We blinked and a year went by. It’s now December: 2024 is coming to a close and 2025 is peeking at us from the horizon. So shall we look back at the most interesting 2024 K-dramas, books, and films?
As much as possible, I tried to choose one title per month of the year so here, you’ll find 12 2024 Korean dramas, books, and movies that you should definitely know about:
2024 Korean Books
Even though Korean literature still takes a while to reach English-speaking bookshelves, we have witnessed a sharp increase in releases this year. With new Netflix adaptations (Kim Ryeo-ryeong’s The Trunk), the rise of healing fiction, and the very first Nobel Prize in Literature going to the brilliant Han Kang, K-lit is slowly claiming its well-deserved spot in our bookstores. Here are the 2024 Korean book releases you should definitely check out:
February
If you’re looking for an immersive dystopian thriller…
Snowglobe
by Park So-young | Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort
[Snowglobe is part of a duology. Snowglobe 2 is coming out on May 29th, 2025]
Left: Book cover of Park So-young’s Snowglobe (Credit: Penguin Books Ltd.)
If you’re looking for a daunting short story collection that will make you think about our future and inevitable mortality…
Your Utopia
by Bora Chung | Translated by Anton Hur
Right: Book cover of Bora Chung’s Your Utopia (Credit: Honford Star)
April
If you’re looking for a unique short story collection that explores modern Korean society — and reminds us that we’re all living in the same strange world…
Table for One: Stories
by Yun Ko-eun | Translated by Lizzie Buehler
Left: Book cover of Yun Ko-eun’s Table for One: Stories (Credit: Columbia University Press)
May
If you’re looking for an uncanny, chilling fantasy tale that subtlety critiques the vices of modern society…
The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre
by Cho Ye-eun | Translated by Jung Ye-won
Right: Book cover of Cho Ye-eun’s The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre (Credit: Honford Star)
June
If you’re looking for a contemporary Sailor Moon that could very well live next door to you…
A Magical Girl Retires
by Park Seol-yeon | Translated by Anton Hur
Left: Book cover of Park Seol-yeon’s A Magical Girl Retires (Credit: HarperCollins Publishers Inc)
If you’re looking for an intergenerational drama that mixes familial love and obligations with the battle between tradition and modernity…
Years and Years
by Hwang Jung-eun | Translated by Janet Hong
[I believe Years and Years is out in the US but not officially in the UK yet]
Right: Book cover of Hwang Jung-eun’s Years and Years (Credit: Open Letter)
August
If you’re looking for your happy dose of healing fiction to warm your heart…
Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat
by Kim Ji-yun | Translated by Shanna Tan
Left: Book cover of Kim Ji-yun’s Yeonnam-gon’s Smiley Laundromat (Credit: Quercus Publishing)
September
If you’re looking for a mix of sci-fi and romance that you can finish in a single sitting…
The Proposal
by Bae Myung-hoon | Translated by Stella Kim
Right: Book cover of Bae Hyung-hoon’s The Proposal (Credit: Honford Star)
October
If you’re looking for epic fantasy that will keep you hooked to the very last page…
Blood of the Old Kings
by Kim Sung-il | Translated by Anton Hur
Left: Book cover of Kim Sung-il’s Blood of the Old Kings (Credit: Little, Brown Book Group)
November
If you’re looking for something quirky, charming, and that will help you boost your self-love…
I Decided to Live as Me
by Kim Su-hyun | Translated by Anton Hur
Right: Book cover of Kim Su-hyun’s I Decided to Live as Me (Credit: Ebury Publishing)
If you (like me) were looking forward to meeting the Dallergut and Co. again…
Return to the Dallergut Dream Department Store
by Lee Mi-ye | Translated by Sandy Joosun Lee
Left: Book cover of Lee Mi-ye’s Return to the Dallergut Dream Department Store (Credit: Headline Publishing Group)
December
If you’re looking for an exciting, satirical take on motherhood in contemporary Korea…
Your Neighbour’s Table
by Byeong-mo Gu | Translated by Kim Chi-young
Right: Book cover of Byeong-mo Gu’s Your Neighbour’s Table (Credit: Headline Publishing Group)
We are looking forward to…
We Do Not Part
by Han Kang | Translated by e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris
Coming out on February 6th, 2025
We Do Not Part is a hymn to friendship, a eulogy to the imagination, and above all a powerful indictment against forgetting. — Penguin Books
Every Moment Was You: Notes on Loving and Parting
by Ha Tae-wan | Translated by Shanna Tan
Coming out on May 15th, 2025
With heart-wrenching stories of fate and yearning that sparked a social media frenzy in South Korea, Every Moment Was You is an immediate, yet deeply moving collection of short essays about the beauty of youth and the growing pains that come with it. It faithfully captures the intimate, everyday moments of a relationship, from the blooming of first love, to heartbreak, to acceptance. — Waterstones
The Second Chance Convenience Store
by Kim Ho-yeon | Translated by TBC
Coming out on June 19th, 2025
The Second Chance Convenience Store is a moving and joyful story of a woman fighting for her community and a man who has lost everything except the will to try again. — Pan Macmillan
2024 Korean Films
January
If you’re looking for a compelling crime drama with a stellar performance from Ra Mi-ran that inspires us all to be braver…
Citizen of a Kind
Available on Viki
Inspired by real-life events, Citizen of a Kind was shot in 2020 but was only released on January 24th, 2024. Written and directed by Park Young-ju (Second Life, 2019), the film also stars Gong Myung, Yeom Hye-ran, and Ahn Eun-jin.
