Durga Puja is the perfect time to slow down, catch up on some much-needed sleep and settle in for a good binge-watch session. And what better way to spend those leisurely hours than with a K-drama that keeps you hooked till the very last episode? Whether you’re looking for a cosy escape between pandal-hopping sessions or a series to binge-watch through the holidays, these picks have you covered.
Agent Kim Reactivated
Starring So Ji-sub, the series centers around Mr Kim, a single father who kept his identity as a secret agent in the past under wraps while raising his teenage daughter. However, when his daughter goes missing, Kim is forced to return to his previous life and plunge into a dangerous mystery that draws unwanted attention. Based on the webtoon Manager Kim, the series blends action, crime and comedy, making it a good pick for viewers who enjoy their thrillers with a dash of humour.
Where to watch: Netflix
Perfect Crown
Starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, Perfect Crown is based on an alternate 21st century, where Korea was still run by the monarchy. Seong Hui-ju (IU), a powerful and influential conglomerate who lacks aristocracy, got betrothed to Woo-seok’s Prince I-an, a royal with a little financial freedom. But much to everyone’s unawareness the two strike a contract marriage. However, tension soon starts to build up after the two find themselves entangled in unexpected feelings that complicate the arrangement. For fans who swoon over royal settings, palace politics and a hefty dose of romance, this one makes for an enticing festive-season watch.
Where to watch: Jiohotstar
A Bona Fide Killer
Starring Kong Hyo-jin, A Bona Fide Killer follows Bo-na, a seemingly ordinary homemaker who secretly works for an organisation that eliminates dangerous criminals who have escaped justice. After taking a three-year break from fieldwork following motherhood, she returns to the job under the cover of an electronics company's sales team. However, her journalist husband is on the trail of the very secret she is desperately trying to protect. Blending action, dark comedy, family drama and suspense, the series offers a twist on the familiar spy thriller, with domestic life becoming just as complicated as a dangerous undercover mission.
Where to watch: Jiohotstar
Our Sticky Love
The romantic comedy follows an ambitious prosecutor, Go Eun-sae (played by Ha-young), who suffers an accident while investigating a major corruption case and loses her memory. She wakes up in a rural village famous for its traditional taffy shops. There, she meets a former youth boxing champion turned coach, Jang Tae-ha (played by Jung Hae-in), who impulsively tells her that he is her boyfriend to protect her from the dangerous gang she was investigating.
Where to watch: Netflix
Mousetrap
Starring Ryu Jun-yeol and Sul Kyung-gu, the series follows a writer who discovers that someone has stolen his identity. Forced to join forces with a ruthless loan shark, he sets out to reclaim his life from a mysterious figure known as the Rat. Drawing on Korean folklore about a shapeshifting rodent that can take on a human's identity, the series turns a chilling traditional tale into a contemporary story of deception, paranoia and survival. With its unsettling premise and mounting suspense, Mousetrap is the pick for viewers who prefer their festive-season entertainment dark, unpredictable and packed with twists.
Where to watch: Netflix