the world of the married korean drama netflix
Cover Photo: JTBC

Looking for another K-drama after The Penthouse: War In Life that's just as intense to binge-watch while you wait for the next big thing? Look no further.

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as suffering withdrawal symptoms from an exceptional K-drama such as The Penthouse: War In Life. Let’s face it: following three whole seasons of a wickedly fun makjang (unrealistic) series so closely and being unabashedly consumed by it for over a year of its run will only leave you feeling a little lost after.

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Fortunately, there are a couple of fan-favourites out there that you can binge-watch to tide your 'riveting K-drama' cravings over. If you enjoyed the intensity that was The Penthouse: War In Life, chances are, you're going to love these. Here are five equally intriguing K-dramas to watch.

Sky Castle

Sky Castle is a satirical 2018–2019 South Korean series starring Yum Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra, and Kim Seo-hyung that follows the lives of four materialistic women living in the private, luxurious SKY Castle neighbourhood and their ruthlessness in securing the successes of their families–their husbands to be more powerful and their children to get into top universities–at the cost of destroying others' lives.

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The K-drama was met with critical acclaim, going on to become the second-highest-rated series in Korean cable television history. It also bagged multiple awards, including four at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best New Actress.

Stream it on Netflix.

The Lady in Dignity

The Lady in Dignity (also known as Woman of Dignity) is a 2017 South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-sun, Kim Sun-ah, Jung Sang-hoon, Lee Tae-im, and Lee Ki-woo. The story centres on an elegant Cheongdam-dong woman named Woo Ah-jin (Kim Hee-sun), who relishes in a life of luxury by marrying a quasi-chaebol son, until a mysterious woman named Park Bok-ja (Kim Sun-ah) walks into her life and brings about fierce hardship on Woo A-jin.

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One of JTBC's highest-rated dramas, The Lady in Dignity went on to score a number of accolades, including Best Director at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards. Due to its popularity, JTBC did a rerun of the series the same year with a four-episode marathon per day schedule.

Stream it on Netflix.

The World of the Married

The World of the Married is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-joon, and Han So-hee. Based on BBC One's drama series Doctor Foster, it tells a story of a married couple whose betrayal of one another leads to a whirlwind of infidelity, revenge, grief, forgiveness, and healing.

See also: 5 K-Drama Casts With The Best On & Off-Screen Chemistry

The turbulent series is the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history, overtaking Sky Castle with its final episode and recording the highest average rating for a drama on cable television. It received critical acclaim for its screenplay, direction and acting performances, with Mo Wan-il winning Best Director and Kim Hee-ae winning Best Actress at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Stream it on Netflix.

My Mister

My Mister is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Lee Sun-kyun and Lee Ji-eun (also known by her stage name, IU) which tells the story of an impoverished and debt-laden young woman (IU) struggling to stay afloat as she nurses her deaf, sick grandmother. She meets Dong Hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) and is tasked to find out Dong Hoon’s weaknesses in return for a financial solution to her problems, but ends up falling for him after his compassionate disposition wins her over.

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Arguably singer-songwriter IU's best work, My Mister received critical acclaim, going on to snag Best Drama at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Stream it on Netflix.

Flower of Evil

Flower of Evil is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won, Jang Hee-jin, and Seo Hyun-woo. The K-drama tells the stories of a seemingly perfect man and husband, Baek Hee-sung (Lee Joon-gi), who’s living a life of lies and a female detective, Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won), who suspects her husband of 14 years to be a serial killer.

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Flower of Evil marked Lee's return to television after two years and his reunion with fellow cast member Moon (the duo previously starred in 2017's Criminal Minds together). The series earned Lee, an established top Hallyu star, the Asia Celebrity and Best Artist Award at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards.

Stream it on Netflix.

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