February
If you’re looking for a provocative horror film that mixes greed, ghost stories, shamanism, amazing cinematography, and must-watch performances…
Exhuma
Available on Amazon Prime Video and Viki
First released on February 16th, 2024 at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, Exhuma was a critical and box office success: it not only was the highest-grossing South Korean film of 2024 but it also won 4 Baeksang Arts Awards and 4 Blue Dragon Film Awards. Written and directed by Jang Jae-hyun (Svaha: The Sixth Finger, 2019), Exhuma counts on incredible performances by Kim Go-eun, Choi Min-shik, Yoo Hae-jin, and Lee Do-hyun.
Before we move on to April, March was a quiet month, counting on Netflix’s My Name Is Loh Kiwan, Bae Du-ri’s drama Dolphin and Ahn Gooc-jin’s crime drama Troll Factory.
April
If you’re looking for your healthy dose of Ma Dong-seok’s action…
The Roundup: Punishment
Also released at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 23rd, 2024, The Roundup: Punishment is the fourth instalment of the The Roundup series and only reached cinemas two months later. Written by Oh Sang-ho (who wrote SBS’s Taxi Driver) and directed by Heo Myung-haeng (Netflix’s Badland Hunters, 2024), The Roundup: Punishment didn’t beat Exhuma at the box office but comfortably secured the second spot.
The third film, The Roundup: No Way Out, will be available on Viki from December 13th so we might have to wait a bit longer for the following one.
Also in April, we had Yumi’s Cells: The Movie, an animated adaptation of the webtoon of the same name.
May
If you’re looking for a mystery thriller film that plays with the dangers of the digital world we live in…
Following
Written and directed by Kim Se-hwi as her debut feature, Following stars Byun Yo-han and Shin Hye-sun as the leads of this creepy tale of stalking, social media, and justice.
Following hasn’t received an official international distribution yet.
June
If you’re looking for an enthralling yet heartbreaking action film that was superbly written, directed, and performed…
Hijack 1971
Available on Amazon Prime Video and AppleTV
Inspired by real-life events and released on June 21st, 2024, Hijack 1971 was written by Kim Kyung-chan (Pipeline, 2021) and directed by Kim Seong-han (as his debut feature). The star-studded cast includes Ha Jung-woo, Yeo Jin-goo, Sung Dong-il, and Chae Soo-bin.
June was also the month in which Netflix released Wonderland, a film that promised much but failed to deliver — despite the presence of Gong Yoo, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum in its cast.
July
If you’re looking for your yearly take on the North-South Korea relationship in a very well-executed feature…
Escape
Released on July 3rd, 2024, Escape was directed by Lee Jong-pil (Samjin Company English Class, 2020) and written by Kwon Sung-hui (Rebound, 2023). Escape received particular praise thanks to Lee Je-hoon and Koo Kyo-hwan’s outstanding performances.
Escape hasn’t received an official international distribution yet.
August
If you’re looking for a heartwrenching, morally complex political drama…
Land of Happiness
Land of Happiness is another film inspired by real-life events but it will always be remembered as Lee Sun-kyun’s last theatrical role. Written and directed by Choo Chang-min (Seven Years of Night, 2018), the cast also counts on Jo Jung-suk and Yoo Jae-myung to lead this intense tale of justice and resilience.
Released in Korea on August 14th, 2024, Land of Happiness hasn’t received an official international distribution yet.
September
If you’re looking for a fun and engaging action comedy film with a lovely duo leading it…
Officer Black Belt
Available on Netflix
Written and directed by Jason Kim (Midnight Runners, 2017), Officer Black Belt came out on September 13th, 2024. With Kim Woo-bin and Kim Sung-kyun shining both individually and as the uncommon martial arts + probation officer duo, Officer Black Belt stands out for its incredibly well-choreographed fight scenes.
