11 Dramas Adapted from Foreign Series, Made More Korean in Their Story

Kapanlagi.com - The popularity of dramas adapted from foreign series shows that the South Korean entertainment industry does not solely rely on original stories. Several Korean dramas actually draw inspiration from popular series in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Sweden, then rework them with characters, settings, conflicts, and nuances that resonate more closely with Korean audiences.

This type of adaptation is not just about transferring a story from one country to another. Drama creators usually retain the main premise of the original series but make adjustments to culture, character relationships, social issues, and the storytelling style that is characteristic of Korean dramas.

The results are quite varied. Some present emotionally charged stories of infidelity, thrilling criminal investigations, political intrigue, romance, and even comedies about a group of con artists. Some of them have even managed to garner significant attention from both Korean and international audiences, Sunday (9/8/2026).

1. From crime, law, to thrilling mysteries

Criminal Minds / a drama adapted from a foreign series

One theme that is often raised in adaptations of foreign series is criminality. Stories involving murder cases, investigations, and legal conflicts indeed have a structure that is relatively easy to develop into a local version. Although the premise originates from a foreign series, characters and conflicts can be made more suitable to the context of South Korea.

1. Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds is one of the clearest examples. This Korean drama aired in 2017 and is an adaptation of the American series of the same name that first aired in 2005.

The Korean version follows a team of profilers who work to analyze the behavior and mindset of criminals. They do not only rely on physical evidence but also try to understand the psychological perspective of the criminal to predict their next actions.

The story centers on the profilers and investigators who must face various serious cases. The presence of actors like Lee Joon Gi, Son Hyun Joo, Moon Chae Won, Yoo Sun, and Lee Sun Bin gives this drama a strong cast.

This adaptation retains the main appeal of the original series, which is the investigation from a psychological perspective, while providing characters and an investigative background in the Korean version.

2. Life on Mars

The drama Life on Mars is also interesting because it combines crime with elements of time travel. This drama, which aired in 2018, is adapted from a British series of the same name.

The story follows Han Tae Joo, a detective who is used to relying on data and evidence in his work. While investigating a serial murder case, he has an accident. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself in the year 1988.

This situation forces him to adapt to the police environment of the past. He then tries to solve the murder case while looking for a way to return to the present time.

Interestingly, the element of time travel in Life on Mars is not just a gimmick. The differences in police work between the two periods also play an important part in the story. This drama has received attention for its ability to combine mystery, psychological thriller, and comedy into one narrative.

3. One Ordinary Day

One Ordinary Day is an adaptation of the British series Criminal Justice. This Korean drama, which aired in 2021, places legal issues and injustice at the center of its story.

Kim Soo Hyun plays a student whose life drastically changes after he is accused of being involved in the murder of a woman. In a desperate situation, he meets a lawyer who then helps him face the legal system.

Rather than presenting a hero who easily uncovers the truth, this drama shows how someone can become trapped in a long and exhausting legal process. This approach makes the story feel dark and intense.

4.Less Than Evil

Another example is Less Than Evil, the Korean adaptation of the British series Luther. This drama focuses on an elite detective named Woo Tae Seok, who has a strong instinct for handling criminal cases but often makes decisions that are on the edge of the rules.

The conflict becomes more intriguing as Tae Seok has to confront a serial murder case and characters with complex motivations. This adaptation shows how Western crime series can be transformed into a Korean thriller with strong psychological pressure.

2. Stories of family, infidelity, and emotionally draining relationships

a drama adapted from a foreign series / The World of the Married

Not all adaptations of foreign series focus on crime. Korean dramas also often take stories about family, romantic relationships, infidelity, and the search for identity. Themes like this are then reinforced with emotional characterization, which becomes one of the attractions of Korean dramas.

5. The World of the Married

The World of the Married is one of the most popular examples of adaptation. This drama is adapted from the British series Doctor Foster that aired in 2015.

The Korean version follows Ji Sun Woo, a doctor who leads a household life with Lee Tae Oh and their child. The life that initially seems perfect slowly collapses after Sun Woo discovers that her husband has an affair with another woman.

The infidelity then escalates into a much larger conflict. Feelings of disappointment, anger, the desire to maintain the family, and the urge to retaliate against the betrayal make the story increasingly intense.

The popularity of The World of the Married is one proof that a story from abroad can take on a new form when placed in the context of a Korean drama. This series is also known for its very high ratings in South Korea and the awards received by Kim Hee Ae and director Mo Wan Il at the 2020 Baeksang Arts Awards.

6. Family by Choice

Unlike The World of the Married, Family by Choice offers a much warmer story. This drama is an adaptation of the Chinese series Go Ahead.

The story centers around three young people who grow up together and build relationships like a family. After being separated for years, they reunite as adults.

This meeting brings back memories of the past while also opening the possibility of romantic relationships that were previously postponed. Hwang In Yeop, Jung Chaeyeon, and Bae Hyun Sung play the three main characters who bring dynamics of friendship as well as chosen family in this drama.

The adaptation of Family by Choice shows that stories from other Asian countries can also be transformed into Korean dramas without losing the main idea of family built through emotional closeness.

