The world ofKorean dramashave been having their moment, and some of the most beloved shows of the past two years, likeSquid Game, have continued to become a part of the cultural legacy on a global scale. When many think of a Korean drama, they tend to go back to shows likeSquid Game, or the romantic comedies that boast superb fashion and a tendency to sometimes go over the top when it comes to certain plot points and tropes. But an often underappreciated aspect of Korean dramas is the cinematography itself, although several of these shows have high production quality, especially when it comes to the kind of visuals they’re serving to audiences all around the world.
While Korean dramas have come such a long way since the success of shows likeCoffee PrinceandBoys Over Flowers, the production has become more updated and contemporary as time passes.We still love these classics, but as the shows take their sets abroad and have access to more technology, there have been some iconic moments in recent years that are absolutely stunning to see on-screen, no matter what you’re watching the drama on. Here are 10 K-dramas that have these jaw-dropping visual moments.
Doona!is a limited series released on Netflix in 2023, and despite its short running time, it has quite the story to tell throughout. A Korean pop idol (Bae Suzy)retires from her girl groupand lives a reclusive life, finding refuge in a rented room that’s popular with university students. From the countryside of Korea, a STEM student realizes the identity of his fellow neighbor, and when he treats her like a human being, not like someone famous, they grow closer.
Why It’s Stunning
With the blocking and visuals,Doona!manages to be quite poetic with how it chooses to set up its shots. Whether it’s the introduction whether the two main characters are standing on opposite sides of the railroad tracks, or Doona standing in her room, the television playing behind her, there are plenty of scenes in the show that feel like they belong in a movie.
Stream on Netflix
9Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, known asGoblincolloquially, has consistently been known as one of the most Korean dramas ever released. Kim Go-eun plays a high school student, who is the fated bride of a centuries-olddokkaebi(Gong Yoo), or goblin, which opens up a complicated side of the world and the supernatural beings inhabiting it.
Straight off the bat, the K-drama busts out some of its best shots as the main characters accidentally end up in Montreal in the middle of fall. Surrounded by vibrant orange leaves falling off the trees, this sets the tone for what’s to come throughout the series. Whether it’s on a Korean beach or atop a roof, there are some moments inGoblinyou might want as your screensaver before you’re even halfway done the show.
Stream on Viki
8Hotel Del Luna
Hotel Del Luna
Yeo Jin-goo stars inHotel Del Lunaas a Koo Chan-sung, who doesn’t know that, as a baby, his father exchanged his life to the owner of a supernatural hotel so the father could stay alive. Forced to work at the Hotel Del Luna, Chan-sung comes into contact with its eccentric owner, Man-wol (IU/Lee Ji-eun), and the people who come to pass into the afterlife through it. Along the way, he learns some secrets about the workers and Man-wol, as well as the hotel.
Hotel Del Lunamight be lacking more in the CGI department, but its production overall is incredible. Man-wol’s fashion sense alone translates well on-screen, making it one of the more iconic shows when it comes to fashion alone. But the aesthetics of the hotel and themore fantasy elementsthroughout add an interesting element visually, making the ambiance truly come to life throughout the series.
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7Mr. Sunshine
The tail-end of Joseon Korea comes alive inMr. Sunshine, where an American soldier (Lee Byung-hun) comes home to his native country on an assignment. An orphan who left Korea behind when he was young, he discovers what has and hasn’t changed about his home country, but along the way of his homecoming, he falls in love with a local girl who’s involved with the politics of the area.
In a historical drama set in Joseon Korea, one wouldn’t expect the cinematography and visuals to be as good as they are inMr. Sunshine. From shots to the natural landscape of Korea juxtaposed against traditional hanok homes, or a lone shot of Lee’s character riding on a horse through the woods, there’s quite a bit to admire in this series visually.
6It’s Okay Not to Be Okay
2020’sIt’sOkay Not to Be Okay, despite it being a representation of what various mental illnesses can look like on-screen,has its problematic momentswhen it comes to other scenes. In the series, Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) works at a psychiatric ward while taking care of his autistic elder brother, and one day, he crosses paths with a famous writer (Seo Yea-ji) who has antisocial personality disorder. When the writer becomes romantically obsessed with Gang-tae, she follows him to the brothers’ next city, trying to uncover why she’s so smitten with him.
One of the more interesting parts of this Korean drama is specifically how it uses multimedia elements to tell its story, creating a compelling visual story that meshes well with the angle that one of the characters writes children’s books. In addition to this, it creates quite the ambiance with its setting, production, and fashion, making it a worthy entry to this list.
5The Crowned Clown
InThe Crowned Clown, Yeo Jin-goo shows his prowess as an actor. Set in the middle of Joseon, he portrays two different characters: a king and a clown. When the king becomes paranoid that he will be assassinated by his enemies, he hires the clown, who looks like him, to take his place on the throne. But when the clown actually does a better job than the actual king, the court becomes interested in this newcomer and his capabilities.
With the imperial court setting of middle Joseon, one really wouldn’t expect much fromThe Crowned Clown, but blocking plays a key role in the visuals here. There are some really excellent shots that add to the narrative framework of the show inside the royal palace, making it very subtle, but a key role in the experience for those watching the show.
4Beyond Evil
For those who are big fans of the crime drama,Beyond Evildefinitely is one of the Korean dramas and television shows you should check out immediately. After a serial killer strikes a small town in South Korea, the brother of one of the victims grows up to become a police officer. While he vows to find out who did this to his family and sister all those years ago, he is joined by a hotshot rookie cop from the big city. While their methods might be frowned upon, they are effective.
Beyond Evil’s cinematography does excellent work when showing the desolation and isolation of the environments these characters are working in. Whether day or night, there are plenty of secrets to be found throughout the fields and town, and conversations to be overheard.
The world of entrepreneurship collides with romance and aspirations in the dramaStart-Up, whichstars Bae Suzyas Dal-mi, a young woman who wants to become the next Steve Jobs. When invited to join the process at the Sandbox, a fictional version of Silicon Valley, she’s going to meet people who will help her on her journey of self-discovery and business, ending up in a love triangle in the process.
Cinematography is one of the highlights ofStart-Up, and the blocking of characters on-screen reflects a lot of the underlying tensions and problems between them. Whether empty spaces or the lack of it, pay close attention toStart-Up,and you’ll realize there’s another language at play on-camera.
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2Flower of Evil
InFlower of Evil, Lee Joon-gi portrays the perfect husband and father who’s hiding some sinister secrets and past beneath his facade. When his wife, a woman who works at the local police department, begins to realize the extent of what he’s hidden from her, a can of worms is opened, putting their previously peaceful life under threat.
Fans ofGoblinandCrash Landing on Youwould be excited to hear that the same cinematographer for those shows worked onFlower of Evil. Movement is a key part of the camerawork on this show, whether it’s a character physically moving or the camera tracking them as they follow the action.
1While You Were Sleeping
2017’sWhile You Were Sleepingties together three different characters through an event in their past. As the years pass, they’re all experiencing the same events in their dreams, and, whether they originally believed it or not, the events they witness while sleeping are actually the future. Now they’ve joined forces to prevent the worst from happening, especially when the situation becomes more dire.
Sometimes the visuals don’t need to be extravagant in order for them to stand out, and that’s what happens withWhile You Were Sleeping. This show is a lesson in simplicity, and some of its scenes are just beauty in its most mundane form. There’s a lot to learn from shows like this!
