Watching Korean movies on Netflix is a great way to practice the Korean language in a way that’s fun, even if you’re not in the country. In this article, we’ll recommend ten Netflix Korean dramas to learn Korean, as well as many secret tips and advice on how to learn Korean using these shows.
Table of Contents
- Why is it Important to Learn Korean Using Netflix Dramas?
- How to Watch Korean Netflix for Language-Learning
- Korean Netflix List: 10 Best Korean Dramas on Netflix
- How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean
1. Why is it Important to Learn Korean Using Netflix Dramas?
1- You Can Immerse Yourself in Korean Vocabulary
You can choose a Korean Netflix series or movie that has many words related to your interests. For example, if you want to learn about Korean business, then you should look for business-related dramas. If you’re interested in learning conversational Korean, you should look for romance stories or family-related dramas.
2- You Can Practice the Flow and Pronunciation of Korean
Actors and actresses speak very clearly in Korean Netflix films and series. By repeating phrases and mimicking them, you’ll be able to improve your Korean skills.
3- You May Learn a Slice of Korean Culture
Not all Korean dramas reflect our culture, but you will be able to learn Korean customs by watching how characters interact with each other. For example, you may notice in the Korean TV dramas on Netflix that when meeting someone of higher status (e.g. their boss), native Koreans usually bow to show respect.
2. How to Watch Korean Netflix for Language-Learning
How can you use Korean Netflix content to actually learn Korean? Here are a couple of tips for how to use Korean Netflix TV shows for your benefit!
1- Choose a Drama You Like
What’s your favorite genre? Do you want to focus more on daily conversation or business language? Make a list of your goals in learning Korean and choose the drama that matches with your needs. Also, learning Korean should be fun, so try to choose a Korean Netflix drama that interests you.
2- Watch to Learn
Everyone has their own methods for studying a language. Here, we’ll introduce two methods to study Korean on Netflix.
1. Practice Intonation and the Pronunciation by Repetition
Some people prefer to watch the first episode with subtitles in their own language. This is because they want to understand the entire story before jumping into learning Korean. Once the first episode is finished, they try re-watching it with Korean subtitles and writing down all the expressions, phrases, and vocabulary that they found useful.
Netflix has a special feature where you can rewind the show by ten seconds. Use this feature to listen to the part that you want to learn. Pay close attention to the flow, intonation, and pronunciation. Practice it many times until you’re comfortable with the speed.
2. Study Korean with Transcripts
Others download an entire transcript of the show and use it as their study material. For example, they may choose to leave blanks in the transcript, and then fill in those blanks while listening to the show. To see how they did, they turn on the subtitles and watch again.
There are many methods for learning Korean. I’m sure you have your own way, too.
Without further ado, let’s discover what’s on Korean Netflix for you!
3. Korean Netflix List: 10 Best Korean Dramas on Netflix
1- Korean Drama: 킹덤 (Kingdeom)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 킹덤 (kingdeom)
- Translation: Kingdom
- Type: Netflix Original
- Season: Season 1
- Episodes: 6
- Genres: TV Thriller
- Actors: Ju Ji-hoon; Ryu Seung-ryong; Bae Doona
2. Story
The Korean Netflix Kingdom periodical drama is set in the Chosun Dynasty and revolves around Prince Yi-Chang, who is forced to embark on a mission to investigate the spread of a mysterious disease that kills people. (Read more)
3. Example
이 드라마는 조선 시대를 배경으로 한 좀비 미스터리 스릴러이다.
I deuramaneun Joseon sidaereul baegyeongeuro han jombi miseuteori seurilleoida.
