2016 K-Dramas

24 Korean dramas from 2016, with verified filming locations, episode guides, and where-to-watch info.

2016 might be the single most influential year in modern K-drama history. Descendants of the Sun, starring Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, became a genuine geopolitical phenomenon — reportedly influencing tourism, fashion, and even diplomatic goodwill across Asia. Cheese in the Trap brought webtoon adaptations into the spotlight, and by December, Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) had begun its run, eventually becoming one of the most beloved, rewatched K-dramas of all time, its fantasy-romance blend of Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun still referenced constantly today. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo also premiered that December, launching a passionate global fanbase around its Goryeo-era time-travel romance. This was the year Korean dramas fully arrived as an international cultural export.