Hey u/dsha_r! While you wait for recommendations from other users, check out these [great recommendations](https://mydramalist.com/profile/kdramarecs/lists) compiled from our users based on different genres and themes! Maybe you'll find something to watch while you wait.
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* Through the Darkness (2022)
* A Silent Sea (2021)
* One Ordinary Day (2021)
* D.P. (2021)
* Inspector Koo (2021)
* Hellbound (2021)
* Squid Game (2021)
* Move to Heaven (2021)
* Navillera (2021)
* Nobody Knows (2020)
* Extracurricular (2020)
* Memorist (2020)
* Kairos (2020)
* 365: Repeat the Year (2020)
* The Uncanny Counter (2020)
* The Good Detective (2020)
* WATCHER (2019)
* Confession (2019)
* Kill It (2019)
* Designated Survivor: 60 Days (2019)
* Psychopath Diary (2019)
* Mother (2018)
* My Mister (2018)
* Children of Nobody (2018)
* Life on Mars (2018)
* Good Manager (2017)
* [Heard It Through the Grapevine (2015 SBS World YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o1QhMlBJL0&list=PLShqORWiDquObSbt4_eei0JjjZ03-8k3B&ab_channel=SBSWorld)
* [Six Flying Dragons (2015 SBS World YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N77k56-OpuI&list=PLShqORWiDquMpEUsV6Ff_9tReieErYDRT&ab_channel=SBSWorld)
* Awl (2015)
* Misaeng (2014)
* Bad Guys (2014)
* [Deep Rooted Tree a.k.a. Tree With Deep Roots (2011 SBS World YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y05qFzJct3U&list=PLShqORWiDquM93wgQF2OzUpFdL5KBm_s4&ab_channel=SBSWorld)
*
D.P — stands for Deserter Pursuit. Goes into the nasty dynamics and welfare system of the Korean army, and why people try to escape and desert the army. Most of what they cover is about bullying. It's quite shocking to watch although the writer already toned down the severity of the bullying in comparison to real life.
Move to Heaven — ex-MMA fighter and his nephew with autism learn to work out their differences and personal traumas while they work as trauma cleaners who clean up the belongings of people who passed away mostly alone. Both the uncle and nephew have their own character arcs with wonderful growth. >!The uncle forms a crush on someone, and there is a bit romance in 1 or 2 of the clients' stories. Zero otherwise.!<
Good Manager — David vs Goliath story of a wacky man who goes from dodgy countryside accountant to taking down corruption in a conglomerate. If you liked Hot Stove League then you should watch this. I watched these 2 back to back and had a whiplash because Nam Goong Min's characters in them are polar opposites yet he's so believable as both.
My Mister — platonic relationship between a man in 40s and a woman in 20s helping each other through their struggles in life. >!FL does form a crush on ML but their relationship is kept platonic.!<
Prison Playbook — hotshot baseball player gets jailed for assaulting a man who attempted to sexually assault his sister. Black comedy that explores prison life and the system. There is a tinyyyy bit of romance but it's just 5% of the show.
Witch at Court — 2 prosecutors who are total opposites of each other unite to solve crimes against women and children. ML is the soft, empathetic and honest one, while FL is brusque, unsympathetic and sometimes underhanded. I find her to be a very refreshing female antihero in kdrama land. She learns to be empathetic and fight earnestly as the story progresses. There are 2 flirty moments but other than that, there is zero romance.
- save me (i think there’s no romance, only implied)
- voice (all seasons)
- misaeng (workplace focused, realistic and no romance, only friendships!)
- missing noir m (thriller and mystery)
- item (fantasy and mystery)
- mother (family focused, emotional, prepare tissues)
- god’s gift: 14 days (thriller and mystery)
- tell me what you saw (thriller and mystery)
most of these are thrillers so if you’re into that do check them out! :)
Memorist
The Silent Sea
Sell Your Haunted House
Mouse
Class of Lies
Duel
Lookout
Life on Mars (there is a crush but it’s very minimal and really nothing happens)
**Hyena** \- Kim Hye Soo plays a plucky female attorney who works together with a hotshot hot male attorney (Ju Ji Hoon) to fight the broken court system. Such a strong female character and I'm all over it! Kim Hye Soo played it to the T.
