11 top K-dramas that span more than one season
The rise of multi-season K-dramas reflects a shift in South Korea’s entertainment industry, largely influenced by global streaming platforms and changing viewer preferences (Photo: SBS)
The rise of multi-season K-dramas reflects a shift in South Korea’s entertainment industry, largely influenced by global streaming platforms and changing viewer preferences
In a landscape where most K-dramas wrap up their stories in 16 to 20 episodes, multi-season K-dramas are like rare gems. Multi-season K-dramas break from tradition, offering deeper character development and more complex storylines that unfold across multiple seasons. What sets these series apart isn’t just their length—it’s their ability to maintain the high production values, compelling storytelling, and emotional depth that Korean television is renowned for while building even more layered narratives.
From the gripping crime thriller Kingdom, which blends Joseon-era political intrigue with horror, to the heartwarming slice-of-life drama Hospital Playlist, which chronicles the lives of five doctor friends, these shows are carving out a new niche in Korean entertainment. They prove that sometimes the best stories need more time to unfold.
11 PHOTOS
1. ‘Dr. Romantic’ (2016 - 2023)
Cast: Han Suk-kyu, Yoo Yeon-seok, Seo Hyun-jin, Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Sung-kyung and Kim Joo-hun
Seasons: 3
Dr. Romantic follows the brilliant but unconventional surgeon Kim Sa-bu (Han Suk-kyu), who now goes by Teacher Kim after leaving a prestigious Seoul hospital to work at the small, understaffed Doldam Hospital in the countryside. The series showcases his mentorship of young doctors while fighting against medical corruption and bureaucracy.
Through multiple seasons, Teacher Kim shapes talented but troubled physicians, including Kang Dong-Joo (Yoo Yeon-seok) and Yoon Seo-jung (Seo Hyun-jin) in season one, and Seo Woo-jin (Ahn Hyo-Seop) and Cha Eun-Jae (Lee Sung-Kyung) in season two, teaching them not just surgical skills but also moral principles in medicine. The show’s heart lies in its blend of intense medical cases with themes of ethics, growth, and humanity.
2. ‘Kingdom’ (2019 - 2021)
Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Bae Doona, Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Sang-ho, Kim Sung-kyu and Kim Hye-jun
Seasons: 2
Set in Korea’s Joseon period, Kingdom follows Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) who investigates a mysterious plague turning people into undead creatures. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a political conspiracy involving the queen and her powerful clan, who are hiding the king’s condition and plotting to seize power. The series merges historical drama, political intrigue, and zombie horror as the prince races to save his people from both the spreading infection and corrupt officials. With stunning period detail and intense action, Kingdom explores themes of class inequality, power struggles, and moral choices in the face of crisis, while reimagining traditional Korean historical drama with horror elements.
A special feature-length episode, Kingdom: Ashin of the North, was released on July 23, 2021. It focuses on Jun Ji-hyun’s supporting character. The episode is a “sidequel” to the second season of Kingdom and explores the backstory of Ashin, the mysterious character Lee Chang’s group encountered on their journey north to discover the origins of the infected.
3. ‘Love Alarm’ (2019 - 202
Cast: Kim So-Hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang
Seasons: 2
Love Alarm takes place in a world where a revolutionary app can notify users if someone within a 10-meter radius has romantic feelings for them. The story centers on Kim Jo-jo (Kim So-Hyun), a high school student caught in a complex love triangle with two classmates: Hwang Sun-oh (Song Kang), a wealthy model, and Lee Hye-young (Jung Ga-ram), his thoughtful best friend.
As the app gains popularity, it fundamentally changes how people express and experience love, raising questions about genuine emotions versus digital validation. The series explores how technology affects relationships, self-worth, and the vulnerability of true connection while following Jo-jo’s journey to understand her own heart amidst social pressure and personal trauma.
4. ‘Hospital Playlist’ (2020 - 2021)
Cast: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung and Jeon Mi-do
Seasons: 2
Hospital Playlist centers on five doctors who’ve been best friends since medical school and now work at the same hospital. The series follows their daily lives as they balance demanding medical careers with their enduring friendship, which they maintain through regular band practice sessions where they play their favorite songs.
Each episode weaves together patient stories, workplace dynamics, and personal relationships while showing how these experienced doctors handle both life-and-death situations and everyday moments. At its core, the show celebrates friendship, compassion, and finding joy in life’s simple pleasures, all while offering an authentic glimpse into Korean hospital culture.
5. ‘The Uncanny Counter’ (2020 - 2021)
Cast: Jo Byeong-kyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong, Yeom Hye-ran, Ahn Suk-hwan and Yoo In-soo
Seasons: 2
The Uncanny Counter follows a team of supernatural demon hunters called Counters who pose as employees at a noodle restaurant while secretly tracking down evil spirits. The story centers on So Mun (Jo Byeong-kyu), an 18-year-old high school student who becomes the youngest Counter after a near-death experience.
Along with his fellow Counters, each possessing unique abilities, he learns to fight demons who feed on human souls. While battling these malevolent spirits, So Mun also investigates the mysterious accident that killed his parents. The series combines action-packed supernatural fights with themes of family, justice, and personal growth, as So Mun adapts to his new role of protecting humanity.
