From school series to historical epics: 12 must-watch Rowoon K-dramas and where to stream them

The narrative explores the high-pressure environment of Geobuk High School, where students face academic competition and administrative corruption. Ra Eun-ho, an optimistic student who dreams of becoming a webtoon artist, becomes falsely accused of being a mysterious school troublemaker. Rowoon plays the supporting character Kang Hyun-il, who uses the stage name Issue, an unpopular idol group member transferring into the school environment. The ensemble cast includes Kim Se-jeong, Kim Jung-hyun, Jang Dong-yoon and Han Sun-hwa. The series is available to stream on Viki and KOCOWA.

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Ensemble musical actress Choi Michaela possesses a supernatural ability to view visible life clocks on people, indicating their exact remaining life expectancy. Her life alters when she meets Lee Do-ha, a cultural foundation executive whose proximity inexplicably stops her personal countdown clock. Rowoon appears in a supporting capacity as Choi Wi-jin, Michaela’s younger brother, who balances personal ambitions with family dynamics. The primary cast includes Lee Sang-yoon, Lee Sung-kyung, Im Se-mi and Han Seung-yeon. The show streams internationally on Viki, Viu and iQIYI.

Located at Incheon International Airport, the drama details the daily operational challenges of passenger services personnel. Lee Soo-yeon is a quiet first-year team member concealing a physical disability supported by prosthetic technology. He collaborates with Han Yeo-reum, an energetic rookie employee prone to workplace mishaps. Rowoon portrays Ko Eun-sub, a dedicated colleague in the same department who maintains unrequited feelings for Yeo-reum. The series stars Lee Je-hoon, Chae Soo-bin, Lee Dong-gun and Kim Ji-soo. Streaming availability includes Viki, Viu and KOCOWA.

High school student Eun Dan-oh discovers that her reality is actually a comic book narrative titled Secret, where she functions merely as a background character destined for an early demise. Intent on choosing her own path, she seeks out an unnamed extra character designated as Student Number 13. After Dan-oh names him Ha-ru, Rowoon portrays the quiet student who partners with her to alter the comic book writer’s set plot. The main cast includes Kim Hye-yoon, Lee Jae-wook, Kim Young-dae and Lee Na-eun. The series is available to stream on Viki, Netflix, Viu and KOCOWA.

Based on a 2017 web novel, the plot centres on the marketing department of Klar, a cosmetics brand. Senior marketer Yoon Song-ah takes on junior trainee Chae Hyun-seung, played by Rowoon, who develops romantic feelings while learning the industry. Song-ah initially avoids workplace relationships with younger men, forcing Hyun-seung to demonstrate his maturity through professional challenges and personal support. The drama stars Won Jin-ah, Lee Hyun-wook and Lee Joo-bin. Streaming is accessible on iQIYI, Viki and Netflix in selected regions.

Set during the Joseon Dynasty, the storyline begins when a royal twin sister assumes the identity of her deceased brother, Crown Prince Lee Hwi. Forced to conceal her gender to retain the throne, she encounters Jung Ji-woon, played by Rowoon, who becomes her royal tutor. The narrative tracks political manoeuvring within the royal court alongside the personal tension of their developing bond. The key actors include Park Eun-bin, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan and Bae Yoon-kyung. The series streams globally on Netflix.

This adaptation of a webtoon follows Choi Joon-woong, portrayed by Rowoon, a job seeker who suffers an accident resulting in a half-human, half-spirit state. He secures employment with the Crisis Management Team in the underworld afterlife headquarters, led by grim reapers whose mission involves preventing suicides across South Korea. The key cast features Kim Hee-sun, Lee Soo-hyuk and Yoon Ji-on. The drama is available on Netflix.

The fantasy drama connects civil servant Lee Hong-jo and corporate lawyer Jang Shin-yu. Shin-yu suffers from an unexplained medical condition caused by a centuries-old curse affecting his family. When Hong-jo acquires an ancient wooden chest containing a spellbook, Rowoon acts as Shin-yu, who seeks her assistance to break the family curse. The drama stars Jo Bo-ah, Ha Jun and Yura. The series is available to stream on Netflix.

Set in the Joseon period, the narrative follows Sim Jung-woo, portrayed by Rowoon, a scholar who becomes the youngest person to pass the state examination. His marriage to a princess ends in immediate tragedy when she dies during the wedding ceremony, leaving him a young widower forbidden from holding government office or remarrying. He forms an alliance with Jung Soon-deok, a widow operating secretly as a matchmaker, to arrange marriages for unmarried adults in Hanyang. The cast includes Cho Yi-hyun, Park Ji-young and Jo Han-chul. It streams on Viki, Viu and KOCOWA.

Set during the Joseon Dynasty along the Han River’s Mapo Ferry, the period story depicts a society wrestling with corruption and economic power shifts. Jang Si-yool, portrayed by Rowoon, is a former rogue hiding his background who becomes a local figure along the docks. His journey crosses with Choi Eun, an ambitious merchant, and Jung-cheon, an upright law official attempting to clean up regional governance. The main cast includes Shin Ye-eun, Park Seo-ham and Park Ji-hwan. The series is available to stream on Disney+.

This remake of the Japanese series The Confidence Man JP centres on Yoon Yi-rang, a con artist with an IQ of 165 who leads a team targeting greedy elites across real estate and financial sectors. The series features guest appearances, including a special cameo appearance by Rowoon that expands the ensemble during heist missions. The key cast features Park Min-young, Park Hee-soon and Joo Jong-hyuk. The series is streaming on Prime Video and Coupang Play.

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