15 DramaFever Alternatives to Watch Korean Dramas in 2024

Since DramaFever’s shutdown in 2018, many Korean drama fans have been scrambling to find other sites to stream on. After some research, I found 15 DramaFever alternatives, free and paid, to stream your favorite Korean dramas. However, due to content licensing agreements, some of these platforms restrict their content to Korea and other parts of the world.

An app known as a VPN can technically alter your virtual location so you appear as if you’re in Korea or another specified country. However, faking your location to watch geoblocked content goes against the Terms of Use of many platforms, and may even be considered copyright infringement.

If you’d still like to use a VPN, it’s important to know that not many work because streaming platforms try to block VPN connections to protect their license. But, after thorough research, ExpressVPN tops my list because it secures your connection with blazing-fast speeds, so you can reliably watch lag-free K-dramas without restriction. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee — if you’re not satisfied, you can easily get a full refund.

Watch Korean dramas with ExpressVPN

Quick Guide: 15 Best DramaFever Alternatives for Korean Dramas

15 Alternatives to DramaFever to Watch K-Dramas in 2024

1. Dramacool

Dramacool has an extensive library of original and exclusive Korean content — you’ll find most (if not all) of your favorite dramas here, from Asian classics to the latest releases. I was also happy with its clean and organized interface when I visited its website. Its quick navigation bar at the top lets you browse dramas and movies by category and stars.

The “Drama Calendar” feature stood out the most. It tells you which episode of which drama aired on TV so that you’re up-to-date and can stream on Dramacool easily. Dramacool is free, but like all other free streaming sites, it’s ad-supported. Although I prefer ad-free streaming, seeing a 30-second ad every 15 to 20 minutes wasn’t too bad.

Visit Dramacool.

2. iQIYI

iQIYI is a Shanghai-based online streaming service with an extensive library of Asian content, including Korean shows and movies. It has a Netflix-like, easy-to-use interface where you can browse shows based on your interests. You can select your genre with the “Browse” button, but you won’t find a genre of Korean content.

I searched “Korea” in the search bar to get all the Korean-based movies and shows. Note that some shows are listed as “VIP” and are only available for paid users. I streamed a non-VIP show, and it showed me 4 20-second ads at the start but none while streaming.

Try iQIYI.

3. Viu

Viu is available for streaming in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and some countries in the Middle East. With a popular viewer base of over 36 million active users. The Hong Kong-based service is geo-restricted to the following countries:

• East Asia — Hong Kong
• Southeast Asia — Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand
• Middle East — Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE
• Africa — South Africa

Viu is a free but ad-supported streaming platform, but I was happy that all the ads appeared before and not during streaming. If you don’t want ads at all, you can sign up for Viu premium to stream your favorite Asian dramas non-stop and without ads. I was also impressed that it supports subtitles in multiple languages, including English, Bahasa, Burmese, Mandarin, and Arabic.

Watch Viu.

4. Rakuten Viki

Rakuten Viki is among the best platforms to stream Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and other Asian content. You can stream on its website or download its app on your phone. It has native apps for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, and Roku. What impressed me the most was that many of its movies and shows were available in over 200 languages with multiple subtitles.

While you can stream on Viki for free, most free content is only available in SD quality. Subscribing to the paid Viki Pass gives you access to a more extensive content library and HD streaming without ads.

Unfortunately, not all Asian dramas, movies, and shows are available to viewers worldwide. Some content is geo-restricted to certain countries. For example, the popular show The Heirs is restricted to European countries, while Medalist Lawyer Heir is available outside Europe as well.

Go to Rakuten Viki.

5. Kshow123

Kshow123 is another popular streaming site exclusively for Korean TV shows and dramas, including Finding Genius, Running Man, Knowing Brother, and more. I liked that most shows have English subtitles, but there’s no option for browsing shows by category. You can only choose from the “Latest,” “Popular,” and “Rated” categories.

Streaming on Kshow123 was challenging — every time I hit the play button, a pop-up ad opened in another tab. This happened multiple times before I could finally stream content. Therefore, the user experience isn’t great, but you can stream Korean TV shows on Kshow123 for free.

Watch Kshow123.

6. OnDemandKorea

OnDemandKorea is an excellent alternative to Dramafever because it airs hundreds of Korean shows and dramas, irrespective of whether they’re currently airing on TV or have finished. Apart from having an extensive library, you can stream on OnDemandKorea without signing up or creating an account, which I found really convenient.

I was also impressed that the website was not flooded with pop-up ads. From finding the show you want to watch to streaming it, you won’t get ads popping up besides those in the player itself.

Note that OnDemandKorea is only available in North and South America. Its free library is also surprisingly extensive, but you’ll have to subscribe to its premium plan to access the full catalog.