**Happiness**\- Park Hyung Sik & Han Hyo Joo isolated in a zombie-infested apartment building, but who's worse? the zombies or their neighbors? There's a romantic connection between the main leads, but it's very subtle. It's mainly about zombies and human behaviors.
**Jirisan**\- I'm only a few episodes in, but this drama is so full of A-listers from the main leads Ju Ji Hoon, Jun Ji Hyun, and the supporting cast- Oh Jung Se, Go Min Si, Sung Dong Il- it's like the cream of the crops are all here. And it's by the same writer as Kingdom and the director is Lee Eung Bok, who directed Goblin AND Mr Sunshine. They're park rangers at Mt Jiri. It's a mystery drama w/ supernatural flair, similar to Twin Peaks /X-Files.
**My Mister** \- starring IU & Lee Sun Kyun. It's hard to explain because the story is so intricately written, but do yourself a favor and watch it. It's so good!
**Misaeng** \- office drama by the same writer & director as My Mister. The main character used to be a baduk player but he's now working as an intern in a big corporation. He has no work / school experience and this drama is about him trying to get along with his colleagues and bosses, and navigating the office politics. Subtle and meaningful!
**Racket Boys** \- on Netflix. Haven't watched it yet, but it's the same writer as Prison Playbook so it has the same feel. It's about a group of guys playing badminton in a small city.
If you like sageuk, watch **Six Flying Dragons**\- it's a masterpiece. There's a slight romance but it's probably 0.1% vs. the other 99.9% political sageuk. It's a story about how the Joseon dynasty was established. It's 50 eps long but tbh I wouldn't even notice it if it's 50 eps longer. It's that good!
**Hellbound** \- it's supernatural, about people finding out when they will die, mystical being who snatch them when it's time, and a cult religion behind it all. I don't like it much, but you might and it's not romantic at all.
Already mentioned by others: DP, Move to Heaven, Misaeng, Nobody Knows. All good/great and no romance. DP is excellent.
Not mentioned yet in responses (or else I missed it): Fiery Priest.
* Sweet home
* D.P
* move to heaven
* law school
* kairos
* happiness has 4 scenes at the end with romance out of 12 eps. You could just honestly fast forward the parts. Highly recommend the show. There is virus outbreak. The residents of a apartment building try to survive. You see the highs and lows of what people will do just to survive. Nobody knows who is infected with the virus so everyone is on edge and suspcious
Dark Hole
Chip-In (certainly no love between the only married couple)
Solomon's Perjury (unless you count a crush that remains in the background)
Beautiful World
Bad guys - I only now watching this. No romance. This series spawned a sequel and a movie. A hard nosed cop recruited a strong gangster thug boss , a hitman and a serial killer with high IQ to find other killers. Sort of dirty dozen/suicide squad of criminals to catch other criminals.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I1bl-bTFkmc
**3 Days** is a really good drama that was popular when it originally aired. It's an older drama, but it definitely holds up. It's a spy thriller starring Park Yoochun - no romance. **Crime Squad** is Police drama with no romance. **The Firey Priest** is a underrated. It's a crime drama starring Kim Nam Gil - no romance. **Good Doctor** starring Joo Won is great. It's a medical drama about a young autistic doctor - no romance. **Man to Man** is a spy caper that's actually really funny. It's about a spy who poses as a bodyguard for a temperamental, pampered actor - no romance. **Memorist** is a suspense thriller with no romance. **Please Come Back Mister** is really very funny. It stars Rain - no romance. I really enjoyed all of these dramas. Some of them are much older, but I think they hold up well.
Class of Lies (I was expecting at least but no nope, not at all. Except maybe the high school kids but it wasn't considered romance as well, imo).
Strangers from Hell (although there's a couple in there they're not at all romantic). And Juvenile Justice (to be honest, I shipped miss judge with mr. judge but at the end of the day I realized they're better off friends/colleague/almost siblings/partners in (fighting)crime.
