The first and second halves of the gripping K-drama “The Glory” are now available on Netflix. The drama follows Moon Dong Eun (Song Hye Kyo), a woman who was a victim of extreme school bullying, as she seeks vengeance on her bullies in adulthood. The drama’s ultimate revenge plan has left fans in a state of shock. If you’re looking for more K-dramas about good triumphing over evil or social status themes, look no further: here are some K-dramas where viewers can enjoy characters’ journeys to seek justice or fight their way to the upper levels of society.
“My Mister”
Coworkers Park Dong Hoon (Lee Sun Gyun) and Lee Ji An (IU) excel at overcoming adversity. Park Dong Hoon is a middle-aged engineer who works for his college junior while his wife has an affair with his boss. His two unemployed brothers are a financial burden that adds to his stress. Lee Ji An is a temporary employee caring for her grandmother who is being mistreated by a loan shark. Lee Ji An’s boss hires her to find Park Dong Hoon’s flaw, but the two unexpectedly form an authentic friendship.
“My Mister” depicts what it’s like to work through emotional wounds, with Park Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An’s budding friendship providing them with the strength to endure and strive to overcome their problems. The main characters unintentionally reveal their emotions to each other, and their chemistry is so strong that you secretly want them to date and start a new life together. While “My Mister” and “The Glory” depict extremes of suffering, there is some relatability in both, and the two K-dramas show viewers ways to escape through friendship and other means.
“Who Are You: School 2015”
Eun Bi (Kim So Hyun) is a teen orphan living in Tongyeong, a coastal city. Eun Bi was separated from her twin sister Eun Byeol (also Kim So Hyun) as a child due to Eun Byeol’s adoption in Seoul. Unfortunately, Eun Bi is bullied at school until she is unexpectedly given the opportunity to swap lives with her twin. Her path to recovery is illuminated as she meets Han Yi Ahn (Nam Joo Hyuk) and Gong Tae Kwang (Yook Sungjae) and bonds with her sister’s adopted mother.
As in “The Glory,” the main focus of “Who Are You” is healing from bullying. Eun Bi faces difficulties while living alone in Tongyeong, but the love and affection she receives in Seoul aids in the healing of her emotional wounds. Actress Kim So Hyun excels in her dual roles as Eun Bi and Eun Byeol. Just as viewers empathized with Moon Dong Eun in “The Glory,” viewers of “Who Are You” feel Eun Bi’s pain and quickly side with her on the path to justice: it’s another powerful show that will have you rooting for the protagonist to find relief from her suffering. The series keeps viewers waiting for that peaceful day to arrive with each episode.
“The Penthouse”
The residents of the luxurious penthouse apartment are preoccupied with power and status. Shim Soo Ryeon (Lee Ji Ah) and Cheon Seo Jin (Kim So Yeon) are born into wealth, whereas Oh Yoon Hee (Eugene) strives to be the most successful despite being born into poverty. Oh Yoon Hee works multiple jobs to earn enough money to enter high society and provide a better life for her daughter. When a young girl dies in their neighborhood, the three women try to cover it up while suspecting each other.
“The Penthouse” is an emotional roller coaster that shares themes with “The Glory”: money, relationships, crime, and more intertwine as the series progresses. As in “The Glory,” the ladies of “The Penthouse” have heated debates, and Oh Yoon Hee is the outcast fighting for her place in the upper class. “The Penthouse” also has its fair share of mean girls, which are excellently portrayed by actresses Lee Ji Ah, Kim So Yeon, and Eugene. Their on-screen interactions kept viewers so interested in the K-drama that it was renewed for two more seasons, and “The Penthouse 2” and “The Penthouse 3” are also highly recommended!
“Reborn Rich”
The wealthy Jin family needs to frame someone for embezzlement, and their loyal secretary Yoon Hyun Woo (Song Joong Ki) is the best choice. They betray him, and he dies as a result. Unbeknownst to them, Yoon Hyun Woo resurfaces in the body of their youngest son Jin Do Joon (Song Joong Ki), with plans to exact revenge by taking over the Jin family’s business.
Because it focuses on avenging a crime, the series will satisfy all of your “The Glory” withdrawals. Given Yoon Hyun Woo’s death, the justice isn’t as sweet, but this protagonist isn’t about to let his enemies go free. As if that weren’t reason enough to watch, Song Joong Ki excels in his dual role, making the drama even more compelling. You’ll cry when Yoon Hyun Woo dies, rejoice when he is reborn, and even applaud his efforts to rise through the social ranks and bring justice.
“Lookout”
When her daughter is murdered, Detective Jo Soo Ji (Lee Si Young) experiences the unthinkable. The perpetrator of the heinous crime is not prosecuted because he comes from a wealthy prosecutor’s family. When she learns who the murderer is, she decides to take matters into her own hands and try to avenge her daughter’s death. During her mission, she meets a group of people who are also looking for justice for the tragic deaths of loved ones. They band together to bring her daughter’s murderer to justice.
“Lookout” is similar to “The Glory” in that corrupt authority figures fail the protagonists, who are ordinary people. While Moon Dong Eun begs for help when she is bullied, Jo Soo Ji requires assistance in solving a murder. “The Glory” and “Lookout” both subtly emphasize the importance of honest and moral leaders. “Lookout” is a riveting experience that combines crime, raw acting, and emotional storytelling. This series, like “The Glory,” will have you demanding fairness and hoping wrongs are righted until the very last episode!