9 New York Times Featured 2024 K-Dramas to Watch

With the much-anticipated launch of Season 2 of Netflix’s groundbreaking series, “Squid Game,” there is renewed interest in a range of K-dramas that showcase innovative storytelling. The New York Times has recently highlighted nine lesser-known K-dramas that stand out for their creativity and craftsmanship.

Here’s a detailed look at the impressive list compiled by the *New York Times*:

1. The Auditors

Featuring a talented cast, including Shin Ha-kyun and Lee Jung-ha, the drama “The Auditors” aired from July to August last year. This gripping series centers around an auditing team combating widespread embezzlement and corruption at a construction firm. The determined team leader, Shin Cha-il, skillfully portrayed by Shin Ha-kyun, is on a mission to expose white-collar crime.

The *New York Times* lauded Shin Cha-il as one of the year’s most captivating K-drama characters.

2. Chicken Nugget

In an entertaining twist, “Chicken Nugget” combines sci-fi and comedy to explore an absurd scenario involving two office workers. The central dilemma revolves around a loved one who transforms into chicken nuggets after entering a peculiar cabinet—posing an intriguing question that invites audiences to ponder their choices in bizarre circumstances.

Inspired by a webtoon, this unique show blends surreal humor with unexpected mysteries, making it a perfect antidote to the weight of darker times.

3. Chief Detective 1958

This period drama aired from April to May last year and achieved remarkable viewership, peaking at 10.8% according to Nielsen Korea. Set against the backdrop of 1958, it follows Detective Park Yeong-han, portrayed by Lee Je-hoon, who specializes in apprehending petty thieves alongside three quirky colleagues as they hit back against corruption.

The show serves as a prequel to the beloved series “Chief Detective,” which ran from 1971 to 1989, and effectively continues the legacy with compelling portrayals of confrontations with local crime elements.

4. Crash

“Crash” broke records as the highest-rated Monday-Tuesday drama in ENA’s history, with a peak of 6.6%. The series masterfully intertwines investigative drama with comedic and thriller elements, navigating serious themes while maintaining a lighthearted tone. Its engaging storylines and dynamic action sequences have garnered significant acclaim, paving the way for an anticipated Season 2.

5. Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (a.k.a. “Jeong Nyeon”)

Emerging as a blockbuster, this drama aired from October to November last year and peaked at an impressive 16.5%. Led by Kim Tae-ri, who plays Jeong-nyeon, the storyline follows her aspiring journey in traditional Korean theater during the post-war era, celebrating female narratives. The show received accolades, including recognition from *Time* magazine as one of the top K-dramas of 2024.

6. Lovely Runner

This charming romantic fantasy captured audiences from April to May last year, hitting a peak rating of 5.8%. The chemistry between Byun Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon provides an engaging blend of high school drama intertwined with whimsical romance.

7. Miss Night and Day

Divided into 16 episodes, this series aired from June to August last year and boasted a remarkable peak rating of 11.7%. It tells the story of a job seeker in her twenties who mysteriously inhabits the body of a fifty-something woman by day, captivating viewers with its unique plot and character dynamics.

8. No Gain No Love

This engaging 12-episode series aired from August to October last year, achieving a peak rating of 5.0%. Starring Shin Min-ah and Kim Young-dae, it focuses on a money-obsessed protagonist who concocts a scheme for a fake wedding to secure a job promotion.

9. A Shop for Killers

This stylish action-packed series chronicles Ji-an (played by Kim Hye-joon), a niece at risk due to a deadly inheritance from her uncle Jin-man (played by Lee Dong-wook). With a confirmed Season 2 on the horizon, it has been celebrated as one of the *New York Times*’ Best International TV Shows of 2024.

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