After selecting the best dramas of the first half of the year, it is time to check the dramas of the second half of the year that we think you should not miss. This list includes dramas that ended after June 30 and before 2022 (Netflix and Coupang series are included but other web dramas are not included).
1. “My Roommate is a Gumiho”
When: May 26 - July 15 Cast: Jang KiYong, HyeRi, Kang HanNa, Kim DoWan, Bae InHyuk Summary: It is about a 999-year-old gumiho and a cool female university student born in 1999 who got to live together because she swallowed the gumiho’s fox orb by mistake. Looking for: a cute and funny comedy with fantasy. Why watch?: “My Roommate is a Gumiho” is definitely one of the must-watch K-Dramas of the second half of the year. One of its core strengths is its h.i.l.a.r.i.o.u.s moments and heart-fluttering scenes. Jang KiYong & HyeRi and Kang HanNa & Kim DoWan are two unique and funny couples with good chemistry. All the fantasy elements surrounding the Gumiho universe made the drama even more memorable. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
2. “Yumi’s Cells”
When: September 17 - October 30 Cast: Kim GoEun, Ahn BoHyun, Lee YuBi, Park JiHyun, SHINee’s MinHo, GOT7’s JinYoung Summary: It tells the relatable story of YuMi an ordinary office worker in her 30s from the perspective of the cells of her head. Looking for: a cute and relatable story with animations. Why watch?: “Yumi’s Cells” is also a must-watch of this year if you like romance. This drama is particularly unique and intriguing because of the “cells” that appear in an animation format. These cells portray the emotions and thoughts of the leads’ minds and it gives a whole new face to the drama because viewers get to understand why the characters are acting like this. Without these cells, the drama would be less entertaining. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
3. “Happiness”
When: November 5 - December 11 Cast: Park HyungSik, Han HyoJoo, Jo WooJin Summary: In the new normal era, when infectious diseases are commonplace, this drama depicts class discrimination and subtle nerve warfare in newly built apartments in a large city where high-rises are sold for general sales and low-rises are divided into rental housing. Looking for: a high-quality thriller and nerve-racking zombie Korean drama. Why watch?: High-quality acting for a high-quality drama! Even if you are not into thrillers and zombies (and so I am) this drama will get you hooked from the first episode. Moreover, Park HyungSik & Han HyoJoo’s chemistry makes this drama even more interesting. Note that the drama might not be accessible to all the audience due to violent scenes. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
4. “The King’s Affection”
When: October 11 - December 14 Cast: Park EunBin, SF9’s RoWoon, Nam YoonSoo, VICTON’s ByungChan, Bae YoonKyung, DIA’s Jung ChaeYeon Summary: It is the secret court romance drama of a woman who was abandoned because she was born a girl. When her twin brother died, she began to pretend to be him: the crown prince while trying to keep her identity and affection for her first love. Looking for: a historical romance filled with politics, a strong female lead woman, and cute boys. Why watch?: If you like historical dramas with romance and politics, this is for you. The story is woman-centered around the character of Park EunBin, who tries to hide her identity in the palace while staying in politics. “The King’s Affection” has a captivating and beautiful romance with gorgeous sets. The leads have great chemistry, and you can see it. They say it all from their eyes! For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
5. “At a Distance, Spring Is Green”
When: June 14 - July 20 Cast: Park JiHoon, Kang MinAh, Bae InHyuk, CLC’s Kwon EunBin, Woo DaBi, Choi JungWoo, Na InWoo Summary: It tells the real struggles of people in their 20s and the issues of university students. At a distance, their youth seems beautiful but if you look at it closely it is harsh. Looking for: a healing drama dealing with struggling youth. Why watch?: Some campus dramas are bright and funny, but this one takes an opposite and realistic side of campus life. The story focuses on the adversities of students who all have their own different backgrounds. Yet, they learn to grow and overcome them. The trio of Park JiHoon, Kang MinAh, and Bae InHyuk is truly excellent like each of their characters’ stories. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