“The drama is a zombie mystery thriller based on the Chosun Dynasty period.”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 드라마 (deurama) — “drama/show”
- 조선 시대 (Joseon sidae) — “the Joseon Dynasty period”
- 배경 (baegyeong) — “background”
- 좀비 (jombi) — “Zombi”
- 미스터리 스릴러 (miseuteori seurilleo) — “Mystery Thriller”
2- Korean Drama: 로맨스는 별책부록 (Romaenseuneun byeolchaekburok)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 로맨스는 별책부록 (romaenseuneun byeolchaekburok)
- Translation: Romance is a Bonus Book
- Type: Netflix Original
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Genres: Romantic TV show
- Actors: Lee Jong-suk; Lee Na-yong; Jung Yoo-jin
2. Story
The story of this Korean drama by Netflix revolves around Cha Eun Ho—a successful author and a senior editor at a publishing company—and Kang Da-i, a single mother who was once a successful advertising executive. They each face their own personal and professional challenges, while gradually developing feelings for each other. (Read more)
3. Example
이 드라마에 나오는 강단이(이나영)는 짧은 결혼 생활 끝에 이혼을 하게 되고 1년 동안 혼자 아이를 키우며 취직을 하게 됩니다.
I deuramae naoneun Gang Dan-Yi (inayeong)neun jjalbeun gyeolhon saenghwal kkeute ihoneul hage doego ilnyeon dongan honja aireul kiumyeo chwijigeul hage doemnida.
“Gang Dan-Yi, a single mom divorced after a short marriage, lands a job after taking care of her child on her own for a year.”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 이혼 (ihon) — “divorce”
- 결혼 (gyeolhon) — “marriage”
- 취직 (chwijik) — “finding a job”
- 짧다 (jjalda) — “short”
- 키우다 (kiuda) — “to raise (a kid/animal/plant)”
3- Korean Drama: 도깨비 (Dokkaebi)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 도깨비 (dokkaebi)
- Translation: Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Also known as Goblin.
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Genres: Romance; Sci-Fi
- Actors: Gong Yoo; Lee Dong-wook; Kim Go-eun
2. Story
Kim Shin is a goblin who wants to end his immortal life. To do this, he needs to find his human bride, the only being who can end his life. He is roommates with the Grim Reaper and the story of the Korean Goblin Netflix show starts from there. (Read more)
3. Example
이 드라마에는 도깨비(공유)와 저승사자(이동욱), 그리고 도깨비의 신부(김고은)가 나옵니다.
I deuramaeneun dokkaebi(Gong Yoo)wa jeoseungsaja(Lee Dong-wook), geurigo dokkaebiui sinbu(Kim Go-eun)ga naomnida.
“The drama features The Goblin (Gong Yoo), The Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-wook), and The Bride of the Goblin (Kim Go-eun).”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 드라마 (deurama) — “drama”
- 도깨비 (dokkaebi) — “Goblin”
- 저승사자 (jeoseungsaja) — “the Grim Reaper”
- 신부 (sinbu) — “bride”
- 나오다 (naoda) — “to appear”
4- Korean Drama: 앵그리맘 (Aenggeurimam)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 앵그리맘 (aenggeurimam)
- Translation: Angry Mom
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Genres: Drama
- Actors: Kim Hee-Seon; Ji Hyun-woo; Kim Yoo-jung
2. Story
Jo Kang-ja used to be a troublemaker at her high school, and dropped out of school when she became pregnant. She then decides to become a responsible mother to her daughter.
Many years later, however, her now-teenage daughter Ah-ran becomes bullied. Jo Kang-ja decides to enroll herself in her daughter’s high school as Jo Bang-woo to protect her daughter. It’s only there that she realizes that there are many problems within the Korean educational system, and so begins this Netflix Korean drama. (Read more)
3. Example
부산 고등학교에서 유명했던 주인공이 다시 고등학생이 되어 한국 교육의 문제점을 찾아내는 드라마이다.
Busan godeunghakgyoeseo yumyeonghaetdeon juingongi dasi godeunghaksaengi doeeo hanguk gyoyugui munjejeomeul chajanaeneun deuramaida.
