The Best K-Drama Of All Time Just Turned 20 Years Old & Is Still A 10/10 Masterpiece

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While K-dramas are becoming increasingly popular with lots of new shows appearing, one of the very best actually came out 19 years ago. Korean entertainment, including shows and movies, has gained worldwide attention recently, with hits like Netflix’s Squid Game and the film Parasite. This growing interest in K-pop is also helping K-dramas reach a wider audience.

Great K-dramas stand out for their original stories and ability to connect with viewers through relatable themes. While often incorporating unique elements, these shows ultimately explore the human condition. This is true whether the drama is a historical tale with a supernatural twist, like Netflix’s Kingdom, a contemporary romance set in Korea, such as Crash Landing On You (also on Netflix), or a gripping political thriller like Disney+’s Tempest.

A truly great K-drama, like Princess Hours, blends different genres while focusing on universal themes such as family, love, and honor, often set against the backdrop of Korean history and culture. Sadly, it doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it came out before streaming and the internet were popular.

What Princess Hours Is About

The South Korean drama Princess Hours (also known as Goong) is set in a fictional present where Korea still has a royal family. Based on Park So-hee’s manhwa Goong, the story revolves around the King, Queen, and their family, who are heavily involved in public life. The series begins at a critical moment: the King is unwell and needs to ensure the royal line continues. His son, Prince Shin, is already informally promised to marry Shin Chae-kyeong, a commoner, due to a commitment made by his grandfather.

Arranged marriages are a common theme in romance stories, but Princess Hours adds extra layers of drama with the specific challenges faced by the Korean Royal Family. The show also features well-developed secondary characters, Min Hyo-rin and Lee Yul, who make the central romance between Shin and Chae-kyung more interesting – and more complicated.

Princess Hours Effectively Introduces Its Audience To Korean Culture

The combination of alternate realities and arranged marriage isn’t groundbreaking in K-dramas. Though many shows now use these elements, Princess Hours presents them in a way that’s both engaging and insightful. The series deeply incorporates Korean culture, often making it a key part of the story. The marriage between Shin and Chae-kyung, for example, is built on traditional customs. And because the show focuses on a fictional Korean Royal Family, it showcases many aspects of Korean tradition.

As K-dramas become more popular around the world, it’s crucial to also support stories that truly represent Korean culture. Eastern and Western storytelling traditions are different, and while it’s fine for shows to appeal to a wider audience, series like Princess Hours remind us of the origins of K-dramas and the core Korean values they originally reflected.

Even after 20 years, this show still feels remarkably fresh. While the technology clearly shows its age, the core themes of love, responsibility, family, and destiny remain timeless. A new viewer today would likely enjoy it just as much as a more recent K-drama, and it also offers valuable insight into Korean culture.

What Makes Princess Hours The Best K-Drama

Many long-time K-drama lovers revisit Princess Hours regularly, and it’s definitely worth watching for newer fans too. It perfectly captures everything that makes Korean dramas great. Despite juggling many storylines, the show manages to stay focused on the central romance between Shin and Chae-kyung, making it surprisingly well-balanced.

When Princess Hours first aired, the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, was gaining popularity across Asia. At that time, K-dramas generally told simpler, more human stories. Nowadays, with streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ entering the K-drama market, some shows seem designed for Western viewers, potentially sacrificing the unique cultural elements and subtleties that originally made the genre so beloved in Korea and throughout Asia.

Even though Princess Hours is an older show, it still feels fresh and enjoyable today. It’s a classic K-drama romance – charming, idealistic, and based on traditional Korean culture. Most viewers who finish all 24 episodes would agree it’s time well spent.

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2026-01-13 20:52