14 Korean dramas starring popular K-pop idols that you can watch on Netflix
and Viki

Korean pop stars, or idols as they’re popularly known as, are multi-talented artists. Not only can they sing, dance, and entertain millions of fans across the globe, they can also hold their own in front of seasoned actors in K-dramas and movies. When singer IU is not topping charts or filling stadiums worldwide, she moonlights as an actor who has starred in some of the highest-rated TV series in Korean cable history, like Hotel Del Luna and Dream High. Other idols like BTS’ V, EXO’s D.O and Suho, 2PM’s Ok Taec-yeon, Got7’s Jinyoung and JB, Red Velvet’s Joy and ZE:A’s Park Hyung-sik have also made waves with their acting performances over the years. Here are some of the K-dramas that star popular idols that need to be on your watchlist right now.

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)

This Gong Yoo and Lee Dong-wook starrer is one of the highest-rated TV shows in South Korea. The show follows the seemingly endless life of Kim Shin, a Goblin, who has been cursed with eternal life. The only way he can end his life is by having the invisible sword impaled on his chest removed by his destined bride. The show has gained a cult following, mainly because of the chemistry shared by Gong Yoo and Lee Dong-wook as the Goblin and the Grim Reaper, and because of the presence of popular K-pop singer Yook Sung-jae, from BtoB. The idol plays a vital role in the series as Kim Shin’s nephew, and God for a few episodes, with his character quickly becoming a fan favourite.

Streaming on Netflix

Vincenzo (2021)

Another highly rated K-drama, with its finale being the highest-rated episode in Korean TV history, Vincenzo stars the main rapper of the K-pop band 2PM Ok Taec-yeon. The drama is about the titular Vincenzo, the consigliere of a powerful mafia family in Italy. He returns to South Korea to take care of some unfinished business but gets entangled in an ongoing lawsuit between a pharmaceutical giant and a small building complex. The rapper plays an integral role in the series that we cannot give away without spoiling some major plot details. You’ll just have to watch the 20-episodes long series by yourself and see. Taec-yeon’s bandmates Nichkun and Chang-sun make a fun cameo in the series as well.

Streaming on Netflix

Hotel Del Luna (2019)

One of South Korea’s most sought-after vocalist, IU has made a name for herself as a K-drama actress to look out for. One of her most popular roles is in this 2019 series where she plays the role of the owner of the eponymous hotel that caters only to ghosts. Her character, Jang Man-wol, has been cursed to manage the hotel because of a crime she can’t seem to remember. She loves over-the-top fashion and expensive cars. The show follows the many mysteries and secrets surrounding the hotel over the course of 16 episodes. In 2020, it was announced that there’s going to be an American remake of the drama too. 

Streaming on Netflix

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016)

This historical drama is a particular favourite of BTS Army around the world as it stars Kim Taehyung, one of the seven members of the band. Taehyung is joined by a star-studded cast, including fellow singers Park Hyung-sik (of ZE:A) and Choi Min-ho (of Shinee), and actor Park Seo-joon (from What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim and Parasite). The drama revolves around an elite group of men living through the tumultuous time of Sila Kingdom and their passions and friendship. The show can also be credited for the formation of the celebrity friend group ‘Wooga Squad’, consisting of Park Seo-joon, Kim Taehyung, Park Hyung-sik, Choi Woo-shik, and Peakboy.

Streaming on Netflix

Dream High (2011)

This 2011 high school drama is packed with some of the most popular K-pop idols, like IU, Bae Suzy, 2PM’s Ok Taec-yeon, Jang Woo-young, and T-ara’s Ham Eun-jung. It follows a group of friends as they navigate high school and their ultimate dreams of becoming popular singers and performers. Messy romantic feelings also get thrown into the mix and that’s always the recipe for drama. The show had a sequel that aired a year later and it also starred some popular K-pop idols, like Got7’s JB, 2AM’s Jinwoon, T-ara’s Jiyeon, and SISTAR’s Hyolyn.

Streaming on Netflix

100 Days My Prince (2018)

Do Kyung-soo, or D.O, is a part of EXO which is one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world. Aside from being a world-renowned performer, D.O is also a multi-award-winning actor who has starred in dramas like Swing Kids, My Annoying Brother, Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days, and It’s Okay, That’s Love. He was also the lead in 100 Days My Prince, one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable history. In the show, crown prince Lee Yul (D.O) loses his memory after a failed assassination attempt. For 100 days, he roams around his kingdom under a new name and identity and meets Yeon Hong-sim (Nam Ji-hyun), the head of the first detective agency of that period.

