K-guilty pleasure dramas unexpectedly popular worldwide

Korean dramas have steadily captured the hearts of viewers worldwide, growing in popularity and maintaining a strong global presence over the years.

Recently, K-dramas have further cemented their status as one of the most beloved TV genres in the international market. Among these, a surprising trend has emerged: certain Korean dramas are gaining unexpected fame as "K-Guilty Pleasure Dramas," celebrated for their addictive, indulgent appeal. 

K-netizens on a popular discussion forum stated that were surprised that the following dramas were so popular overseas.

Business Proposal

King the Land

When the Phone Rings

Korean netizens commented:

"These are the kind of dramas I’d never watch lol. I just can’t handle them lolol."

"Business Proposal is just a rom-com though??? It doesn’t really give off the guilty drama vibe."

"But hey, if they’re doing well overseas, that’s great lol."

"Business Proposal was fun."

"But when the Phone Rings is also high-quality."

"Both Business Proposal and When the Phone Rings are super entertaining."

"What’s a guilty drama? Cheesy, cringy dramas? Even Queen of Tears was a cheesy mess, but it won a drama award somewhere. Guess tastes are the same everywhere lol."

"Business Proposal is really fun lol. King the Land lost me after the first episode—it was so bad… poop jokes and toilets, seriously lol."

"Isn’t Business Proposal just a well-made rom-com?"

"Dramas like Boys Over Flowers, Princess Hour, Extraordinary You, True Beauty, Clean With Passion For Now, and My Lovely Runner are super popular overseas. What’s the guilty standard for those compared to this?"

"When the Phone Rings was honestly saved by the acting. Watching it, you don’t even notice the dialogue is 'guilty' lol."

"These kinds of dramas are the only ones I watch lolol. Honestly, they’re ridiculously fun."

"I get it, but no way... I just can’t even click on them."

"When the Phone Rings is the best."

"When the Phone Rings is so good. To me, it doesn’t feel cringy at all. Yoo Yeon Seok delivers his lines in such a natural way that it helps, and the production quality is great too."

"But isn’t debating quality here kind of meaningless lol? All the male leads are from the same type of dramas anyway."

"I admit the guilty vibe. I haven’t watched two of these, tried one, and now I’m hooked on When the Phone Rings."

"If you just hear the lines in When the Phone Rings, they feel 'guilty,' but Yoo Yeon Seok delivers them so calmly that it doesn’t feel like that at all lol."

"I haven’t watched King the Land, but I love that kind of style. Business Proposal and When the Phone Rings are top-tier."

"When the Phone Rings is insanely good. I usually can’t watch that kind of drama, but I got hooked without realizing… It’s like an acting masterclass, seriously."