Need a Quick List of Korean Dramas ONLY ON VIKI? Here Are 25 KDramas

When it comes to keeping Korean drama addicts happy, Netflix and Viki continue to duke it out. In my humble opinion, Viki is the GO-TO streaming platform for all the Hallyu-ites and K-drama newbies. To be fair, that's only because Rakuten Viki markets its platform as “The Heart of Asian Entertainment”. Whereas Netflix has lots of other content from all around the world. It's kind of like comparing apples to oranges. 

Even so, Netflix jumped in on the game, so it's kind of fair to make comparisons.  That being said, below is a quick list of Korean dramas that can be found ONLY ON VIKI. Many of them, but not ALL of them, are Viki Originals. ALL of them have been reviewed right here on PopGeeks. To make it easy for reference, the list is in alphabetical order.

1. Bad Memory Eraser

2. Bitter Sweet Hell

3. Brewing Love

4. Check in Hanyang

5. Cinderella at 2AM

6. Dear Hyeri

7. DNA Lover

8. Face Me

9. Good Partner

10. Love Scout

11. Love Your Enemy

12. Motel California

13. My Dearest Nemesis

14. My Military Valentine

15. My Sweet Mobster

16. Namib

17. Perfect Family

18. Serendipity's Embrace

19. Social Savvy Class 101

20. Study Group

21. The Queen Who Crowns

22. The Witch

23. What Comes After Love

24. Your Honor

25. Yumi's Cells: The Movie

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MY Top 5 Picks From The List?

Good Partner

A top divorce lawyer needed a truly excellent divorce lawyer because she was getting a divorce, and she and her husband both wanted the same thing: custody of their child.

Perfect Family

A perfect family that is nowhere near perfect! Not even a little bit. The mother came straight out of the Stepford Wives movie.

Study Group

I just liked the male lead because he was one of the mage in “Alchemy of Souls”. (The mages are people with special powers who can control the energy of heaven and earth, and are the protectors of country. That was my first time seeing the male lead and I've liked him ever since.)

The Queen Who Crowns

This K-drama shows that even men who are kings have an inflated ego and can still be JERK! The queen was a kingmaker. She did everything within her power to make her husband king and how did he show his thanks? By being a KING-SIZED JERK!

The Witch

OK. Admittedly it is strange that every boy who likes you or tries to be nice to you ends up getting in a tragic accident. That could make guys want to steer clear of you. But the whole town labeling you a witch? That's taking it too far. At least there was one guy who didn't believe it!

If you have watched any of these, do you have favorites?

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Featured Image Credit: Top 5 K-Dramas On Viki In February 2025 | Soompi

Rakuten Group. “Rakuten Viki Celebrates K-Drama Fandom Across the Globe.” YouTube, 30 Jan. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cNHpT4LDTY.

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Original source

Koreanovelas are Just Another Sweet Layer Added to the Hallyu Cake

Hallyu is a global phenomenon. Think of it like a wonderfully delicious cake with multiple layers and each layer tastes better and better.

Image credit

Have you ever heard the term "Koreanovela"? It's a portmanteau (newly invented word or phrase) that combines "Korean" and "telenovela”.

• A telenovela is a Latin American soap opera.  Growing up in Miami, Florida, which has a large Cuban population, the Spanish-speaking channel often aired these TV shows. They are just like American soap operas, i.e. loaded with a bunch of catty people, unfaithful spouses, and unnecessary life drama, but the storyline is very addictive.
• It turns out that "Koreanovela" is used for K-dramas that have gained popularity in Latin America and in the Philippines (Yes, this country is part of the part of the Asian continent). Having just recently discovered this word, it made me wonder if I had watched and reviewed any Koreanovelas. The answer is: Yes.

• FUN TRIVIA: The Koreanovela that most K-drama addicts know about is “Boys Over Flowers”. No surprise. There are versions, remakes, or adaptations in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Thailand ~ movies and series.

Below are five (5) Koreanovelas reviewed on PopGeeks. NO, they do not have 100+ episodes. YES, they are available on either Viki or Netflix.

