5 K-dramas based on American shows

Korean Dramas or K-dramas continue to witness expansion across the globe with their storyline, versatile and complex acting range by actors, cinematography, original soundtracks, direction, storytelling, and other cinematic factors. However, some shows are adapted or inspired by American shows, showcasing the story from different perspectives.

Below are five K-dramas adapted from American shows:

Criminal Minds
Leverage
The Good Wife
Designated Survivor: 60 Days
Woori the Virgin

While the storylines were kept intact, the projects showcase the originality of South Korean culture, language, and tradition.

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Criminal Minds, The Good Wife, and other K-dramas based on American shows

1) Criminal Minds

Featuring Lee Joon-gi in Criminal Minds (Image via X/@CJndrama)

Where to watch: WeTV, iQIYI

Cast: Song Hyun-joo, Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won, Lee Sun-bin, Go-yoon, Yoo-sun

Criminal Minds is a remake of the American TV series of the same name, which aired in 2005. The drama follows a group of talented and highly trained professionals working in the National Criminal Investigation team. They are responsible for tracking down the criminals and solving cases.

The task begins after an unfortunate incident. When a mistake occurs during a bomb detonation at the hospital, it results in the death of multiple SWAT officers.

The incident leaves everyone devastated, including the leader Kang Ki-hyung. He has not been to work for a long time. However, after a serial murder case occurs, he rejoins and collaborates with the local police agency's Violent Crimes Unit. The police officers Kim Hyun-jin and Ki-hyung have to work together despite their differences.

2) Leverage

A still from Leverage (Image via YouTube/ Viu Singapore)

Where to watch: iQIYI

Cast: Lee Dong-eun, Jeon Hye-bin, Kim Sae-ron, Kim-kwon, Yeo Hoe-hyun, and Choi Ja-hye

The comedy and mystery K-drama Leverage is based on the remake of the American series of the same name, which aired in 2008. The series follows the story of a former insurance investigator, Lee Tae-joon, who changes his profession to a scam strategist. Subsequently, he forms a team to hunt down the conmen and criminals who try to hurt innocent people.

3) The Good Wife

Featuring Jo Do-yeon and Nana (Image via X/@CJndrama)

Where to watch: tvN

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Yoo Ji-tae, Yoon Kye-sang, Kim Seo-hyang, Lee Won-keun, and others

The K-drama The Good Wife is the remake of the American TV series The Good Wife, which aired in 2009. It follows the story of a successful prosecutor whose life gets turned upside down after he is imprisoned for corruption in a political scandal. Subsequently, his wife re-starts her career as an attorney after thirteen years and discovers her true identity.

4) Designated Survivor: 60 Days

Featuring Designated Survivor: 60 Days (Image via Netflix)

Where to watch: Netflix

Cast: Ji Jun-hee, Son Suk-ku, Kang Han-na, Huh Joon-ho, and Lee Jun-hyuk

The thriller and mystery series Designated Survivor: 60 Days is the remake of the American TV series Designated Survivor.

The K-drama follows the story of a former chemistry professor and the minister of the Environment, Park Moo-jin. He is a nonchalant individual with no interest in ambition, politics, personal gains, or other materialistic objects. One day, he is seen in the National Assembly, where all the important personalities, including the President and ministers, are present.

Subsequently, a terror attack occurs where everyone dies except Moo-jin. He has to take responsibility for being the acting President for sixty days. He starts tracking down the person and group responsible for the terror attack.

5) Woori the Virgin

Woori The Virgin cast (Image via Rakuten Viki)

Where to watch: Rakuten Viki and Hulu

Cast: Im Soo-hyang, Sung Hoon, Shin Dong-wook

Woori the Virgin is the remake of the American TV series Jane the Virgin, which aired in 2014.

The K-drama Woori the Virgin follows the story of Oh Woo-ri, an assistant writer of a famous drama series. She has taken the pledge to remain a virgin till she gets married and has remained aloof from romantic relationships till ten. However, she is dating police officer Lee Kang-jae.

An unfortunate incident occurs when she visits the hospital for a routine medical examination. She is artificially inseminated and subsequently orders the hospital to find out what caused the mistake.

The other K-dramas based on the American shows include Entourage, Korea's Next Top Model, Saturday Night Live Korea, and more.

About the author

Kirti holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism & Mass Communication and has been a Kpop writer at SK POP since 2022. She has been following Kpop and Kdramas since the last 6 years and but has worked in the genre only in the last 3-4 years donning several several caps - social media intern, copywriter, article writer and academic writer.

Kirti likes to pen down insightful features based on Korean dramas, especially the 'Ending Explained' categories. It gives her the satisfaction of creating the most authentic content rather than simply replicating what media outlets generally do.

Her process of creating content is time-consuming, yet methodical; she prefers to use original sources of information, which in her case are Korean outlets. She watches entire episodes, writes them down, cross-checks/fact-checks the details/event timelines off the web and eventually creates her copy.

Kirti likes Lee Je-hoon, IU, and Kim Seon-ho since she feels that their dramas are inspiring and have good plotlines. When she is not writing about K-dramas, she can be found watching them.

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Edited by Riya Peter