Popular Makjangs to Check Out When You Need More Drama in Your Life
Korean dramas are popular for a variety of reasons. Some viewers like to watch them for the fashion, others for the storyline. Others watch dramas to check out their favorite actors. The genres vary from rom-coms to mystery to historical dramas. One type of drama that has been gaining interest is makjang dramas.
Makjangs are created with over-the-top storylines. Think of every trope that has been in dramas (secret birth lines, amnesia, ridiculous plot twists, etc.) and you have a makjang drama. If this type of drama sounds interesting, read on to find some popular makjangs that you can binge.
The Last Empress
Set in present-day South Korea, which operates under a constitutional monarchy, The Last Empress follows musical actress Oh Ssuni (Jang Nara). She marries the current emperor, Lee Hyuk (Shin Sungrok), and has to fight against palace politics and power-hungry enemies. Ssuni falls in love with one of the imperial family’s bodyguards, Na Wangsik (Choi Jinhyuk), and, with his help, destroys the royal family. The Last Empress is full of family secrets, cliches, and more drama than an average K-Drama fan might be able to handle. If this sounds tempting to watch, check it out on Viki.
Money Flower
Over-the-top greed, power, and desire are just some of the themes in Money Flower. Hard-working Kang Piljoo (Jang Hyuk) is the envy of many in the Cheongah Group. He has a dark secret that causes him to keep his real identity a secret. He wants to get revenge on the Cheongah Group, and he knows just how to get it. He plans to convince Na Mohyun (Park Seyoung) to fall in love with Jang Bucheon (Jang Seungjo). What he doesn’t anticipate is falling in love with Mohyun himself. Will he be able to get his revenge he so desperately needs, or will his love for the enemy derail his plan? Money Flower is available to watch on Viki.
SKY Castle
Who knew education could be so dramatic? SKY Castle follows the families of Han Seojin (Yum Jungah), No Seunghye (Yoon Seah), and Jin Jinhee (Oh Naha), who live in the SKY Castle community. This community is very affluent, so when Lee Sooim (Lee Taeran) moves in with her family, it causes quite a stir. Soon, Sooim helps the neighborhood children manage their stress and begins to investigate what happened to the previous owners of her home. SKY Castle is available on Viki.
The World of the Married
Just because someone seems to have it all doesn’t mean that’s true. The World of the Married follows the life of successful doctor Ji Sunwoo (Kim Heeae). Her husband, Lee Taeoh (Park Haejoon), is living a double life and when Sunwoo finds out, her whole world gets torn to shreds. Adding insult to injury, she confides in her friends only to find out that they knew about his transgressions and helped him keep the secret. Sunwoo decides to do whatever it takes to get revenge on the people she thought were friends and family.
The Penthouse
The Penthouse is one of the most popular dramas of 2020. The show follows the families that live in the Hera Palace, a lavish apartment complex, and the children that attend Cheongah Arts School. Each family has dark secrets and will stop at nothing to gain and keep their wealth, power, and prestige. The mysteries start to get exposed when Min Seolah (Jo Soomin) mysteriously dies during a party. The Penthouse is currently in its second season and there are hints that season three will be coming. Seasons one and two of The Penthouse are available on Viki.