While Squid Game took the world by storm, Hospital Playlist dominated the most viewed drama on Netflix in South Korea in 2021.
Check out the country’s Top 10 list of dramas and viewing points below:
1. Hospital Playlist | 1,215 points
Synopsis: Friends since undergrad school, five doctors remain close and share a love for music while working at the same hospital.
Genre: Romance, Medical drama, Comedy, Slice of life
No of episodes: 12
Starring: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung and Jeon Mi-do
Written by: Lee Woo-jung
Directed by: Shin Won-ho
Date: June 17 – September 16, 2021
Network: TVN and Netflix
2. Vincenzo | 963 points
Synopsis: During a visit to his motherland, a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer gives a conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice.
Genre: Dark comedy, Crime, Drama
No of episodes: 20
Starring: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Taec-yeon, Kim Yeo-jin and Kwak Dong-yeon
Written by: Park Jae-bum
Directed by: Kim Hee-won
Date: February 20 – May 2, 2021
Network: TVN and Netflix
3. Love, Marriage, And Divorce | 669 points
Synopsis: Three successful women of the radio industry, each in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, encounter unforeseen problems in their private life. Their households come under threat of collapse due to infidelity.
Genre: Melodrama
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Sung Hoon, Lee Tae-gon, Park Joo-mi, Lee Ga-ryeong, Lee Min-young, Jeon Soo-kyeong and Jeon No-min
Written by: Phoebe
Directed by: Yoo Jung-joon and Lee Seung-hoon
Date: June 12 to August 8, 2021
Network: TV Chosun and Netflix
4. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | 643 points
Synopsis: At a crossroads, a dentist moves to a seaside village where she meets a handyman intent on helping his neighbours.
Based on: 2014 Mr. Hong film by Kang Seok-beom and Shin Jung-goo
Genre: Romantic comedy, Slice of life
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho and Lee Sang-yi
Written by: Shin Ha-eun
Directed by: Yu Je-won
Date: August 28 – October 17, 2021
Network: TVN and Netflix
5. Squid Game | 572 points
Synopsis: Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.
Genre: Survival Drama, Thriller, Fiction
No of episodes: 9
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, and Kim Joo-ryoung
Written and directed by: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Date: September 17, 2021
Network: Netflix
6. Sisyphus, The Myth | 542 points
Synopsis: An unfathomable event introduces an engineer to dangerous secrets and to a woman from the future who has come looking for him.
Genre: Drama, Action, Science fiction, Mystery
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Park Shin-hye and Cho Seung-woo
Written by: Lee Je-in and Jeon Chan-ho
Directed by: Jin Hyuk
Date: February 17 – April 8, 2021
Network: JTBC and Netflix
7. The King’s Affection | 540 points
Synopsis: During the Joseon Dynasty, the Crown Princess Consort gives birth to twins but sends the girl away to spare her life. Years later, the twin son dies in an accident and his sister must assume his identity and throne, all while hiding her true self.
Based on: Yeonmo by Lee So-young
Genre: Romantic-comedy, Fiction, Sageuk
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyung, and Jung Chae-yeon
Written by: Han Hee-jung
Directed by: Song Hyun-wook
Date: October 11 – December 14, 2021
Network: KBS2 and Netflix
8. Law School | 525 points
Date: April 14 – June 9, 2021
Synopsis: When a grim incident occurs at their prestigious school, justice through law is put to a test by a tough law professor and his ambitious students.
Genre: Legal drama
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Kim Myung-min, Kim Bum, Ryu Hye-young, Lee Jung-eun.
Written by: Seo In
Directed by: Kim Seok-yoon
Network: JTBC, Netflix
9. Nevertheless | 516 points
Synopsis: The story of a romance between a man who is annoyed with relationships but likes to flirt and a woman who wants to date but does not believe in love.
Based on: Nevertheless by Jung Seo
Genre: Romance
No. of episodes: 10
Starring: Han So-hee, Song Kang and Chae Jong-hyeop
Written by: Jung Won
Directed by: Kim Ga-ram
Date: June 19 to August 21, 2021
10. Mine | 482 points
Synopsis: The story revolves around strong women who free themselves from the prejudice of the society and find their real ‘mine’. It also peeks into the mysterious lives of wealthy people.
Genre: Romance
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-hyung, Lee Hyun-wook and Ok Ja-yeon
Written by: Baek Mi-kyung
Directed by: Lee Na-jung
Date: May 8 – June 27, 2021
Network: TVN and Netflix
Source: Flix Patrol
Cover photo: TVN Drama
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