Visit OnDemandKorea.

7. iFlix

iFlix is a Malaysia-based streaming service with over 10,000 hours of international content, including K-dramas and movies. The streaming service is available for free but also has a premium option if you’d like to stream without ads.

iFlix’s user interface is easy-to-navigate, so I had no trouble searching for the Korean drama I wanted to watch. You can also adjust the streaming speed, an option I haven’t seen on many sites except YouTube. I didn’t get many ads while streaming and was happy that I could stream in 1080p HD.

Stream iFlix.

8. KOCOWA

KOCOWA is a premium video streaming service geo-restricted to North and South American countries, including the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and more. It hosts a range of free Korean dramas and TV shows, and you don’t need to sign in or create an account to stream. I was impressed by KOCOWA’s Netflix-like user interface — I prefer this over a regular website interface with multiple pop-up ads.

KOCOWA works on Android devices, iPhones, iPads, Chromecast, and even some smart TVs. If you’re in the US, this might be the best choice for you, as the most current Korean Variety and K-Pop shows are streamed in high quality and with English subtitles just six hours after airing. You can stream some shows for free and access the full catalog with a paid subscription.

Try KOCOWA.

9. ViewAsian

ViewAsian has an extensive library of free East Asian and Southeast Asian content, including Korean dramas and shows. You don’t need to sign up or create an account to stream — simply head over to its website and start streaming your show. I was impressed by its dozens of genre categories, some of which I haven’t seen before, like Bromance, Espionage, and Artificial Intelligence.

As far as streaming goes, I wasn’t delighted with the streaming experience. While I appreciate not seeing ads on the website, ads popped up in 2 new tabs when I hit the play button. However, it wasn’t too annoying as I didn’t get ads while streaming.

Watch ViewAsian.

10. AsianCrush

AsianCrush is the perfect platform for all K-drama fans — it offers a vast selection of both classic and contemporary Korean dramas. From classic favorites like Boys Over Flowers to modern hits like Crash Landing on You and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, AsianCrush has something for everyone.

While it’s an excellent alternative to DramaFever, AsianCrush is only available to stream in the US and Canada. Although most of its content is free, some titles are only reserved for premium users. So, if you need access to AsianCrush’s full catalog, you’ll have to sign up for the premium subscription.

I appreciate that there are no pop-ups on the website, and they don’t open up in new tabs when you click the play button. All ads are embedded inside the media player.

Visit AsianCrush.

11. NewAsianTV

NewAsianTV is a free-to-use streaming service that works anywhere. It has an extensive library of Asian shows and movies, neatly categorized into Korean, Thai, Taiwanese, Chinese, and more. While its user interface is a bit outdated, I had no problem searching for the K-dramas I wanted to stream. The ads appeared at the beginning but not while I was streaming.

Try NewAsianTV.

12. Netflix

Everyone knows what Netflix, is but many might not know that it has a decent library of Korean TV shows. My personal favorite is Squid Game, but there are others, like All of Us Are Dead, Crash Landing on Your, Kingdom, Money Heist Korea, Sweet Home, and many more.

Netflix keeps adding new content to keep its catalog fresh and may keep adding top Korean dramas and shows to some of its libraries. The only thing I’d have liked to see on Netflix is a genre solely dedicated to Korean content — that would’ve made it easier to find Korean shows on the platform.

Get Netflix.

13. Hulu

Hulu is a well-renowned competitor of Netflix, with plenty of Korean dramas and movies in its catalog. It’s a paid streaming service but geo-restricted to the US only due to licensing restrictions. I streamed Oh My Venus in HD without buffering. Its user interface is intuitive and beginner-friendly. Since Hulu is a paid service, you won’t get ads at all while or before streaming.

Stream on Hulu.

14. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video offers a relatively modest array of Korean dramas and shows. This has made it less favored among K-drama enthusiasts, even though it enjoys widespread popularity as a streaming platform. While a few Korean dramas and shows can be accessed on Amazon Prime Video without the need for a premium subscription, it’s worth noting that they might be taken down from the platform without prior notice.

Amazon Prime Video lets you filter content by genre, but unfortunately, there’s no category for Korean content. When I searched “Korea” in the search bar, I got Korean and non-Korean movies and shows. Many of the fetched results were anime like Kokkoku and Magical Girl Site.

Check out Amazon Prime Video.

15. Tubi

Although Tubi’s collection of Korean dramas and shows is not extensive, it does offer a selection of content that may pique your interest. Upon entering “Korean dramas” in the search bar, I received seven results, and I was pleased to find that all of them were Korean programming.

You don’t have to sign in or create an account to stream on Tubi. I appreciate that, but the quality doesn’t go any higher than 720p, which isn’t enough for an avid streamer like me. Though the overall streaming experience was close to perfect, I hoped TubiTV would’ve had more Korean content in its catalog.