♦

(1) Good Manager (2017)

STORYLINE: Kim Sung-Ryong ((played by Namkoong Min) used to receive awards for being a math genius when he was a little boy. But when he became a man, he lost his way and ended up for gangsters managing money. In an attempt to find his way back onto the right path, he started siphoning money from the accounts of his gangsta boss. He got caught! He was a given choice. Get a job at a legitimate company, continue working for his gangsta boss, cook the books to make his boss look like an honest businessman OR … ??? DIE! 

• TRAILER/TEASER:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMf7VY8La5REbtt-vN_dbJQGpZTKSe7VJ. 

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(2) My Name (2021)

STORYLINE: Yoon Ji-Woo (played by Han So-Hee) never knew her father. But like a typical young adult she thinks her father is never there for her. Everyone and everything else in his life is more important to him than her. But on the one night he did show up, he was killed right outside the door of their apartment. She heard the gunshots, and tried to look through the keyhole, but couldn't see the killer. Someone told her that her father had been killed by a dirty cop. Yoon Ji-Woo changed her name to Oh Hye-Jin and got a job work undercover in law enforcement, hoping to find out who the killer was, and GET REVENGE. 

• TRAILER/TEASER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOl7iOrD31Q.  

♦

(3) Unlocked (2023)

STORYLINE: Lee Na-Mi (played by Chun Woo-hee) is intelligent, talented, hard-working, has excellent marketing skills, and holds down more than one job. She's smart but did something that was not smart. Got stupid drunk and lost her smartphone. A serial killer found it. When the serial killer wasn't killing people he had a regular job fixing phones. He contacted her and returned her phone AFTER installing spyware. That psycho trapped both Lee Na-Mi and her father in his murderous hellish nightmare. The End Game was MURDER. But he wanted to have fun before that.

• TRAILER/TEASER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8qGElYoAoU. 

♦

(4) Lovely Runner (2024)

STORYLINE: Im Sol (played by Kim Hye-Yoon) is a young girl involved in a tragic accident and must now use a wheelchair. Ryu Sun-Jae (played by Byeon Woo-Seok) is a top K-pop star and she is a huge fan. The K-pop members are being interviewed on a radio show making calls and talking to listeners. Fan or not, she would rather die than be in a cripple! While she was contemplating suicide, she received a phone call. 

Im Sol answers the phone and releases all of her rage on the caller. Rather than hang up, Ryu Sun-Jae started talking to her and ultimately convinced her to live. But later she heard that Ryu Sun-Jae had committed suicide. WHAT? That's so unfair! He was in pain too? She lived. Why didn't he live? Now there's no way to bring him back. Or is there? As if it was an answer to a prayer, Im Sol miraculously traveled back in time. She wasn't in a wheelchair, and Ryu Sun-Jae wasn't a K-Pop member. He was a top athlete in high school and they both attended the same school. He was ALIVE! Could she prevent his suicide? 

• TRAILER/TEASER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kk0dYa8Ccc. 

♦

(5) Queen of Tears (2024)

STORYLINE: Baek Hyun-Woo (played by Kim Soo-Hyun) fell in love with Hong Hae-In (played by Kim Ji-Won), but he didn't know she was a chaebol heiress. No matter because she agreed to get married and promised she would never leave him alone and would never make him cry. But he did make him cry. He became so miserable he decided to divorce her. On the night he planned to ask for a divorce, she told him she was dying. Whoa! Divorce? Death? He decided not to ask for a divorce. If only his wife's illness was the only thing he had to concern himself with. He didn't care about his wife's money. But other people did! 

• TRAILER/TEASER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg2D8zrzlOA.  

♦

Did you like the cake analogy?
Thanks for reading.

Original source

10 Must-Watch Korean Films Released in 2024

2024 was a very good year for Korean dramas, both series and movies. A lot of movies are still on my watch list because they are not yet available to the US audience. It be like that sometimes. LOL. Have you watched any of these films?

(1) Harbin

A dramatization of the real-life story of Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, who assassinated Itō Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan, in 1909.

Main Characters:

• An Jung-Geun (played by Hyun Bin)

TRAILER:  Well Go USA Entertainment. “HARBIN.” YouTube, Video, 10 Dec. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEFkjyj10ec.