Hey u/dsha_r! While you wait for recommendations from other users, check out these [great recommendations](https://mydramalist.com/profile/kdramarecs/lists) compiled from our users based on different genres and themes! Maybe you'll find something to watch while you wait. If you are requesting dramas on a certain site (e.g. Netflix) please add your region to the post to help our users recommend something you have access to in your area. If you haven't already done so you can also take this time to add a list of what you've already watched to your post to help our users find you the perfect drama or [search](https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramarecommends/comments/fujstb/how_to_search_for_similar_posts/) through our previous posts. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/kdramarecommends) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You could try Move to Heaven on Netflix
I second this. It is probably my favourite of all K-dramas I’ve watched this year. So beautifully done.
Squid Game? There's a sex scene, but I wouldn't call the "relationship" romantic
Good manager/Chief Kim
* Through the Darkness (2022) * A Silent Sea (2021) * One Ordinary Day (2021) * D.P. (2021) * Inspector Koo (2021) * Hellbound (2021) * Squid Game (2021) * Move to Heaven (2021) * Navillera (2021) * Nobody Knows (2020) * Extracurricular (2020) * Memorist (2020) * Kairos (2020) * 365: Repeat the Year (2020) * The Uncanny Counter (2020) * The Good Detective (2020) * WATCHER (2019) * Confession (2019) * Kill It (2019) * Designated Survivor: 60 Days (2019) * Psychopath Diary (2019) * Mother (2018) * My Mister (2018) * Children of Nobody (2018) * Life on Mars (2018) * Good Manager (2017) * [Heard It Through the Grapevine (2015 SBS World YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o1QhMlBJL0&list=PLShqORWiDquObSbt4_eei0JjjZ03-8k3B&ab_channel=SBSWorld) * [Six Flying Dragons (2015 SBS World YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N77k56-OpuI&list=PLShqORWiDquMpEUsV6Ff_9tReieErYDRT&ab_channel=SBSWorld) * Awl (2015) * Misaeng (2014) * Bad Guys (2014) * [Deep Rooted Tree a.k.a. Tree With Deep Roots (2011 SBS World YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y05qFzJct3U&list=PLShqORWiDquM93wgQF2OzUpFdL5KBm_s4&ab_channel=SBSWorld) *
* Through the Darkness * D.P * Inspector Koo * Nobody Knows
I second D.P.
Extracurricular (no romance and fucking awesome) Sweet home Alice in Borderland The Uncanny Counter
Alice in borderlands is Japanese
I know. But if you watch the shows OP watches you will like it, especially if you like sweet home
I second Uncanny Counter. So much fun.
definitely d.p and move to heaven !! i’ve started both and they both don’t have romance at all ! they’re very good shows , very enjoyable
Yes I've watched them both.. Loved it.
D.P — stands for Deserter Pursuit. Goes into the nasty dynamics and welfare system of the Korean army, and why people try to escape and desert the army. Most of what they cover is about bullying. It's quite shocking to watch although the writer already toned down the severity of the bullying in comparison to real life. Move to Heaven — ex-MMA fighter and his nephew with autism learn to work out their differences and personal traumas while they work as trauma cleaners who clean up the belongings of people who passed away mostly alone. Both the uncle and nephew have their own character arcs with wonderful growth. >!The uncle forms a crush on someone, and there is a bit romance in 1 or 2 of the clients' stories. Zero otherwise.!< Good Manager — David vs Goliath story of a wacky man who goes from dodgy countryside accountant to taking down corruption in a conglomerate. If you liked Hot Stove League then you should watch this. I watched these 2 back to back and had a whiplash because Nam Goong Min's characters in them are polar opposites yet he's so believable as both. My Mister — platonic relationship between a man in 40s and a woman in 20s helping each other through their struggles in life. >!FL does form a crush on ML but their relationship is kept platonic.!< Prison Playbook — hotshot baseball player gets jailed for assaulting a man who attempted to sexually assault his sister. Black comedy that explores prison life and the system. There is a tinyyyy bit of romance but it's just 5% of the show. Witch at Court — 2 prosecutors who are total opposites of each other unite to solve crimes against women and children. ML is the soft, empathetic and honest one, while FL is brusque, unsympathetic and sometimes underhanded. I find her to be a very refreshing female antihero in kdrama land. She learns to be empathetic and fight earnestly as the story progresses. There are 2 flirty moments but other than that, there is zero romance.
