16 Best Korean Dramas To Watch On YouTube With English Subtitles [Updated]
When I started watching Korean dramas in 2016, finding a good drama with English subtitles on a legal website was a difficult task. In fact, for a really long time, I didn’t even know the sites I used were actually illegal. Back then, K-drama was popular but not as much as it is today. Currently, K-dramas are everywhere including YouTube. Since YouTube is easy and quick to stream I feel it’s the best option to watch dramas. And thankfully, Korean broadcasting channels have put some really good dramas with English subtitles online that you can enjoy for free. So, have a look at the best and latest drama options available on YouTube for free.
Best Korean Dramas To Watch On YouTube (With English Subtitles)
1. Full House
YouTube – KBS World TV
Episodes – 16
Drama Review – Full House
Synopsis: Korean show Full House is a 16-episode-long television series. It is about a young woman Han Ji Eun, an aspiring story writer, who is cheated by her childhood friends who rob her of every single penny she has. They send her off on a trip to China and in her absence sell her house and also withdraw all her savings from her bank. When on her trip to China she meets famous actor Lee Young Jae and manages to trick him into giving her some money to help her return home to Korea.
On returning back, Ji Eun finds out that her house has been sold to Lee Young Jae who can’t stand the sight of her. However, after seeing her condition he pities her and offers her to work as a maid in his house. Left with absolutely no money and no place to go, she agrees. After some serious turn of events, Ji Eun ends up in a contract marriage with Young Jae and eventually falls in love with him.
K-Drama journey is incomplete without this classic rom-com. Watch the first episode that has made innumerable people drama addicts. Click on ‘CC’ for English subtitles.
2. Coffee Prince
YouTube – MBCClassic
Episodes – 17
Drama Review – Coffee Prince
Synopsis: Coffee Prince follows the story of a tomboy Go Eun Chan who is often mistaken for a boy because of her boyish appearance. Being the sole breadwinner of her family, comprising of a mother and a younger sister, she takes up multiple jobs to help them live a comfortable life.
One day, she happens to meet a rich playboy Choi Han Kyul, who takes her to be a boy and hires her to be his temporary boyfriend to help him ward off girls that his grandmother has been forcing to meet to get married. After successfully scaring off a few girls, Eun Chan and Han Kyul become friends. Miffed with his reluctance to marry, Han Kyul’s grandmother challenges him to revive a dying coffee shop by working with the current manager and increasing the shop profit by three-fold after which he can return to the US and take up any job of his choice.
Han Kyul accepts the challenge and hires Eun Chan as one of his first employees. Eun Chan boosts Han Kyul’s confidence by assuring him that the venture has the potential to be successful and that she will help him achieve his target. The coffee shop is then named Coffee Prince with only male members working for it. As Han Kyul and Eun Chan start working together, he grows fond her and eventually falls in love with her totally unaware of her true gender.
Another classic Korean drama you cannot miss. Cross-dressing drama at its best! Click on settings and select ‘English’ or the language you want your subtitles in.
3. Love In Trouble
YouTube – SBS World
Episode – 20
Drama Review – Love In Trouble/Suspicious Partner
Synopsis –
Eun Bong Hee (Nam Ji Hyun) is a lawyer in the making and works as an intern with Noh Ji Wook (Ji Chang Wook). However, before signing up to work as an intern, Bong Hee had once mistaken Ji Wook for a molester and had publicly accused Ji Wook of misbehaving with her. Ji Wook remembers her false accusation and ensures that she pays for it while working for him.
Though Ji Wook appears as a stern boss on the exterior, he is actually a softie who helps Bong Hee when she has trouble with her ex-boyfriend. One day, Bong Hee returns home from the general store and finds her ex-boyfriend stabbed to death in her house. She calls the police who then arrest her for murdering her ex-boyfriend. During such a testing time, she calls Ji Wook for help. Despite being Bong Hee’s prosecutor, Ji Wook manages to set her free from the trial which eventually costs him his beloved job. He then wishes to never see Bong Hee again as helping her meant career suicide for him.
But Ji Wook and Bong Hee are destined to meet again as they see each other two years later in a court case where they stand on opposite sides.
4. Princess Hours
YouTube – MBCClassic
Episodes – 24
Drama Review – Princess Hours
Synopsis: Shin Chae Kyung (Yoon Eun Hye) is an average schoolgirl who comes from a lower-middle-class family. She loves her small group of friends and enjoys her art classes a lot (Yes. She is an art student but not the ‘Arts’ that we have in India. Here it is literally arts that involve artistic stuff like drawing and painting). She is leading a normal life when suddenly her family informs her of a marriage proposal they received from the Royal Family of Korea. Her grandfather had once helped the King of Korea who in return promised to have his grandson, the future heir to the throne, marry his granddaughter.