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(2) Hidden Face

The fiancée of an orchestra conductor disappears but left behind a video message. His fiancée was a cellist in the orchestra and she is replaced by another woman. As he searches for her, he becomes involved with the new cellist. Rather than solving the mystery of his fiancée's disappearance, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of secrets, desires, and deception with the other woman. But what about his fiancée?

Main Characters:

• Seong-Jin (played by Song Seung-Heon)

• Soo-Yeon (played by Cho Yeo-Jeong)

• Mi-Joo (played by Park Ji-Hyun)

TRAILER:  @bjust_81. “?Hidden Face Trailer Song Seung Heon on Theater November 20th ?.” YouTube, Video, 23 Oct. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5Fa8Nh-yc.

♦

(3) I, the Executioner

A serial killer is on the loose and a veteran detective in the Violent Crimes Unit is assisted by a rookie detective who has just joined the team. The serial killer fancies himself a vigilante who is simply ensuring that justice is served. The media has nick-named him “Haechi” (a mythical creature who maintains law and order). This movie is a sequel to “Veteran” (2015).

Main Characters:

• Detective Seo Do-Cheol (played by Hwang Jung-Min)

• Rookie Park Sun-Woo (played by Jung Hae-In)

TRAILER:  Warner Bros Singapore. “I, The Executioner.” YouTube, Video, 30 Sept. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Caj3acppTA4.

♦

(4) Handsome Guys (a remake of 2010 Canadian film "Tucker and Dale vs Evil")

Don't you just love it when the life you have always dreamed of finally becomes reality? Two guys, carpenters by vocation, who always wanted to live a quiet and simple life in the country moved to their new home. But as soon as they get to town they are mistaken for being kidnappers. It's bad enough when your good intentions are mistaken for evil. It's even worse when you awaken an evil spirit ~ a goat demon ~ that was trapped in the basement of your dream house. Oh! It's just a demonic spirit capable of destroying the world. Thousands of years ago there was one carpenter who was known for casting out demons. A couple of carpenters living in the countryside ought to be able to handle a goat demon ~ easy, peasy.

Main Characters:

• Jae-Pil (played by Lee Sung-Min)

• Sang-Koo (played by Lee Hee-Jun)

TRAILER:  KDTeaser tv. “Handsome Guys (2024).” YouTube, Video, 27 May 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgBTn9I-Ljw.

♦

(5) Land of Happiness

The backdrop for this film is South Korea's political turmoil in 1979. In real history, during that year President Park Chung-hee was assassinated. On December 12, 1979, Major General Chun Doo-hwan led a military coup, declared martial law and took control of the country (“12.12: The Day”). “This period was characterized by political repression, human rights abuses, and the suppression of pro-democracy movements.” (REF: South Korea marks 45 years since 1979 coup and military dictatorship | CNA) According to the real historical record, Kim Jae-gyu, the director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), shot the president and he as convicted and executed. In this film, a secretary is implicated in the President's assassination and a lawyer, who must defend the accused, is not sure if there can be a fair trial amidst predetermined military justice.

Main Characters:

• Lawyer Jung In-Hoo (played by Cho Jung-Seok)

• Accused Secretary Park Tae-Joo (played by Lee Sun-Kyun)

TRAILER:  Kdrama Princess. “LAND OF HAPPINESS Movie Trailer 1-2(2024) New Korean Movie Jo Jung Suk, Lee Sun Kyun & Yoo Jae Myung.” YouTube, Video, 21 July 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOq8jL2D4Yw.

♦

(6) Pilot

A pilot who is an ace pilot that the Red Baron would be proud of, somehow managed to lose his job. He wasn't just fired. He was blacklisted and couldn't get a job with any airline. But there's no reason to let his flying skills go to waste. He takes his sister's identity, applies for a pilot job using her name, and gets hired. Who's gonna know? Flying high again! Genius!

Main Characters:

• Han Jung-Woo (played by Cho Jung-Seok)

TRAILER:  Lotte Entertainment (International). “Pilot.” YouTube, Video, 1 Aug. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsNwUw7Dhwg.

