Although Korean dramas, or K-dramas, are typically known for their heartwarming romance plots and unique drama stories, some are so unique that they verge on strange. K-dramas are television series made in South Korea. Like any TV show, they range in genre from historical fiction to thrillers, and typically have a distinct focus on fashion, culture, and romance.
The following k-dramas stand out from the rest due to their incredibly weird storylines. Though they may seem unrealistic at times, these series are still enjoyable and will certainly elicit a laugh, if not a weird look. Plus, they continue to take on relatable themes such as love, identity, and purpose. In this way, the following k-dramas may be undoubtedly odd, but they still offer the same greatness as any other k-drama or television series.
10 Meow, The Secret Boy
A rom-com series released in 2020, Meow, The Secret Boy, also known as Welcome, follows a young woman who has a strained relationship with cats but brings friendly one home anyway. As it turns out, this cat can actually transform into a human man, and more than that, he's in love with his new owner. Throughout the series, the cat tries to hide his human identity from his owner while also dedicating himself to staying near her at all times. This series is undeniably strange right from the start, however, it only gets more complicated as love begins to be a factor.
9 Extracurricular
Extracurricular is a 2020 k-drama thriller series that takes a very unexpected turn. When a gifted high school student realizes he may not have the money to pay for college, he turns to a life of crime to make more money. Namely, he works as a security provider for sex workers under the mysterious name "Uncle". In the series, the protagonist must balance his double life without getting caught by his classmates, while also nurturing a budding romance with one of the sex workers. This story may be strange, but it also carries plenty of risk, making it an exciting watch.
8 My Holo Love
This romance series shows two people falling in love without ever really knowing each other. My Holo Love, released in 2020, tells the story of a reclusive young woman with face blindness disorder who finds solace in an AI program, Holo. Behind the Holo is the creator, who shares the hologram's face but not it's personality. When the young woman falls in love with Holo, and the creator falls in love with the young woman, a strange sort of love triangle ensues. Despite having an otherworldly, technological concept, My Holo Love is also heartwarming and sweet.
7 Psychopath Diary
Psychopath Diary is a 2019 drama that begins when a timid and depressed young man witnesses a murder. Without realizing it, he picks up the diary of the k-drama serial killer, which lists all of his kills. Before the man can flee the scene, he is involved in an accident that gives him retrograde amnesia, and from there, he believes he is the psychopath killer. Meanwhile, a young detective tries to track him down and a higher up at his company is revealed to be the killer. Psychopath Diary has a wild storyline that provides plenty of unexpected yet entertaining twists and turns.
6 I'm Not A Robot
This unlikely technological romance from 2017 is one that audiences won't likely forget. I'm Not A Robot follows a young man who has a severe allergy to human . When the company he owns is considering selling its tech team, the lead of it tries to convince him not to by sending the robot companion he created based on his ex-girlfriend. However, a problem arises when the robot short circuits and the ex-girlfriend must be brought in to act like the robot until the real one can be fixed. The two fall in love, despite the strange scenario they're in.
5 The Girl Who Sees Smells
The title of this drama is a perfect summation of the series' plot. In 2015's The Girl Who Sees Smells, a young woman falls into a coma after witnessing her parents' murder. When she wakes up, she finds that one of her eyes has turned green and she can now see scents. Three years later, the woman's ability comes into use when a young man without a sense of smell or taste must a test to become a detective. Without realizing it, the pair are inextricably linked, and a murder mystery ensues. Though unrealistic, The Girl Who Sees Smells offers an intricate and likable plot.
4 Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit
Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit, also known as Grandpas Over Flowers Investigation Team, is a 2014 comedy about four young men who run a detective agency, and after attempting a bad experiment, three of them age rapidly overnight. Now in old mens' bodies, the detectives must acclimate to their new appearances and try to continue solving mysteries as detectives. This is an incredibly strange concept, however, it's definitely funny and enjoyable. It proves how science experiments gone wrong and age can't get in the way of strong friendship.
3 Oh My Ghost
The plot of 2015's Oh My Ghost is one that audiences might not expect. A shy young woman struggles at her job as an assistant chef, but one day, is possessed by a ghost that changes everything. The ghost is a young woman who died a virgin and believes that if she loses her virginity through her host, then she will be able to finally move on and enter the afterlife. Together, the two women work together to send the ghost into the afterlife and help the woman overcome her self-esteem issues. Overall, this is a silly and kind story.
2 Blade Man
In the supernatural k-drama series Blade Man, a young man loses the love of his life, and afterward, develops a cold, prickly personality that manifests in literal blades growing from his body. The more the protagonist feels angry or anguished, more blades grow. After meeting a sweet, kind-hearted woman, he learns how to heal from his pain and soften his physical and metaphorical blades. Dealing with loss and mental health, this 2014 k-drama is an important one, even despite its uncommon, supernatural aspects.
1 Extraordinary You
This 2019 k-drama romance series follows a high school girl as she realizes that her world is not what it seems. One day, she discovers that her and her peers are living in a comic book entitled, "Secret," and worse she has a horrible fate. Determined to beat this predetermined future, she sets out to find her true love. In the process, she realizes that changing her destiny may come with other unknowable costs. For the most part, the strangeness of this plot is outweighed by the great morals of the story. Extraordinary You broaches the idea that anyone can be in charge of their life, even inside a comic book.