“The main character, who was famous at Busan High School, becomes a high school student again and finds the problems of Korean education.”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 고등학교 (godeunghakgyo) — “senior high school”
- 유명 (yumyeong) — “famous”
- 주인공 (juingong) — “protagonist”
- 교육 (gyoyuk) — “education”
- 문제점 (munjejeom) — “problem/drawback”
5- Korean Drama: 청춘시대 (Cheongchunsidae)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 청춘시대 (cheongchunsidae)
- Translation: Hello, My Twenties
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 12
- Genres: Romance; Comedy
- Actors: Han Ye-ri; Han Seung-yeon; Park Eun-bin
2. Story
This story is about the everyday life of five university students who share a house together. If you’re interested in how Korean university students live, you might be able to get some ideas from watching Korean Netflix shows like this one. (Read more)
3. Example
‘청춘시대’는 인기가 많아 ‘청춘시대 2’도만들어졌다.
‘Cheongchunsidae’neun ingiga mana ‘cheongchunsidae 2’domandeureojyeotda.
“Hello, My Twenties was so popular that season 2 was also created.”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 청춘 (cheongchun) — “youth”
- 시대 (sidae) — “era”
- 인기 (ingi) — “popular”
- 많다 (manta) — “a lot”
- 만들다 (mandeulda) — “to make”
6- Korean Drama: 알함브라 궁전의 추억 (Alhambeura gungjeonui chueok)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 알함브라 궁전의 추억 (Alhambeura gungjeonui chueok)
- Translation: Memories of the Alhambra
- Type: Netflix Original
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Genres: Romance; Sci-fi
- Actors: Hyun Bin; Park Shin-hye; Park Hoon
2. Story
Yoo Jin-Woo, CEO of an investment company, travels to Spain to meet the creator of a game, Jung Se-joo, who went missing. When he starts staying at the hostel of the creator’s sister, Jung Hee-joo, he experiences strange incidents. In one of the most fascinating Korean dramas on Netflix, the border between the real world and the AR world begins to blur. (Read more)
3. Example
투자회사 대표와 전직 기타리스트가 스페인에 있는 호스텔에 묵는 동안 일어나는 사건을 다룬다.
Tujahoesa daepyowa jeonjik gitariseuteuga seupeine inneun hoseutere mungneun dongan ireonaneun sageoneul darunda.
“An investment company representative and a former guitarist deal with events happening while staying at a hostel in Spain.”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 투자회사 (tujahoesa) — “an investment company”
- 대표 (daepyo) — “representative”
- 전직 (jeonjik) — “former”
- 묵다 (mukda) — “to stay”
- 사건 (sageon) — “case”
7- Korean Drama: 맨도롱 또똣 (Maendorong Ttottot)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 맨도롱 또똣 (maendorong Ttottot)
- Translation: Warm and Cozy
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Genres: Comedy; Romance
- Actors: Yoo Yeon-seok; Kang So-ra; Lee Sung-jae
2. Example
맨도롱 또똣은 제주어로 ‘음식이 먹기 좋을 만큼 따뜻하다’라는 뜻을 가지고 있다.
Maendorong ttottoseun jejueoro ‘eumsigi meokgi joeul mankeum ttatteuthada’raneun tteuseul gajigo itda.
“Maendorong Ttottot comes from the Jeju dialect, which means ‘The food is warm enough to eat.’”
3. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 제주어 (jejueo) — “Jeju dialect”
- 음식 (eumsik) — “food”
- 좋다 (jota) — “good; better; nice”
- 만큼 (mankeum) — “as much as”
- 따뜻하다 (ttatteuthada) — “warm”
8- Korean Drama: 슬기로운 감빵생활 (Seulgirowoon Gambbangsaenghwa)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 슬기로운 감빵생활 (seulgirowoon Gambbangsaenghwa)
- Translation: Prison Playbook (Literal translation: Wise Prison Life)
- Type: Netflix Original
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Genres: Drama
- Actors: Park Hae Soo; Jung Kyung-ho; Jung Hae-in
2. Story
This Korean drama on Netflix now depicts the everyday life of the prisoners and staff at a prison. Many famous and well-respected actors were cast in this drama, making it worth watching if you’re interested in a well-acted prison-related Korean drama. (Read More)
3. Example
이 드라마는 야구선수 김제혁의 교도소 안에서 일어나는 이야기를 다룬다.
