Top Korean Dramas Every Adult Over 40 Should Watch — Start Now! (Part 1)

Korean dramas have production budgets on a whole different level!

According to a survey by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Commission, the export value of Korean programs exceeded 80 billion yen in 2022, with dramas playing a major role in this surge.

In recent years, many mega-hit works have been born, such as “Crash Landing on You,” which recorded a household peak viewership rating of 21%, and “Squid Game,” whose final season was viewed over 60 million times within three days of release. Professor Goshin Okada of the Sociology Department at Yamato University, an expert on the Korean entertainment market, analyzes:

“Korean dramas have production budgets that are on a completely different scale compared to other countries. In Japan, a single episode costs between 20 million and 50 million yen, and even historical dramas run about 80 million yen per episode. But in Korea, it’s not uncommon for episodes to exceed 100 million yen. With these abundant budgets, they employ popular actors and talented staff.

Korea has significant wage gaps between large corporations and small-to-medium enterprises, as well as between men and women, and poor conditions for non-regular employees. It is one of the worst gap societies among developed countries. It is precisely because of such an environment that they create heavy, profound stories that are globally popular. In fact, hit works with themes of uprising and revenge like ‘Itaewon Class’ and the movie ‘Parasite’ are countless.”

It’s never too late to ride the wave of excellent Korean dramas. For adults over 40 who started watching since “Crash Landing on You,” here is a carefully selected list of the most entertaining masterpieces to check out.

A masterful revenge drama

One of the top recommended works by the aforementioned Okada is “The Glory — A Brilliant Revenge.” This revenge drama centers on bullying during school days and ranked third in Netflix’s viewing hours ranking for the first half of 2023.

“The story follows a heroine who was bullied in high school and, as an adult, systematically exacts revenge on each perpetrator. She becomes a teacher at the elementary school where the daughter of one of her main tormentors studies and psychologically destabilizes the woman by hinting at harming her daughter, among other things. The protagonist’s meticulously planned revenge, carried out over many years, unfolds as a first-rate suspense thriller.

In the first half of the series, there are intense scenes of bullying — such as pressing a heated hair iron against someone — so brutal that viewers find themselves emotionally rooting for the heroine’s revenge. What’s especially notable is that the series also explores why the bullies behaved as they did, showing conflicts and emotional turmoil among them, which adds depth to the story.”

Almost equally acclaimed by experts is “Penthouse.” It was nominated in 14 categories, including Best Actress and Best Actor, at the Korean Drama Awards and recorded a peak viewership rating of 31%, becoming a social phenomenon. Korean columnist Aiko Kodama comments on its appeal:

“This drama begins with the death of the protagonist’s daughter, who falls from a 100-story luxury apartment building. The story then intertwines themes of educational battles, affairs, and children’s bullying among the building’s residents.

Although the educational struggles and infidelity progress, the mystery of the initial fall remains unresolved, compelling viewers to keep watching. With a total production budget of 3.2 billion yen, the acting and set quality are outstanding. Despite spanning three seasons, it never feels overly long—truly a masterpiece.”

Not all Korean dramas rely on flashy, intense, or heavy themes. The poignant romance “Queen of Tears,” which portrays a cold married life, recorded a final episode viewership rating of 24.9%, surpassing even “Crash Landing on You.” A drama production staff member from a major Japanese commercial broadcaster analyzes:

“The story follows the daughter of a chaebol (conglomerate) family who falls deeply in love and marries a department store employee, but their married life doesn’t go well. When divorce looms, the wife discovers she has a terminal illness, which changes their relationship.

Despite outward coldness, the couple still deeply desires each other, which resonated with many viewers.

Although it’s a quiet story, the drama features a powerful villain — Yoon Eun-sung, an investor played by Park Sung-hoon. He schemes to take over the protagonist’s conglomerate. By setting two major obstacles—terminal illness and corporate takeover—the drama creates a powerful and dramatic narrative around their marriage.”

Unmissable Classics of Drama History! Must-Watch Korean Dramas for Adults Over 40 — Part 2

From the August 1, 2025, issue of “FRIDAY”