Best Korean Dramas with Office Settings

There’s something irresistibly charming about Korean workplace dramas. Maybe it’s the perfect blend of professional ambition and budding romance.

Or perhaps it’s the relatable office politics mixed with heartwarming moments around the water cooler.

Whatever the reason, these K-dramas have mastered the art of turning fluorescent-lit offices into the perfect setting for love stories.

Rankings by Rating

1. Hospital Playlist (9.1/10)
2. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (8.9/10)
3. Business Proposal (8.7/10)
4. Misaeng: Incomplete Life (8.6/10)
5. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (8.5/10)
6. Good Manager (8.5/10)
7. Love Is Sweet (8.4/10)
8. Her Private Life (8.3/10)
9. Search: WWW (8.3/10)
10. Sh**ting Stars (8.3/10)
11. The Beauty Inside (8.3/10)
12. King the Land (8.2/10)
13. Crazy Love (8.2/10)
14. Touch Your Heart (8.2/10)
15. True to Love (8.1/10)
16. Romance Is a Bonus Book (8.1/10)
17. Start-Up (8.1/10)
18. The Secret Life of My Secretary (8.0/10)
19. She Would Never Know (8.0/10)
20. Introverted Boss (7.7/10)
21. Forecasting Love and Weather (7.5/10)

Detailed Reviews of K-drama about Office Life

(rating from MyDramaList)

1. Hospital Playlist (9.1/10)

Synopsis: Five doctors who have been friends since their medical school days in 1999 continue their friendship while working at the same hospital. They find solace in their shared passion for music, forming a band together. The series presents their daily lives dealing with patients, life, death, and personal relationships.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows how friendship can enhance professional performance
• Demonstrates work-life balance through creative outlets
• Illustrates the importance of emotional support in high-stress jobs
• Highlights how shared interests strengthen workplace bonds

2. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (8.9/10)

Synopsis: Woo Young Woo, a brilliant lawyer with autism spectrum disorder, navigates the challenges of working at a prestigious law firm. Despite her exceptional intelligence and memory, she faces unique social challenges while bringing fresh perspectives to legal cases.

Workplace Impact:

• Champions neurodiversity in professional settings
• Shows how different perspectives enhance problem-solving
• Demonstrates the value of inclusive workplaces
• Illustrates adaptation and growth in professional environments

3. Business Proposal (8.7/10)

Synopsis: When Shin Ha Ri goes on a blind date in place of her friend, she discovers her date is actually her company’s CEO, Kang Tae Moo. What starts as a simple favor becomes complicated when he proposes marriage to avoid his grandfather’s matchmaking attempts.

Workplace Impact:

• Explores the complexity of office romance
• Shows how to maintain professionalism amid personal relationships
• Demonstrates the importance of honesty in workplace dynamics
• Illustrates the challenges of dating across hierarchical levels

4. Misaeng: Incomplete Life (8.6/10)

Synopsis: Former Go player Jang Geu Rae enters the corporate world as an intern with only a high school equivalency degree. He must adapt to office culture while competing with more qualified colleagues, learning valuable lessons about survival in the corporate world.

Workplace Impact:

• Provides realistic portrayal of entry-level corporate life
• Shows the importance of perseverance and adaptability
• Demonstrates how diverse backgrounds bring unique perspectives
• Illustrates the challenges of workplace hierarchy

5. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (8.5/10)

Synopsis: After nine years of dedicated service, Kim Mi So decides to resign from her position as secretary to narcissistic vice president Lee Young Joon. Her resignation prompts him to realize her true value and their shared past, leading to both professional and personal discoveries.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows the evolution of professional relationships
• Demonstrates the value of competent support staff
• Illustrates healthy workplace boundary setting
• Highlights the importance of mutual respect

6. Good Manager (8.5/10)

Synopsis: A skilled accountant with a criminal background infiltrates a company planning to embezzle money, but ends up becoming an unexpected champion for employee rights and corporate integrity.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows how ethical behavior can develop in unexpected ways
• Demonstrates the power of standing up against corruption
• Illustrates the importance of employee advocacy
• Highlights how one person can change corporate culture

7. Love Is Sweet (8.4/10)

Synopsis: A woman with dual degrees in economics and psychology joins a top investment firm where she reunites with her childhood friend, now her workplace rival. Using her emotional intelligence and judgment, she navigates office politics while finding success in both career and love.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows how emotional intelligence aids professional success
• Demonstrates healthy competition in the workplace
• Illustrates the balance of personal and professional relationships
• Highlights women’s success in finance

8. Her Private Life (8.3/10)

Synopsis: A professional art curator leads a double life as a devoted K-pop fan site manager. When a new art director arrives, she struggles to keep her passionate hobby secret while maintaining her professional image.

Workplace Impact:

• Demonstrates work-life balance
• Shows the importance of accepting colleagues’ personal lives
• Illustrates professional excellence alongside personal interests
• Highlights authenticity in the workplace

9. Search: WWW (8.3/10)

Synopsis: Three powerful women at competing web portal companies navigate success, rivalry, and romance in the tech industry. The story focuses on their professional ambitions and personal lives while tackling issues of corporate ethics and gender dynamics.