The Kings’ grandson Crown Prince Lee Shin (Joo Ji Hoon) and Chae Kyung attend the same school. Just a few days ago, Chae Kyun had overheard the prince propose to his girlfriend Min Hyo Rin (Song Ji Hyo) who rejected him to pursue a career in ballet, leaving the prince no choice but to marry the one his family selects for him. He isn’t very fond of Chae Kyun as she witnessed him getting rejected by his girlfriend.
Chae Kyun initially refuses to marry the prince but her family’s poor financial condition forces her to say yes to the arranged marriage. Chae Kyun and Lee Shin can’t stand each other but comply only to please their families. The royal house and its rules do not suit Chae Kyung who feels lonely and depressed. She finds support in Lee Shin’s cousin, Lee Yool (Kim Jung Hoon) who lends an ear to her woes.
He, however, starts falling for her and makes no attempts to hide his feelings. On the other hand, Hyo Rin realizes her mistake of rejecting Lee Shin and returns to Korea giving up the scholarship she received to study abroad. She is now determined to go to any length to have him back in her life.
Here check out Episode 1. Click on ‘CC’ for English subtitles. The episodes are divided into parts so you will have to patiently click next to watch the next part.
5. The Heirs
YouTube – SBS World
Episodes – 20
Drama Review – The Heirs
Synopsis – The Heirs (also translated as The Inheritors) is a 20-episode-long Korean drama series about a young boy named Kim Tan who is an heir to a massive Korean business empire. He studies in the US and happens to meet a Korean girl Cha Eun Sang, who has come to America to attend her sister’s wedding. However, after coming to the US, Eun Sang finds out that her sister has been lying about her life in America and marriage and that she doesn’t even attend college. Instead, she has been working as a waitress and has been living in with an abusive boyfriend.
Eun Sang’s sister absconds with the money Eun Sang’s mother sent for her wedding and leaves Eun Sang to fend for herself. Kim Tan falls for Eun Sang the moment he sees her. He witnesses the two sisters quarrelling and offers to help Eun Sang. Completely alone with hardly any money, Eun Sang accepts his help and stays with him in his gigantic house where he lives all alone. She stays with him for a few days and learns that he is already engaged to a girl named Racheal Yoo.
After she returns to Korea, Kim Tan starts missing her and his family dearly and decides to return back to his family. When he comes home he finds out that Eun Sang’s mother works as a maid in his house and that the mother and daughter live in his house. But that does not deter him from chasing after her. Eun Sang feels highly embarrassed after she discovers the fact that Kim Tan is aware of her family status and her mother’s job. She tries to avoid him as per Kim Tan’s mother’s instructions. However, the more she pushes him away the more determinedly he pursues her. Kim Tan’s father is impressed by Eun Sang’s mother’s work and offers Eun Sang a scholarship to one of the best schools in town that is run by his wife.
Now, since, Eun Sang and Kim Tan live in the same house and attend the same school, avoiding him becomes impossible for her. At school, Eun Sang is faced with new challenges. She is bullied by Kim Tan’s frenemy Choi Young-Do who eventually falls in love with her and competes with Kim Tan for her affection.
This fancy big-budget drama is a favorite for Hallyu star Lee Min Ho’s fans. No need to click on ‘CC’ for this one as the video comes with English subtitles.
6. Playful Kiss
YouTube – Viki Global TV
Episodes – 16
Drama Review – Playful Kiss
Synopsis – Based on Japanese manga ‘Itazura Na Kiss’, it is about a girl named Oh Ha Ni (Jung So Min), one of the dumbest students in her class, who falls in love with a handsome and genius boy named Baek Seung Jo (Kim Hyun Joong). She confesses her love to Baek Seung Jo only to be humiliated and turned down by him. In a twist of fate, Ha Ni finds herself living under the same roof as Seung Jo and takes that as a sign from the universe that she is meant to be with him. Despite all the chaos that Ha Ni causes in Seung Jo’s life he starts developing feelings for her and eventually falls in love with her.
This drama was my obsession at one point of time. I have seen multiple adaptations of this drama and loved each one. Do watch the Korean version which is still very popular with drama lovers.
7. You’re Beautiful (aka He’s Beautiful)
YouTube – SBS World
Episodes – 16
Drama Review – You’re Beautiful
Synopsis – Korean gender-bender drama, You’re Beautiful is a 16-episode long TV series about a girl, Go Mi Nyeo who impersonates her twin brother, Go Mi Nam, to save his singing career after he was forced to go into hiding following bad eye surgery. She takes her brother’s place as the new member of a popular boy band, A.N.Jell. The other members of the boy band are Hwang Tae Kyung (Jang Geun Suk), Kang Shin Woo (Jung Yong Hwa) and Jeremy (Lee Hong Ki).
