7 Hidden K-Drama Gems Found In Viu

The best gift I've ever given myself as a hardcore Hallyu fan is a Viu premium subscription. The app has a vast library of Korean dramas, variety shows, and movies that you can watch and download on your phone. I get to watch shows a few hours after its Korean broadcast. I never miss out on the latest episodes of my favorite dramas, and get to see all my favorite idols!

Over the years I enjoyed dramas that have intense plots, lovable characters, great cinematography, and outstanding cast members. Below are just some of the dramas I believe are worth the extra hype.

1. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

   4,451 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 8.6 / 10 Image Source: @moonlovers_scarletheartryeo4

   This drama caught my attention because of its stellar cast and its exciting plot! Moon Lovers is a sageuk show based on a Chinese novel and though it received awards and buzz, the drama's ratings still fell below expectations. The cast includes IU, Lee Joon Gi, Kang Haneul, EXO's Baekhyun, Nam Joo Hyuk, and Ji Soo.

2. Because This Is My First Life

   2,211 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 8.2 / 10 Image Source: @chicagoxtypewriter

   Korean rom-com dramas tend to be formulaic and repetitive, with tropes that you can easily predict after the fifth episode. Because This Is My First Life is nothing like that. You may think that the premise of the story has been used time and again (think: Full House, Fated To Love You, Marry Me Mary, Princess Hours) but the approach to storytelling is very refreshing. It stars Jung Somin of Playful Kiss and Lee Min Ki of The Beauty Inside.

3. Tale Of The Nine Tailed

   289 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 8.6 / 10 Image Source: @taleoftheninetailed_kdrama

   After the massive success of Goblin, Lee Dong Wook has gone on to star in several cable TV series including Life, Touch Your Heart, and Hell Is Other People. His return to tvN is much anticipated because he’s currently playing the role of a gumiho, a legendary nine-tailed fox that has been very popular in Korean mythology. The drama also stars Flower Band’s Jo Bo Ah and Kim Bum from Boys Over Flowers.

4. Flower Of Evil

   1,382 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 8.7 / 10 Image Source: @flowerofevils

   Lee Joon Gi is one of the best at portraying villainous characters with a lovable flair. In this drama, he played the role of a husband and father with a dark past. He's married to a detective played by Moon Chae Won, who later discovers that the serial murder case she's investigating led to her own husband. This drama also didn't have high ratings, but it's action-packed and heart-wrenching on so many levels. I also found Moon Chae Won and Lee Joon Gi's chemistry so satisfying after watching them together in the Korean version of Criminal Minds.

5. Chicago Typewriter

   965 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 8.2 / 10 Image Source: @kdrama_kiss

   When I first read about Chicago Typewriter's casting, I honestly thought that it would be the next big thing after Goblin. After all, the film stars one of South Korea's most prolific actors, Yoo Ah In, whose filmography is as impressive as Gong Yoo's. I was disappointed to find out that the ratings were so low until the end of the series because the writing, cinematography, and acting made the drama so memorable. It's about three resistance fighters in the 1930s who were reincarnated in the present time. The cast includes Im So Jung from Search: WWW (another underrated drama, IMO) and Go Kyung Pyo from Reply 1988.

6. 18 Again

   86 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 8.3 / 10 Image Source: @leedohyunindonesia

   Another ongoing drama you shouldn’t miss is 18 Again which is about a married couple on the verge of a divorce. The plot thickens when the husband, played by Yoon Sang Hyun of Secret Garden, returns to his 18-year old body, played by Hotel De Luna’s Lee Do Hyun. The series was based on the 2009 American film 17 Again, starring Zac Efron.

You can watch all these dramas as well as the latest episodes of 18 Again and Tale Of The Nine Tailed with a Viu Premium subscription! Get it with Smart's Giga K-Video. You'll have access to Viu's premium content with no ads and unlimited downloads. Plus, 1GB access to Viu and YouTube every day!