One of the major highlights of this year would definitely be all the new Korean dramas that made us laugh out loud, cry buckets of tears, groan in frustration, and be filled with kilig. With all the Korean dramas out there to choose from, it may take a while to decide which one to binge-watch first. To add to that, you’ll definitely see what’s the talk of the town as you scroll through your social media. Here to put your struggles to rest, we’ve put together a list of trending K-dramas this 2021 that you should definitely watch. No worries, this is spoiler-free! Show your love for your favorite Korean dramas by shopping for their merch on Shopee Philippines too!
Notable cast: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Oh Yeoung-su, HoYeon Jung, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, Kim Joo-ryoung
Original Release: September 17, 2021
No. of Episodes: 9
Are you ready to play a game that’s literally a case of life or death, especially if the prize is paying off all your debts? 456 people said yes! Squid Game is a Korean drama centered around a survival competition where 456 people will have to play six children’s games and win. Whoever is able to do so will win a prize of ₩45.6 billion (around ₱1.9 billion)! Sounds simple enough, right? With a few deadly twists and turns, it may not be as easy as you think.
If Alice in Borderland and Hunger Games are your cup of tea, then you should definitely watch this trending K-drama of 2021. Get ready because you’ll be holding your breath for nine episodes! Relish in the Squid Game trend by showing off your Korean drama merch! From Squid Game t-shirts, jackets, masks – you’ve even got yourself a Halloween costume up your sleeve.
Notable cast: Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho, Lee Sang-yi
Original Release: August 28, 2021
No. of Episodes: 16
Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) and Chief Hong (Kim Seon-ho) could not be more different. With Yoon Hye-jin being a strong, independent woman who knows what she wants in life and has her career right on track and Chief Hong being a happy-go-lucky guy who can do just about anything as his part-time job – they’re both bound to clash. Or, not? They say opposites attract and maybe that’s the case for these two.
It’s not everyday that we stumble upon a Netflix K-drama that’s just all about love, relationships, growth, and kilig moments without a truckload of toxic drama. If that’s what you’ve been on the search for, then watching Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a definite must for you! Treat yourself to some Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha merch too while you’re at it.
Notable Cast: Han Soo-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kim Sang-ho
Original Release: October 15, 2021
No. of Episodes: 8
After witnessing the murder of her dad, Yoon Ji-woo (Han Soo-hee) makes it her life’s mission to catch the killer. She is taken in by the drug gang led by Choi Mu-jin (Park Hee-soon) that she believed her dad was a part of. Convinced that her dad’s killer was a police officer, she goes undercover as a narcotics cop and is faced with the harsh realities of drug rings. Will she be able to uncover the truth and find her dad’s true killer?
Praise has been given to Han Soo-hee for her versatility when it comes to acting. Without a doubt, she fit into her role perfectly. This Netflix K-drama immediately made its way to Netflix’s Top 10 just days after its release. You’ll be binge-watching this trending K-drama in no time!
Notable cast: Jeon Mi-do, Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung
Original Release: June 17, 2021
No. of Episodes: 12
Lee Ik-jun (Jo Jung-suk), Chae Song-hwa (Jeon Mi-do), Ahn Jeong-won (Yoo Yeon-seok), Kim Jun-wan (Jung Kyung-ho), and Yang Seok-hyeong (Kim Dae-myung)’s friendship and their band are stronger than ever. With more challenges to weather through, patients to treat, feelings to confess, and more songs to sing – if you thought Hospital Playlist couldn’t get any better, season 2 is here to prove you wrong. Get ready to cry, laugh, squeal, and have butterflies in your stomach in every single episode.
If you loved season one of Hospital Playlist, you’ll definitely love season 2! As relationships grow and progress, so do the characters. Still not convinced? Here are 5 Reasons Why You Need To Binge This Now!
Notable cast: Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun, Son Seok-koo
Original Release: August 27, 2021
No. of Episodes: 6
Based on the popular webtoon “D.P Dog’s Day”, D.P seeks to unveil the horrifying and saddening culture of the South Korean military. Private Ahn Joon-ho (Jung Hae-in) and Corporal Han Ho-yul (Koo Kyo-hwan) are tasked to find and catch deserters of the military. As they do so, the gravity of bullying, hazing, and the concept of “survival of the fittest” within the military are exposed throughout the series.
Said to be a must-watch, not just for those who are interested to know about the mandatory South Korean military service but also for those who are about to join. Buckle up because you’ll definitely see why D.P is a trending K-drama of 2021.
Notable cast: Han So-hee, Song Kang, Chae Jong-hyeop
Original Release: August 21, 2021
No. of Episodes: 10
When a heartbroken “I no longer believe in love” Yoo Na-bi (Han So-hee) and “no to commitment” Park Jae-eon (Song Kang) cross paths, they find themselves in a rather uncertain predicament. With their skepticism about love, will that stop them from going all-in and be in a committed relationship or simply go about their way with no desire to be truly in love?
You’ll never know what’s going to happen next so you’ll surely find yourself binge-watching Nevertheless. Social media has been abuzz with all the red flags, cute moments, and frustrating conversations (or lack thereof) that these characters have so you’re in for a treat in every single episode!
Notable cast: Kim Myung-Min, Kim Beom, Ryoo Hye-Young, Lee Jung-Eun
Original Release: April 14, 2021
No. of Episodes: 16
What happens when a murder is committed inside a law school? Law School tackles the injustices and corruption that happens inside and outside the four walls of law schools. Yang Jong-Hoon (Kim Myung-min) along with his students Kang Sol (Ryu Hye-young), Han Joon-Hwi (Kim Bum) and other students, take it upon themselves to bring the truth to light and bring justice to the victims. With the bad guys having the upper hand, they must rely on the law and the justice system.
Whether or not you’re a fan of the justice system or all-things law, you’ll definitely be intrigued as you watch Law School given all the drama it comes with. Coupled with an extremely talented and popular cast, it’s no wonder that this is among the trending K-dramas of 2021. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two about the law!
Notable cast: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Taec-yeon, Kim Yeo-jin, Kwak Dong-yeon
Original Release: February 20, 2021
No. of Episodes: 20
On the run from the leader of the Cassano Family, Vincenzo (Song Joong-ki) decides to hide in South Korea. Meanwhile, he comes up with a plan to retrieve 1.5 tons of gold buried in the basement of the Geumga Plaza which was hidden by a Chinese tycoon who was once a client. Things aren’t as easy as he thought with the added challenge of the prying eyes of the residents in the Plaza and the Babel Group who seeks to destroy it.
Vincenzo is one of the most-watched trending K-dramas of 2021 so you should definitely see for yourself! Once you’ve given Vincenzo a shot, here are 15 Song Joong-Ki K-Dramas And Movies To Binge After Vincenzo too, and Vincenzo merch to seal the deal!
You can never go wrong with a good Korean drama as a way to destress or even bond with your loved ones! With all the Korean dramas that are constantly popping up on Netflix, it may be tricky to keep up but you’ve got time. So make sure to add these trending K-dramas of 2021 to your watch list. Complete your binge-watching sessions with some Korean corn dogs and other delicious Korean food trends to try!
And goodbye to dark pits!
The touch of love that every sensitive skin deserves!
Let this be your motivation for that last rep!
Here's to settling the debate on which is best
We hear number 4 is a fan favorite!