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(7) The Plot

A contract killer gets paid to commit murders, cleverly disguising the deaths as accidental. He's a highly skilled professional and never leaves any evidence behind. This particular “job” involves an influential figure in politics that everybody is watching. It will be dangerous and difficult, but not impossible. He has teammates who work with him and is confident he can get the job done. No fuss. No mess. Besides … nothing has ever gone wrong before with his murder-for-hire contracts. Why should this one be any different? Uh oh. You know what they say? Never say NEVER.

Main Characters:

• Young-Il (played by Gang Dong-Won)

• Jackie (played by Lee Mi-Sook)

• Wol-Cheon (played by Lee Hyun-Wook)

• Jeom-Man (played by Tang Joon-Sang)

TRAILER:  KDTeaser tv. “The Plot (2024) .” YouTube, Video, 16 May 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MsTEDdyi0E.

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(8) Escape

A North Korean soldier tries to defect and make it across the DMZ border. But an officer in North Korea's State Security Department tries to stop him. To paraphrase the script:

• NK Officer: “Get real, soldier! You know escape is not allowed.”

• NK Soldier: “Yeah. That's why I didn't ask permission.”

Main Characters:

• Im Kyu-Nam (played by Lee Je-Hoon)

• Ri Hyun-Sang (played by Koo Kyo-Hwan)

• Sun Woo-Min (played by Song Kang)

TRAILER:  Well Go USA Entertainment. “ESCAPE.” YouTube, Video, 5 June 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mPzDILlt5g.

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(9) Walker

A teenager is faced with a difficult decision. He endures school bullying by day and domestic violence at home. His father is violent and his mother leaves because she can't take it anymore. He wants to stay with his father but he has to choose which parent to live with. It should be an easy choice. Why isn't it?

Main Characters:

• Jeong Hoon (played by Ahn Ji-Ho)

• Jeong Moo Jin (played by Ahn Nae-Sang)

• Lee So Yeon (played by Yun Yoo-Sun)

TRAILER:  EonTalk. “Walker (2024) 검은 소년 Movie Trailer 2.” YouTube, Video, 29 Jan. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhN3zGW_IZQ.

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(10) You Will Die in 6 Hours

A young woman walking down the street is approached by a strange young man who tells her that she will die in 6 hours. He knows this because he can see the future. On the plus side: At least he doesn't know it because he plans to kill her! (O.o)

Main Characters:

• Joon-Woo (played by Jaehyun)

• Jeong-Yoon (played by Park Ju-Hyun)

• Detective Ki-Hoon (played by Kwak Si-Yang)

TRAILER:  GSCinemas. “You Will Die In 6 Hours.” YouTube, Video, 25 Oct. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8G6DoWE2fA.

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Captivating the King Will Become One of the Best K-dramas of 2024

“CAPTIVATING THE KING” (2024), K-DRAMA SERIES

March has just begun and 2024 Korean dramas are still being released. Even so, I do not doubt that "Captivating the King" will make many lists as one of the Best K-Dramas of 2024. It may even appear on lists as one of the Best K-Dramas of All Time. From the first episode, as a viewer, I was completely captivated.

This series is historical, set during the Joseon Era, loaded with political intrigue, and it's a love story. The king is suspected of being a homosexual because of his closeness to a baduk (Go) player. However, the baduk player ultimately reveals herself to him and also confesses her love for him.

A man, especially a king, who is surrounded by so many treacherous and traitorous people must have at least one person he can trust and rely on; a confidant who will stay beside him through thick and then, and comfort and love him. The burden the king carries is heavy because, among the people who seek his life, one of them is his one and only kinsman. That kinsmen killed his brother and planned to kill him also. Even worse, his mother, the Queen Dowager, did nothing to stop him, It is indeed a cruel world when your mother won't even try to rescue you.