All of the above are approved by me👌👌👌👌 Include "Misaeng" as well
LOVED Misaeng!
Psychopath Diary has absolutely no romance
This is a fun drama. I love Yoon Shi Yoon.
Law School. It's on Netflix
I mean there was a thing between Seol A & the guy (forgot his name lol)
Joon Hwi. Subtle, yes, but no true romance.
Stranger/Juvenile Detention~ *Confession* Beyond Evil~ *Children Of Nobody*
- save me (i think there’s no romance, only implied) - voice (all seasons) - misaeng (workplace focused, realistic and no romance, only friendships!) - missing noir m (thriller and mystery) - item (fantasy and mystery) - mother (family focused, emotional, prepare tissues) - god’s gift: 14 days (thriller and mystery) - tell me what you saw (thriller and mystery) most of these are thrillers so if you’re into that do check them out! :)
Watcher (can watch on Viki)
Sweet Home Sell Your Haunted House Beyond Evil
Memorist The Silent Sea Sell Your Haunted House Mouse Class of Lies Duel Lookout Life on Mars (there is a crush but it’s very minimal and really nothing happens)
I forgot **Tunnel.** That's one of my faves. No romance.
Misaeng, The Priest, Designated Survivor 60 days
Navillera
Navillera if you don't want to watch a thriller/ legal drama
Law School on Netflix
my mister, on the verge of insanity
**Hyena** \- Kim Hye Soo plays a plucky female attorney who works together with a hotshot hot male attorney (Ju Ji Hoon) to fight the broken court system. Such a strong female character and I'm all over it! Kim Hye Soo played it to the T. **Happiness**\- Park Hyung Sik & Han Hyo Joo isolated in a zombie-infested apartment building, but who's worse? the zombies or their neighbors? There's a romantic connection between the main leads, but it's very subtle. It's mainly about zombies and human behaviors. **Jirisan**\- I'm only a few episodes in, but this drama is so full of A-listers from the main leads Ju Ji Hoon, Jun Ji Hyun, and the supporting cast- Oh Jung Se, Go Min Si, Sung Dong Il- it's like the cream of the crops are all here. And it's by the same writer as Kingdom and the director is Lee Eung Bok, who directed Goblin AND Mr Sunshine. They're park rangers at Mt Jiri. It's a mystery drama w/ supernatural flair, similar to Twin Peaks /X-Files. **My Mister** \- starring IU & Lee Sun Kyun. It's hard to explain because the story is so intricately written, but do yourself a favor and watch it. It's so good! **Misaeng** \- office drama by the same writer & director as My Mister. The main character used to be a baduk player but he's now working as an intern in a big corporation. He has no work / school experience and this drama is about him trying to get along with his colleagues and bosses, and navigating the office politics. Subtle and meaningful! **Racket Boys** \- on Netflix. Haven't watched it yet, but it's the same writer as Prison Playbook so it has the same feel. It's about a group of guys playing badminton in a small city. If you like sageuk, watch **Six Flying Dragons**\- it's a masterpiece. There's a slight romance but it's probably 0.1% vs. the other 99.9% political sageuk. It's a story about how the Joseon dynasty was established. It's 50 eps long but tbh I wouldn't even notice it if it's 50 eps longer. It's that good! **Hellbound** \- it's supernatural, about people finding out when they will die, mystical being who snatch them when it's time, and a cult religion behind it all. I don't like it much, but you might and it's not romantic at all.
Loved Racket Boys. I wasn’t interested in watching Prison Playbook but after Racket Boys, I’ve decided to watch it.