September also saw the release of the long-awaited sequel to Veteran (2015), I, the Executioner. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year, led to a Best Supporting Actor award to Jung Hae-in at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards.
October
If you’re looking for a gory and chaotic historical epic (that is a bit too long) co-written by the one-and-only Park Chan-wook…
Uprising
Available on Netflix
Besides Mission: Cross in August and Officer Black Belt in September, Netflix also released Uprising on October 11th, 2024. Written by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, 2003) and Shin Cheol and directed by Kim Sang-man (Midnight FM, 2010), Uprising is a carefully crafted film and a must-watch if you’re a swordsmanship fan.
November
If you’re looking for a sweet, emotionally resonant, lighthearted romance…
Hear Me: Our Summer
2024 wasn’t a year full of romantic adventures on the big screen, as you can see. Kim Go-eun’s Love in the Big City was a fan-favourite in October and on November 6, 2024, Hear Me: Our Summer came out to win people’s hearts. A remake of Hear Me (Taiwan, 2009) led by Hong Kyung and Roh Yoon-seo, the film was written by Na Jae-won and Kwak Kyung-yoon and directed by Cho Sun-ho (A Day, 2017).
Hear Me: Our Summer hasn’t received an official international distribution yet.
December
If you’re looking for a heartbreaking tale of devotion and commitment…
The Firefighters
Starting with Kwak Kyung-taek (The Battle of Jangsari, 2019)’s The Firefighters, December is also marked by a few features that were inspired by real-life events.
The Firefighters came out on December 4th, 2024 and its cast is led by Kwak Do-won, Joo-won, Yoo Jae-myung, and Lee Yoo-young. We’re waiting to hear about international distribution.
If you’re looking for a “visually striking period drama” (according to Variety)…
Harbin
After its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Variety said that “the actors’ calibrated melodrama contributes to [Harbin’s] allure as a work of straightforward, patriotic sentiment, which is only enhanced by Woo’s equally fine-tuned action, the frequent peaks and valleys of which make for a rhythmic unfurling.” The film premieres on December 24th in South Korea and we expect an international release next year.
Harbin was written by Kim Kyung-chan (Cart, 2014) and Woo Min-ho (Inside Men, 2015), who also directed it. The cast counts on Hyun Bin, Jeon Yeo-been, and Lee Dong-wook, among others.
On December 31st, Kim Seong-je’s Song Joong-ki-led Bogota: City of the Lost is also coming out — so Korea has a busy end-of-year at the cinema.
2024 Korean Dramas
January
If you’re looking for a satisfying romantic drama about second chances…
Marry My Husband
Available on Amazon Prime Video
tvN’s year started strong with the release of Marry My Husband on January 1st. The show, led by Park Min-young and Na In-woo, doubled its average viewership ratings throughout its run, reaching almost 12% on its last episode. Directed by Park Won-gook (tvN’s Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist) and written by Shin Yoo-dam (tvN’s Awaken), Marry My Husband is the first Korean adaptation of Seong So-jak’s web novel of the same name.
January also counted on some hidden gems, such as MBC’s Knight Flower, Disney+’s A Shop for Killers, and TVING’s LTNS. Less hidden but incredibly charming and heartwarming was jTBC’s Doctor Slump, which also came out in the first month of 2024.
March
If you’re looking for a show that entertains and motivates us to be braver, more forgiving, and more hopeful (and whose main couple exude chemistry)…
Queen of Tears
Available on Netflix
February was a quiet month, whose greatest hit was TVING’s Pyramid Game. March, however, was taken by the Queen of Tears storm. Magnificently directed by Kim Hee-won (tvN’s Little Women) and Jang Young-woo (tvN’s Mr. Sunshine) and written by Park Ji-eun (tvN’s Crash Landing on You), Queen of Tears broke all sorts of records. After reaching an average viewership rating of almost 25%, Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won’s intense love story became tvN’s most-watched show ever.
Make sure to check out our complete review of Queen of Tears here.
Besides Queen of Tears, March also saw the return of Joo Won to the small screen in ENA/Genie TV’s The Midnight Studio, and the release of SBS’s The Escape of the Seven: Resurrection, Netflix’s Chicken Nugget, and KBS2’s Beauty and Mr. Romantic.
