K-Drama Day Starter Pack: 15 Shows Across Romance and Fantasy

For K-Drama Day, Rakuten Viki has assembled a curated collection of titles spanning romance, action, fantasy, and darker narratives—the K-Drama Starter Pack. With 15 dramas selected across different genres and tones, there’s a title for newcomers and established fans alike. The platform’s collection reflects the range of storytelling in Korean television, from workplace dynamics to magical transformations.

Stories of Ambition and Second Chances

Transformation defines several dramas in the collection, each exploring characters who rebuild or reimagine their lives. “Dear X” follows Baek Ah Jin, played by Kim You Jung, an actress who climbs to stardom by using and discarding others, building her career on the people she stepped over. She masks her cruelty beneath a beautiful exterior as she claws her way to fame and fortune. “Perfect Marriage Revenge” traces Han Yi Joo, played by Jung Yoo Min, who enters a contract marriage with Seo Do Guk, played by Sung Hoon, to extract revenge on her family for wrongs committed against her.

“Reborn Rookie” takes an altogether different approach to reinvention through circumstance rather than choice. Kang Yong Ho, played by Son Hyun Joo, chairs the powerful Choiseong Group, a leading conglomerate, until an accident forces his soul into the body of soccer player Hwang Jun Hyun, played by Lee Jun Young. The chairman must then navigate his own company as a rookie employee, stripped of his authority, position, and identity. His forced restart offers a perspective on power and its absence.

Romance in Professional and Fantastical Settings

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Workplace and Unexpected Meetings

Romance emerges from proximity, shared time, and hidden history across several titles. “Love Scout” centers on Kang Ji Yun, a CEO played by Han Ji Min, whose professional excellence masks personal incompetence outside the office, contrasted with Yu Eun Ho, her secretary played by Lee Jun Hyuk, who excels at both his job and domestic responsibilities including childcare. Their dynamic builds from her competence at work and his competence everywhere else, creating interdependence.

“What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” reverses the power dynamic. Lee Young Joon, the narcissistic vice president of his family company played by Park Seo Joon, develops an unexpected relationship with his personal secretary Kim Mi So, played by Park Min Young, as a hidden secret from their past comes to light and reframes their connection.

“My Dearest Nemesis” structures romance across two timelines separated by 16 years. Baek Su Jeong and Ban Ju Yeon, played by Mun Ka Young and Choi Hyun Wook, first meet as online gaming characters during their school days, then encounter each other in real life as boss and employee, with their gaming connection becoming a bridge to romantic recognition.

Fantasy Romance and Redemption

“The First Night with the Duke” transplants an ordinary college student into a romance novel’s fictional world. Cha Sun Chaek, played by Seohyun, wakes inside the narrative as a minor character and spends the night with Yi Beon, the obsessive male lead played by Taecyeon, forcing the narrative to accommodate her unexpected presence.

“My Sweet Mobster” frames romance as mutual healing and recovery. Seo Ji Hwan, played by Um Tae Goo, a man who has overcome his troubled past, meets Go Eun Ha, a children’s content creator played by Han Sun Hwa. The drama promises a story centered on reconciling the past and rediscovering childhood innocence together.

Action and High-Concept Comedy

School and Student-Centered Stories

Three dramas center on high school settings but approach them through distinct premises. “Study Group” follows Youn Ga Min, played by Hwang Minhyun, a student at one of the worst-performing schools who has only one gift—fighting—and must learn academics. He forms a study group to navigate the ruthless world of college entrance exams at an institution plagued by academic failure.

“Undercover High School” adopts an espionage framework. Jeong Hae Seong, a National Intelligence Service agent played by Seo Kang Jun, goes undercover as a high school student with a specific mission—tracking down missing gold. The premise layers high school social dynamics over a spy thriller plot.

“BITCH X RICH” structures itself around a murder and witness relocation. Kim Hye In, played by Lee Eun Saem, serves as the sole witness to a high school girl’s murder and eventually transfers to the elite Cheongdam International High School where she encounters Baek Je Na, played by Yeri, the prime suspect and the school’s most powerful student.

Magical and Military Fantasy

“The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” blends the military setting with fantasy gaming mechanics. Park Ji Hoon plays Kang Sung Jae, an army cook, who receives a mysterious quest window that appears one day, transforming his mundane military assignment into an unexpected journey toward becoming a legendary cook.

“Yumi’s Cells” adopts an entirely unconventional perspective on character development. Kim Go Eun plays Yumi, an ordinary office worker, but the drama is told entirely from the point of view of the brain cells inhabiting her head, each one responsible for controlling specific thoughts, feelings, and actions as she navigates work and relationships.

Legal and Supernatural Drama

“Phantom Lawyer” pairs the legal profession with the supernatural. Shin I Rang, a lawyer with the ability to see ghosts played by Yoo Yeon Seok, and elite attorney Han Na Hyun, played by Esom, team up to resolve the lingering grievances of their ghost clients through legal proceedings, combining courtroom drama with supernatural elements.

“To My Beloved Thief” relocates the romance narrative to historical Korea. Hong Eun Jo, played by Nam Ji Hyun, becomes a bandit known as Gil Dong and encounters Yi Yeol, a Joseon royal prince played by Moon Sang Min. The complication deepens when they swap souls while he pursues her, inverting their power dynamics and forcing each to experience the other’s reality.

Finding Your Entry Point

The Rakuten Viki Starter Pack offers clear entry points depending on viewing preferences. Romance enthusiasts can explore both the workplace dynamics of “Love Scout” and “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” alongside the fantasy love stories in “The First Night with the Duke” and “My Sweet Mobster.” Action and comedy seekers have three school-based options: “Study Group” emphasizing academics and fighting, “Undercover High School” mixing espionage with adolescence, and “BITCH X RICH” blending murder mystery with high school hierarchy.

Those drawn to unusual premises and magical elements can investigate the soul-swapping centered in “Reborn Rookie,” where a conglomerate chairman experiences life as a rookie, the magical intervention in “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier,” where an army cook navigates a quest system, or the cellular narration in “Yumi’s Cells,” which tells an office worker’s story from inside her own brain. Supernatural and legal drama enthusiasts have “Phantom Lawyer” combining courtroom resolution with ghost clients and “To My Beloved Thief” placing fantasy elements within Korea’s historical Joseon period.