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Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode
Image credit: SBS, MBC, KBS, tvN, Netflix

Here's to all of us binge-watchers, realizing we've watched the whole series in one go. Again.

K-dramas have this magical way of pulling you into their world from the very first episode, making it impossible not to click "Next" as soon as one ends; these 15 shows are the champions of that, crafting stories that mix love, drama, mystery, and sometimes a bit of supernatural flair so well, you'll find yourself canceling plans just to see what happens next.

1. "While You Were Sleeping" (2017)
Stream it on: Viki, Kocowa+

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 1Nam Hong-joo, who dreams of future accidents, and Jung Jae-chan, a prosecutor, work together to prevent her visions from coming true, unraveling complex cases and a conspiracy that ties their past and future.

2. "Thirty But Seventeen" (also known as "Still 17") (2018)
Stream it on: Viki

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 2Woo Seo-ri wakes from a 13-year coma at 30, and Gong Woo-jin, a man traumatized by the accident that changed her life, cross paths; together, they heal each other's wounds and embark on a journey to reclaim their lost years.

3. "Kill Me Heal Me" (2015)
Stream it on: Viki, Kocowa+

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 3Cha Do-hyun, a wealthy businessman with dissociative identity disorder, seeks the help of first-year psychiatric resident Oh Ri-jin to regain control over his life, uncovering deeply buried family secrets along the way.

4. "One the Woman" (2021)
Stream it on: Viki

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 4Prosecutor Jo Yeon-joo, involved in an accident, wakes up with amnesia and is mistaken for a wealthy conglomerate's daughter-in-law, leading her to uncover a web of corporate corruption and personal identity.

5. "Mr. Queen" (2020)
Stream it on: Viki, Netflix

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 5A modern-day chef's spirit gets trapped in the body of a queen in the Joseon dynasty, creating uproarious scenarios as he navigates palace politics, a love triangle, and attempts to return to his own time.

6. "Move to Heaven" (2021)
Stream it on: Netflix

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 6Geu-ru, a young man with Asperger's syndrome, and his ex-convict uncle Sang-gu, become trauma cleaners, uncovering untold stories of the deceased, which leads them to reconcile with their own pasts and grief.

7. "Our Beloved Summer" (2021)
Stream it on: Netflix

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 7A documentary filmmaker and her ex-boyfriend, whose youthful love story was captured on film, are brought back together years later for a sequel, forcing them to confront their past and unresolved feelings.

8. "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021)
Stream it on: Netflix

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 8A dentist moves to a seaside village where she meets a handyman with a mysterious past; their lives intertwine as they help heal each other's emotional wounds and find love.

9. "Flower of Evil" (2020)
Stream it on: Viki, Netflix

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 9Detective Cha Ji-won and her husband, Baek Hee-sung, a craftsman hiding a dark past, engage in a tense cat-and-mouse game as she uncovers his secrets, questioning the foundation of their marriage and identity.

10. "Descendants of the Sun" (2016)
Stream it on: Hulu, Viki, Kocowa+

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 10Yoo Shi-jin, a special forces captain, and Kang Mo-yeon, a surgeon, fall in love in a war-torn country, facing life-or-death situations that test their commitments and values.

11. "Fated to Love You" (Korean version) (2014)
Stream it on: Kocowa+

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 11An ordinary office worker, Kim Mi-young, and a wealthy heir, Lee Gun, have a one-night stand leading to an unexpected pregnancy, forcing them into a marriage that blossoms into genuine love.

12. "Full House" (2004)
Stream it on: Viki, Kocowa+

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 12Han Ji-eun, an aspiring writer, loses her house to famous actor Lee Young-jae in a deceitful act by her friends; they enter a contract marriage for mutual benefit, leading to real affection between them.

13. "Secret Garden" (2010)
Stream it on: Viki, Kocowa+

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 13Kim Joo-won, a wealthy CEO, and Gil Ra-im, a stuntwoman, inexplicably swap bodies, leading them through a series of comedic and romantic trials that challenge their understanding of love and identity.

14. "Another Miss Oh" (2016)
Stream it on: Viki, Roku

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 14Two women with the same name, Oh Hae-young, and a man, Park Do-kyung, who can see the future, become entangled in a complex relationship when Do-kyung's visions lead to mistaken identities and heartbreak.

15. "Extracurricular" (2020)
Stream it on: Netflix

Binge-Bait: 15 K-dramas That Will Get You Hooked on the First Episode - image 15A model student, Oh Ji-soo, leads a secret life organizing a crime ring to pay for his college tuition, but his plans start unraveling when a classmate becomes involved, leading to dangerous consequences and moral dilemmas.