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When Song Kang appeared in the Netflix Korean drama Love Alarm, it solidified his acting career in a way that had never been done for the young actor. Born in the suburbs of Seoul in Suwon, Song made his acting debut several years prior as a side character in the drama The Liar and His Lover, and, to start off his career, was appearing in music videos for Korean idols and singers. After playing another supporting role, he was cast as one of the leads in Love Alarm, which served as a springboard for his career. His next project, Sweet Home, is what launched Song into broader acclaim.
Ever since appearing in Love Alarm and Sweet Home, Song has consistently been cast as the lead male role in several Korean dramas. Some of his dramas have been some of the most watched in the world, which might be aided by the fact many of them are distributed by Netflix. In 2023 alone, he starred in the second season of Sweet Home, and will portray a demon in the new release My Demon. Until then, these are his best shows, ranked.
8 Nevertheless (2021)
Han So-hee stars in the Korean drama Nevertheless as Yoo Na-bi, an art student who, at the beginning of the series, is brutally dumped by her boyfriend. And to make things worse, he publicly humiliated her at his art showing, having rumors spread about her in the process. When she begins dating another art student, Park Jae-eon (Song Kang), the two begin a dance of an on and off relationship, making this show reflective of the college experience on an entirely new level.
Why It’s Great
For those who might enjoy a drama that’s inside an art school setting, Nevertheless certainly contains all of those vibes. The characters are all artists and are involved in their practices, despite being students. However, Nevertheless must be approached with some sort of caution when watching. The main characters are involved in a highly toxic relationship, and it can be devastating to watch the female lead, Yoo Na-bi, be treated poorly by the men in her life. Stream on Netflix
7 Man in the Kitchen (2017)
Released in 2017, Man in the Kitchen stars Choi Soo-young and On Joo-wan in the lead roles. Choi portrays Lee Roo-ri, a young woman trying to a get a good job at a bigger company in Korea, but when she fails at this task, she slowly starts to give up on her dreams. When she decides to run off and take a vacation to get away from all that’s happening, she heads to Guam. There, she meets a man whose attitude exemplifies not caring about anything and doing what he wants. By meeting him, it will change her life and how she views it.
Why It’s Great
While Man in the Kitchen certainly has its problematic moments, as some of the male figures in the drama could use some anger management courses when it comes to treating other people, Man in the Kitchen eventually finds its footing. Mixing multiple genres into the fold, it manages to be captivating when it comes to how it effectively does just this throughout. Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase
6 When the Devil Calls Your Name (2019)
When the Devil Calls Your Name, which aired on Korean television in 2019, stars Jung Kyung-ho as a man who literally sold his soul to a devil. He is a famous composer who did this just to get more famous and have a sustainable career, but, at the beginning of the series, the contract with the devil is about to expire. In order to cling to everything he built with this, he needs to make another deal with the devil, but this time his life is at stake.
Why It’s Great
When the Devil Calls Your Name is underrated in the K-drama world, striking a really good balance between tension and moving the plot forward. Some dramas take their time in getting to the point, but not this one. Good writing is a trademark in this drama, and its subject is refreshing to see amid the more stereotypical expectations of what Korean dramas are. Stream on Viki
5 The Liar and His Lover (2017)
Lee Hyun-woo and Park Soo-young lead 2017’s The Liar and His Lover, and in it, Lee portrays a music composer who’s heartbroken. Trying to get over the trauma of his past relationship, he meets a female student with a ton of talent when it comes to singing. She catches his eye, and the more time they start to spend with each other, the more she realizes he’s lying to her and that something deeper is at play, the more she has to juggle this relationship with her budding career as a singer.
Why It’s Great
Throughout The Liar and His Lover, it becomes difficult not to become attached to the characters — their emotional journeys and arcs might strike home for many viewers. Set within the music industry in South Korea, there’s quite a bit to admire when it comes to the chemistry and romance department of this genre. Stream on Viki
4 Forecasting Love and Weather (2022)
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Few dramas have gone into the territory that Forecasting Love and Weather has gone. Set inside the weather forecasting industry in South Korea, the male and female lead meet when he (Song Kang) starts working in the department. The female lead (played by Park Min-young) is his senior by several years, but as more issues begin to pop up with the weather in their department, sparks begin to fly between the two.
Why It’s Great
Korean workplace dramas have been common throughout the years, but one would imagine weather forecasting isn’t as exciting as it is after watching this drama. The two main characters navigate the age gap quite maturely, and while the story itself might not be for everyone, this is a well-acted drama. Stream on Netflix
3 Love Alarm (2019-2021)
When the first season of Love Alarm came out, it was one of the biggest releases of the year for Netflix and has since become one of the most rewatchable K-dramas ever made. Starring Kim So-hyun as Kim Jo-jo, she’s a high school student navigating life when a new app that tells you if someone loves you if they’re within 10 meters. Despite having an underprivileged background, Jo-jo becomes the object of affection between two different classmates, one who is rich (Song Kang) and the other more like her (Jung Ga-ram).
Why It’s Great
Love Alarm has all the classic elements of what makes a good drama: a love triangle, plenty of drama, and several tropes that are common throughout the Korean television world. It’s hard not to like Kim So-hyun’s Jo-jo and root for her as she tries to get through the difficulties of the world, and groan whenever something new finds itself in her way. Stream on Netflix
2 Sweet Home (2020-Present)
Song Kang’s role in Sweet Home elevated his career to all-new heights after Love Alarm came out, and there are plenty of good reasons why. He portrays a young man, Cha Hyun-soo, living alone in an apartment after a family tragedy occurs, but one day, monsters appear outside the building. The people living in the complex barricade themselves inside, but when they realize the monsters might not just be outside, the show becomes a lesson in survival when Hyun-soo’s cup ramen stash comes in handy.
Why It’s Great
Mixing horror and action, Sweet Home breaks the conventions of what many consider Korean television to be. It’s more reminiscent of Korean cinema at times, but the show does an excellent job keeping the audience on their toes throughout the series. While the story might not be the greatest at times, the characters are certainly lovable. Stream on Netflix
1 Navillera (2021)
Park In-hwan and Song Kang star in the drama Navillera, which is about a 70-year-old mailman chasing after his dream of becoming a ballet dancer. Despite his family bitterly opposing this decision, he befriends a young man (Song Kang) who’s about to give up on ballet, which his mother once did, until he meets him. Despite the challenges both of these men face, especially doing a sport that’s considered to be feminine in the strict binaries of a traditional society, they’re going to learn to overcome any problems that come their way.
Why It’s Great
One of the most inspiring parts of Navillera is about how one can chase their dreams. Whether they’re young or old, despite the stigma we face when we make certain decisions, individuals can become free after following their heart. This is the core of Navillera, making it a must-watch drama in the Korean television world. Stream on Netflix
