Part of the charm why Korean dramas easily attract viewers is their continuous drive to explore story settings.
While crime, legal and medical stories are basic themes to which Korean dramas have consistently evolved to, a few novelties are worth seeing.
Typically, workplace Korean dramas have a romance tag reputation. However, it has since navigated to unique jobs, and the healing fictional narratives drawn from the character’s profession.
Incidentally, the recent K-Drama seasons have featured series depicting unique kinds of jobs that viewership can indulge in. Hence, the idea for this feature happened.
In case these rare K-Drama character jobs and office-set Korean dramas missed your radar, schedule a time to binge-watch the Korean Dramas in this list.
Romance is a Bonus Book
Exploring the world of book publication, this refreshing tvN noona-romance treat introduced endearing characters. These are sketches of people working behind the bind pages we read from imaginative minds of writers.
From lessons about women’s strength, individualism and friendship, its ultimate message is finding one’s purpose. Romance Is A Bonus Book has presented a beautiful tale of life and romance, which is honest and reassuring.
The First Shop of Coffee Prince
With cute baristas manning a cafe, the aromatic bait is strong for this charismatic male-dominated series. The iconic MBC romantic comedy brims with some familiar narrative bend. These tropes that we are still seeing in trendy dramas such as bickering-turned-romance and flower boy cast.
But it is the satisfying love realization of the hero who struggles to reconcile his growing fondness for his office staff whom he thought to be a man, who is in fact a woman, that strengthens the timeless charm of the series.
May Queen
Learning about the shipbuilding industry is a takeaway from this melodrama. Additionally, it features oil exploration and shipbuilding technology.
Just like that historical ship famous for her endurance, May Queen justifies its slow pacing, and just like a mighty ship soaring in the billowing waves, it will give you a serene feeling after.
Her Private Life
A homage to every fangirl or fanboy, Park Min Young served a character any fan can relate to who balances his passion and regular job. Tidily executed, Her Private Life has an energizing habit of presenting its narrative in bright light as much as possible.
Park Min Young breathes life into Sung Deok Mi. A museum curator by profession, and a passionate idol fangirl by choice. To keep her job going, she hides her other life as a homepage master and aficionado of idol group member Cha Si An.
Her fangirl life reaches a nirvanic stage when the museum collaborates with the idol to exhibit his art collection. However, a fake relationship she initiated with Ryan Gold to thwart the dating news with her favorite idol that went viral, also hits a no-return moment.
Deok Mi, the fangirl wakes up one day falling in “real love” with Ryan Gold. Hitting the jackpot, the feeling is mutual for the curator and the museum director.
The King of Dramas
With four main players and side characters moving to the riches to rags to riches to happiness kind of story, the audience would feel like members of the production team. They would share the reality, failure and triumph of the King of Dramas.
A drama about making a drama is just piquant. You’d be surprised to find yourself cheering for the production company CEO and the writer in the story.
Personal Taste
Diligently checking all elements of classic rom-coms, the cohabitation love story of a furniture maker and an architect easily enthuse viewers.
Brimming with love and life lessons for women to learn, the heroine provided insights on how focusing on personal dreams should come first before frustrations.
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Worlds Within
Stage in television production background, Hyun Bin and Song Hye Kyo painted a heartfelt and realistic love story of two TV drama directors.
Acquainted for a long time, and once lovers, the love pairing journeys to discover why their love is true even then. And why it means to be true even years after.
The City Hall
One of star writer Kim Eun Sook’s early series wove an affecting love story between two politicians.
Their personal dreams and love fulfillment are drawn engagingly as they pursue their political careers. Kim Sun Ah and Cha Seung Won in one of their best romantic dramas as well.
Strong Girl Bong Soon
JTBC’s 5th-year anniversary drama Strong Girl Bong Soon has exceeded expectations in raking consistently high ratings during its run.
Not only did we bask in blissful, heart-fluttering moments, but also received some note-worthy life lessons. The series features a female bodyguard with super strength dreaming of becoming a game developer.
She eventually falls in love with the CEO she was tasked to protect.
Baker King | Bread, Love and Dreams
Breaking through mainstream popularity, Yoon Shi Yoon’s popular drama is a heartfelt masterpiece.
Aside from presenting the world of baking, it also provided lessons about love, relationship and chasing dreams.
Live Up To Your Name
A few lessons about acupuncture plus its well-contrived story made this tvN period drama of Kim Nam Gil and Kim Ah Joong a well-packaged treat.
As medical dramas tend to be thriving on conversations, the acupuncture lessons, and comparisons of old age healing techniques versus contemporary medical treatment are what viewers would most likely gain and learn from this series.
Hospital Ship
What makes this Ha Ji Won starrer fitting to this roster albeit being a medical themed series is how it featured doctors going to remote places to provide treatment and professional advice. Its healing imprint is also ever-present.
Baby Faced Beauty
The design competitions, the annoying she-devils-wearing-prada moments, and the unfailing optimism of the female lead make this woman-empowering romantic comedy appealing.
Set in the fashion design industry, Jang Na Ra portrays the hardworking heroine, who assumes her sister’s identity, to achieve her dream of becoming a fashion designer.
Do You Like Brahms?
Exploring the world of classical music made this chasing-love-and-dream series an encouraging watch. It slowly burns with captured beautiful messages of finding life’s purpose.