April
If you’re looking for an ordinary yet captivating tale of brotherhood and justice…
Chief Detective 1958
Available on Disney+ and Hulu
On April 8th, tvN aired the first episode of Lovely Runner. Despite its very modest ratings, the show was adored by international audiences and skyrocketed Byeon Woo-seok’s career around the globe. Kim Hye-yoon also received a lot of praise for her performance as Im Sol. We reviewed the show here too.
However, we need to highlight MBC’s Chief Detective 1958, a prequel to MBC’s well-loved Chief Inspector that aired from 1971 to 1989. Directed by Kim Sung-hoon and written by Kim Young-shin, a team completely new to K-dramas, Chief Detective 1958 counted on Lee Je-hoon to lead this police drama that resonated with younger and older audiences alike.
May
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind fantasy drama about trauma and healing whose second half definitely overshadows the first…
The Atypical Family
Available on Netflix
May will probably be remembered by several shows that weren’t as popular as they had been expected to be, such as Netflix’s The 8 Show, tvN’s The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, Disney+’s Uncle Samsik, and TVING’s Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale. But it also saw the release of some excellent shows in TVING’s High School Return of a Gangster, SBS’s Connection, and ENA/Genie TV’s Crash.
The greatest surprise of the month of May was jTBC’s The Atypical Family, a fantasy drama led by Jang Ki-yong and Chun Woo-hee. Directed by Jo Hyun-taek (jTBC’s Sky Castle) and written by Joo Hwa-mi (tvN’s Introverted Boss), The Atypical Family started in a quiet, slow, and scattered manner but delivered an incredible second half.
June
If you’re looking for a heartwarming rom-com about change and kindness, with a charming found family and a magnetic main couple…
My Sweet Mobster
Available on Viki
June saw the release of Hierarchy, another Netflix original that didn’t perform as well as expected. It also counted on jTBC’s charming Miss Night and Day and mixed received My Military Valentine.
However, it was Uhm Tae-goo’s first rom-com that stole the spotlight. Directed by Kim Woo-hyun (jTBC’s Ode to Our Youth) and Kim Young-hwan (SBS’s Today’s Webtoon) and written by Na Kyung (as her debut K-drama), jTBC’s My Sweet Mobster is an adaptation of Park Soo Jung’s web novel of the same name. Hilarious, sweet, and heartwarming, My Sweet Mobster is a classic K-drama rom-com — you can read our full review here.
If you’re looking for a riveting political drama that offers a study of how the past can rule the present, the subversion of power, and the intricacy of human nature (especially after the events of last week)…
The Whirlwind
Available on Netflix
Besides Hierarchy on the 7th, Netflix released The Whirlwind on June 28th, 2024. Written by Park Kyung-soo (SBS’s Whisper) and directed by Kim Yong-wan (KBS2’s If You Wish Upon Me), The Whirlwind marked the return of Sul Kyung-gu to the small screen after almost 30 years. Carefully crafted, The Whirlwind is definitely a show that should’ve received more attention. You can read our full review here.
July
If you’re looking for a legal drama that offers social criticism with an authentic script and a magnificently written and performed female lead…
Good Partner
Available on Viki
July saw the final chapter of Sweet Home come out on Netflix, the airing of Ashbun’s Tarot, Disney+’s wavering attempts with Red Swan and No Way Out: The Roulette and tvN’s sugary Serendipity’s Embrace. The slow-burn The Auditors on tvN also conquered some hearts around the world but July’s greatest release just has to be SBS’s Good Partner.
Jang Na-ra’s Attorney Cha led a complex, realistic, and human story full of social criticism and heart. Directed by Kim Ga-ram (jTBC’s Nevertheless,) and written by Choi Yoo-na (in her debut work), Good Partner achieved excellent viewership ratings in Korea (of around 15%), attracting attention throughout its entire run. You can read our complete review here.
August
If you’re looking for a “methodically observed drama about the agonies of being human” (according to The Guardian)…
Pachinko Season 2
Available on AppleTV+
August was a busy month. From dark, intense thrillers (ENA/Genie TV’s Your Honour, Disney+’s The Tyrant, KBS2’s Perfect Family, Netflix’s The Frog) to plain romances (MBN’s Bad-Memory Eraser, TVING’s Love Andante, jTBC’s Romance in the House, TV Chosun’s DNA Lover, Channel A’s Cinderella at 2 AM), August offered us a bit of everything.
From this sea of options, MBC’s Black Out stood out with its intricate narrative and perfect performances, tvN’s No Gain, No Love beguiled viewers with Shin Min-ah’s charm, TVING’s Queen Woo became the talk of the town, and tvN’s highly anticipated Love Next Door delivered to some but failed to do so to others.