Workplace Impact:

• Showcases female leadership in tech
• Demonstrates ethical decision-making in business
• Illustrates work-life balance in modern careers
• Shows healthy professional competition

10. King the Land (8.2/10)

Synopsis: A chaebol heir who hates fake smiles meets a hotel employee known for her genuine smile. As they navigate the luxury hospitality industry, they face inheritance battles, workplace discrimination, and growing feelings for each other.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows the importance of authenticity in service industries
• Demonstrates professional growth despite prejudice
• Illustrates leadership development
• Highlights the value of genuine customer service

11. Sh**ting Stars (8.3/10)

Synopsis: A PR team leader manages the public image of a top star known for his difficult personality. Their constant professional conflicts evolve into an unexpected romance while dealing with entertainment industry challenges.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows behind-the-scenes of entertainment PR
• Demonstrates crisis management skills
• Illustrates professional relationship evolution
• Highlights work-life balance in entertainment

12. Touch Your Heart (8.2/10)

Synopsis: An actress takes a job as a law firm secretary to prepare for a drama role, leading to unexpected romance with her cold-hearted boss and genuine interest in legal work.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows how temporary positions can lead to career discovery
• Demonstrates professional growth through new experiences
• Illustrates breaking down workplace prejudices
• Highlights the value of giving people chances

13. The Beauty Inside (8.3/10)

Synopsis: A top actress who changes bodies for one week each month meets an airline executive with face blindness. Their unique circumstances create both challenges and opportunities in their professional and personal lives.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows adapting to workplace challenges
• Demonstrates handling unusual personal circumstances professionally
• Illustrates acceptance and understanding in the workplace
• Highlights overcoming professional obstacles

14. She Would Never Know (8.0/10)

Synopsis: A senior marketing employee at a cosmetics company deals with workplace romance when a younger colleague pursues her, while she dreams of launching her own brand.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows professional mentorship dynamics
• Demonstrates pursuing entrepreneurial dreams
• Illustrates age dynamics in the workplace
• Highlights women’s career advancement

15. The Secret Life of My Secretary (8.0/10)

Synopsis: A perfectionist boss who develops face blindness must rely on his secretary more than ever, leading to unexpected romantic developments and personal growth.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows the importance of trust in professional relationships
• Demonstrates adapting to workplace challenges
• Illustrates evolution of professional dynamics
• Highlights the value of reliable support staff

16. Crazy Love (8.2/10)

Synopsis: A narcissistic CEO receives a murder threat while his introverted secretary discovers she has limited time to live, leading to unexpected developments in their professional and personal relationship.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows how crisis affects workplace dynamics
• Demonstrates personal growth through professional relationships
• Illustrates the impact of mortality on career decisions
• Highlights the importance of genuine connections

17. True to Love (8.1/10)

Synopsis: A successful love coach and romance novelist encounters a skeptical publishing planner, leading to unexpected professional and romantic developments in the publishing industry.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows creative professional collaboration
• Demonstrates merging of expertise across fields
• Illustrates publishing industry dynamics
• Highlights professional respect development

18. Romance Is a Bonus Book (8.1/10)

Synopsis: A talented but struggling former copywriter takes an entry-level position at a publishing company where her childhood friend is chief editor, leading to both career revival and romance.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows career rebuilding after setbacks
• Demonstrates value of starting over
• Illustrates publishing industry insights
• Highlights professional reinvention

19. Start-Up (8.1/10)

Synopsis: Ambitious entrepreneurs navigate the competitive start-up world while dealing with personal relationships, professional rivalries, and the challenges of building successful companies.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows entrepreneurial challenges and growth
• Demonstrates start-up ecosystem dynamics
• Illustrates mentorship importance
• Highlights innovation and creativity

20. Introverted Boss (7.7/10)

Synopsis: A misunderstood introverted CEO and his energetic employee navigate workplace relationships while dealing with past connections and present misunderstandings.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows different leadership styles
• Demonstrates handling workplace misconceptions
• Illustrates importance of communication
• Highlights understanding personality differences

21. Forecasting Love and Weather (7.5/10)

Synopsis: Work and romance intertwine at the National Weather Service as employees navigate professional challenges while dealing with unpredictable relationships, much like the weather they forecast.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows specialized professional environment
• Demonstrates work-life balance in high-stress jobs
• Illustrates team dynamics in technical fields
• Highlights professional dedication

22. Hospital Playlist Season 2 (9.1/10)

Synopsis: Continuing the story of five doctor friends, the second season delves deeper into their professional challenges, personal lives, and enduring friendship while maintaining their musical bond.

Workplace Impact:

• Shows long-term professional relationship development
• Demonstrates continued work-life balance
• Illustrates career growth and challenges
• Highlights sustained workplace friendships

Why We Love Office Korean Dramas

These series collectively:

1. Present diverse workplace scenarios
2. Offer solutions to common professional challenges
3. Show the human side of office life
4. Inspire career growth and development
5. Demonstrate healthy workplace relationships

Whether you’re a young professional or seasoned worker, these dramas provide both entertainment and valuable insights into making office life more meaningful and enjoyable.