Better Than House of Cards: Top 6 Political K-Dramas on Netflix
As the politics of the world seem increasingly tied up in polarized knots, sometimes the only way to make sense of it all is through fiction.
If you’ve watched your way through The West Wing and Madame Secretary, consider checking out some of the political dramas coming out of South Korea.
As you’ll see from this list, they all belong to slightly different genres (from thriller to dystopian nightmare), but they all bring the drama in a truly satisfying way.
Chief of Staff
MyDramaList Rating: 8.0
Number of Episodes: 20
Former detective Jang Tae-joon becomes an aide to a lawmaker in the hopes that he can one day climb the political ladder himself. However, he soon finds himself in a world of machinations and backstabbing – even as his brilliance threatens to outshine his boss. The politics are spiced up with a hint of romance between Tae-joon and a savvy lawyer-turned politician.
Watch if you want: A fresh point of view from the lower ranks of political office.
Designated Survivor: 60 Days
MyDramaList Rating: 8.5
Number of Episodes: 16
Based on the American series Designated Survivor, this Korean version follows the story of the unambitious Park Mu-jin, the South Korean Minister for the Environment. When he loses his job over a diplomatic incident, the paperwork hasn’t gone through before a bomb goes off, killing the President and leaving Mu-Jin to take over until a new election can be called. Mu-Jin has 60 days as Acting President to figure out the truth behind the bombings.
Watch if you want: A new spin on the Kiefer Sutherland drama.
The Lies Within
MyDramaList Rating: 7.9
Number of Episodes: 16
Kim Seo-Hee joins the National Assembly after her politician father dies and her politician husband goes missing. She recruits worn-down cop Jo Tae-Sik to help in her quest to find the truth. Together, they slowly break through the lies and corruption – but of course, things start to get dangerous as they dig deeper into the mystery.
Watch if you want: A great whodunnit with a political edge.
The Devil Judge
MyDramaList Rating: 8.7
Number of Episodes: 16
Former judge Moon Yoo-seok wrote this series after seeing the chaos that COVID unleashed on the world. He created the dystopian series The Devil Judge, where the people of South Korea live in fear, poverty, and intense polarization. Kang Yo-han, The Devil Judge rules over a courtroom where cases are broadcast and the general public gets to vote on every outcome.
Watch if you want: Dark anti-heroes, dystopian drama, and parallels to our own world.
Queenmaker
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MyDramaList Rating: 8.2
Number of Episodes: 11
Hwang Do-hee is a PR genius who can spin anything. After a crisis of conscience prompts her to leave her job at a conglomerate’s strategic planning office, she convinces human rights lawyer Oh Kyung-sook to run for mayor of Seoul – and take down Do-hee’s former employer. An unlikely alliance forms as the campaign gets increasingly bitter and murky.
Watch if you’re hoping for: A tense examination of power, corruption, and justice in the political system.
Trolley
MyDramaList Rating: 7.7
Number of Episodes: 16
Nam Joong-Do is a committed politician, while his wife Kim Hye-Ju runs a small shop where she restores old books. All she wants is a quiet life, but when her son turns up dead it triggers revelations about her past that she has tried to keep hidden. An incredible central performance from Kim Hyun-Joo acts as the emotional heartbeat of the show.
Watch if you’re hoping for: A complex, emotional story with a lot of intertwining threads.