♦ “Captivating the King” is loosely based on the historical events about the time when Joseon was “between” the Qing and the Ming. In the history of Korea (formerly called Joseon), the date of the Manchu Victory is 1636. With this victory, the Qing defeated the Ming and the Emperor forced Joseon into a tributary relationship with the Empire.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

• Grand Prince Jinhan / Lee In (played by Cho Jung-Seok, “The Face Reader”, “The Nokdu Flower”)
• Kang Hee-Soo / The Baduk Gambler (played by Shin Se-Kyung, “Rookie Historian”)

Before he became king, people plotted against the Grand Prince Jinhan and accused him of treason. On the night he went before his brother, the king, to plead his innocence, his brother gave him “his last words” and died in his arms. The treacherous plans of his enemies BACKFIRED. He had the upper hand because he and a court maid were the only ones in the king's quarters when he received his dying words. The grand prince took the throne and became king. Although that was not his brother, the king, had willed. Nevertheless, to carry out his brother's dying wishes, Grand Prince Jinhan has to make himself king so that he has the authority to do so.

But what were his brother's last words? The grand prince was to:

• Ensure that the king's son was placed on the throne; and
• Find out who poisoned the king.

The king did not die a natural death. He was murdered.

The storyline for “Captivating the King” is rife with treachery and deceit, betrayal, psychological manipulation, and all of the tools power-mongers use to take control and satisfy their greed and lust for wealth and power.

When the grand prince was taken hostage by the Qing, he learned the value of playing baduk because it was a game that helped the player develop a military strategy to defeat his enemy.

When the grand prince returned to the palace, certain court officials convinced his brother, the king, to view the grand prince with suspicion and painted him as a spy for Qing. But even without the efforts of those within, the king had been threatened by those without. He was told that if something should happen to him, the Qing would place the grand prince on the throne, and not his son, the crown prince. This threat was already in the king’s mind and the Joseon court officials had simply added fuel to the fire.

One day the grand prince was out and about and came across a group of people playing baduk. He wondered if he could get into the game. That is how he met the baduk gambler. She was a noble lady, disguised as a man, who used the money she earned from gambling for charitable works.

Their relationship almost did not happen. The baduk player, along with several other people, were used as scapegoats to take the blame for the people who had plotted treason against the king. They were sentenced to death. The prince, who became king, thought she died. But several years later, the baduk player showed up. Not knowing how or why she/he survived, he made a way for her/him to stay by his side. Perhaps he had been given a second chance by the heavens to right his wrong against an innocent person. The baduk player, initially had plans to destroy him. But she had a change of heart once she learned “the rest of his story”.

The story of the prince and the gambler is truly captivating.

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

Netflix K-Content. “Captivating the King | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB].” YouTube Video. YouTube, January 9, 2024. Captivating the King | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB]

Original source

Time Travel Webtoon Adaptation Korean Drama: "Marry My Husband" (2024): Get Your Best Friend to Marry Your Husband

 "Marry My Husband” is a 2024 Korean drama series that has 16 episodes, is streaming on Amazon Prime and tvN; and can be categorized as Time Travel, Fantasy, Revenge Drama, and Romance-Comedy (Rom-Com). This Korean drama series is based on the novel of the same name and also serialized as a webtoon.

Kang J-Won is dying from cancer.  Her husband will not pay the hospital bill so she returns home.  She catches her husband in the act.  He is having an affair with her best friend.  He pushes her and accidentally kills her.  She dies ... but she doesn't die.  She travels back in time to BEFORE she gets married. Since she knows her husband had an affair with her best friend, her plan is simple. She thinks to herself: 'I'll just get my best friend to marry my husband.”' After all, they deserve each other.

Main Characters:

• Kang Ji-Won (played by Park Min-Young, “Healer”)

• Yoo Ji-Hyeok (played by Na In-Woo, “Longing For You”)

• Park Min-Hwan (played by Lee Yi-Kyung)

• Jung Soo-Min (played by Song Ha-Yoon)

Whereto Watch

LINKS OF INTEREST:

• K-Drama "Marry My Husband" Ranked 3rd Most Popular TV Show On Amazon Prime Worldwide | Kpopmap

• Amazon Prime K-drama Marry My Husband: Park Min-young, Na In-woo get a do-over in breezy time-travel workplace romcom | South China Morning Post

• Marry My Husband | WEBTOON

Source