popularity of K-dramas has resulted in several remakes, such as the medical drama The Good Doctor, the popular US remake of the K-drama Good Doctor. Remakes are often a hit or miss, but some K-dramas would never work if they were remade to be set in the United States.
K-dramas that cannot be separated from their location and are inherently linked with Korean culture and history are impossible to turn into remakes. Any remake of an incredible K-drama series centered on Korean culture that doesn't feature a Korean cast and isn't set in Korea would be unable to do the original show justice.
10 Moon Embracing The Sun (2012)
The historical fantasy K-drama Moon Embracing the Sun tells the tale of a romance between a king during the Joseon period and a shaman. Filled with intricate conspiracies, deadly political plots, drama, and romance, it is a gripping and entertaining K-drama series.
However, due to the K-drama being entrenched in Joseon-era politics and drama, making a historical US remake of Moon Embracing the Sun is impossible. Moon Embracing the Sun's plot doesn't fit America's history, and the Joseon-era social structures are deeply linked with Korean culture and cannot be replicated in a remake. The historical and cultural aspects of the K-drama Moon Embracing the Sun are central to the series' plot, meaning it could never work as a US remake.
9 The Heavenly Idol (2023)
The fantasy comedy The Heavenly Idol is a hilarious body-swap K-drama revolving around Rembrary after he's taken from his life in the supernatural Other World and transported to Earth and thrust into the body of the K-pop idol Woo Yeon-woo (Kim Min-kyu). Meanwhile, the K-pop idol is transported into the Other World into the body of Rembrary.
The K-pop industry and the idol culture are unique aspects of Korean society. In addition, the infamous blend of genres that is popular in K-dramas is apparent in The Heavenly Idol. Due to these major features of the K-drama series, The Heavenly Idol only works as a K-drama series set in Korea, as the abundance of K-drama tropes and genre blending, along with the examination of the K-pop industry, makes it a K-drama that can never be turned into a faithful US remake.
8 Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Mr. Sunshine is a historical romance K-drama set in the early 1900s that revolves around young activists who are fighting for Korea's independence. The K-drama follows Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), a Captain of the US Marine Corps who escaped from Korea to the United States at a young age. It effortlessly balances the charming and sweet yet conflict-ridden romance between Eugene and Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), an orphaned woman and member of the righteous armies.
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Despite the lead character, Eugene, being a US Marine, a US remake would struggle to portray the tumultuous political and historical events that took place in Mr. Sunshine. The K-drama series has a plot intricately woven with history, such as Japan's occupation of Korea and the Korean Independence movement, and a US remake of the show would be unable to capture the historical K-drama's essence.
7 Kingdom (2019-2021)
The historical K-drama series Kingdom is set during the 17th century and is a thrilling blend of political drama and zombie horror. The zombie K-drama follows the Crown Prince of Joseon Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) as he embarks on a mission to investigate the illness plaguing his father, the King. His investigations unveil that the plague is turning people into zombies, and the prince has to work to save the kingdom from the plague while battling his devious political opponents' plots to usurp the throne.
Kingdom unique blend of being a political thriller set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse in the Joseon era, makes it a K-drama series that is hard to remake. The blend of genres and its setting means that a US remake of Kingdom wouldn't have the same charm as the original.
6 The King 2 Hearts (2012)
The action romance K-drama series The King 2 Hearts revolves around an unlikely love story between a South Korean crown prince and a North Korean special agent. In this alternate reality, South Korea has a constitutional monarchy. The K-drama revolves around the romance and bond between the Crown Prince Lee Jae-ha (Lee Seung-gi), who is uninterested in the throne and politics, and a North Korean Special Forces officer, Kim Hang-ah (Ha Ji-won).
The plot and relationship dynamic in The King 2 Hearts are strongly shaped by the complex history and political tensions between North Korea and South Korea. The cultural division and complicated dynamic are unique to North and South Korea and the background would lose weight in an American context in a remake.
5 Iris (2009)
The K-drama spy thriller Iris revolves around two best friends Kim Hyun-jun (Lee Byung-hun) and Jin Sa-woo (Jung Joon-ho) who are recruited into National Security Service (NSS), a mysterious and secretive South Korean black ops agency. Recruited by the NSS agent Choi Seung-hee (Kim Tae-hee), the close friends fall for the same woman and embark on deadly missions to save countless lives.
In Iris, the reunification of North Korea and South Korea and the political tension between the countries is consistently important to the overarching plot of the K-drama. The spy thriller relies on the complicated and intricate relationship between North Korea and South Korea to add tension to the narrative. The unique dynamics cannot be replicated in an American context, and a US remake of Iris would be unable to do justice to the spy drama.
4 Our Blues (2022)
The melodrama Our Blues is a heartening and thought-provoking K-drama revolving around the lives of people living on Jeju Island. The character-driven series features an ensemble cast and the K-drama focuses on the lives of different characters. With a visually stunning setting and thrilling character arcs, Our Blues is a popular and highly-rated K-drama that stands out from other series with its unique storytelling.
The characters in Our Blues and their experiences are deeply connected to the social and cultural backdrop of Korea. In addition, the K-drama series is fundamentally linked to Jeju Island's unique and specific culture and community. While a US remake could attempt to replicate the K-drama's nuanced and authentic portrayal of life, it would inevitably lose its depth in a different cultural context.
3 Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024)
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born is a musical period K-drama that follows the life of a talented singer as she grows her career. Set in the 1950s, after the Korean War, Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born follows the titular Yoon Jeong-nyeon (Kim Tae-ri), as she rises through hardships. It is compelling and powerful journey filled with performances, rivalries, and stage pressure.
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Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born is a celebration of Korean culture, art, and music. Set in the past, the masterpiece K-drama examines the complexities of the Korean entertainment industry. The country's unique K-pop idol culture is a large influence on the Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born and is best viewed through the lens of a period K-drama.
2 Imitation (2021)
Imitation is a K-drama that follows the lives of K-pop idols entrenched in the entertainment industry. The secret and forbidden romance between two idols, Lee Ma-ha (Jung Ji-so) and Kwon Ryok (Lee Jun-young) and their bonds with their respective K-pop groups are central to the plot of Imitation. The K-drama takes a look at the complex and public lives of K-pop idols and groups and the challenges they face with issues like online hate and invasions of privacy.
The K-pop idol system is a unique phenomenon that is impossible to replicate in the context of the US music industry. The examinations of the public image of K-pop idols, the group dynamics in a K-pop group, and celebrity culture cannot be imitated in a US remake.
1 Crash Landing On You (2019)
Crash Landing on You is a romantic comedy K-drama that tells the romantic tale of a South Korean businesswoman and a captain in the North Korean military. After Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) is knock off-course while paragliding and crash lands in North Korea, she is found by Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bi), a captain in the Korean People's Army. As Jeong-hyeok protects Se-ri and tries to help her return home, the two began to fall for each other.
The remarkable K-drama's tension is heightened by the fact that a significant portion of the show is set in North Korea and the division between North and South Korea is central to the premise. The romance across borders turns the K-drama into a story of love and human connection. The setting of Crash Landing on You is imperative to the plot and a US remake of the K-drama would be unable to capture the emotional weight of the show.