Internationally, however, it was the second season of Pachinko that conquered audiences and critics alike. Following an excellent first season, Pachinko was described as “not just exceptional historical drama but exceptional television full-stop. It is collaborative art at its very best — instead of offering tidy answers, it asks the most profound questions of our times” by The Japan Times. Do I even need to say anything else?
September
If you’re looking for a portrayal of love in all its complexity and authenticity…
What Comes After Love
Available on Viki
September was a quieter month but with much to offer. Disney+ released the hilarious Seoul Busters, SBS delivered the unique The Judge from Hell, KBS2 gave us a straightforward yet heartwarming comedy in Dog Knows Everything, Netflix finally released Gyeongseong Creature 2, and ENA/Genie TV offered the divisive Dear Hyeri (but one thing is certain: Shin Hye-sun’s performance? Spectacular).
We have to highlight Coupang’s What Comes After Love, a tale of love between Japan and Korea inspired by Gong Ji Young and Tsuji Hitonari’s book of the same name. Directed by Moon Hyun-sung (as his first K-drama), who co-wrote the script with Jung Hae-sim (also his first K-drama), What Comes After Love resonated with viewers thanks to its complex and human portrayal of romance. The show helped bring Sakaguchi Kentaro into the spotlight, not only in Korea but also internationally. You can read our full review here.
October
If you’re looking for a reminder of how generous and kind we can be and of our human capacity for purely selfless love…
Family by Choice
Available on Viki
Full of extraordinary releases, October gave us TVING’s moving Love in the Big City, tvN’s imperfect but entertaining Dong Jae, the Good or the Bastard, MBC’s intense Doubt and jTBC’s one-of-a-kind A Virtuous Business. Kim Tae-ri also reminded us (as if we needed reminding) that she’s one of the best actresses in the entire universe in tvN’s Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born.
And jTBC offered us a heartwarming story of selflessness, love, and acceptance with Family by Choice. A remake of Hunan TV’s Go Ahead directed by Kim Seung-ho (tvN’s Twenty-Five Twenty-One) and written by Hong Si-young (as her debut drama), Family by Choice is an enchanting, soothing, and moving tale that I’ll carry with me for a long time. You can read our full review here.
November
If you’re looking for an addictive romantic thriller that consistently makes you look forward to the next weekend…
When the Phone Rings
Still airing: Available on Netflix
November arrived with adorable romances (ENA’s Brewing Love), Romeo-and-Juliet tales (tvN’s Love Your Enemy), hilarious shenanigans (Netflix’s Mr. Plankton), long-awaited sequels (SBS’s The Fiery Priest 2), well-crafted sageuks (jTBC’s The Tale of Lady Ok), an extremely loose book adaptation (Netflix’s The Trunk), and Bae Doo-na’s return to TV (Coupang’s Family Matters). But nothing has beaten the excitement and, let’s be honest, the obsession with MBC’s When the Phone Rings.
Adapted from Geon Eomul Nyeo’s web novel of the same name, When the Phone Rings was directed by Park Sang-woo (MBC’s The Forbidden Marriage) and written by Kim Ji-woon (SBS’s Doctor John). The show is still airing so we don’t know what is still to come but one thing is for sure: a twisty tale full of cliffhangers and a main couple with off-the-charts chemistry (Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin work extraordinarily well together) are keeping us hooked to every single second.
December
If you’re looking for a touching yet intense mystery with a healthy dose of fantasy and an amazing cast…
Light Shop
Still airing: Available on Disney+
Of course, everyone is looking forward to the return of Lee Jung-jae’s Player 456 in Netflix’s Squid Game 2. But wouldn’t that be too obvious? December is also counting on Miss Granny’s remake — KBS2’s Who Is She —, ENA’s Namib, and Channel A’s Check In Hanyang, after all. You can check this month’s releases here.
But we’re highlighting Kang Full’s new Disney+ adventure: Light Shop. Directed by Kim Hee-won (as his directing debut), Light Shop counts on an intriguing narrative and an amazing cast. The show is still airing so who knows where it might still lead us but, so far, it’s been a wondrous adventure.
We are looking forward to…
We can’t wait for SBS’s Love Scout, which is coming out on January 3rd, and tvN’s When the Stars Gossip on January 4th. Netflix is also filling our 2025 with joy with IU and Park Bo-gum’s return in When Life Gives You Tangerines and Kim Seon-ho’s new rom-com Love in Translation. We’re counting down the days!
So what were your favourite 2024 K-dramas, films, and books? Share them in the comments!
I hope you have a marvellous Christmas with your loved ones — if you celebrate it! If you don’t, enjoy your winter/summer wherever you are! May 2025 be a wonderful year for all of us!
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