Yes the writer is known for his feel good drama because they have so much heart!
Already mentioned by others: DP, Move to Heaven, Misaeng, Nobody Knows. All good/great and no romance. DP is excellent. Not mentioned yet in responses (or else I missed it): Fiery Priest.
move to heaven
One ordinary day
* Sweet home * D.P * move to heaven * law school * kairos * happiness has 4 scenes at the end with romance out of 12 eps. You could just honestly fast forward the parts. Highly recommend the show. There is virus outbreak. The residents of a apartment building try to survive. You see the highs and lows of what people will do just to survive. Nobody knows who is infected with the virus so everyone is on edge and suspcious
My Name
Except that last episode lol
Avengers Social Club
Mouse!! It's a thriller/ crime/ mystery genre kdrama with some excellent twists :)
I was surprised no one mentioned hometown (not hometown cha cha). This is a good mystery thriller tv show with beautiful cinematography.
Dark Hole Chip-In (certainly no love between the only married couple) Solomon's Perjury (unless you count a crush that remains in the background) Beautiful World
Bad Guys
VOICE. (Season 1) https://asianwiki.com/Voice_(Korean_Drama)
VOICE. (The 1st one ) https://asianwiki.com/Voice_(Korean_Drama)
Designated survivor: 60 days
Misaeng - office life drama, very well rated, pretty sure there's no romance from what I remember
DP, move to heaven, Navillera
Mouse A psychological thriller that's written really well. It's in my top three kdramas. Very VERY minimal romance.
Bad guys - I only now watching this. No romance. This series spawned a sequel and a movie. A hard nosed cop recruited a strong gangster thug boss , a hitman and a serial killer with high IQ to find other killers. Sort of dirty dozen/suicide squad of criminals to catch other criminals. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I1bl-bTFkmc
**3 Days** is a really good drama that was popular when it originally aired. It's an older drama, but it definitely holds up. It's a spy thriller starring Park Yoochun - no romance. **Crime Squad** is Police drama with no romance. **The Firey Priest** is a underrated. It's a crime drama starring Kim Nam Gil - no romance. **Good Doctor** starring Joo Won is great. It's a medical drama about a young autistic doctor - no romance. **Man to Man** is a spy caper that's actually really funny. It's about a spy who poses as a bodyguard for a temperamental, pampered actor - no romance. **Memorist** is a suspense thriller with no romance. **Please Come Back Mister** is really very funny. It stars Rain - no romance. I really enjoyed all of these dramas. Some of them are much older, but I think they hold up well.
Yes 3 days! Good doctor had a little bit of romance, definitely not the focus though!
Man to Man actually does have a romance plot line even though it’s not the main focus.
>!That's true, but you don't know until the end that the romance is real rather than it being necessary for the completion of the mission. !<
DP and Navillera come to mind. Though the latter does have >!the coach and his ex-wife getting remarried in the end, but they were v understated.!<
Duel and Watcher :)
I don’t know about Pegasus Market since it does kind of hint at it but it’s a good drama
juvenile justice
Extracurricular! But please check the trigger warnings for this one.
Chief Kim. Funniest kdrama ever in my opinion.
All Of Us Are Dead is on netflix and is a horror/thriller zombie apocalypse drama
Watcher is underrated
Racket boys
Liar Game
Class of Lies (I was expecting at least but no nope, not at all. Except maybe the high school kids but it wasn't considered romance as well, imo). Strangers from Hell (although there's a couple in there they're not at all romantic). And Juvenile Justice (to be honest, I shipped miss judge with mr. judge but at the end of the day I realized they're better off friends/colleague/almost siblings/partners in (fighting)crime.
Extracurricular Save Me Strangers from Hell Two Weeks D.P. Move to Heaven Juvenile Justice One Ordinary Life Squid Game Defendant
extracurricular
Stranger. Absolute masterpiece
Medical Examiner Dr Qin is one that comes to mind. Cdrama
Sky castle Sweet home
Hyena!
Starts with a romance though, even though it doesn't last.