6. “One Ordinary Day”
When: November 17 - December 19 Cast: Kim SooHyun, Cha SeungWon Summary: A drama that explores the criminal justice system through the fierce story of two men surrounding the murder of a woman. Looking for: a movie-like crime drama with perfect acting. Why watch?: Kim SooHyun is acting as a university student who becomes involved in a murder case after one drunken night. He claims his innocence but the police and the court are seeing it otherwise. Cha SeungWon is acting as a third-rate lawyer who decides to help him. In “One Ordinary Day”, the perfect and stunning acting of the leads can only make the viewers even more anxious and curious about the show. Note that this drama is not suitable for a young audience. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
7. “Jirisan”
When: October 23 - December 12 Cast: Jun JiHyun, Ju JiHoon Summary: A mystery drama depicting the stories of people climbing a mountain against the backdrop of the vast, unexplored scenery of Mt. Jirisan. Looking for: a mystery thriller set in a beautiful and secret mountain. Why watch?: “Jirisan” focuses on mountains rangers and the events happening in the beautiful mountain Jirisan. Rangers deal with their everyday workloads, including finding lost people in the mountains, but there are even bigger events in this mountain that make all the viewers hold their breath: a paranormal activity and deaths. Since the plot is pretty complex, viewers can’t help but think hard about the mystery of this mountain. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
8. “Reflection of You”
When: October 13 - December 2 Cast: Go HyunJung, Shin HyunBin, Kim JaeYoung, Choi WonYoung Summary: A drama that hints at the secrets of Jung HeeJoo, a successful painter and essayist, and Gu HaeWon, a woman who lost the light of her youth, and how Jung HeeJoo is shaken out of control with the appearance of Gu HaeWon. Looking for: a makjang drama with infidelity and family secrets. Why watch?: “Reflection of You” is for sure one of the pearls of this year. If you are looking for madness, passion, scream, and tears all this portrayed with stunning acting, this is for you. Note that this drama is addictive and might stress you more than just a bit. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
9. “Lovers of the Red Sky”
When: August 30 - October 26 Cast: Ahn HyoSeop, Kim YooJung, Gong Myung, Kwak SiYang Summary: It tells the mysterious and beautiful story of the only female painter of the Joseon Dynasty who solves terrible fate after entering the palace. Looking for: a romantic & fantasy historical drama full of suspense. Why watch?: “Lovers of The Red Sky” is a historical drama filled with fantastical elements and an enjoyable focus on painting. The fated couple -Ahn HyoSeop and Kim YooJung- have perfect chemistry making the drama poetic and catchy. Will they be together as destined or will the dark evil take over and break their couple? That is the main question! For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
10. “Nevertheless,”
When: June 19 - August 21 Cast: Song Kang, Han SoHee, Chae JongHyeop Summary: It tells the romance of NaBi who doesn’t trust love but who wants to date and of JaeEon who is tired of dating but who wants to flirt. Looking for: a never-seen realistic romance in K-Drama for a mature audience. Why watch?: “Nevertheless,” is a pretty new style of K-Drama. The drama is about ‘real’ romance and it portrays different types of couples that you can encounter in real life. This is the key quality. As for the lead couple -Song Kang and Han SoHee-, the title says it all “Nevertheless,” (coma included). It is a mix between sexual tension and a toxic relationship with lies and struggles. Note that this drama will not suit your taste if you are looking for a dreamy, cute, and pure romance. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
11. “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha”
When: August 28 - October 17 Cast: Shin MinA, Kim SeonHo, Lee SangYi Summary: A healing romance about a realist dentist and an unemployed jack-of-all-trades set in the seaside town of Gongjin. Looking for: a cute romantic comedy set in the Korean countryside. Why watch?: This well-loved romance drama is also a must-watch if you like healing romance. The drama is set in a pretty coastal village of Korea where lovely secondary characters live, making the story even more enjoyable to watch. Shin MinA and Kim SeonHo form a cute couple. So if you are looking for a drama to heal your soul, moor your boat in Gongjin’s port. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
