K-dramashave gained worldwide success for their ability to bring to life imaginative portrayals of romance and thriller revenge stories, with flawed series still being ever so captivating. With so manysuccessful K-dramasto compete with, a few will inevitably fail in comparison to the writing and character development in other series. Still, on their own,imperfect K-dramas likeLove AlarmandReborn Richare impressive and entertaining.
LikeLove Alarm, the messaging within other flawed K-dramas, such asTrue Beauty, makes up for the narrative errors, as audiences feel seen thanks to the subject matters addressed. More often than not, the flaws within these series stem from the reliance oncommon K-drama tropes. Such tropes are included within these shows in ways that create inconsistent plots and questionable character motives. However,these missteps aren’t extreme enough to dampen the viewing experience of the show as a whole.
10The Heirs (2013)
The Overuse Of Clichés Muddles The Story
Taking place within the halls of a high school with the wealthiest students in attendance,The Heirshas a star-studded cast and an enthralling drama that makes it worth the watch despite its flaws.The Heirsfollows a group of privileged students who are preparing to take over their respective families' businesses. At the same time, students struggle with sorting out their life’s purpose and doing right by the social hierarchy set in place.
As promising asThe Heirs' premise is, the series is ultimately flawed due to its use of clichés. Cheesy and predictable clichés are not rare in K-dramas, but when a series likeThe Heirsuses more than they know how to handle, storylines are often muddled. Still,The Heirsdoes produce some compelling, though predictable, drama that makes it a greatbeginner series for those unfamiliar with K-dramas.
9Hotel King (2014)
The Wild Storylines Are Difficult To Take Seriously
Starring Lee Dong-wook and Lee Da-hae,Hotel Kingis among the moreoverly dramatic K-dramas.Hotel Kingsees its two leads working together at an established hotel. Though a romantic connection forms between the two characters, their relationship with one another is a minor part of the series' overall absurdity. The series' melodramatic elements are a bit much, andHotel King’s flaws come from its zany villainous character that audiences aren’t always able to take seriously.
Hotel King’s chaotic elements could also benefit from a shorter run of episodes, as much of the series feels repetitive. Numerous plot twists throughoutHotel Kingkeep audiences on their toes and make predicting storylines nearly impossible.These factors makeHotel Kinga messy, but wildly entertaining show, and strong performances by the series' cast make it a K-drama worthy of respect.
8Love Alarm (2019-2021)
Season 2 Changes What Many Audiences Knew About The Show
Starting with a unique premise is the K-dramaLove Alarm. The series follows the struggle people face when the titular app is launched, which notifies its users when people nearby have romantic feelings for them.Love Alarmboasts some intriguing themes about love and the way people interact with social media.Love Alarmseason 1 earned high levels of acclaim from audiences and critics alike, as it was refreshing and unlike anything else out at the time.
Unfortunately, season 2 had more of a mixed response, and for a good reason. The plot and characterization inLove Alarmseason 2 were largely inconsistent with what was established in earlier episodes. ThoughLove Alarmhas its flaws during its second set of episodes, a hint of social commentary remains, making it worth a watch and a memorable K-drama overall.
7Chocolate (2019-2020)
An Emotional Story Is Stunted By Inconsistent Pacing
Chocolateisa K-drama about foodand follows two individuals reuniting while working at a hospice ward together. The characters, Lee Kang (Yoon Kye-sang) and Moon Cha-yeong (Ha Ji-won) share a love of food and bond while preparing meals for hospice patients.Chocolatecontains some creative shots of food preparation that are sure to elicit feelings of hunger in audiences. However,Chocolateis also emotionally heavy and has several heartfelt storylines.
While the fact that there is little breathing room for audiences or characters within the show might be considered a flaw to some, others point out narrative and pacing inconsistencies. Certain arcs within the show are dragged on longer than they need to be, while those that audiences care about tend to be rushed.Chocolatestill hits all of its emotional marks, but not without a few missteps along the way.
6Tale Of The Nine Tailed (2020)
Includes An Unnecessarily Elaborate Plot
Tale of the Nine Tailedis one of thebest romance fantasy K-dramas, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its flaws. The series incorporates the popular creature in Korean folktales, the gumiho — a fox with the ability to turn into a beautiful woman, attracting victims and eating their hearts out.Tale of the Nine Tailedchanges things a bit and sees one of its lead characters, Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook), as a 1000-year-old gumiho waiting for his lost love to be reincarnated.
