Critics choose 10 best Korean dramas, best actor, best actress in 2021

TV critics and reporters in South Korea have chosen the 10 best Korean dramas in 2021, series actor and actress of the year, .series rookie actress and actor of the year, and series director of the year.

Korean media outlet Cine21 held a survey among 30 TV critics and reporters to choose the best Korean series, the first time that it is included in the yearly year-end survey.

Cine21 noted that the way of watching movies is shifting from theaters to streaming and more film festivals are screening both online and offline, and it is no longer unusual for film directors and staff to go into dramas.

The survey was based on Korean series or dramas that aired and ended from Jan. 1 to Dec. 19, 2021.

Ranking first is the Korean OTT platform Wavve drama “Going To The Blue House Like This” (aka “Political Fever”) starring Kim Sung-ryung, Bae Hae-Sun and Baek Hyun-Jin of “Happiness,” and Lee Hak-joo of “The World of the Married.”

Voted second best Korean series of 2021 is “Jewel in the Palace” star Lee Young-ae’s JTBC-Netflix drama “Inspector Koo,” which also starred Kim Hye-jun, Kim Hae-sook and Kwak Sun-young.

“D.P.” (Deserter Pursuit), the Netflix series starring Jung Hae-in and Koo Kyo-hwan, grabbed third place.

In fourth place is the MBC drama “On the Verge of Insanity” starring Jung Jae-young, Moon So-ri, Lee Sang-yeob and Kim Ga-eun.

The Netflix dark fantasy drama “Hellbound” ranked fifth. The series starred Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jeong-min and Won Jin-ah.

Placing sixth is the JTBC drama “Beyond Evil” starring Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo.

In seventh place is JTBC’s “Lost” starring Jeon Do-yeon and Ryu Jun-yeol.

“Youth of May,” the KBS2 drama starring Lee Do-hyun, Go Min-si, Lee Sang-yi and Keum Sae-rok, placed eight on the list.

Garnering ninth place is “Mine,” the tvN-Netflix drama starring Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-hyung, Lee Hyun-wook and Ok Ja-yeon.

Tied for 10th place are the Netflix global hit “Squid Game” and Jun Ji-hyun’s “Kingdom: Ashin of the North.”

Cine21's Best 10 Korean Series (Dramas) of the Year

1. “Going To The Blue House Like This”

2. “Inspector Koo”

3. “D.P.”

4. “On the Verge of Insanity”

5. “Hellbound’

6. “Beyond Evil”

7. “Lost”

8. “Youth of May”

9. “Mine”

10. “Squid Game,” “Kingdom: Ashin of the North”

Series Actress, Actor of the Year

On the other hand, Lee Young-ae was chosen as series actress of the year for “Inspector Koo,” while Koo Kyo-hwan was voted series actor of the year for “D.P.” and “Kingdom: Ashin of the North.”

Chosen as series rookie actress and rookie actor of the year are HoYeon Jung for “Squid Game” and Tang Jun-sang for “Move to Heaven” and “Racket Boys.”

The series director of the year is Hwang Dong-hyuk of “Squid Game.”