12. “Squid Game”
When: September 17 Cast: Lee JungJae, Park HaeSoo, Heo SeongTae, Wi HaJun, Jung HoYeon, Kim JuRyeong, Anupam Tripathi, Oh YoungSoo Summary: Individuals participate in a mysterious survival game where they risk their lives to become the ultimate winner. Looking for: an addictive, dark, and quirky drama. Why watch?: The worldwide famous “Squid Game” made millions of hearts beat with its strange and mysterious plot. Don’t miss it if you like dramas with dark and thrilling plots. The filmography and its vision of society make it particularly worth watching. Note that the drama is particularly violent and bloody and is not suitable for a young audience. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
13. “Imitation”
When: May 7 - July 23 Cast: U-KISS’s Jun, Jung JiSo, T-ARA’s JiYeon, ATEEZ’s YunHo, SF9’s Chani, g.o.d’s Danny Ahn, ATEEZ’s JongHo, SF9’s HwiYoung, Park YuRi, Ahn JungHoon, MinSeo, Lim NaYoung, ATEEZ’s SeongHwa, ATEEZ’s San, Boys Republic’s SuWoong Summary: It tells the stories of idols in the entertainment industry and the love story between the center of a popular idol group and a rookie idol. Looking for: a romantic comedy about idols. Why watch?: If you like K-Pop idols and romance dramas, “Imitation” needs to be on your watchlist. It portrays idols’ struggles and the idols industry’s dark sides nicely. The love story is also easy to watch. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
14. “Bossam: Steal the Fate”
When: May 1 - July 4 Cast: Jung IlWoo, Girls’ Generation’s (Kwon) YuRi, Shin HyunSoo Summary: The man who lives by kidnapping widows for remarriage life is turned upside down when he kidnapped a princess by mistake. Looking for: a historical drama full of emotions and a highlight on women’s lives in Joseon. Why watch?: If you like historical dramas about the “real” Joseon and what were the conditions of women back then, this is a must-watch. The drama’s atmosphere is serious and emotional with a political background. The magnific acting can only bring more emotions to the viewers. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
15. “Police University”
When: August 9 - October 5 Cast: Cha TaeHyun, JinYoung, Krystal Summary: It tells the story of a detective devoted to catching criminals and a hacker turned student who solves everything with his smart brain. The professor and the students of the Police University will team up for a joint investigation. Looking for: an easy-to-watch investigation drama. Why watch?: The main reason to watch this drama is the fun duo composed of Cha TaeHyun and JinYoung and all the other students of the university who all bring something to the drama. The story is easy-to-watch and likable. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
16. “Dali and Cocky Prince”
When: September 22 - November 11 Cast: Kim MinJae, Park GyuYoung Summary: A romance drama about a man who knows nothing but money a woman who knows nothing but art. Looking for: a classic and fun romantic-comedy. Why watch?: For those of you who like romantic comedy, this is a must-see of this year. The plot has nothing too special except that the drama is set in an art gallery. But, the chemistry of the lead couple and the funny characters made it worth watching. Don’t miss it. For more information, poster, and teaser, you can check our cast and summary here.
What are the best K-Dramas of the second half of 2021 according to you? Share with the readers and us your opinion in the poll. You can vote for the dramas and web dramas you like the most this year in the votes below.
What Is Your Favorite K-Drama Of 2021? VOTE! Kpopmap Highlights 2021|Dec 14, 2021 What Is Your Favorite Korean Web Drama Of 2021? VOTE! Kpopmap Highlights 2021|Dec 14, 2021 Check out our previous K-Drama recommendations: Top 4 Favorite K-Dramas From The First Half Of 2021 Of Kpopmap Readers (Vote Result) KDRAMA STORIES|Jul 1, 2021 10 Best K-Dramas Of First Half Of 2021 KDRAMA STORIES|Jul 2, 2021 9 Best K-Dramas Of First Half Of 2020 KDRAMA STORIES|Jun 18, 2020 10 Best K-Dramas Of Second Half Of 2020 KDRAMA STORIES|Dec 11, 2020
