A good K-drama must pack in the right punch to keep you hooked and coming back for more. Read: tight plots, captivating storytelling, and some incredible performances that bring the story alive on screen. While last year we were treated to gems like Squid Game, Yumi’s Cell, Beyond Evil, and Vincenzo to name a few, this year offers a wide range for you to dive in and be enthralled by. Here, we bring to you 10 of the very best K-dramas that have released in 2022, so far.

A Business Proposal

Based on a webtoon of the same name, Business Proposal is one of the most popular K-dramas of the year. The series revolves around the life of Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong), who accepts her friend Jin Young-seo’s (Seol In-ah) offer to go on a blind date to her place. Things take an unexpected turn when Shin finds out that her date is Kang Tae-moo, the CEO of the company where she works. Realising that he has been tricked, Kang offers her a proposal that changes her life forever. Watching Kang fall head-over-heels for Shin and share adorable chemistry is the reason why this romantic series is one of Netflix’s most-watched non-English show of the year. 

My Liberation Notes

Released in April, My Liberation Notes focuses on the lives of three siblings from Seoul—Yeom Chang-hee (Lee Min-ki), Yeom Mi-jeong (Kim Ji-won), and Yeom Gi-jeong (Lee El)—each caught up in the rat-race of adulthood, figuring out their place in the world and the freedom that comes with it. With each sibling confronted with a situation they desperately need to be liberated from and navigating through different ways to tackle them, this is a series that’s realistic and emotional to the very core. 

Our Blues

This beautiful series struck all the right chords as it focussed on difficult social issues. In three terrific episodes, Our Blues brought to life what it takes for a family to deal with teenage pregnancy, mental health, death, and disability. Watching each relationship grow beautifully on-screen despite the heartache is a stark reminder that stories, just like life, are neither black or white, but full of shades of grey. 

Pachinko

Featuring a star-studded cast comprising of Kim Min Ha, Lee Min Ho, Youn Yuh Jung and Jin Ha, this drama series is based on the New York Times bestselling novel written by Min Jin Lee. It chronicles the life of a South Korean family across multiple generations who overcome every obstacle in their path, as they leave their home behind in search for a better future. With just half of this riveting read adapted, we can’t wait to see what promises to be a spectacular second season. 

Tomorrow

You are in for a treat if fantasy K-dramas are your go-to jam! Tomorrow is based on the popular webtoon series of the same name and follows a group of grim reapers and death angels who team up to save the lives of those looking to check out. The show sensitively tackles issues like sexual assault and bullying, thanks to its heartfelt storytelling.  

Twenty Five, Twenty One

Twenty Five Twenty One is the perfect show for those looking for a coming-of-age story that leaves ample food for thought. The drama tells the story of two youngsters (a high-school student and a reporter) who grow together through rough times. The chemistry between the protagonists had the fans rooting for them, plus the captivating story arc, made it the highest-rated K-drama of the year.

All Of Us Are Dead

A treat for zombie series lovers, All of Us Are Dead follows the lives of students trapped in a school in South Korea, trying to escape a zombie apocalypse that begins with a science experiment gone horribly wrong. Going far beyond a typical survival story, it's a heartwarming tale that dives into human relationships. Owing to the effortless storytelling, the series also makes it easy to love the antagonists. With season 2 on the cards, we can’t wait to see what surprises come next. 

Juvenile Justice

When you get an elite judge, who hates juveniles more than anything, tasked with handling cases at a juvenile court, the events that follow have to be an intense mix of drama and legal battles. That’s exactly what happens on the show as the stern Sim Eun-seok, played by Kim Hye-soo (currently at the top of her game) finds herself in a fix. Kim’s stellar performance makes the show one of the best K-dramas of the year and one that you certainly can’t afford to miss. 

Through The Darkness

The show is based on the 2018 non-fiction book of the same title co-written by South Korea's first criminal profiler Kwon Il-yong and journalist-turned-author Ko Na-mu. It revolves around the life of Song Ha Young (played by Kim Nam-gil), a quiet, reserved, incredibly perceptive former detective, who gets recruited into the Criminal Behavior Analysis (CBA) team thanks to his deduction skills. He teams up with Gook Young-soo (Jin Seon-kyu), the head of the CBA to tackle murder cases. Based on a number of real-life criminal cases, this is an absolute must-watch!

Thirty-Nine

A beautiful, heartwarming tale of friendship, love, and loss, Thirty-Nine revolves around the life and times of three best friends, fast approaching 40, who have known each other since high school. Their lives take a turn for the worst after one of them receives a heart-breaking diagnosis. Deciding to fulfill each other’s deepest wishes before a final farewell, the plot is accompanied by some brilliant acting and writing, making it easily one of the best shows this year.