I deuramaneun yaguseonsu gimjehyeogui gyodoso aneseo ireonaneun iyagireul darunda.
“This drama deals with the story that takes place by a famous baseball player, Kim Jye-huk, who ends up in jail.”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 야구선수 (yaguseonsu) — “baseball player”
- 교도소 (gyodoso) — “jail/prison”
- 안 (an) — “inside”
- 일어나다 (ireonada) — “takes place”
- 다루다 (daruda) — “to deal with”
9- Korean Drama: 사의 찬미 (Saui Chanmi)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 사의 찬미 (saui chanmi)
- Translation: Hymn of Death
- Type: Netflix Original
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Genres: Drama; Romance
- Actors: Lee Jong-suk; Shin Hye-sun
2. Story
This Korean drama depicts the romance story between a soprano (Yun-Sim-deok) and a playwright (Kim Woo-jin). But remember to have your handkerchief ready, because it’s not just any other romance story with a happy ending.
3. Example
이 이야기는 소프라노 윤심덕과 극작가인 김우진의 비극적인 사랑 이야기이다.
I iyagineun sopeurano yunsimdeokgwa geukjakgain gimujinui bigeukjeogin sarang iyagiida.
“This story is a tragic love story of soprano Yoon Jin-duk and playwright Kim Woo-jin.”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 소프라노 (sopeurano) — “soprano”
- 극작가 (geukjakga) — “playwright”
- 비극적인 (bigeukjeogin) — “tragedy”
- 사랑 (sarang) — “love”
- 이야기 (iyagi) — “story”
10- Korean Drama: 비밀의 숲 (Bimileui Sup)
1. Basic Information
- Name: 비밀의 숲 (bimileui sup)
- Translation: Stranger
- Type: Netflix Original
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Genres: Crime; Drama
- Actors: Cho Seung-woo; Bae Doona; Lee Joon-hyuk
2. Story
A cold-hearted prosecutor teams up with a passionate and warm-hearted detective to uncover and find the truth behind a serial killer case. Check here for more information.
3. Example
성격이 전혀 다른 검사와 검찰이 함께 살인사건과 숨겨진 진실을 파헤치는 드라마이다.
Seonggyeogi jeonhyeo dareun geomsawa geomchari hamkke sarinsageongwa sumgyeojin jinsireul pahechineun deuramaida.
“It is a drama in which a prosecutor and a detective, who are totally different in character, delve into murder cases and unearth hidden truths.”
4. Vocabulary List
*Click a word below to listen to the Korean pronunciation.
- 성격 (seonggyeok) — “character”
- 검사 (geomsa) — “prosecutor”
- 검찰 (geomchal) — “detective”
- 살인사건 (sarinsageon) — “murder case”
- 진실 (jinsil) — “truth”
4. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean
I hope you enjoyed reading our article about Korean Netflix recommendations, and thank you for staying to the end! Keep up the good work to speak Korean like a native in no time!
For those who are interested in Korean movies, KoreanClass101 has a vocabulary list that introduces the top ten Korean movies. Check out “What are the Top 10 Korean Movies?” and choose a movie to watch on Friday night!
We also have techniques for you to improve your Korean skills. Do you want to be able to speak like native speakers? No worries! Check out 말하기 능력을 향상시키는 방법 (malhagi neungnyeogeul hyangsangsikineun bangbeop) or “How to Improve Your Speaking Skills.”
What about your listening skills? You can’t continue conversing with the locals if you have difficulty understanding them. Check out the page 듣기 능력을 향상시키는 방법 (deutgi neungnyeogeul hyangsangsikineun bangbeop) or “How to Improve Your Listening Skills,” where we introduce many tips and techniques for Korean learners to improve their listening skills.
Apart from these useful techniques on improving your Korean skills, KoreanClass101 has many lessons available for free. Check out “15 Ways to Study Korean for FREE with KoreanClass101” and choose the best methods for you to practice Korean with us!
Now for the fun part! Which of these Korean Netflix shows do you want to watch first and why? Let us know in the comments and get the snacks ready!
