Best Of 2024: 10 K-Dramas Team NH Loved To Binge This Year

We started 2024 simping over Yoo Ji Hyuk, and as the year ends, K-Dramaland has already given us a new crush, Baek Sa Eon. If there’s one thing 2024 did right, it is giving all K-Drama enthusiasts a plethora of brilliant shows to watch through the year.

But choosing the best of the year? That’s no easy feat! So, we turned to the professionals—our team—to pick their personal favorites. So, grab your popcorn and watchlist—it’s time to dive into the K-Dramas that made 2024 unforgettable!

1. Lovely Runner

Cast: Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon

Available on: Viki, Netflix

“Sunjeyaaaa” That’s all it took for ‘Lovely Runner’ to make it to Nikita’s top of the list. The brilliant performances by Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon didn’t hurt either. One of the most-loved dramas of the year made it to Team NH’s list as well.

2. Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born

Cast: Kim Tae Ri, Jung Eun Chae, Shin Ye Eun, Woo Da Vi, Kim Yoon Hye, Moon So Ri, Ra Mi Ran

Available on: Disney+ Hotstar, Hulu

Historical dramas usually mean something set in the Joseon era, but for a change, Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, headlined by Kim Tae Ri focused on a young Mokpo girl’s dream to make it as a lead singer when women were barely allowed to dream. Komal enjoyed how the drama showed a historical facet of Korea through their traditional entertainment means, gukguek, and women’s pansori in the 1950s.

3. Marry My Husband

Cast: Park Min Young, Na In Woo, Lee Yi Kyung, Song Ha Yoon

Available on: Prime Video, TVING

Watching Kang Ji Won being betrayed and killed by her husband and best friend was heartbreaking. But seeing her get a second chance and turning her life around was a whole damn vibe. A strong storyline was the backbone of ‘Marry My Husband’, and that’s what Stuti enjoyed. The fantastic performance by the cast added to her enjoyment, but the real cherry on the cake was how Ji Won took revenge on her husband and best friend, and went on to find her true love, and real friends .

4. The Judge from Hell

Cast: Park Shin Hye, Kim Jae Young, Kim In Kwon, Kim Ah Young

Available on: Disney+, Wavve, Hulu

A demon from hell who is ready to kick criminal ass? Hell yeah! Kang Bit Na was one of the best characters to come out of 2024, and rightfully so. Park Shin Hye shined bright as the chaotic, arrogant, crazy demon-judge in the drama. And that’s also why ‘The Judge From Hell’ made it to Tanya’s best pick of the year, making it one of her comfort watches of the year!

5. The Time of Fever

Cast: Won Tae Min, Do Woo, Gong Chan

Available on: iQIYI

If you were a fan of ‘Unintentional Love Story’, and its secondary couple, Dong Hee and Ho Tae, ‘The Time of Fever’ must have made it to your 2024 watchlist. It sure did for Aaradhana. Apart from their intriguing backstory, she enjoyed the drama from the perspective of a film student. Her appreciation for the way tension was built between Dong Hee and Ho Tae knew no bounds. Also, the overall hues and choice of colors in props is such a small and underappreciated detail that Aaradhana admired.

6. Black Out

Cast: Byun Yo Han, Go Jun, Kim Bo Ra, Go Bo Gyeol

Available on: Hulu

A thriller-mystery drama, ‘Black Out‘ deals with the murder of two 19-year-old girls and the only suspect who is their friend with no recollection of that night. Byun Yo Han undertakes the role of the wrongfully accused Go Jeong U who is incarcerated for 11 years for a crime he didn’t commit. Nirmiti loved this drama for the amazing acting by everyone and the on-point suspense and mystery.

7. High School Return of a Gangster

Cast: Yoon Chan Young, Bong Jae Hyun, Lee Seo Jin, Seo Tae Hwa, Won Tae Min

Available on: TVING, Wavve

47-year-old gangster Kim Deuk Pal has only one dream—to attend a university. And that happens in a freak twist of fate when his spirit possesses the body of a suicidal 19-year-old high school student, Yi Heon. When Deuk Pal realizes that Yi Heon is a victim of bullying he takes matters into his own hands and punishes the bullies, and along the way befriends his classmate Choi Se Kyung, a victim of domestic violence. Ananya enjoyed ‘Highschool Return of a Gangster‘ because it was refreshing to watch with a good storyline and lots of comedy.

8. Bad Memory Eraser

Cast: Kim Jae Joong, Jin Se Yeon, Lee Jeong Won, Yang Hye Ji

Available on: Viki, TVING

Ranjana’s favorite drama of 2024 was Kim Jae Joong’s ‘Bad Memory Eraser.’ She said, “I watched ‘Bad Memory Eraser’ because of Jaejoong. His transformation from a depressed character to a wild, hilarious guy was so fun to watch. There were so many moments when his character acted in funny ways post-operation, and some scenes even got me emotional. All over it was so good.”

9. Family by Choice

Cast: Hwang In Youp, Jung Chae Yeon, Bae Hyeon Seong, Choi Won Young, Choi Moo Sung, Seo Ji Hye

Available on: Viki, TVING

‘Family by Choice‘ was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Not only because it was an adaptation of the popular Chinese drama ‘Go Ahead‘, but also because we finally have Hwang In Youp in his main lead era. According to Shivani, who loved the show, ‘Family by Choice,’ showcased very sensitive, deep, and complicated emotions while keeping the vibe of the drama light. She added, “I would be lying if I said I did not cry every episode.”

10. Love in the Big City

Cast: Nam Yoon Su, Jin Ho Eun, Lee Soo Kyung, Kwon Hyuk, Na Hyun Woo, Kim Won Joong

Available on: Viki, TVING, Wavve

While BLs have been gaining traction over the past few years, ‘Love in the Big City‘ is probably one of the biggest queer dramas to come out of Korea. Interestingly, a movie by the same name was also released this year with a different cast chronicling the story of the same set of characters from a different lens. Nandini, who enjoyed both versions explains she loved the movie because the drama came first. She adds, “Its emotionally raw storytelling and career-defining performances by Nam Yoon Su and Jin Ho Eun have captured the heartache and beauty of love in a way that feels both personal and universal, especially after all the trials the drama faced before it was released.”

Sure, our list might be short, but let’s be real—2024 spoiled us with so many amazing K-Dramas, it was impossible to fit them all in! These ten picks are just the tip of the iceberg, handpicked by our team because they left us laughing, crying, and binge-watching way past bedtime.

Whether you’re here to relive your favorites or hunting for your next K-Drama obsession, these gems are a great place to start. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your snacks, cozy up, and let these stories work their magic. And hey, if we missed your favorite, let us know—we’re always up for a good drama rec!

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