IN PHOTOS: 21 K-Dramas Everyone Watched in 2021

As we’re approaching the last days of the year and the start of another one, we’re looking back on all the K-dramas we loved and streamed this year! If you’re looking for a recap of the dramas that generated buzz from local and international K-drama fans or are plotting your binge-watch list for 2022, we got you covered!

From Song Joong Ki’s Vincenzo and the romcom K-drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha to the international hit Squid Game and highly-anticipated Jirisan, here are 21 K-dramas we fell in love with in 2021:

Sisyphus: The Myth
February 17

Sisyphus is the story of a genius engineer named Han Tae Sul (Jo Seung Woo), who is known for having the highest level of coding skills. After learning the truth about his brother’s death, he goes on a dangerous journey alongside Kang Seo Hae, a woman from the future. It stars Park Shin Hye, Jo Seung Woo, Kim Byung Chul, Sung Dong Il, and more.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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Beyond Evil
February 19

Yeo Jin Goo stars alongside Shin Ha Kyun in Beyond Evil. It follows two men — Han Joo Won and Lee Dong Sik — who go to extreme lengths to pursue the serial killer in their city. When a series of gruesome killings occur, the two work together to stop the culprit from killing more. As they do so, they start to look deeper than what the evidence shows, questioning the motives of those who are involved in the case. It stars Yeo Jin Goo, Shin Ha Kyun, Choi Dae Hoon. Kim Sin Rok, and more.

Where to Watch: Netflix / Viu

Vincenzo
February 20

Vincenzo follows Vincenzo Cassano, a lawyer to an Italian mafia who believes that “only evil can punish evil.” Because of the war between mafia groups, he goes back to South Korea, and it’s there that he utilizes villainous tactics to take down villains. He then joins forces with the lawyer Hong Cha Young in fighting the nefarious Babel Group. What they both don’t know is that what lies ahead of them are trouble and plenty of other villains who stand in their way.

Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Bin, Ok Taecyeon, Kim Yeo Jin, Jo Han Chul, Kwak Dong Yeon, and more star in this drama.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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Mouse
March 3

Mouse asks the question of whether psychopaths can be identified in advance. It follows Jung Ba Reum, a rookie police officer who comes face-to-face with a crazed serial killer that left the nation in fear. After he survives this dangerous encounter, Ba Reum’s life completely changes, and it’s up to him and his detective partner Go Moo Chi to uncover the truth behind the killer and psychopathic behaviors. It stars Lee Seung Gi, Lee Hee Joon, Park Joo Hyun, and Kyung Soo Jin.

Where to Watch: Viu

Law School
April 14

This 2021 drama is set in a prestigious law school and follows its students and professors who get involved in an unusual murder case. As criminal law professor Yang Joon Hoon and his students get caught in the middle of the case, the lawyers and prospective lawyers start to learn and realize more about authenticity, the law, and justice. Starring in this drama is Kim Myung Min, Kim Bum, Ryu Hye Young, Lee Jung Eun, Lee Soo Kyung, Lee David, and more.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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Youth of May
May 3

Youth of May is about Hwang Hee Tae and Kim Myung Two, who “have a fateful meeting” during the events in May 1980. This was when the historical Gwangju Uprising happened. Lee Do Hyun (18 Again, Sweet Home) plays Hwang Hee Tae, a sly but driven medical student. Go Min Si (Love Alarm, Sweet Home), plays Kim Myung Hee, a nurse who has already gone through so many hardships despite being only 3 years into her career.

Also starring in this drama are Lee Sang Yi, Geum Sae Rok, Uhm Hyo Seop, Kim Won Hae, Hwang Young Hee, and Shim Yi Young.

Where to Watch: Viu

Doom at Your Service
May 10

Doom at Your Service follows Tak Dong Kyung a web novel editor who’s been working hard for her and her brother since their parents passed away. Things take a turn for her when she gets diagnosed with brain cancer, something which she believes is because of her unlucky life. She then curses everything to disappear, calling for doom to end everything. This causes Myul Mang — who is Doom itself and is the messenger between the deities and humans — to appear and grant her wish of living for 100 days however she wants in exchange for her wishing to bring doom on everything. This drama stars Seo In Guk, Park Bo Young, and more.

Where to Watch: Viu

My Roommate is a Gumiho
May 26

My Roommate is a Gumiho follows Shin Woo Yeo, a 999-year-old gumiho who collects human energy in a marble so he can attain his human form. Things get complicated when he meets college student Lee Dam who accidentally swallows his marble. This endangers her life, as well as Woo Yeo’s chance of becoming human. As they figure out how to get the marble back, Lee Dam and Shin Woo Yeo decide to live together.

Lee Hye Ri, Jang Ki Yong, Kang Han Na, and Kim Do Wan star in this drama.

