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Pierce Conran
Journalist, producer and consultant Pierce Conran has been based in Seoul since 2012, where he served as the Korea Executive for LA-based production company and sales agent XYZ Films and as a long-time editor of the Korean Film Council’s English website KoBiz until 2021. Born in Ireland and raised in Switzerland, he received an MA in Film from Trinity College Dublin and is currently the Korean drama critic for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, as well as a programming adviser for the Fribourg International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest in the United States.
From a vigilante thriller to a period political drama, and Korea’s most awaited sequel, here is our pick of the top 15 K-dramas of 2024.
Despite some clever subterfuge on the part of its creator Kang Full, and some affecting scenes, the show’s narrative lacks proper exposition.
Lim found fame in steamy drama Obsessed, stopped being typecast after her role in The Glory, and has not looked back since.
K-pop star IU is rejoining Byeon Woo-seok for a royal romcom, while Park Shin-hye is looking at playing a dental genius.
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This tale of customers at a mysterious shop that only opens at night is based on a story by webtoon author Kang Full.
Slapstick humour and ludicrous scenarios take over as Kim Nam-gil fights a drug lord, in a series that has become funnier but less coherent.
Lim Ji-yeon plays a humble servant who pretends to be a noblewoman, in this period K-drama set in the era of Joseon dynastic rule in Korea.
A woman leaves her wealthy husband and sets him up with another woman. Meanwhile a suitcase hides a mystery in atmospheric Netflix series.
Ji Chang-wook’s Seoul pimp and Bibi’s escort fail to surprise us in this drama with gratuitous violence inflicted on badly-drawn characters.
Squid Game returns for season 2 with Lee Jung-jae and Wi Ha-joon, Park Bo-young leads a supernatural mystery on Disney+, and more.
This story, which follows a selective mute (played by Chae Soo-bin) and her public speaker husband (Yoo Yeon-seok), lacks substance.
A man and woman from two feuding families are reunited after 18 years in this romcom set around a high school.
The latest news sees offers for Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae, The Glory’s Lim Ji-yeon, Seohyun of Girls’ Generation and 2PM’s Ok Taec-yeon.
The Korean series on Netflix, which follows women who sell lingerie and adult toys, forgets its original message but is still a good watch.
Kim Tae-ri shines as a gifted singer who overcomes hardships in a story that has some good ideas but fails to follow through on them.
Jung Yu-mi has appeared in films such as Train to Busan, Korean dramas including The School Nurse Files, and reality TV show Youn’s Kitchen.
Korea’s most temperamental priest returns for a second outing, this time delivering his unique brand of divine justice to criminals in Busan.
A wealth of big names are being considered for coming projects, from Jeon Yeo-been for a romcom to Ahn Hyo-seop for a crime-mystery drama.
Kim Tae-ri’s troubled stage singer outshines her rival, played by Shin Ye-eun, in stunning performances. There is the odd far-fetched moment.
A confusing start to this Korean series and a lack of chemistry between the leads makes Mr. Plankton on Netflix a far from riveting watch.
Kim So-yeon’s rural adult-toys seller overcomes personal struggles to make inroads in conservative 1990s Korea. But what is her endgame?
Park Shin-hye’s spirited turn as a demon who develops human feelings is failed by unconvincing characters and inconsequential twists.
Starring Lee Se-young and Kentaro Sakaguchi, this Korean romantic drama isn’t terrible but suffers from languid pacing and repetitive themes.
Crime series Gangnam B-Side, road trip drama Mr Plankton, comedy crime drama Face Me and romcom Marry You are among our Korean drama picks.
The Atypical Family’s Jang Ki-yong may return in a romantic drama, while Shin Hye-sun is being considered for a crime mystery drama.
Yeon Sang-ho’s second season of Hellbound is a fun, pulpy ride that reminds us why we got excited about Korean dystopias in the first place.
Kim Tae-ri burst onto the scene in acclaimed 2016 erotic thriller The Handmaiden, and she has only gone from strength to strength since.
An aloof criminal profiler finds out his daughter is involved in a case he is investigating in this immersive, psychological Korean series.
Kim Tae-ri stars as talented young singer Yoon Jeong-nyeon whose mother (Moon So-ri) tries to stop her singing, in this Disney+ period drama.
As demon Kang Bit-na, Park Shin-hye struggles to control her body and emotions in The Judge from Hell as she sends murderers’ souls to hell.
