10 Most Addicting K-Dramas That Released In 2023

2023 saw the release of a lot of great K-dramas that made a mark, with the most addicting ranging from romances to action-packed thrillers.

• Mask Girl: A dark and confusing thriller that highlights the dangers of social media stardom. Engaging and popular.
• Love To Hate You: A fun fake dating rom-com with great chemistry between the leads. A light and enjoyable watch.
• Crash Course in Romance: A heartwarming romance about second chances in love. Sweet and uplifting, especially for those who have sacrificed their dreams.

A lot of great and addicting K-dramas were released in 2023. With shows like Squid Game and Business Proposal having popularized the genre internationally, Korean dramas have upped their game when it comes to engaging shows. 2023 was an excellent year for K-dramas, with dozens coming out on Netflix, Viki, and Paramount+, among other streaming services. The output of fantastic dramas will only serve to lift the genre higher.

The best K-dramas are those that keep viewers engaged, so the most addicting K-dramas of 2023 are a mixed bag in terms of genre. Although the most popular K-dramas were originally romances, other Korean sub-genres have been seeing an uptick in viewership. K-drama thrillers, crime shows, and horrors have been getting their fair share of the spotlight this year.

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10. Mask Girl
A twisting thriller that captivated even as it confused

The story of Kim Mo-mi, an insecure office worker who becomes a masked internet sensation, Mask Girl is a K-drama thriller that hooked the audience in 2023. The show deals with a lot of dark and disturbing themes, so it can get hard to watch at times. Still, the message of Mask Girl isn't hard to spot. Speaking of the immense weight that social media stardom can bring, as well as the danger, is something very powerful in the current age of technology. Although it gets confusing and scary at times, Mask Girl is still a very popular show.

9. Love To Hate You
A fake dating rom-com

Yeo Mi-ran is a no-nonsense lawyer who fights for women both in court and on the streets. Nam Kang-ho is an actor with antiquated views on women, believing all they want is his money. Watching the duo become embroiled in a fake dating scenario charmed Love to Hate You viewers. As the title suggests, Mi-ran and Kang-ho can't stand each other but find themselves falling in love as their charade goes on. The chemistry between the leads and the hilarity of a fake dating scheme made Love to Hate You a fun watch this year.

8. Crash Course In Romance
A sweet romance coming later in life

When Nam Haeng-seon's mother dies, she gives up a prolific handball career to raise her young niece and younger brother. Choi Chi-yeol is a math professor at an esteemed hagwon. Haeng-seon and Chi-yeol clash just as Hae-yi enters the college entrance exam season, leading to many awkward encounters when Chi-yeol becomes her teacher. The relationships between Crash Course in Romance's characters are heartwarming to see, especially since Haeng-seon had long since given up on her dream future to help her family, so seeing her get a chance at love with Chi-yeol was sweet.

7. Divorce Attorney Shin
The misadventures of a music professor turned divorce lawyer

Cho Seung-woo stars as Shin Sung-han, a former music professor who decides to become a divorce lawyer. Divorce Attorney Shin follows as he fights for his clients to get what they deserve out of their divorces. Sung-han is helped along the way by his close friends, Jang Hyeong-geun and Jo Jeong-sik. The trio's friendship is heartfelt and earnest. The normalization of divorce in Divorce Attorney Shin is a welcome sight, as divorce is commonly seen as a bad thing.

6. Behind Your Touch
A vet developed psychic powers after a meteor shower

Bong Ye-bun is a veterinarian who gains the ability to read minds after a meteor shower in Behind Your Touch. When a serial killer strikes her small town, she teams up with a skeptical detective, Moon Jang-yeol to solve the crime. As Ye-bun's power requires her to touch the butt of whoever's mind she wants to read, various shenanigans are undertaken to make it not seem weird. Ye-bun and Jang-yeol's relationship is sweet to see as they gradually begin to grow closer together. The townspeople also add a lot of funny elements to the K-drama, even as it deals with dark themes.

5. Celebrity
A drama that discusses the reality of social media

Seo Ah-ri finds herself drawn into the world of social media influencers who call themselves the Gabin Society. As she attempts to navigate the Gabin Society, Ah-ri exposes the fact that many influencers simply buy followers to make themselves seem famous. Ah-ri's popularity begins to drop as she continues to expose the many scandals that the influencers use their status to cover up, including murder. Seeing such horrible people get what they deserve is satisfying, and Celebrity's focus on the idea that what is seen on social media is not always the truth is fascinating.

4. Queenmaker
An image-maker helps a lawyer run for mayor

Hwang Do-hee becomes the campaign manager for Oh Kyung-sook, a human rights lawyer running for mayor of Seoul. Do-hee used to work in the strategic planning office for Eunsung Group but left after causing a tragedy for the conglomerate. Determined to take down the Eunsung Group, Do-hee works with Kyung-sook to make a difference by making the latter mayor of Seoul. Like many K-dramas with a political twist, corruption is the main focus of Queenmaker. It's always gratifying to see those who abuse power get taken down, and Queenmaker does it in a new and fresh way. The badass female leads in this K-drama only add to Queenmaker's success.

3. Bloodhounds
Two boxers band together to get revenge

Bloodhounds follows Kim Gun-woo and Hong Woo-jin, two boxers who become fast friends, as they try to take down a loan shark. The duo teams up with various other characters who have a grudge against Kim Myeong-gil, creating an exciting array of personalities to watch. One of the most addicting things about Bloodhounds is the friendship between Gun-woo and Woo-jin. Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi have such good chemistry. Although the show gets very dark at times, the bond between the characters works as a bright light during those times. Like most K-dramas dealing with corruption, the ending is extremely satisfying.

2. The Glory, Part 2
The ending of one of the most popular K-dramas

The Glory is a K-drama thriller based on true events that was released in two parts on Netflix. The first aired in December 2022, and the second in March 2023. The first part captures attention as it speaks about bullying, an aspect of society that is often hidden away. The Glory follows Moon Dong-eun as she gets revenge on the group who bullied her extensively while in school. After Dong-eun drops out due to the abuse, she becomes bent on vengeance. Watching Dong-eun and her allies expose the horrible acts her classmates committed is rewarding. The Glory is gritty and hard to watch at times, but it's addicting nonetheless.

1. The Good Bad Mother
An accident brings a mother and son back together

The Good Bad Mother is one of the most popular K-dramas of 2023. After an accident leaves Choi Kang-ho believing he is a child again, he and his mother have to find a way to fix their broken relationship. Kang-ho's amnesia gives his mother, Jin Young-soon, a second chance at raising him. She was strict with Kang-ho as a child because she didn't want him to grow up to be like her. Kang-ho, however, became cold and closed off as an adult due to his upbringing. The Good Bad Mother is an endearing show that tugged at viewers' heartstrings. The added mystery element made it all the more addicting, as did its beautiful portrayal of a family coming back together.