Now that the year is coming to an end, we won’t miss the chance to talk about our favorite Korean dramas that premiered and ended this 2022! As a huge K-drama fan who watched a lot of dramas this year, I have a lot of recommendations to make.
I will summarize the best of the best 2022 K-dramas into a recommendation list broken down by category so that you can easily decide which drama to watch next. I really have a lot of favorites so picking just the top 10 is so hard for me so sit tight and let’s now meet the best K-dramas of 2022!
Thriller Dramas
I really think that thriller is the genre of 2022 K-dramas with the amount of this genre we encountered this year. I have a lot of favorites in this genre but not all are consistently good from the start to the end so I won’t mention the others!
“Weak Hero Class 1“
If I had to pick one Korean drama from 2022 that I think everyone should watch, it would be “Weak Hero Class 1.” A high school thriller series that demonstrates the value of friendship via the story of a bullied teenager who learns to defend himself with his wits. I swear this is something you’ve never seen in other high school dramas so it’s a must-watch + Park Ji Hoon’s performance is superb.
“Anna”
If you’re wanting to see a different Bae Suzy, then you have to definitely watch this one. “Anna,” tells the story of a woman who lives a completely different life starting with a small lie. It’s just 6 episodes long and every moment is exciting to watch!
“The First Responders”
This is my favorite ongoing K-drama right now because it’s so amazing how every scene is thrilling that you won’t notice the time while watching. It’s about a policeman, firefighter, and paramedic solving cases. It’s from the same writer of “Partner’s For Justice” so you will know it’s so good!
“Through The Darkness“
A drama set in a time when criminal profilers don’t exist yet. Based on a non-fiction book of the same title co-written by Korea’s first criminal profiler Kwon Il Yong, it tells the story of Song Ha Young who struggles to read the minds of serial murderers. This is a masterpiece drama full of the best actors and actresses! P.S. Kim Nam Gil was nominated in the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards for his role here.
“Little Women”
Adapted from Louisa Allcott’s novel, this drama tells the story of 3 poor women. Though it’s a major departure from its reference, this drama’s many twists and turns make it well worth watching, and Kim Go Eun proves to be a truly amazing actress.
“Tracer“
A revenge drama set in the Seoul Regional Office’s Tax Division and follows the story of a former accountant who works hard to trace money that is hidden from the tax service! You can never go wrong with a Siwan drama!
Legal Dramas
This year has also seen the premiere of several new legal dramas, each of which brings a refreshingly unique take on the genre.
“Bad Prosecutor“
You know you can trust a Doh Kyungsoo drama when you watch “Bad Prosecutor,” because it’s a fantastic legal comedy with plenty of action and suspense. The main protagonist’s unusual and chaotic behavior is what sets this judicial drama apart. Despite being a prosecutor, it doesn’t stop him how to fight evil with evil!
“Extraordinary Attorney Woo”
This is probably one of the year’s best dramas thanks to the main character, Woo Young Woo. Almost every episode focuses on a different case that the Hanbada team is working on, and it’s not often that we see a young lawyer with Asperger’s syndrome.
“Juvenile Justice”
One thing about Kim Hye Soo is she will always deliver. Focusing on a judge and the harsh reality of juvenile court, this drama is compelling. This was a refreshingly original legal drama that didn’t let us down at any point.
“The Law Cafe“
The perfect proportions of law, comedy, and romance are what makes this drama so great. It’s really a fun drama to see two longtime friends who met again as a cafe owner and landlord. It’s fun seeing the two working on two cases as they run the law cafe.
Coming of Age Dramas
As someone who loves this genre, I am so happy that 2022 brought us these amazing stories that will stay with us for a long time!
“Cheer Up“
For me, “Cheer Up” is a breath of fresh air because I’ve always enjoyed college K-dramas. It’s refreshing to watch a drama about a cheerleading squad, and even more so to see the affection and friendship among its members. The love triangle was dragged out till the very end of the show, which I didn’t like, but it was worth it in the end.
“Twenty-Five Twenty-One”
This 2022 drama holds a very special place in my heart because of how they make me feel connected with the characters. It’s a beautiful youth drama about individuals chasing their dreams. An eye-opener drama full of lessons about love, friendship, growth, passion, and life.
“Love All Play”
I really enjoy big-cast, sports-themed Korean dramas. This romance in this badminton drama is top-tier because every couple is lovable from the main, second up to the supporting!
Fantasy K-Dramas
Sometimes, we all want to watch something that brings us to a whole new world and the 2022 K-dramas brought us something we’ve never seen before!
Alchemy Of Souls
This fantasy historical drama is on the top of my list thanks to its amazing storytelling and engaging concept about mages and soul shifters. I’m always on the edge of my seat that I don’t notice the time while watching because a lot of things really happen every episode!
“Tomorrow”
A well-written and meaningful fantasy drama that is centered around grim reapers trying to save suicidal people. Loved how it offered timely and relevant stories in almost every episode.
“Reborn Rich”
The hottest ongoing K-drama right now that now holds the spot of the 2nd highest-rated cable tv drama in history! It tells the story of a loyal employee who gets reincarnated as the grandson of the chaebol family who killed him.
Romantic Comedy Dramas
Sometimes, we are not in the mood to watch anything heavy so here are the rom-com dramas I enjoyed this year. I assure you, you’ll be in a good mood while watching!
“Fanletter, Please“
This family drama’s theme and endearing characters make it worth watching even though it only spans four episodes. It’s about a top actress who’s experiencing a crisis in her career and a single father who wrote a fanletter to his child who’s a huge fan of the top actress.
“Our Beloved Summer”
This is one of the romantic comedy dramas that are well written from the start to the end. It’s about ex-lovers who were pulled back in front of the camera after a documentary they shot went viral.
“Business Proposal”
A feel-good romantic comedy with different kdrama cliché tropes done right. If you’re looking for a drama that will make laugh and full of heart-fluttering moments then this is the drama for you!
Slice of Life Dramas
I know we all agree slice-of-life dramas are top-tier and 2022 gave us these amazing dramas!
“Recipe For Farewell“
This is the kind of best drama material because it’s a slice-of-life drama about food, family, and relationship and is starring by the best actor and actress. I really enjoyed how it’s so comforting and soothing to watch thanks to Han Seok Kyu’s voiceover whenever he’s preparing the meals for his sick wife.
“My Liberation Notes”
Have you ever watched a Korean drama that you knew would stick with you for a long time? Honestly, I feel that way about this drama. Inspiring empathy and a deeper appreciation for life, it’s a well-written drama.
“Our Blues”
It’s from writer Noh Hee Kyung who wrote the masterpiece “It’s Okay, That’s Love!” A comforting omnibus drama about people from all walks of life whose lives intersect on Jeju Island.
“If You Wish Upon Me”
A beautiful and heartwrenching healing drama set in a hospice about a group of people that grants the last wishes of terminally ill persons. It might be slow at first, but the moment you get to know each character, you’ll learn to appreciate everyone + it has one of the best couple dynamics!
To be honest, I still have a lot of favorite K-dramas this year like “Under The Queen’s Umbrella,” “One Dollar Lawyer” “Military Prosecutor Doberman,” “ADAMAS,” “Once Upon A Small Town” but this list is getting long already!
I’m also currently watching “Summer Strike,” “The Forbidden Marriage,” and “Connect” and I’ll tell you soon if they are worth watching. I hope you enjoyed this K-drama recommendations list and let’s watch them on KOCOWA before the year ends!
1 Comment
love the listed dramas but I would’ve added Once Upon A Small Town in the RomCom or COA category! It might not known to some people, but it’s genuinely one of the best dramas this year.