There are a ton of South Korean episodes on Netflix right now that showcase the talent of the nation's writers, directors, and performers. From burgeoning romances to science fiction thrillers, grim noir action to heartbreaking slice-of-life anthologies, the platform has developed into a vast library of top-notch Korean entertainment, demonstrating that the "one-inch barrier of subtitles" that Bong Joon-ho previously mentioned no longer stands in the way of the Hallyu wave's continued success. 

Cha-cha-cha, hometown (2021)

Not everything that is considered "best" is "intense and thought-provoking." In other cases, it might just mean watching something simple and entertaining; Hometown Cha-cha-cha falls under this category. A realistic dentist (played by Shin Min-a) and a dashing handyman (played by Start-Up's Kim Seon-ho) are paired in this 16-episode romantic comedy based on a 2004 movie. The setting is a picturesque beach hamlet. Even though the show debuted in the midst of a pandemic, many have lauded its reassuring qualities as "healing," so don't write it off for its corny, opposites-attract narrative. At the height of Squid Game's success, all of those helped it rank among Netflix's Top 10 non-English language dramas upon premiere.

The Brilliance (2022–2023)

In K-dramas, bullying is often an immaculate grid storyline aspect; however, in The Glory, the prevalent societal problem and its long-lasting ramifications serve as the main focus. The eight-episode series centers on Moon Dong-eun, who is portrayed by Song Hye-kyo in Descendants of the Sun, and her obsessive orchestrations to exact revenge on the people who wronged her twenty years before. Though the series is not for the faint of heart—its author even appropriates graphic details of torture from actual incidents—The Glory became one of the most viewed non-English Netflix programs this year and cracked the Top 10 in 89 countries.