6. ‘The Penthouse’ (2020 - 2021)
Cast: Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, Eugene, Um Ki-joon, Yoon Jong-hoon and Park Eun-seok
Seasons: 3
The Penthouse is a dramatic thriller set in the luxurious Hera Palace apartments, where Seoul’s elite residents scheme and battle for wealth, power, and prestige. At its center are three women: Shim Su-Ryeon (Lee Ji-ah), a graceful penthouse resident harboring dark secrets; Cheon Seo-jin (Kim So-yeon), an ambitious opera singer determined to maintain her status; and Oh Yoon-hee (Eugene), a poor but talented woman fighting to enter high society.
The series spirals through murder, betrayal, and revenge as their children compete at an exclusive arts school, revealing the brutal lengths parents will go to secure their children's success. With shocking twists and moral grey areas, it exposes the dark underbelly of Korea’s upper class.
7. ‘Tale of the Nine-Tailed’ (2020 - 202
Cast: Lee Dong-Wook, Jo Bo-ah, and Kim Bum
Seasons: 2
The Tale of the Nine-Tailed is a 2020 South Korean fantasy drama that follows Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook), a 1,000-year-old Gumiho (nine-tailed fox) who once ruled the mountains but now lives among humans, eradicating supernatural threats. He crosses paths with Nam Ji-ah (Jo Bo-ah), a fearless TV producer investigating urban legends, who suspects he’s connected to her parents’ mysterious disappearance.
As their fates intertwine, an ancient evil resurfaces, threatening both humans and spirits. With breathtaking action, romance, and folklore-driven storytelling, the series explores love, destiny, and redemption. A sequel, Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938, expands the universe with time travel and new mythological conflicts.
8. ‘Sweet Home’ (2020 - 2024)
Cast: Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook and Lee Si-young
Seasons: 3
Sweet Home is a 2020 South Korean horror thriller based on the webtoon of the same name. It follows Cha Hyun-soo (Song Kang), a reclusive high school student who moves into the run-down Green Home apartment complex after a family tragedy. Soon, a mysterious phenomenon turns people into grotesque monsters driven by their deepest desires.
As chaos erupts, the residents of Green Home must fight to survive while struggling with their inner demons. Blending psychological horror, action, and emotional storytelling, Sweet Home explores themes of humanity, fea,r, and survival in a monster-infested apocalypse. A second season expands the eerie world further.
9. ‘Squid Game’ (2021 - 2025)
Cast: Lee Jung-Jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon, Im Si-wan, Jo Yu-ri, Choi Seung-Hyun, Kang Ha-Neul, Park Sung-hoon and Park Gyu-young
Seasons: 3
Squid Game is a 2021 South Korean survival thriller that follows 456 desperate contestants who enter a deadly competition for a massive cash prize. Led by Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-Jae), a down-on-his-luck gambler, the players must compete in childhood games with a brutal twist—losing means death.
As alliances form and betrayals unfold, the contestants struggle with morality, desperation, and the dark truths behind the mysterious organization running the games. Blending social commentary with intense suspense, Squid Game critiques economic inequality and human nature. Its gripping storyline, shocking twists, and haunting imagery made it a global phenomenon, leading to two more seasons, the final to be released on June 27, 2025.
10. ‘Alchemy of Souls’ (2022 - 2023)
Cast: Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, Go Youn-Jung and Hwang Min-Hyun
Seasons: 2
Alchemy of Souls is a 2022 South Korean fantasy drama set in the mystical kingdom of Daeho, where powerful sorcerers control magic. The story follows Nak-su (Go Youn-jung), a feared assassin whose soul is accidentally trapped in the weak body of Mu-deok (Jung So-min), a blind servant. She becomes the secret teacher of Jang Uk (Lee Jae-wook), a nobleman cursed with blocked magic. Together, they embark on a journey of power, destiny, and forbidden love.
As secrets unravel and dark forces emerge, they must fight against fate itself. Blending romance, action, and mythology, Alchemy of Souls captivated audiences, leading to a second season continuing the epic tale.
11. ‘Taxi Driver’ (2021 - 2025)
Cast: Lee Je-hoon, Esom, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram and Shin Jae-h
Seasons: 3
Taxi Driver is a 2021 South Korean action thriller centered on Rainbow Taxi, a secret vigilante service that delivers justice for victims failed by the legal system. Kim Do-gi (Lee Je-hoon), a former special forces officer, works as its top driver, carrying out revenge missions against corrupt criminals.
Guided by CEO Jang Sung-chul (Kim Eui-sung) and aided by a skilled hacker and mechanics team, they take on cases ranging from corporate corruption to violent crimes. Each episode presents a gripping revenge tale while unraveling deeper conspiracies. With high-octane action, moral dilemmas,s, and emotional depth, Taxi Driver became a hit, leading to a second season. The third season of Taxi Driver, which was recently announced, will air in the second half of 2025.
Keywords: Top kdramas | Korea | Korean cinema | Korean dramas | South Korea | Romantic dramas | Entertainment industry | Drama series