15 Surprisingly Good Chaebol K-Dramas Actually Worth Bingeing
In the end, it's not the money but the journey and the people we meet along the way that truly matter.
Here are 15 great K-dramas to remind you of just that:
1. "Shopping King Louis" (2016)
Amnesiac heir Louis, accustomed to a life of luxury, finds himself penniless and without memories in Seoul, where he meets country girl Bok-shil, who teaches him the value of love and living with simplicity as they navigate his past and the mystery behind his condition.
2. "Secret Garden" (2010)
A stuntwoman and a wealthy CEO swap bodies mysteriously after a strange sequence of events, leading them to understand each other's lives, challenges, and heartaches, culminating in a love that defies social boundaries and physical realities.
3. "The Beauty Inside" (2018)
Han Se-gye, an actress who changes appearance for a week every month, and Seo Do-jae, an executive who can't recognize faces, form a relationship where they learn the true meaning of love by recognizing each other in ways beyond the physical.
4. "Are You Human Too?" (2018)
To protect the heir of a conglomerate from potential harm, his mother creates an android named Nam Shin III that takes his place, leading to complex relationships with the company's employees and unraveling a deeper family conspiracy.
5. "Something About 1%" (2016)
A wealthy heir and a schoolteacher are bound by a contract that requires them to date for six months to fulfill the conditions of his grandfather's will, leading them through a journey of bickering, understanding, and eventually genuine love.
6. "Falling for Innocence" (2015)
A cold-hearted investor undergoes a heart transplant that changes his personality, leading him to fall in love with his donor's girlfriend and reevaluate his life's priorities amidst corporate battles.
7. "The Heirs" (2013)
In a high school for the uber-rich, a poor girl becomes entangled in the lives of two wealthy heirs, facing trials of love, jealousy, and social status as she pursues her dreams against a backdrop of family drama and corporate politics.
8. "You are my Destiny" (also known as "Fated to Love You") (2014)
A hardworking office clerk's life intertwines with a wealthy heir through an accidental pregnancy after a one-night stand, leading to a forced marriage, mutual growth, and understanding as they tackle life's challenges together.
9. "Rooftop Prince" (2012)
A crown prince from the Joseon era travels to modern-day Seoul with his entourage to solve the mystery of his princess's death, where he encounters a woman who remarkably resembles her and navigates love and life in a completely different era.
10. "Master's Sun" (2013)
A woman who sees ghosts after an accident and a cold-hearted CEO with the ability to suppress her visions find themselves solving various ghostly predicaments while uncovering a connection that transcends time and heals their deepest wounds.
11. "Her Private Life" (2019)
A dedicated museum curator with a secret life as a fan site manager for an idol navigates love and identity when her new boss, who initially disapproves of her dual life, starts falling for her, uncovering his own vulnerabilities.
12. "Coffee Prince" (2007)
A tomboyish girl, mistaken for a boy, starts working at a coffee shop that only hires male employees, leading to complicated romances, especially when the shop's heir develops feelings for her, challenging his understanding of love and identity.
13. "The Legend of the Blue Sea" (2016)
A mermaid from the Joseon era finds herself in modern Seoul, where she crosses paths with a genius con artist, leading to a series of comedic and dangerous events as they fall in love while evading capture and unraveling their intertwined past lives.
14. "Cinderella and the Four Knights" (2016)
A spirited young woman becomes involved with three wealthy cousins and their bodyguard as she's hired to live with them and enforce rules, leading to unexpected romance and the revelation of deep family secrets.
15. "Lie To Me" (2011)
A civil servant and a wealthy hotel CEO enter into a fake marriage to cover up a lie, which complicates their personal and professional lives as they pretend to be a couple to their families and colleagues, only to develop real feelings for each other.