(Clockwise from top left) When the Phone Rings, The Lovely Runner, Queen of Tears, The Judge from Hell. Squid Game 2, and The Atypical Family

In recent years, it has become easier to identify a standout genre or a specific storytelling choice that defines each year’s K-drama releases. However, 2024 has really been a mixed bag; Shows that arrived with too much hype, smaller shows that became huge hits, and great ideas that were once again let down by unfocused writing.

A scene from Queen of Tears starring Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won

big hit

One of this year’s biggest global hits on Netflix, queen of tears The film starring Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won had almost everything going for it. crash landing on you Backed by writer Park Ji-yoon, a great lead actor, a solid ensemble cast, top-notch production values, and a fitting musical score to boot. While drama viewers around the world, including Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, were glued to the screen and shedding tears over the tragedy of the often beautiful, rich man’s scheming family members and illness, the show struggled to hit emotional notes. Proceed to the latter half. However, a surprise contender for the global hit emerged at the end of the year,cute runnerStarring Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok, the film turns out to be a charming romance about a woman who finds herself able to travel back in time and sets out to prevent a tragedy that involves her classmate. Who happens to become a famous singer. Despite starring in several shows before, both Woo-seok and Hye-yeon emerged as overnight stars, with Woo-seok now becoming a household name.

Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-eun in Lovely Runner

Time travel once again gave a big shock marry my husbandA revenge drama in which K-drama favorite Park Min-young travels back in time to take revenge on her best friend and fiancee, both of whom she realizes will be the ultimate cause of her ruin. The often over-the-top, yet tightly scripted drama was entertainment at its best – there’s no better feeling than seeing an honestly conceived revenge plan come to satisfying fruition.

Chun Woo-hee in a scene from The Atypical Family

If these were clear successes, there should be a personal underdog favorite from 2024 unusual familyIt is difficult to understand this 12-episode show, which is based on romance, relationships, family ties and friendship as it follows the members of a family who have lost their superpowers. Jang Ki-young, Chun Woo-hee, and Claudia Kim played layered, well-written characters in this cleverly written show that definitely deserved more love and visibility.

The second fantasy that made a mark surprisingly chose the police procedural route. In judge from hellWe had Park Shin-hee playing a demon disguised as an impenetrable protector of the law, with Kim Jae-young playing a lovable detective on his vigilante path to justice. This year really belonged to Park Shin-hye, who came across as a manic demon in this show and had a completely opposite role as a burnt-out overachiever. doctor meltdown,

of romance and healing

There were very few romantic comedies this year, and no gain no loveStarring Shin Min-ah and Kim Young-dae, was a fresh, short and edgy K-drama that did well on the romance, comedy, and female friendship front. Certainly, we have seen many cases of contract marriage, but no gain no love The lives of the women at its center, their relationships and careers are also bravely explored, something we need to see more of.

Shin Min-ae and Kim Young-dae in ‘No Gain No Love’

Remake of the popular Chinese drama Go ahead, family by choice It turned out to be a wholesome, sweet show at a time when there was a flood of thriller releases. Starring Hwang In-yeop, Jang Chae-yeon, and Bae Hyun-sung, the show makes for a great, total must-watch with smiles, tears, and swoons guaranteed. We don’t have enough shows like this anymore and we can create more shows with deeply likable characters and relationships.

For many other romances, this was actually a season of mending and forming new bonds. doctor meltdown Starring Park Shin-hee and Park Hyung-sik, the film stars them as two high school rivals who find themselves battling burnout, career obstacles, and mental health struggles in the present day. Whereas love next door Starting off on a promising note with a high-achieving techie returning home on sabbatical and reconnecting with her family and childhood friend, the film starring Jang Hae-in and Jang So-min is, unfortunately, lazy, unfocused Became a victim of writing. The sparkling leads can’t do anything to capitalize on this. netflix original mr planktonStarring Woo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-mi and Oh Jung-sae, meanwhile, narrates the final, therapeutic journey of a man who realizes he has very little time left and must find his biological father. Sets out for.

induced adaptation

Adaptations of web novels and comics such as Kang Ful light shop Continued to strike gold. The eight-episode show, a horror-thriller, light shop Casting coup with Joo Ji-hoon, Park Bo-young, Seolhyun, Kim Min-ah and others. like kong fool going on, light shop was also complex and original. We’ve seen the books come to life on screen this year with Season 2 of Apple TV pachinkoBased on both the TV show and film adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s book of the same name as well as Sang Young Park’s novel. love in the big cityThe television series starring Nam Eun-su and Lee Soo-kyung faced considerable opposition before its release from conservative Korean groups who opposed the show focusing on the love of a gay man. A sensitive, layered coming-of-age story where love, life and the city of Seoul itself are the central characters, love in the big city It was subtle and well-crafted, with Nam Eun-su making the role of Go Young effortlessly her own.

A scene from ‘When the Phone Rings’

Many thriller films were seen this year, which also include Shop for killers, frogs, trunks, and entertaining police procedural flex x cop Starring Ahn Bo Hyun and Park Ji-Hyun, but this genre is now really at its peak with the success of the ongoing show. when the phone ringsStarring Chae Soo-bin and Yoo Yeon-suk. The show seems to have gotten a lot right so far; Bringing together great chemistry between its heroes, politics, family secrets and marital discord, and a mostly unrealistic but thoroughly entertaining premise.

Given the track record, which also includes some highly anticipated sequels sweet homeThe third season and second season of Gyeongseong creature And hell Bound, Didn’t live up to the hype, squid gameThankfully, its second season turns out to be the only sequel this year that has managed to change things.

Gong Yoo and Lee Jung Jae in a scene from Squid Game 2

While the show’s third and final season is set to release in 2025, it’s probably also time to take stock of the growing number of shows that have sequels being released or in the works. This used to be a fairly rare occurrence until just a few years ago, and where writers probably needed to focus on creating tighter shows with fewer than 16 episodes if necessary. as it shows my demonor even love next door Could have done with a lot less episodes.

with squid game 2 Ending the year on a high note, what’s next for 2025? Excitement can already be seen among K-drama fans for Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo-jin’s ‘Space Romance’. when the stars gossipWhich is all set to stream from January 4. post dystopian squid game Blitz, a light and breezy romance is probably just what we need to start the year with.