7 K-Dramas So Unwatchable, They Made Fans Rage-Quit – Literally

While some K-dramas shows are universally praised, others are simply forgotten because of their terrible plots. What is often forgotten, however, is that many shows that are considered classics are not as good as they once seemed.

Whether you're looking for a purely pleasurable experience and want to avoid outright bad shows, or you're looking for something for a hilarious thrash marathon, here are the seven worst South Korean TV series that even the most ardent Korean Wave fans couldn't stand.

7. Full House (2004, 16 episodes)

South Korean pop culture, coined as the Korean Wave, became world-famous in the '00s, and during this golden period, there really were more than a few fascinating and original dramas. Full House, however, may have been funny in 2004, but in 2023 it's an unbearable mishmash of absurdity. In the plot, the female lead has to get along with a famous actor because her friends sold him her own house in some crazy way. What were the writers thinking?

6. Something Happened in Bali (2004, 20 episodes)

Although this romantic drama also features an all-star cast, it can't save the script, which by today's standards is only worth your time if you're deliberately looking for something to cringe at. It all starts with a tour guide leading three eccentric acquaintances around Bali and ends with drama, betrayal, malice and death. And no, that's not a compliment to the convoluted plot, it's just plain crazy and insufferable.

5. Playful Kiss (2010, 16 episodes)

The story follows a not-so-bright and unpopular high school girl who falls in love with a smart and popular classmate. As a result of crazy events, their families have to live together in the same house. Everything about Playful Kiss is problematic. The actors are frankly terrible, the characters are clichéd and empty, and the male lead's attitude toward the female lead is not only overly arrogant, but downright unhealthy and toxic.

4. Noble, My Love (2015, 20 episodes)

Noble, My Love is a webtoon(web-comic)-based romcom that can be quite entertaining and addictive. Only if you're willing to put up with bad acting and a pretty typical plot (which doesn't make up for the silly twists). In general, avid K-drama veterans may be able to put up with it, but it's definitely not something to be recommended to newbies. The plot is quite simple and revolves around a love story between a self-absorbed heir and CEO of a famous corporation and a simple employee of a veterinary clinic.

3. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016, 20 episodes)

The story centers on the Hwarang, a group of elite young warriors whose goal is to disrupt the rule of the privileged nobility. Sounds intriguing, right? Except that the plot is nothing but cheesy dialogue and unwarranted melodrama. In particular, many fans commented on how poorly the character of Go Ara was portrayed.

2. The Bride of Habaek (2017, 16 episodes)

Like Hwarang, The Bride of Habaek has a highly unusual and intriguing premise, the hopes of which are immediately dashed by the drama itself. The plot revolves around a neuropsychiatrist who is suddenly visited by deities, as her family has served the powerful God of the Land of Water for generations. The execution turned out to be quite disappointing and even boring.

1. Backstreet Rookie (2020, 16 episodes)

Blackface. Yeah, we can stop here. In one of the scenes, a supposedly black man (played by a Korean actor) comes into the grocery store, seemingly embodying every racial stereotype. The rest of the show is also a waste of time, overflowing with sexism and misogyny.