Updated 27th March 2024.
I watched/Am watching a total of 15 Korean dramas in 2023, including 3 1 that are currently airing and 1 on hold. Currently airing drama is marked with * and on hold drama is marked with ^. They will be updated accordingly once they are completed. I awarded 3 dramas with 🩸 as they are shows that I wished I had dropped earlier on.
I awarded 3 dramas with 💎 as they are the ones I had a blast with and they have leads with electrifying chemistry. They are also the ones that I look back fondly on and care about the characters a lot.
Moon In The Day 낮에 뜨는 달 is my 💎
Contains SPOILERS!!!
My Korean Dramas Of 2023 (chronological order by air date):
Brain Works 두뇌공조 (16 episodes) – Enjoyed the bromance and case solving.
Crash Course In Romance 일타 스캔들 (16 episodes) – 일타강사 Choi Chi Yeol and the world of private education + 40s romance. If only they excluded the dark parts.
Love To Hate You 연애대전 (10 episodes) – Kickass female lead with smoldering male lead. Hot!
^ Call It Love 사랑이라 말해요 (16 episodes) – I love the first episode and its pink hue but I’m putting it on hold for now (9 months!) because I have a feeling this one is going to be so good that I need to find a special time to savor it.
Oasis 오아시스 (16 episodes) – Lee Do Hak and his 식구 (family) roughing it out in the 80s and 90s in South Korea.
The Real Has Come 진짜가 나타났다! (50 episodes) – About a man who doesn’t believe in marriage, fake contract a marriage with a pregnant woman. So awesome in the first half, loose its footing in the 3/4 and managed to come back but not as strong as the beginning.
See You In MY 19th Life 이번 생도 잘 부탁해 🩸 (12 episodes) – Main leads not chemistry-ing and the story is not gripping enough.
My Lovely Liar 소용없어 거짓말 🩸 (16 episodes) – Started so well. The show didn’t fully utilize the liar fantasy part. The male lead’s acting is the weakest link.
Behind Your Touch 힙하게 💎 (16 episodes) – Wacky, funny and mysterious butt touching adventures. So much laughter! Wasn’t so fond of the butt touching premise but I sorta get used to it. I believe the casts got permission before being touched. LOL The show started well, got better and better and ended with a bang.
My Lovely Boxer 순정복서 (12 episodes) – Women boxing and a grey agent.
Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword Of Aramun 아라문의 검 (12 episodes) – Original leads declined coming back for the 2nd season. The new leads did well and I got my closure after 4 years of waiting. Enjoyed the story too.
Han River Police 한강 (6 episodes) – Just because it’s set in Han River. Not bad.
The Kidnapping Day 유괴의 날 💎 (12 episodes) – A delightful relationship between a kidnapper and the kidnapee. It was a little gruesome at the beginning. Awesome from start to finish. I wanted more from the ending though.
Live Your Own Life 효심이네 각자도생 (50 episodes) – About money-sucking family members which lead to the female lead living her own life (this part has yet to materialize). Update: The first half could have been compacted into 10 episodes. We get it, we get Hyo Sim’s self-inflicted suffering. In the end, it took Hyo Sim nearly the finish line to really live her own life. The one who got robbed the most is Kang Tae Min. He never had a chance at all!
Castaway Diva 무인도의 디바 🩸 (12 episodes) – Young parts: THE BEST!!! Adult parts: Lost opportunity. Actor to watch out for: Moon Woo Jin! He’s only 14 years old.
Moon In The Day 낮에 뜨는 달 💎 (14 episodes) – Tragic and cursed love story. Stories jump between the past in the Seorabeol, Silla Kingdom and present-day Seoul. Gave me warm feelings throughout. Love Kim Do Ha & Han Ri Ta and Kim Do Ha & Kang Yeong Hwa.
Dropped Korean Dramas Of 2023:
Joseon Attorney: A Morality – One of the rare occasions where I dropped this drama at ep 4, picked it back up and dropped it again in the first few minutes of ep 8. I realized I didn’t care about the characters enough.
Family: The Unbreakable Bond – Only managed a few mins into ep 1 as the subs were horrible & it turned me off.
King The Land – Plotless & boring. Dropped at ep 3.
Twinkling Watermelon – Story doesn’t grab me. Dropped at ep 3.
Welcome To Samdal-ri – Just started ep 1. Not much to say. Set in Jeju and we have haenyeo! Not much going on even on ep 5 and stories didn’t drip me. Dropped at the end of ep 5.
A Good Day To Be A Dog – A feel-good dog drama so far. Easy to watch. While this drama was easy to watch, there’s not many captivating factors that make you care for the characters. Dropped at the end of ep 9.
Planning To Watch Next:
Goryeo-Khitan War – Decided not to start at all
The Story Of Park’s Marriage Contract
Like Flowers In Sand – Completed. I will update this in the 2024 post at the end of the year.
Photos from ENA & JTBC.
No Comments