SQUID GAME, LEE Byung-hun, (Season 3, ep. 303, aired June 27, 2025). photo: No Ju-han / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection Image via No Ju-han / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection By Dyah Ayu Larasati Published Oct 14, 2026, 11:01 PM EDT Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider , responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival , and the Sundance Film Festival . Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature , concentrating on Creative Writing. On March 2026, Dyah graduated with Master's degree in English Literature Studies , with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works. Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore , Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us Add on Google Preferred Source Google Discover Like Like follow Follow followed Followed Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap The last 20 years have given us some of the best K-dramas to date . In the '90s, K-dramas were known for their melodramatic plots centered on love and family, and by the 2000s, they had paved the way for lighter, slice-of-life romantic comedies. Over the past two decades, however, K-dramas have taken bolder, more experimental directions. They're no longer just dramas; the term now covers a whole spectrum of genres, from thrillers to satires .
But at the end of the day, what makes a K-drama truly great is its ability to connect with audiences. No matter how experimental these shows get, the best ones leave a lasting impression and give people something to talk about for years to come . From a revenge story set in one of Seoul's most popular districts to a Netflix global phenomenon, here are the best K-dramas of the last 20 years, ranked.
Princess Hours Prince Shin and Chae Gyeong Image via MBC Imagine finding out you're going to marry a prince when you're just an ordinary high school student . That's exactly what happens to Shin Chae-kyeong ( Yoon Eun-hye ) in Princess Hours , when an old royal agreement ties her to Crown Prince Lee Shin ( Ju Ji-hoon ). Surprisingly, Chae-kyeong never wanted this Cinderella story. The two barely get along, either. Chae-kyeong is bubbly and down-to-earth, while Shin is cold and arrogant, making their arranged marriage anything but a fairy tale.
Princess Hours was one of the early K-dramas to reach international audiences , riding the first wave of Hallyu's growing popularity . Shows about royalty might not appeal to everyone, but there's something fun about a contemporary high school romance set in a fictional South Korean monarchy rather than the usual world of British royals. With its whimsical take on the enemies-to-lovers trope , Princess Hours turns royal protocol and an unwanted arranged marriag…