Tae Kyung is the leader of the boy band and is totally against the idea of adding another member to the band which is why he dislikes Mi Nam and doesn’t accept him easily. Tae Kyung finds out the truth behind Go Mi Nam and threatens to expose her. She begs him to let her stay and assures him that she will leave soon. Her stay with the band is a journey full of fun, chaos, and love angles.
This is one of the few dramas that I have seen multiple times. If I repeat a drama it clearly means that I adore it and it’s totally worth it.
8. The Master’s Sun
YouTube – SBS World
Episode – 17
Drama Review – The Master’s Sun
Synopsis – Tae Gong Shil (Gong Hyo Jin) lives a miserable life as she is unable to function as a normal person because of her ability to see and talk to ghosts. One day she bumps into Jong Won (So Ji Sub) who is a calculative and shrewd businessman. She gets in his car on a rainy day asking for a lift and he reluctantly obliges her. On their way, she encounters a scary ghost who accidentally holds Jong Won’s arm and realizes that the moment she made physical contact with Jong Won, the ghost vanished.
Tired of being haunted by ghosts she pleads with him to allow her to always be near him so she can ward off unwanted spirits but he laughs off her crazy demand. However, he is forced to believe her when she tells him something related to his supposed ex-girlfriend whose spirit still roams around him. Her revelation convinces him of her supernatural powers and he hires her to catch hold of his ex-girlfriend’s ghost as he needs to talk to her and in return, he offers her money and the opportunity to touch him whenever she is accosted by a scary ghost.
If you like scary romantic dramas then let So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin take you on an interesting ride.
9. Pinnochio
YouTube – SBS World
Episodes – 20
Synopsis: Ha Myeong (Lee Jong Suk) loses his parents and older brother owing to a scandal that rocks his town and tarnishes his father’s image. His mother then commits suicide while Ha Myeong is rescued by an old man who even adopts him mistaking him for his lost son Choi Dal Po. Since Choi Dal Po died several years ago his younger brother does not believe that the boy found in the ocean is his older brother but since his father is delusional he allows the boy to live with them.
Ha Myeong is a child prodigy but is forced to act dumb just to keep up with the new identity he has taken over just to be able to live with his new adoptive father. Ha Myeong lives with Choi Dal Po’s younger brother and his daughter In Ha. Following her grandfather’s insistence, she refers to Choi Dal Po as her uncle when in reality he is only a few years older than her.
The two then grow up together and slowly fall for each other. However, Ha Myeong remembers his real family and has a huge secret to hide. He clearly remembers the woman who destroyed his family and wishes to expose her for which he even takes up a job in her news channel working alongside In Ha.
Quite an emotional drama and can drag a little but certainly worth a watch. Watch it for Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk’s adorable love story and great chemistry.
10. Hi! School – Love On
YouTube – KBS World TV
Episodes – 20
Synopsis – The introverted Shin Woo Hyun is a popular face in school because of his handsome looks and exceptional singing talent. However, he prefers keeping to himself because of the emotional baggage that he silently carries. Lee Seul Bi, an angel, descends on earth and is always around Woo Hyun to protect him. His best friend Hwang Sung Yeol happens to fall in love but she has no interest in him. This turns him against Woo Hyun who seems to be the center of Seul Bi’s world.
Teen love and rivalry. Let me warn you that the drama may start well but tends to drag senselessly in the later episodes. However, if you like teen dramas you can surely give this one a try.
11. Dr. Romantic (aka Dr. Romantic, Teacher Kim)
YouTube – SBS World
Episodes – 21
Drama Review – Dr. Romantic, Teacher Kim
Synopsis – Dr. Boo Yong Joo (Han Suk Kyu) is a genius doctor known to have the ‘hand of God’ when it comes to treating patients. He once worked at Seoul’s biggest hospital, Geodae before he was fired unceremoniously by the upper management. He then disappeared from the medical circuit only to be discovered years later for working as a doctor with Doldam hospital under the name of Master Kim. As the Chief Surgeon of Doldam hospital, he takes Dr. Yoon Seo Jung (Seo Hyun Jin) and Dr. Kang Dong Joo (Yoo Yeon Seok) under his wings and trains them to be better doctors. (OK, my synopsis makes the show seem a little boring but take my word, this drama isn’t boring even for a second.)
Pretty is the flower that blooms in the harshest of conditions. Similarly, heart-warming is the love story that blossoms in a hospital teeming with all kinds of patients.
12. Wok Of Love
YouTube – SBS World
Episodes – 19
Drama Review – Wok Of Love
Synopsis: Chinese chef, Seo Poong (Lee Jun Ho) works in a five-star hotel. He is eagerly waiting to be promoted when his senior betrays him and has him transferred to another hotel. To add to his woes, he finds out that his boss is having an affair with his wife. Angry, Poong leaves the hotel and after swearing to seek revenge from them by outdoing them in their business.
