Cover ‘A Time Called You’ is one of the Korean dramas that you didn't realise were adaptations. (Photo: IMDB)
‘A Time Called You’ is one of the Korean dramas that you didn't realise were adaptations. (Photo: IMDB)
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Korean dramas may have a stellar reputation for original storytelling, but as this list shows, adaptation is also an art. A little Hallyu sparkle can make even borrowed stories feel brand new
You’re only right to assume that Korean dramas are typically composed of swoon-worthy storylines and impossibly good-looking protagonists who somehow still live with their moms. However, not all of these captivating plots are born from the Seoul-based imaginations of screenwriters. Some of the best—and most beloved—K-dramas were actually adapted from novels, mangas, movies and other shows from around the globe.
Yes, even your favourite tearjerkers and high school rom-coms have international origins. Here’s a rundown of Korean dramas that may not be original IPs but have been trademarked Hallyu.
Also read: 9 iconic K-drama mothers you can relate to
1. ‘Mother’ (2018)
Based on: Mother (Japan)
A teacher (Lee Bo-young) kidnaps her abused student to protect her. It’s not your usual school drama setup, which is exactly why Mother stood out. This emotionally raw series is a faithful (and powerful) remake of the Japanese original. With Lee Bo-young giving a career-defining performance, the Korean adaptation is a masterclass in moral ambiguity and unconditional love.
This series was also adapted in the Philippines, China, Mongolia, France and more.
2. ‘Boys Over Flowers’ (2009)
Based on: Hana Yori Dango (Japan); Meteor Garden (Taiwan)
This show was the blueprint for every chaebol-bully-meets-spunky-poor-girl plotline we’ve seen since. Adapted from the wildly popular Japanese manga and following successful live-action versions in Taiwan and Japan, this is one of the earlier adapted Korean dramas that added its own glossy take on an already successful franchise, complete with dramatic violin music and gravity-defying hair.
3. ‘The World of the Married’ (2020)
Based on: Doctor Foster (UK)
Move over, polite passive aggression, this revenge thriller takes British restraint and douses it in makjang gasoline. The World of the Married reimagines the BBC’s Doctor Foster with all the emotional chaos and simmering tension you'd expect from a hit K-drama. Adultery never looked so dramatic.
Also read: 12 inspiring K-drama monologues that capture life perfectly
4. ‘Rich Man’ (2018)
Based on: Rich Man, Poor Woman (Japan, 2012)
A tech CEO (Suho) who can't recognise faces falls for a spunky job applicant (Ha Yeon-soo) who lies on her résumé. It’s K-drama meet-cute 101, but the format first succeeded in Japan. This adaptation kept the quirky charm of the original but added a layer of K-pop polish, thanks to EXO’s Suho’s casting.
Also read: 10 sweetest meet-cutes in K-drama history
5. ‘Designated Survivor: 60 Days’ (2019)
Based on: Designated Survivor (USA)
When the President is taken out in an attack, an unassuming environment minister is thrust into power. Sound familiar? This taut political drama is a Korean remake of the Kiefer Sutherland-led American show, but with a tighter runtime and more emotional heft. Oh, and less yelling.
6. ‘To the Beautiful You’ (2012)
Based on: Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (Japan, manga by Hisaya Nakajo)
Girl (Sulli) disguises herself as a boy to attend an all-male sports school and meet her high-jump idol (Minho). It’s gender-bending chaos with a side of secondhand embarrassment. While the Japanese versions may have leaned more toward slapstick, the Korean adaptation gave us glossy visuals, swoonier moments and a very confused Minho.
7. ‘Entourage’ (2016)
Based on: Entourage (USA)
A Hollywood bromance gets a Gangnam makeover. Entourage Korea imported the behind-the-scenes glamour and chaos of the American original, but swapped the LA sun for Seoul’s glittery nightlife. Despite the star-studded cast (which includes Cho Jin-woong and Seo Kang-joon), it didn’t hit the same cultural note, but it remains an ambitious swing at cross-border adaptation.
Don't miss: 10 most powerful chaebol families in K-dramas
8. ‘Legal High’ (2019)
Based on: Legal High (Japan)
Swoon-worthy Korean dramas aren’t the only ones that borrow material. Snappy courtroom banter meets outlandish legal tactics in this remake of the Japanese legal comedy. Jin Goo’s eccentric, win-at-all-costs lawyer Go Tae-rim brought a new flavour to the K-drama courtroom scene, even if the humour leaned more zany than subtle.
9. ‘Secret Garden’ (2010)
Based on: The Prince and the Pauper and western body-swap tropes
This one’s not a direct remake, but it borrows heavily from body-swap stories like Freaky Friday or Big and even classics like The Prince and the Pauper. Interestingly, it doesn’t borrow anything from Frances Hodgson Burnett. Instead, it answers what happens when a stuntwoman (Ha Ji-won) and a chaebol CEO (Hyun Bin) magically switch bodies. The result is gender-flipping hilarity and (eventual) romantic chemistry that still has fans swooning.
10. ‘Little Women’ (2022)
Based on: Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women (US)
This isn’t your grandmother’s March sisters. In this bold Korean reimagining, the genteel charm of Louisa May Alcott’s classic is replaced with mystery, money laundering and murder. Starring Kim Go-eun as Oh In-joo (our modern-day Jo March with a ledger), the series follows three sisters who grow up poor and suddenly find themselves entangled in a web of corporate corruption, privilege and powerful enemies.
The series was marketed as a Korean adaptation, but it plays fast and loose with the details. While the bones of sisterhood and sacrifice remain, this Little Women doesn’t politely sip tea—it gulps down intrigue by the glass.
11. ‘A Time Called You’ (2023)
Based on: Some Day or One Day (Taiwan, 2019)
The cult Taiwanese hit about time travel, identity and doomed love got a sleek Korean makeover in 2023, starring Jeon Yeo-been in a haunting dual role and Ahn Hyo-seop as the boy caught between timelines and tragedies. While the heart of the story remains—mysterious cassette tapes, parallel lives and impossible choices—the K-drama adaptation leans deeper into emotional gravity and visual polish. It’s not just a remake; it’s a tender reinvention of one of Asia’s most cherished sci-fi romances.
