From swoonworthy romances to high stakes action to sharp social commentaries, 2022 was stacked with a wide variety of K-dramas. Despite new dramas emerging in 2023, Team EnVi reflected on the past year and selected their eight favorite 2022 K-dramas. Get ready to add these top-notch shows to your watchlist!
Twenty Five Twenty One (Netflix)
My Twitter timeline was already filled with spoilers when I decided to finally give Twenty Five Twenty One a try. Even if I already had an idea of what to expect from the show, it completely blew my mind and perception of friendships and relationships. Na Hee-do, Baek Yi-jin, Ko Yu-rim, Moon Ji-ung, and Ji Seung-wan’s story will stick with me for a long time. Twenty Five Twenty One has the perfect recipe for a coming-of-age series: love, friendships, and young adults trying to find their way through life. This group of friends’ story offers a unique and realistic portrayal of friendships and growing up, solidifying that the people you met in your 20s and the stories, as well as the experiences you gained during that period, can shape who you become in the future. Twenty Five Twenty One teaches viewers that no matter where you are in life, all the precious moments and memories from your youth will remain by your side.
— Mafe Ramos, ACT!ON Writer
Business Proposal (Netflix)
Filled with comedy, romance, and fun, Business Proposal is a K-drama that made me re-watch it twice. And though I wasn’t familiar with the webtoon, Business Proposal had me hooked within the first episode. With riveting performances from Kim Se-jeong and Ahn Hyo-seop, it was no surprise that the show took off in popularity. The show follows Shin Ha-ri who is a diligent employee dedicated to her work. Unfortunately, her life is turned upside down when one of her friends enlist her to go on a date in their stead. There was something so charming about a show that playfully covers love in the workplace. When the show was still releasing episodes, I could still remember how I planted myself in front of my computer waiting for new episodes to release. Business Proposal has all the right love triangles, jokes, and sentimental moments to be a favorite for many.
— Ellie Forte, Formation Editor & Beauty Writer
Alchemy of Souls (Netflix)
I started Alchemy of Souls not knowing what to expect from it. I only knew that my friend had been watching it, so I decided to take a chance and watch it in my free time. In the end, I became obsessed with it, and even got my sister hooked. The show instantly pulls the audience in with the first episode being so action-packed, and even ending that same episode with a mysterious cliffhanger making you want to start the second episode. Alchemy of Souls is a drama with the perfect mixture of slow-burn romance, action, fantasy, and of course, some comedy sprinkled in to wrap it up in a pretty bow. Lee Jae-wook and Jung So-min work so well alongside each other and their on-screen chemistry just makes them even more loveable. The drama gained so much popularity while airing that they announced a part two would be coming. Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow aired on December 10, receiving high ratings and gaining a spot in Netflix’s global top 5 shows across multiple countries. Alchemy of Souls has given me so much joy over the past few months becoming one of my favorite dramas of the year and just in general. Plus, part two gives my sister and I something else to bond over as we watch together every time a new episode airs.
— Maya, Podcast Host
My Liberation Notes (Netflix)
I don’t know what I was expecting when I spontaneously decided to start My Liberation Notes. All I knew was I needed a K-drama with a different story and a different pace than the romcoms that usually filled my watchlist. My Liberation Notes brought quietly strong characters, unexpected relationships, and, most importantly, a space to think. The Yeom siblings and their desire to break free of their monotonous lives felt familiar as someone falling into the predictable lull of working a full-time job and doing so during the Covid pandemic. If anything can be learned from My Liberation Notes, it is to listen to the silences, and that you are allowed to change.
— Sara, Junior Managing Editor
Big Mouth (Disney+)
Big Mouth lured me in like a mouse to a cheese trap from the first scene to the final credits. The show was orchestrated like a giant puzzle, and although every unexpected twist slotted another piece into place, the final reveal still caught me off guard. While the entire cast delivered solid performances, Lee Jong Suk‘s small screen comeback as Park Changho tied the whole drama together – nobody carries such a diverse range of emotional nuance quite like he does. I won’t lie, the show went out with more of a fizzle than a bang, but the stellar cast and gripping storyline made this one of the best K-dramas I watched this year.
— Megan, Junior Managing Editor
Bad Prosecutor (Viki)
If there’s one drama that topped my watchlist this year, it’s Bad Prosecutor. Beyond my excitement for actor Do Kyung-soo’s return to the small screen, I’m a sucker for Robin Hood-esque, justice-driven protagonists, and this show definitely delivered. If you enjoyed The Devil Judge, I think you’ll like this one as well. Bad Prosecutor was a pretty intense look at just how deeply corruption runs in the Korean judicial system and how hard it can be to challenge it. Throw in an unsolved murder, badass fight scenes, very unconventional investigation methods, and the main characters’ dysfunctional family energy, and you geta mix of action, suspense, angst and humor that keeps you hooked. Prosecutor Jin Jung might be my favorite role of Kyung-soo’s to date, but Kim Sang-ho’s depiction of Prosecutor Park Jae-kyung definitely caught my attention. While the final episodes got more than a little predictable, Bad Prosecutor had me seated from start to finish, and I loved the themes of justice and determination that ran throughout.
— Kenny, ACT!ON/Formation Contributing Writer
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (Netflix)
Extraordinary Attorney Woo might have layered a rose-colored filter on life and the realities of autistic people in society, but what made this K-drama stand out for me was its representation of the different types of quiet, steadfast love. Love manifested in Young-woo’s father trying his best to connect with her, her best friend Geurami sharing some of her sassy confidence, head attorney Jung taking her under his wing and helping her shine, Jun-ho’s constant support (and heart eyes!), and Su-yeon’s fierce and unwavering friendship. To borrow Young-woo’s words, Extraordinary Attorney Woo was “bright, warm, kind, and sweet” and truly felt fresh and welcome, “like the spring sunshine.”
— Megan, Junior Managing Editor
All of Us Are Dead (Netflix)
I’ve always been a sucker for zombie-centric K-dramas, and All of Us Are Dead perfectly delivered a fan-favorite mix of horror, thrills, and fast-paced action. The series delivered a refreshing twist from the typical zombie syllabus as students served as the main cast of characters and evidently, the sole targets and survivors of the outbreak. The K-drama featured gore and horror alongside the true horrors of school life as it shows bullying, sacrifices, and toxic school relationships that hooked me into the story and made me stay. But I especially fell in love with the unexpected heartfelt moments as the students fought for their lives, fought for each other, and learned life lessons beyond the school curriculum. The series made my heart reach out to the students, and I couldn’t help but hope that my favorite characters made it out alive and not in zombie-form. The K-drama emphasized the value of life and made me more appreciative of my zombie-less life. Give thanks to your friends and family! I’ve never read the webtoon that All of Us Are Dead is based off of, but because of word about Season 2, I might just have to hop on the webtoon train.
— Karen, ACT!ON Writer
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