Streaming on Netflix

When My Love Blooms (2020)

This romantic drama spans over two decades and, with two parallel storylines, shows how Ji-soo and Jaehyeon met and fall in love in 1993 and then again in 2020. Got7’s Park Jin-young stars as a young Jaehyon who meets Ji-soo at their university during a protest. Jinyoung’s acting skills have been praised by critics ever since he made his debut in 2012 with the sequel to the popular drama Dream High. The show also stars Lee Bo-young and Yoo Ji-tae.

Streaming on Netflix

Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017)

Along with performing as a member of the boy band ZE:A, Park Hyung-sik has starred in a lot of notable dramas, including Hwarang, The Heirs, She Was Pretty. But perhaps his most popular drama is Strong Girl Bong-Soon, one of the most beloved Korean series around the world. The titular Bong-soon (Park Bo-young) is blessed with superhuman strength and wants to use her powers for good. She is hired to be the bodyguard of a spoiled CEO Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung-sik). He has no regards for rules and hates policemen, including Bong-soon’s crush detective In Guk-doo (Ji Soo). Things take an interesting turn when Min-hyuk begins getting anonymous threats to his life.

Streaming on Netflix

While You Were Sleeping (2017)

After making her debut with Dream High in 2011, singer Bae Suzy has gone on to be a part of some of the most popular K-dramas including Start-Up, Vagabond, and Uncontrollably Fond.  In this legal drama-fantasy series, the former girl group Miss A’s member stars as a reporter who can see the future in her dreams. She meets a prosecutor and a police officer who also have the same mysterious ability and they work together to prevent their ominous dreams from turning into reality. The series also stars Lee Jong-suk and Jung Hae-in.

Streaming on Viki

The Liar and His Lover (2017)

While girl group Red Velvet’s Joy, or Park Soo-young, has made several cameos in TV shows, she has starred as a lead in only two dramas so far, including Tempted and The Liar and His Lover. The latter is a love story between a genius music composer Kang Han-gyul (Lee Hyun-woo), who is hiding his real identity to find true inspiration, and a talented young singer Yoon So-rim (Joy) who is just starting out in the music industry. As is the case with any romantic drama worth its salt, the lies soon catch up with the couple, resulting in angst and drama.

Streaming on Netflix

Run On (2020)

This romantic comedy-drama that tells the love story between former sprinter Ki Seon-gyeom (Im Si-wan) and subtitle translator Oh Mi-joo (Shin Se-kyung) stars many recognisable K-pop idols like ZE:A’s Im Si-wan, Shin Se-kyung, Girls’ Generation’s Choi Soo-young, and 5urprise’s Kang Tae-oh. The show was lauded for its portrayal of romantic relationships and themes that are not common for K-dramas.  

Streaming on Netflix

Rich Man (2018)

EXO’s D.O is not the only member of the group to venture out as actors. The group’s leader and one of the vocalists Suho has also acted in dramas like How Are You Bread and Rich Man. The latter is a remake of a Japanese show and pairs Suho with actress Ha Yeon-soo. It’s a love story between a genius CEO who has a condition that makes him unable to recognise faces and a woman who has an amazing memory and is looking for a job at his company.

Streaming on Viki

My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018)

Astro’s Cha Eun-woo has managed to gain a huge fan following both as a performer on stage with the rest of the five members of his group or as an actor in dramas like Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung and My ID is Gangnam Beauty. The latter garnered a lot of praise for its portrayal of the problematic beauty standards in South Korea that have led to psychological issues and discrimination based on physical appearance. The show is centred around a college student who changes her entire appearance with the help of cosmetic surgery after she gets bullied for appearance, only to have the decision backfire after her peers start ridiculing her new look. The show also stars Im Soo-hyang and Jo Woo-ri.

Streaming on Netflix

Full House (2004)

Rain, or Jung Ji-hoon, is one of the most popular Korean performers around the globe and has also made waves as an actor in some of the most iconic K-dramas. This 2004 drama, which starred Song Hye-kyo along with him, is considered to be the pioneer of the romantic comedy genre in Korean television. It’s also credited with helping spread the Hallyu wave, or popularity of Korean culture, around the world. Based on a manhwa, or a printed cartoon, this series is about a young scriptwriter whose friends sell her house behind her back to a popular actor, played by Rain. After realising that she has been scammed, she agrees to live with the actor and pretend to be his wife to make his crush jealous. Things obviously don’t turn out to be the way they’re planned and complications ensue.

Streaming on Netflix

Also read:

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5 addictive Korean thrillers you should be streaming on Netflix right now

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