I Do, I Do
A successful and grumpy shoe designer lives an affluent life but thrives on the inversely proportional love and work success idea. After a one-night affair with a man younger than her, he ends up joining the company where she works as a shoe designer.
Portrayed by Kim Sun Ah, the heroine of the story presents a woman who confuses her romantic relationships to her passion for the craft. She works hard to sustain the pressure with her gracious vulnerability and fierce convictions. The spotlight was on her and she delivered.
The Good Manager
Nam Goong Min has continuously picked stories that strive for significant meaning. Just like how his accountant role in this lauded KBS series.
It’s Okay, That’s Love
Given that sickness in K-dramaland usually involves amnesia or anything fatal, It’s Okay That’s Love is such a refreshing watch.
A famed fiction writer moves to his house he rented out when his crib required renovation. There he meets two psychiatrists and a psychiatric patient with Tourette syndrome living in the most entertaining and reckless fashion.
The plot’s charm escalates when he succumbs to an inevitable connection to the pretty psychiatrist. Inevitably, romance mutually happens between them.
Black Dog
While school dramas have become a relative staple in the K-Drama seasons the past few years, Black Dog takes on the perspective of teachers in this tvN series.
Let’s Eat
Set in a mouth-watering food backdrop, the franchise drama starred by Yoon Do Joon takes a slice-of-life approach. It focuses on the daily lives of single people living alone. Particularly, it highlights the vibrant life of foodie Goo Dae Young.
Your House Helper
Putting a spin on how house cleaning and organizing is innate to women, the Ha Suk Jin starrer appeals to its underlying message.
In addition to the physical cleaning tips the drama provided, it also presented lessons by giving meaning to the featured house owners’ lives.
Taking a minimalist route, Your House Helper does not make the viewers feel any negativity, yet the positive tone does not make it linger either.
Hotel Del Luna
Powered by an amazing cast of hotel workers who served extraordinary clientele, this Lee Ji Eun and Yeo Jin Goo love pairing delighted many during its run for its impeccable narrative.
Misaeng
While bravely showing the downside of a typical salary man, witnessing the story’s hero unfazed and persevering to work on opportunities regardless of the hurdles, is an encouragement for people who always have work-related inhibitions.
Misaeng is definitely one of the best-produced and written dramas of all time with its simplicity and amazing depiction of the daily life of the working class. Without frills, it is an inspiring story to watch – for anyone on board and soon to board onto the cruel corporate world.
Jugglers
Displaying the world of secretaries in a detailed way, alongside the embedded personal issues they have to work on, spins the story of Jugglers.
It celebrates career dreams, acknowledging self-worth, and finding love. Although it takes a long winding path to clear the simple problem, the sweet direction makes up for it.
The Package
With picturesque France as the designated setting, you will get what you never asked for in this comforting drama about travelers who embark on a premium package French tour.
As the journey unfolds, they reflect on their current life and love situations. All of which result in overdue disappointments that need to be forgiven and new beginnings that need to be accepted.
Radio Romance
There are dramas that make you smile even with unnecessary plot bends. Because the narrative knows when to stop playing safe. Or even when to bounce back after an uncalled-for storyline lapse.
Radio Romance guardedly moved to a perceivable curve of fulfilling its romantic promise, and not over-achieving the technicalities of the conflicts that surrounded the love pairing.
Big Issue
Holding its ground well, Big Issue has to thank Han Ye Seul and Joo Jin Moo’s credible portrayals. Giving life to cold and desperate characters, they introduce the world of shutterbugs. Their portrayals somewhat change the way viewers see celebrity paparazzi.
Search: WWW
Headlined by a female-dominated cast, Search: WWW surfs the industry of Internet’s web portal. Amidst the cutthroat competition, the characters tackle personal redemptions, career dreams, and building relationships.
Start-Up
Presenting the world of start-up businesses and innovators, this series is cut perfect for youth aspiring to carve their presence in the business world.
You’re Beautiful
To date, Hong sisters really did a great job in this quirky rom-com traversing the life of fictional Korean idols. That if you watch it several years after, you still find yourself smiling and raving on ANJELL.
Partners for Justice 1 & 2
At the center of this MBC crime-themed series is forensic expert, Baek Beom (Jung Jae Young) who took us to an interestingly drive to forensic science while solving crimes.
Beethoven Virus
An iconic series not to miss, it introduced a world-renowned orchestra conductor and classical music enthusiast chasing their dreams and love.
Hot Stove League
Revolving around the people working for a professional baseball team, Nam Goongmin scores a homerun in this well-contrived series that features the non-playing and the playing team who overcame their fears all for the sport they all love.
The Great Seer
Obviously not the most modern workplace setting in this list, but if you want to learn about geomancy, face reading and traditional Korean beliefs, this Ji Sung drama is a must watch.
More Than Friends
Apart from its emotionally captivating unrequited love-themed stories, this jTBC series introduced the heroine as a calligrapher and the man she harbored a 10-year romance with as a photographer.
Forecasting Love and Weather
Forecasting Love and Weather leaves a note on how establishing romantic connection warrants braving choices and owning up to misgivings. It also explores South Korea’s weather forecasting world by picturing characters who brave the storms and unpredictable moments of their lives while solving weather forecast issues.
For its 16-episode run, the series has put varied perspectives of career people sharing a highly-demanding job that does not tolerate constant mistakes. Correspondingly, lessons on career, relationships and marriage were richly focused on.
*Photos from respective Korean network | Videos from respective music source YouTube channels
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