7. Playful Kiss

Playful Kiss is another example of an adaptation from Asia. This drama is adapted from the Japanese manga Itazura na Kiss by Kaoru Tada.

The story follows Oh Ha Ni, an ordinary student who has a crush on Baek Seung Jo, a popular student who is smart but cold and arrogant. Even though her love was initially rejected, Ha Ni does not easily give up.

With a romantic comedy genre, Playful Kiss transforms the Japanese manga story into a Korean drama filled with the dynamics of teenage romance. This drama also became one of the well-known titles of its time and achieved broadcasting rights sales to several countries.

3. From genius con artists to doctors facing moral dilemmas

a drama adapted from a foreign series / Confidence Queen

The third theme shows that adaptations do not have to strictly follow popular genres. There are dramas that utilize the concept of foreign series to create stories about deception, medical dilemmas, and even loneliness and human relationships.

8.Confidence Queen

Confidence Queen is adapted from the Japanese series Confidence Man JP. The story revolves around three con artists with different personalities and skills.

Yun I Rang, played by Park Min Young, is the brains of the group. She has high intelligence and strategic planning skills. James, played by Park Hee Soon, is the versatile con artist, while Myung Gu Ho, portrayed by Joo Jong Hyuk, is the youngest member with a more innocent character.

They carry out various missions targeting people who are deemed to have power or exploit others, including mafias, corrupt individuals, and corporations that exploit society.

This concept makes Confidence Queen feel different from conventional crime dramas. The audience is not only invited to see the acts of deception but also the strategic games played by the main characters.

9. Mary Kills People

Mary Kills People is an adaptation of the Canadian series of the same name. The story addresses a rather heavy issue, namely the practice of illegal euthanasia.

Woo So Jeong is a doctor who secretly helps terminally ill patients end their lives through medical procedures. She does not work alone as she has a medical partner, Dr. Choi Dae Hyun, who shares similar views on death as an act of compassion.

Problems arise when their activities begin to be investigated by detective Jo Hyun Woo. The situation becomes more complex because Hyun Woo himself is a patient with a brain tumor that threatens his life.

This conflict makes Mary Kills People not just about criminal issues. The drama also invites the audience to consider questions regarding patient rights, pain, compassion, the medical profession, and the boundary between helping actions and legal violations.

10. Queen Mantis

The drama Queen Mantis is adapted from the French series La Mante. The story revolves around Jeong I Shin, a serial killer once known by the nickname "The Mantis".

Twenty years after serving prison time for killing five men, I Shin must confront his past again. A new murder case emerges with a pattern resembling the methods he once used.

The police then need I Shin's help to find the perpetrator, who is suspected to be an imitator. The problem is, the investigation forces him to cooperate with his own son, Cha Su Yeol, who has grown into a police detective.

The mother-son relationship adds an emotional layer that strengthens the crime story. Su Yeol harbors resentment towards his mother, while I Shin must face the consequences of a past that has kept them apart.

11.Love Me

Love Me is one of the newer adaptation examples. This drama is adapted from the Swedish series Älska Mig.

The story follows Seo Joon Kyeong, an obstetrician who seems to have a perfect life. His career is going well, he is attractive, and his life appears stable. Behind all of that, he hides loneliness and secrets about his family.

Joon Kyeong has distanced himself from his family for seven years after an accident shattered their lives. Things change when he meets his neighbor, Joo Do Hyun. Unlike the people around him, Do Hyun is able to understand the loneliness that Joon Kyeong has kept hidden all this time.

The presence of Love Me shows that adaptations of foreign series can also be directed towards more intimate stories. The focus is not just on maintaining the original plot, but on translating issues of relationships and family into characters and atmospheres that fit Korean dramas.

4. Q&A About Dramas Adapted from Foreign Series

1.What is meant by foreign series adaptations in Korean dramas?

Foreign series adaptations in Korean dramas are Korean dramas that take stories, characters, concepts, or main premises from television series previously produced in other countries. The story is then remade with Korean actors, language, settings, and cultural contexts.

2.Does a foreign series adaptation need to have the same title as the original series?

No. Some dramas use the same title, such as Criminal Minds, Suits, and Life on Mars. However, some use different titles, like The World of the Married adapted from Doctor Foster and Confidence Queen which comes from Confidence Man JP.

3.What countries have had their series adapted into Korean dramas?

Series from various countries have been adapted into Korean dramas. Examples include the United States through Criminal Minds and Suits, the UK through Doctor Foster and Luther, Japan through Confidence Man JP and Itazura na Kiss, France through La Mante, China through Go Ahead, Canada through Mary Kills People, and Sweden through Älska Mig.

4. Is the story of a drama adaptation exactly the same as the original series?

Not always. Adaptations usually retain the main premise or conflict, but can alter characters, settings, relationships between characters, details of the conflict, and even the resolution of the story. These adjustments are made to better suit the culture and habits of the Korean audience.

5. Are foreign drama adaptations still interesting even if you already know the original story?

They can still be interesting. The Korean version can present a new interpretation through acting, cinematography, characterization, and a different cultural context. Therefore, viewers who already know the original series can still find differences and new perspectives when watching the Korean version.

(kpl/yni)