K-dramas have begun to see global appreciation for their compelling narratives and engaging stories, but some of those stories have ended far too soon. Dramas such as Squid Game, Business Proposal, and D.P. have reached international audiences and propelled the genre into the spotlight. Part of what make K-dramas so popular is their length. Most K-dramas are only 16 episodes long, making them easy to binge. K-drama writers are able flesh out engaging storylines in this short amount of time, along with making memorable characters for audiences to connect to.
With streaming services such as Netflix adding Korean dramas to their rotation of shows, the genre will only grow in popularity. The attention K-dramas are getting around the world, however, has led to criticism of certain dramas. Many K-dramas have been cut short or canceled due to backlash from viewers. Shows that were lauded as they were airing fell victim to criticism when their endings didn’t satisfy their stories. Some K-dramas needed at least another season to be properly wrapped up.
10 Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
Following a down-on-her-luck pianist as she tries to find purpose again in a small village, Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol fell short with its plot twist ending. What was supposed to be a love story between the pianist, named Goo Ra-ra, and a mysterious man took a turn into a melodrama involving a last-minute illness reveal that changed the feel of the show entirely. With this twist coming in the last episode with no prior build-up, the purpose of the twist was questioned. Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol was an easygoing show with a good romance between Ra-ra and Woo-joon. The life-threatening illness felt out of place and unnecessary, leading to criticism of the show’s writing.
9 Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’s
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’s was a time travel K-drama following a modern-day woman, Go Ha-jin, who found herself transported back into the Goryeo Dynasty. She became embroiled in political intrigue and fell in love with the cold-hearted fourth prince, Wang So. The ending had Ha-jin finding a way back to the present with Wang So promising to find her again. The audience never saw this, however, as the show simply ended there. With no season two having been announced, it is becoming more and more unlikely that there will ever be a reunion between the couple.
8 Joseon Exorcist
Joseon Exorcist never got an ending, as the show was canceled two episodes in due to backlash from audiences. The show was supposed to be an alternative historical drama following the rulers of Joseon as they fought and exorcised demons that were plaguing the kingdom. While the show was meant to be an alternative history, it was still supposed to be accurate as the main characters, King Taejong and his sons, were real figures in Korean history. When major acts were committed by these characters that were not in Korean history, the show came under scrutiny. Audiences in both Korea and China pointed out various historical inaccuracies, such as the inclusion of Chinese imagery in historical Korea, which led to the show’s eventual cancelation.
7 Cheese in the Trap
A K-drama based on a webtoon, Cheese in the Trap was the story of two university students, Hong Seol and Yoo Jung, who entered into a relationship despite their many differences. Jung’s characterization as a manipulative heir didn’t make him a likable romantic partner for Hong Seol, who was attending university on a scholarship. An unexplained time jump occurred at the end after the couple broke off their relationship due to an accident driving them apart. This ending was original to the show as the webtoon was unfinished when the show was made. In the time jump, Seol and Jung are never shown getting back together. Seol had written several emails to Jung that went unread until he finally opened one at the very end. Even though the romance wasn’t up to the standard of most K-dramas, this unresolved ending left audiences who wished to see a happy ending, unsatisfied.
6 A Piece of Your Mind
A Piece of Your Mind was cut short due to negative reviews. The series only ran for 12 episodes, rather than the planned 16. The story followed an AI programmer named Moon Ha-won who was struggling to get over his first love. He met Han Seo-woo, a sound engineer, and they began to fall in love. Audiences found the premise of the show uncomfortable, as it hinged on Ha-won being obsessed with his childhood friend and first love, who has married another man. This structure combined with slow pacing and a confusing plot caused a flurry of poor reviews to circulate, which shortened the drama’s lifespan and created a rushed ending.
5 Memories of the Alhambra
A cliffhanger ending with little chance of a season two caused Memories of the Alhambra to become subject to criticism. The drama saw Yoo Jin-woo, a CEO, head to Spain to find the creator of the augmented reality game he plays. Jin-woo became wrapped up in the world of the game along with Jung Hee-joo, the owner of a hostel in Spain. This sci-fi romance had good ratings, but the ending left audiences desiring more. Jin-woo allowed himself to be killed in the game, thus leaving viewers to wonder if he also died in real life, as this was an established possibility in the show. There were hints that Jin-woo may still be alive, but these questions were never fully answered by the end of the show.
4 My Name
The story of a woman seeking revenge, My Name is a K-drama that followed strong female lead Yoon Ji-woo as she sought to destroy her father’s murderer. My Name experienced high ratings as audiences loved the noir thriller. As far as endings, My Name didn’t cut corners or add any unnecessary details that threw wrenches in the plans of the main characters. The show ended on its own terms and saw Ji-woo victorious and determined to take her life back. The show, however, has seen calls for a second season due to its popularity. It is possible that a second season could be made, despite the plot of the first season ending nicely. Some questions could be answered about Ji-woo’s life now that her vengeance is complete.
3 Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Twenty-Five Twenty-One was another romance whose ending left audiences with more questions than answers. The show explored the budding relationship between Na Hee-do, a teenage fencing prodigy, and Baek Ye-jin, a former chaebol whose wealthy, conglomerate family has gone bankrupt. The ending of Twenty-Five Twenty-One saw the couple break up and get separate lives. While the outcome of their lives is shown, with Hee-do eventually retiring from fencing and Ye-jin becoming a news anchor, few other specifics are given. It was implied that Hee-do and Ye-jin may still have feelings for each other, but nothing ever comes of it. The initial romance was so well-done that viewers were upset to see that the couple never ends up together.
2 The Devil Judge
Set in a dystopian Korea fresh out of an epidemic, The Devil Judge was an ambitious drama about a live court show gone wrong. Kim Ga-on was chosen to be a junior judge on the show and becomes drawn a power struggle on set. The head judge, Kang Yo-han, and the rich and powerful people in Korea, both want to manipulate the show for their own gain. What began in the first half as a lens into corruption and how far one is willing to go to rectify things, devolved into an unnecessarily complicated second half involving human test subjects and constant betrayals. Though the show received good reviews for its acting and criticism of unchecked power, the ending left much to be desired as it felt rushed and confusing, an outcome that was likely due to the show being cut from 20 episodes to 16.
1 Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class received good reviews for its story of a young man determined to get revenge on the chaebol who was responsible for his father’s death. After Park Seo-ro-yi was released from prison for attacking his father’s killer, he began his quest for vengeance, gathering many allies along the way. Though the series ends happily for Seo-ro-yi, some audiences felt the ending was rushed and complicated by a love triangle that felt out of place. A last-minute kidnapping plot was stuck in to add more drama and some audiences didn’t like the arcs of major characters. Itaewon Class is generally held as a well-done K-drama, but the ending does leave some to be desired in terms of character development and believability.
