A bitter, arrogant children’s book author with a craze for dark fairytales and a naive caretaker at a psychiatric ward- sounds like a match made in heaven, right?

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, a K-drama series on Netflix, received soaring views within the first few weeks of its release. The series offers many aspects that appeal to a variety of audiences. Whether you favor beautiful cinematography, comedy, romance, or deep themes of childhood trauma––trust me you will find it here. However, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is only a fraction of the amount of K-dramas you can find on Netflix or on any other streaming service.

Over the past two decades, the prominence of the Korean wave, the increasing popularity of South Korean culture, has been observed in several parts of the world. However, recently, K-dramas and K-pop’s outward influence has reached global markets. According to KOCCA, a government agency that records data on Korean entertainment, there are around 18 million K-drama viewers in the United States alone, making up five to six percent of international viewership. Clearly, K-dramas are becoming increasingly more popular, but what makes them so addictive and enjoyable?

I, for one, never saw myself even entering this genre of entertainment. However, I had been deeply affected by the gradual transition my friends made into K-pop. Our conversations––once occupied by subjects of funny TikToks, embarrassing experiences, and ranting sessions––became infiltrated by a boy band: BTS. For the next few months, all I heard at the lunch table were Jungkook this and V that. Soon, I began to share my friends’ passions and even enjoy playing “memorize the members of BTS and recall who they are in a billion different pictures”.

Though, before, I was biased against Korean Dramas, their fantastical plotlines, well thought out character dynamics, and vivid cinematography created the foundation for amazing shows and changed my opinion against them. Regardless of if you enjoy watching rom-coms or thrillers, K-Dramas have it all. What else can show you the joy of watching fictional tales set in a different country?