squid Game

Squid Game, the K-drama of the year (yes, we’re calling it that) and Netflix’s biggest debut hit ever, has enthralled Netflix binge-watchers (and Twitter users) all over the world, and with good reason. A sadistic tournament centered on a severely indebted group of people guarantees winners the large sum of money they need to pay off their (sometimes life-dependent) debts. When it comes to preying on people who will go to lengths to make ends meet, it’s a game of life or death.

Greetings, my name is

This dark thriller about a revenge-seeking lady is new to Netflix, but it’s already at the top of our list of the most stressful and interesting Korean dramas. Han So-hee portrays Ji-woo, a woman who joins a crime ring to find her father’s killer, but ends up joining the Korean police force under a false name.

Aficionados of the night sky

This fantasy love story between Hong Chun-gi and Ha Ram, a painter and an astrologer, takes place during the famous Dan dynasty. Ha Ram was blinded as a child, yet by tracing the movement of the sky at night, he can predict the future. Of course, they fall in love, but the royal court’s Prince Anpyeong and the vindictive Prince Sooyang, who is hell-bent on becoming the next king, interfere with their romance.

Nevertheless

Nonetheless is based on a popular webtoon series and follows Han and Song, two stereotyped “I don’t believe in love” types who fall in love. It accomplishes what K-dramas have recently excelled at: blending the fairytale aspects of falling in love with the realities of modern-day dating. It’s a must-see for everyone interested in dating in 2021.

Home is where the heart is

Isn’t it a little creepy? This program has a lot of promise. In this post-apocalyptic horror series, Cha Hyun-soo moves to a new hamlet after a terrible family tragedy. Everyone in his immediate proximity begins to fall prey to monsters almost as soon as he arrives (and turning into monsters themselves). While stuck in his new apartment complex, Harry joins forces with his unbitten neighbors to combat the monsters. This episode is also based on the webcomic “Sweet Home” by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-popular chan.

Past the Pale

Are you in search of a good scare? One will be provided through this program. Two officers from the Manyang Police Substation discover a murder that reminds them of a long-ago cold case, leading them on a dangerous search for a reborn serial killer. Of course, there wouldn’t be a K-drama without the two main characters’ secrets, and they’re especially juicy in this series.

College of Law

A professor (and former prosecutor) and his students become engaged in a case when a lecturer at the top Hankuk University Law School is found dead during a supervised mock trial session. Relationships are put to the test, regulations are breached, and students are left reeling when their professor is jailed as a suspect. It’s a classic whodunnit that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

The Mysterious Counter

In this science fiction series, demon hunters known as ‘the Counters’ disguise themselves as noodle restaurant employees in order to imprison evil spirits while remaining undiscovered. They all have their own combat specialties, just like the Power Rangers, and this joyful, basic film is all about collaboration.