7 K-Dramas Of 2018 That You Shouldn't Miss

The best part about the K-drama world is that there are always good K-dramas to watch. This year has had its fair share of solid dramas, and in case you’ve missed some of them, here’s a look at a few that I highly recommend.

(In no particular order).

Radio Romance

“Radio Romance” stars Yoon Doojoon and Kim So Hyun in a tale of first loves. Ji Soo Ho (Yoon Doojoon) and Song Geu Rim (Kim So Hyun) meet and fall in love with each other in high school. Soo Ho grows up to become a movie star and he meets Geu Rim again, but she doesn’t recognize him.

This K-drama tickled my fancy for various reasons. Not only was the love story so pure and endearing, but I appreciated the chemistry between Kim So Hyun and Yoon Doojoon. Maybe it was the realistic character of Yoon Doojoon and his struggle with depression, or the female lead who was desperately chasing her dream of becoming a writer for a radio show. The storyline and character development made for a sweet series.

Catch episode 1 of “Radio Romance”:

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Come and Hug Me

This romantic thriller stars Jang Ki Yong as Chae Do Jin and Jin Ki Joo as Han Jae Yi. This story starts with Do Jin and Jae Yi being high school lovers, with Jae Yi being the daughter of a famous actress. In a tragic event, Jae Yi’s parents get murdered by Do Jin’s psychopath father who ends up in jail as a result. The two are separated and meet again when they are older, but this point, Do Jin is a detective and Jae Yi is a famous actress.

I was a little late jumping into this K-drama, mainly because the drama involved a psychopath serial killer who killed people with a hammer. The violence part is hard to watch at times and I hate getting jumpy while watching dramas, but after watching the first couple episodes, I couldn’t stop! The best part of the series, by far, comes when the two high school sweethearts grow up.

The tragedy of these two star-crossed lovers is seriously sad. It’s almost an impossible situation for the two to be together, but yet they still long to be with each other. Although I was a bit antsy for the two to meet again as adults, it was totally worth it when they did. Their love story is pretty epic and their relationship is not a typical K-drama cliche when it comes to their relationship.

Catch episode 1 of “Come and Hug Me”:

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Prison Playbook

“Prison Playbook” stars Park Hae Soo as Kim Je Hyuk, Jung Kyung Ho as Lee Joon Ho, and Krystal as Kim Ji Ho. Je Hyuk is a famous baseball player who beats up a man who was abusing his little sister. He gets sentenced to prison despite what the other man did, and the series involves his prison life and the people he meets. Jung Kyung Ho’s character comes into play as he is a friend of Je Hyuk and also happens to work at the same prison that Je Hyuk is locked up in.

This series was a pleasant surprise. After watching the first couple episodes, I just couldn’t help but finish it. The show has a lot of various characters that make it very interesting, and the development of the main character is also intriguing as you want to know more about him and his story.

Another thing definitely worth mentioning is the crazy cast that is involved in this series. Not only do we have Park Hae Soo, Jung Kyung Ho, and Krystal, but there’s also Jung Hae In, Sung Dong Il, Jung Woong In, and Joo Suk Tae, to name a few!

My Ahjussi

“My Ahjussi” stars Lee Sun Gyun as Park Dong Hoon and IU as Lee Ji An. Dong Hoon is a married man in his 40s who goes through a lot of life stress as a result of work and family. Ji An is a young woman who has had to go through a lot of traumatic experiences and as a result, has lost a lot of hope in life. The two meet in the workplace and form a very unusual bond where they seem to understand each other.

The thing about “My Ahjussi” that’s really touching is how real and raw the characters are. There is no sugar-coating the main characters’ lives and it really makes you relate and connect to them. The relationship that Dong Hoon and Ji An share is a bit weird at first, but then you come to realize that it’s a beautiful thing that the two can find comfort and peace in each other. Although the story can seem a bit depressing at times, it’s also hopeful. Not to mention, IU’s performance as Ji An is seriously respectable. You won’t even recognize her!

Welcome to Waikiki

“Welcome to Waikiki” stars Kim Jung Hyun, Lee Yi Kyung, and Son Seung Won as three friends who set up a hostel-like business in Itaewon, Seoul. On a random day, a baby shows up in one of the rooms of the hostel without its mother, which leads to the three taking care of the child until the mother shows up. From here the three friends, the baby, and mother live in the same hostel while trying to prevent the business from going bankrupt.

This series has got all the elements you’d want in a drama. It’s got the romance, the bromance, and the hilarious factor. You really won’t go a few minutes without laughing hysterically. It’s a great K-drama to watch if you’re not looking for anything too serious.

Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food

“Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food” stars Son Ye Jin as Yoon Jin Ah and Jung Hae In as the adorable Seo Joon Hee. The storyline involves Ji Ah and Joon Hee falling in love with each other after having known each other since they were kids. Ji Ah also happens to be best friends with Joon Hee’s older sister. Although there is a bit of an age gap between the two, they fall in love and have to deal with the trials and tribulations of their family members being against them being together.

This K-drama started off strong. It was the talk of the town for a few weeks and people were falling head over heels for Jung Hae In – with GOOD reason. Despite the strong start, the story started to drag on a bit and people were displeased with the path that the story was taking. But even still, (in my opinion), it’s worth the watch, especially for the sizzling chemistry between the two leads. It’s sweet, and the romance between the characters will totally make you want to fall in love!

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim

Starring Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young, “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” has been dominating in ratings these past few weeks. The series is based on the hit web novel by Jung Kyung Yoon. The story involves an arrogant chaebol named Lee Young Joon (Park Seo Joon) who finds that his secretary, Kim Mi So (Park Min Young), wants to quit. As he’s grown very dependent on her for the past nine years, he finds it very hard to let go. What entails is some twist and turns of the two having a more complicated relationship than we thought.

The best part about this series is that it’s good from the moment it starts. There’s a lot of moments where you’ll find yourself laughing, and it’s equally balanced with the romantic gestures courtesy of Park Seo Joon.

You really can’t go wrong with Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young. They’re both well-seasoned actors and they can pull anything off. It helps that the web novel was written so well, and the story is so catchy. It’s the perfect summer K-drama!

Catch episode 1 of “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim”:

[viki]https://www.viki.com/videos/1133753v-whats-wrong-with-secretary-kim-episode-1?utm_source=soompi&utm_medium=soompi_news&utm_campaign=soompi_link&utm_content=7-k-dramas-2018-shouldnt-miss&utm_content_id=1201893wpp[/viki]

Viki is also offering a 40 percent off sale for early access and ad-free HD viewing of “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.” You can learn more here.

Hey Soompiers, which of these must-watch K-dramas of 2018 is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

binahearts is a Soompi writer who can lately be seen obsessing over Jung Hae In, singing her heart out to BIGBANG at karaoke, walking her dog, or indulging in desserts. Make sure you follow binahearts on Instagram as she journeys through her latest Korean crazes!

Currently watching: “The Undateables,” “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim,” “Come and Hug Me”
All-time favorite dramas: “Secret Garden,” “Goblin,” “Because This Is My First Life,” “Star In My Heart”
Looking forward to: Won Bin’s return to the small screen and Song Joong Ki’s next drama