Dan Sae Woo has always lived a happy and rich life until her father gets arrested for fraud which shakes her cozy life and leaves her with almost nothing. Her marriage is unable to withstand the pressure of her life’s difficulties and she is forced to work to keep afloat until her father is released.
Poong and Sae Woo happen to often bump into each other and they eventually start working together to help Poong have his revenge and Sae Woo earn some money. While working together, they slowly start falling for each other which exposes them to a new set of challenges in life.
Never seen a chef drama before this one. Loved Jun Ho and Ryeo Won’s unlikely chemistry. Do not watch it on an empty stomach or you too will crave black bean noodles.
13. Don’t Dare To Dream (aka Jealousy Incarnate)
YouTube – SBS World
Episodes – 24
Drama Review – Don’t Dare To Dream
Synopsis – Pyo Na Ri (Gong Hyo Jin) is a weather forecaster working on a temporary basis with the news channel SBC. Pyo Na Ri has no connections with higher up’s and struggles to win a permanent position with the news channel. One day at work, she bumps into news reporter and anchor Lee Hwa Shin (Jo Jung Suk) and instantly falls in love with him. Hwa Shin, however, is a rich arrogant brat and has no feelings for Pyo Na Ri. He leaves no opportunity to humiliate and scold Pyo Na Ri. But despite his mean behaviour Pyo Na Ri continues to crush on him.
Her one-sided love meets a roadblock when Hwa Shin’s best friend Go Jung Won (Go Kyung Pyo) shows interest in Pyo Na Ri. Hwa Shin initially supports the pair but later finds it difficult to contain his own jealousy of seeing his friend madly in love with the woman who once adored him. He then decides to win her love back and steal his friend’s girlfriend.
Every single person I have recommended this drama has loved it as much as I did. It is absolutely hilarious. Looking for a good laugh then do check out this drama. I insist!!
14. Mask
YouTube: SBS World
Episodes: 20
Drama Review: Mask
Synopsis: Byun Ji Sook (Park Soo Ae) is a hapless young girl who works as a sales executive in a showroom. She belongs to a poor family and is constantly troubled by a loan shark who wishes to retrieve the loan he gave to her father, from Ji Sook. Burdened by her life struggles she wonders how her life would be had she been born in a rich family.
Min Suk Hoon (Yoon Jung Hoon) is married into the rich Choi family and dreams of taking over the business someday. To achieve his dream, he plans to have his girlfriend, Seo Eun Ha (Park Soo Ae) marry his brother-in-law, Choi Min Woo who suffers from various mental issues. Suk Hoon and Eun Ha decide to prove Min Woo incapable of taking over the family business so Suk Hoon becomes the heir by default.
Due to a twist of fate, Suk Hoon is compelled to replace Eun Ha with Ji Sook who is her doppelganger. He promises to pay off her family debt only if she agrees to impersonate Eun Ha and marry Min Woo so he can execute his plans. Buried under debt and constant threats, Ji Sook is left with no option, and she agrees to pretend to be Eun Ha and enter the Choi family to destroy them.
Let’s see what makes this show of love, lies, and betrayal worth watching.
15. Do You Like Brahms?
YouTube: SBS World
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Chae Song Ah (Park Eun Bin) comes from a rich family and to please her parents even went to business school. However, her heart was never into business as she was always interested in music. Much to her family’s dismay, she rejoins the university but as a music student. Being much older than her peers at the university, Song Ah finds it difficult to cope with the new life as a student. One day, she hears Park Joon Young (Kim Min Jae) that soothes her lonely heart.
Joon Young is madly in love with Lee Jung Kyung (Park Ji Hyun) who is the granddaughter of a rich businessman. Circumstances, however, lead him away from her and that’s when he meets Song Ah.
Park Eun Bin shot to fame after her exemplary performance in “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and if you want to see more of her work then this show is perfect for you.
16. Dr. Romantic 2
YouTube: SBS World
Episode: 16
Synopsis: Dr. Kim Sa Bu (Han Seok Kyu) was famous for his exceptional surgery skills and was one of the top surgeons at the biggest hospital in the city. However, due to certain circumstances, he chose to live a rather quiet life and started working at Doldam Hospital located in a remote area. In this hospital, he comes across two students Seo Woo Jin (Ahn Hyo Seop) and Cha Eun Jae (Lee Sung Kyung) who are both hard-working and talented doctors but lacking in a lot of ways. Teacher Kim decides to take them under his wing and mentor them as they fight their way to becoming good doctors.
If you’ve watched Ahn Hyo Seop in “Business Proposal” and liked him in it then you are going to love him in this show. He was just perfect as the reserved, hard-working doctor Woo Jin.
Feature Image Courtesy: SBS World
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