When Yeon crosses paths with a woman who looks like his love, Nam Ji-ah (Jo Bo-ah), the two work together to protect the world from vengeful spirits.Tale of the Nine Tailedis a successful fantasy series, butits biggest flaw is the unconvincing chemistry between its leads and the inclusion of one too many subplots. Luckily,Tale of the Nine Tailedis still easy to follow, and it’s become a popular series among K-drama fans.
5Wok Of Love (2018)
Additional Characters And Dramatic Plots Prove To Be Unnecessary
Set in a Chinese restaurant called “Hungry Wok,“Wok of Lovehas a mix of romance and comedy.The series has a messy start, but it eventually finds its footingand pulls off its comedic elements and food scenes. However,Wok of Lovedips in quality again when the series adds unnecessary side characters and outside drama that does little to add to the story surrounding the main characters — such additions makeWok of Lovedifficult to follow at times.
The series has a central love story, but the highlights ofWok of Loveare the dynamics between the restaurant’s staff and the shots of food preparation and consumption. These aspects of the K-drama make it exciting to watch. The food preparation scenes in particular are mouth-watering and elevate the viewing experience with the attention to detail apparent in every shot.
4You’re Beautiful (2009)
A Slow Pace Drags Down An Iconic Series
Despite its average ratings when originally airing,You’re Beautifulhas garnered a cult following over the years and has been deemed by many an iconic K-drama. The series includes a common trope where a girl disguises herself as a boy to achieve her goals. InYou’re Beautiful, Ko Mi-nyeo (Park Shin-hye) takes over her twin brother’s position in a popular band. There’s a thrill in seeing the ways Mi-nyeo will avoid being caught.
However, the series is much slower than it needs to be.There are musical and comedic elements throughoutYou’re Beautifulthat allow it to be lively and energetic, but the slow pace is a flaw that’s difficult to ignore. Still,You’re Beautifulis well-loved for a reason. Within the show, endearing romantic bonds form, and Park is a captivating lead that makes rooting for Mi-nyeo’s success easy to do.
3Reborn Rich (2022)
Sharp Storytelling Unfortunately Has Many Convenient Factors
Thrillingrevenge K-dramasare among the more popular genres, andReborn Richis one with some of the most impressive ratings. Audiences were consistently tuned in forReborn Rich, making the series one of the highest-rated in Korean TV history. TheK-drama implements time traveland follows the journey of Yoon Hyun-woo (Song Joong-ki). Hyun-woo is an employee of the Soonyang Group but is murdered by one of the family members. When he gets a second chance at life as a Soonyang grandson, Hyun-woo plans his revenge.
The characters inReborn Richare well-written and are compelling in their predominately villainous roles. The cast ofReborn Richplays a large part in creating such convincing characters, with Song being a notable standout. Instead,Reborn Rich’s flaws have to do with the convenient devices throughout the series to make up for inconsistent plotsand holes.
2True Beauty (2020-2021)
An Important But Safe Series Regarding Beauty Standards
K-dramas likeTrue Beautyare appreciated by most audiences for their ability to include commentary on societal beauty standards within a fun plot.True Beauty, based on a webtoon of the same name, follows Lim Ju-kyung (Moon Ka-young), a high school student who takes matters into her own hands after years of being ridiculed for her looks. Thanks to her advanced makeup skills, Ju-kyung is able to completely transform her appearance and makes it her mission to hide her real face from others.
The choice to highlight beauty standards in South Korean culture is important, asmany viewers, regardless of geographical location, can connect with the pressures and stress experienced by Ju-kyung. Still,True Beautyis by no means perfect. Many ofTrue Beauty’s attempts to confront beauty standards are safe, and the series could’ve benefited by diving further into the emotional journey of the characters.
1Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Dated Use Of Tropes Is Noticeable Years Later
Arguably, one of the more iconic K-dramas from the 2000s isBoys Over Flowers. The series features a stellar cast of actors who’d go on to have big careers. The series is based on a Japanese manga series of the same name and revolves around a girl who finds herself involved with a group of wealthy boys known as the F4. Not only didBoys Over Flowersboost the careers of its stars, but the series had an influence on South Korean men’s fashion and tourists flocked to the series' filming locations.
Still, having premiered in 2009, there are unavoidable dated aspects ofBoys Over Flowers.None of these flaws have prevented the series from obtaining a decades-long legacy. However, in the years that have passed sinceBoys Over Flowers' premiere, other K-dramas with similarly campy writing and over-the-top performances have managed to be more coherent and without faults.