Where to Watch: iQiyi

Nevertheless
June 19

Nevertheless follows Park Jae Eon, a flirty art student who doesn’t want to commit to a relationship. He ends up meeting Yoo Na Bi, another art student who, after getting her heart broken, decides that she no longer wants to believe in love, but wants to date, nevertheless. Despite the differences in their views on love and relationships, the two find themselves attracted to each other and getting into a complicated relationship. Starring in this drama are Song Kang, Han So Hee, Chae Jong Hyeop.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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Hospital Playlist, Season 2
June 17

Hospital Playlist centers on five doctors who have been friends since medical school, and are now working in the same hospital. The first season follows their personal and professional lives as they deal with love, family, and the newly-restarted college band, Mido and Falasol. It stars Jo Jung Suk, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jeon Mi Do, Jung Kyung Ho, and Kim Dae Myung.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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D.P.
August 27

D.P. centers on Ahn Jun Ho, a young private who is assigned to work in the military’s D.P. unit alongside Han Ho Yeol. As he works in this post, tracking down soldiers, he encounters the realities of these young men and learns the troubles that they have been facing. The drama stars Jung Hae In, Koo Kyo Hwan, Kim Sung Kyun, Son Suk Ku, and more.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
August 28

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha follows the dentist Yoon Hye Jin, who moves and establishes a clinic in Gongjin after things go awry in the city. It’s in this seaside village that she meets Hong Du Sik, a jack-of-all-trades who’s known for doing odd jobs for the people in the village. Despite their differences, the two eventually grow fond of each other, developing a kind of chemistry that’s also full of teasing and bickering. The drama stars Shin Min Ah, Kim Seon Ho, Lee Sang Yi, and more.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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Squid Game
September 17

Squid Game is an “imaginative, unorthodox story” about 456 contestants who are all in desperate need of money and are invited to play a series of survival games for a 45.6 billion won cash prize. Only one of them can win and survive to claim the prize, while those who fail must pay the price of death. At the center of the story are Gi Hun and Sang Woo — childhood friends who took on different paths when they got older, only to get reunited at the same game arena. It stars Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo, Jung Ho Yeon, Heo Sung Tae, and more.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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Yumi’s Cells
September 17

Yumi’s Cells is the story of a Yumi, from the point of view of the many brain cells in her head. She’s an ordinary office worker who’s not good at expressing her feeling. The drama follows her growth and transformation as her brain cells work to wake up her “love-cell” which has fallen into a coma following the shock of a failed relationship. Kim Go Eun and Ahn Bo Hyun star in this drama.

Where to Watch: iQiyi

The King’s Affection
October 11

The King’s Affection is a drama based on a webtoon series called Yeonmo. It centers on Yi Hwi, a woman who disguises as the crown prince after her twin brother passed away. Her world changes when she meets Jung Ji Un, a nobleman whose task is to educate crown princes, in one of their lectures. Despite hiding her true identity from him, she ends up catching feelings for Jung Ji Un, and they face a destiny they cannot avoid as their affection for each other blooms and deepens. It stars Park Eun Bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon Soo, Choi Byung Chan, Bae Yoon Kyung, and more.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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My Name
October 15

My Name follows a young woman named Ji Woo, who witnesses the murder of her father one night. Determined to take revenge on the one who killed him, she abandons everything and joins the criminal underworld. There, she takes on a new name and infiltrates the police force undercover to find him. It stars Han So Hee, Ahn Bo Hyun, and Park Hee Soon.

Where to Watch: Netflix

ALSO READ
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Jirisan
October 23

Jirisan follows a team of national park rangers who are responsible for the search and rescue of people who get lost in the vast Mount Jiri. At the center of the story are experienced ranger Seo Yi Kang and rookie ranger Kang Hyun Jo who unravel the secrets of the peak. Gianna Jun, Ju Ji Hoon, Jo Han Chul, Oh Jung Se, Sung Dong Il, and more star in this drama.

Where to Watch: iQiyi

ALSO READ
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Happiness
November 5

Happiness is set in a newly-built apartment in the city, where high floors are meant for rich residents who can buy the house while the lower floors are for those who can only rent. When a deadly virus starts spreading throughout the city, the apartment is sealed off, leaving the residents to spend and survive in the new habitation. It stars Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Joo.

Where to Watch: Viu / iQiyi

ALSO READ
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Our Beloved Summer
December 6

Our Beloved Summer is a romantic comedy about a couple who breaks up and promises to never meet again. things take a turn, though, when their documentary from 10 years ago suddenly gains popularity. They’re once again brought together forcibly in front of the camera. Starring in this drama are Kim Da Mi, Choi Woo Sik, Kim Sung Cheol, and Roh Jeong Eui.

Where to Watch: Netflix

Bad and Crazy
December 17

Bad and Crazy comes from the team behind The Uncanny Counter and centers on a capable but bad cop named Ryu Su Yeol who regains his humanity after meeting ‘K’ — a crazy but righteous man who likes to use his fist to resolve conflict. Lee Dong Wook, Wi Ha Joon, Han Ji Eun, and Cha Hak Yun star in this drama.

Where to Watch: iQiyi

ALSO READ
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Snowdrop
December 18

Snowdrop is a drama set in 1987, when South Koreans were doing mass protests that would lead to the end of the authoritarian rule and the establishment of their present-day democratic government. At the center of the story is Jung Hae In’s Im Soo Ho, a graduate student who participates in a pro-democracy protest. Meanwhile, Ji Soo plays Eun Young Ro, who discovers him and hides him from the government despite the dangers of being under close surveillance.

Where to Watch: Disney+

ALSO READ
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Which of these K-dramas have you seen this year? Let us know by marking them on our 2021 K-drama Bingo!  You can even review your favorite ones by logging on to my.clickthecity.com!

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