K-dramas of 2022 that got us completely hooked
From a fantasy musical, high school zombie apocalypse and an alien-loving cult, 2022 saw more experimental plots and genres in Korean dramas. But while some were hit-and-miss, K-dramas have become more outstanding in terms of production quality this year.
Here are our top favorite K-dramas of 2022 and why you should start watching them if you haven’t finished them already.
Twenty-Five, Twenty-One
The year started off strong with the charming story of high school fencer Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) and college dropout Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) as they struggle to reach for their dreams, build friendships, and fall in love. Set in the 90s, Twenty-Five, Twenty-One brought us back to the era of cassette tapes, beepers, and hip hop. Eventually, we became invested in Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin’s slow-burn romance.
Why we love it:
This K-drama had the perfect mix of drama and comedic relief that we love. The ending may have brought tears and sparked online debates but the message was clear. We all grow up and as much as we want things to stay the way they were, circumstances force us to move forward. We look back at our youth with rose-colored lenses because of those beautiful memories made with our friends and that unforgettable first love.
Through the Darkness
This crime series is based on a true story about the first Korean criminal profiler. If you’re a fan of American series like Criminal Minds and C.S.I., then you will definitely enjoy this drama. Through the Darkness stars Kim Nam-gil as the profiler Song Ha-young and Jin Seon-kyu as Gook Young-soo, leader of the Criminal Behavior Analysis Team. The series follows the group as they analyze the inner workings of the most twisted criminal minds in Korea.
Why we love it:
The fast-paced story-telling makes for an exciting series. It’s a show that you would watch in one sitting if you had time because you’d want to know what happens next. Kim Nam-gil is the star of the series with his character struggling to keep his biases in check. The support cast including the “serial killers” also gave stellar performances. Here’s hoping there’s a season 2 lined up in the future.
The Sound of Magic
A coming-of-age fantasy musical may sound like a mishmash but it works in this drama adaptation of a popular webtoon. Ji Chang-wook is Ri Eul, a child-like magician who refuses to become an adult. Along the way, he meets Yoon Ah-yi (Choi Seung-eun), a poor girl forced to take on the responsibilities of an adult because of her circumstances. Meanwhile, Hwang In-youp is Na Il-deung, a high school senior who feels trapped because of his family’s expectations.
Why we love it:
The Sound of Magic is one of our favorite K-dramas of 2022 in terms of production quality. The musical production parts were beautifully woven into the narrative, with the songs encapsulating the inner struggles of each character. Ji Chang-wook’s superior acting shines through and we’re glad that he finally got the chance to showcase his musical talent in this drama. There may be a bit of fantasy in the narrative but the story is all human. It challenges the meaning of being an adult, and posts the ultimate conundrum of whether you want to become the person that society dictates or live the life that you want.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
A surefire sign that a K-drama is successful is if it’s as popular in Korea as it is internationally. Extraordinary Attorney Woo is one of those rare gems. For those living under the rock, the series is about a lawyer named Woo Young-woo who has a type of high functioning autism. We follow her life as she struggles to adapt to her new workplace where she deals with the stigma around autism, battles against office politics, and where she eventually meets her first love.
Why we love it:
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a heartwarming masterpiece. It may be a story about an extraordinary lawyer but everyone can relate to her insecurities and her desire to be loved and accepted. Her love story with onscreen partner Kang Tae-Oh is kilig-inducing that we were all cheering for them in the end.
In Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Park Eun-bin proved again that she’s one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. There’s just something about her that is so extraordinarily charming as we saw during her first fan meeting in the Philippines. While reprising the role of Woo Young-woo is still up in the air, we can’t wait to see what’s next for this talented actress.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella
Capping off the list of our favorite K-dramas of 2022 is the one historical K-drama this year that you shouldn’t miss. Under the Queen's Umbrella revolves around Queen Hwaryeong, played by the phenomenal Kim Hye-soo, and how she protected her five sons from the lethal politics inside the palace. However, this isn’t just your typical palace politics drama as it deals with several themes involving the relationship between a mother and her children.
Why we love it:
If there’s a recognition for the most “woke” K-drama of the year, then Under the Queen’s Umbrella will most likely bag the award. We were surprised to see this drama set in the Joseon dynasty tackle topics such as LGBTQ acceptance and mental health, among others. Under the Queen’s Umbrella is the perfect love story because it’s all about a mother’s love.
So what are your favorite K-dramas of 2022?