Visit Tubi.

Bonus Sites and Apps for K-Drama Content in 2024

1. MyDramaList — Find New Shows and Where to Stream Your Favorite K-Drama

If you’re looking for a particular title and want to know where to stream it, MyDramaList should be your first stop. For instance, if you want to watch The Heirs, a quick search will show where the drama is available for streaming and whether it’s free or not.

When you create a profile (for free), you can create custom lists to track what you want to watch and what you’ve already seen. You can also see what others are streaming, along with ratings and reviews.

Check out MyDramaList.

2. Dramabeans — Best Site for K-Drama Recaps of Shows

Dramabeans is a fan forum and recap site for the biggest and best (new and old) Korean dramas. It provides detailed recaps of your favorite shows, including most miniseries from the big 3 networks — KBS, MBC, and SBS. The site also features ratings, making it easier to decide what to watch next.

Browse Dramabeans.

The Best VPNs to Watch Korean Dramas in 2024

1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-Fast Speeds for Streaming K-Dramas Without Interruption

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	3,000+
📱Devices	8
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming Korean dramas in HD. It lets you stream K-dramas, shows, and movies from all reliable streaming sites. My global team of colleagues and I have tested it with all DramaFever alternatives and verified that it works reliably in all cases.

Throughout my tests, ExpressVPN reached average speeds of up to 300Mbps. When you consider that most platforms require 25Mbps for UHD resolution, and significantly less for full HD, ExpressVPN is set to stream in the best quality that your local connection can handle.

With over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, ExpressVPN is likely to have a server local to you, wherever you’re based. This will not only ensure high-quality and reliable streams for Korean dramas, but also all the other platforms it works well with, such as Disney+ and many more.

You can use ExpressVPN on up to 8 devices simultaneously. It works on all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. You can also set it up on your smart TV or router. Furthermore, its MediaStreamer feature lets you stream some services on incompatible devices like a PS4 and Xbox.

ExpressVPN’s monthly plan can be a bit expensive so I recommend its 1-year + 3 months plan, which offers a 49% discount and is available for as low as $6.67 per month.

The best part is that you can buy ExpressVPN in confidence as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re unsatisfied with its performance, you can claim a full refund. I submitted my refund request via its 24/7 live chat and got my full refund within 4 days.

Stream Korean dramas with ExpressVPN

2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Buffer-Free Streaming of Korean Content

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	11,780+
📱Devices	7
💰Refund	45 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers make it one of the best VPNs for watching K-shows. Each of these servers is optimized for streaming on a particular platform. For instance, a server designed for Netflix will deliver a lag-free experience for streaming on Netflix.

As far as performance is concerned, CyberGhost delivers excellent speeds, reaching an average of 225Mbps. No matter the quality you desire, this will be plenty. On local servers the speed drop from my baseline fluctuated between 8-13% — barely noticeable in practice.

The only aspect where CyberGhost surpasses ExpressVPN is that it allows 7 simultaneous device connections. I used CyberGhost on my Windows laptop, Macbook, iPhone, iPad, and Android phone, and still had leftover device connections.

I suggest subscribing to CyberGhost’s 2-year + 4 months plan to get the highest discount of 84% and a low price of $2.03 per month. You can test CyberGhost for yourself risk-free because it provides a 45-day money-back guarantee on all its plans (except the monthly plan). I submitted my refund request via email and got my money in 5 days.

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Vast Server Network for Reliably Streaming Korean Content

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	35,000+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

PIA has a massive network of over 35,000 servers, bolstered by a huge amount of virtual servers that help spread server load and avoid congestion. This enables more reliable connectivity and gives you plenty of options to choose from, something that can sometimes be an issue with smaller networks.

Throughout my tests, PIA offered average speeds of 133Mbps. Although this was slower than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, it didn’t matter much in terms of streaming. It was still far above the required speeds for UHD, and, besides some initial slower buffering, performed very well while streaming Korean shows.

My favorite feature is PIA’s integrated ad blocker, which gets rid of annoying ads on ad-heavy sites like Kshow123. Since it stopped ads from loading, webpages and episodes also loaded much quicker. Unfortunately, the ad blocker couldn’t stop mid-show video ads from loading on free streaming services.

PIA supports a maximum of unlimited simultaneous device connections and works with all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. It also works with some routers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.

You can subscribe to PIA’s 1-month, 1-year, or 2-year + 4 months plan. Buying the monthly plan would cost you more, so I recommend the 2-year + 4 months plan, which comes at a very affordable price of $2.03 per month.

Like the other 2 contenders on my list, you can try PIA risk-free with its 30 money-back guarantee. Claiming my refund was simple — I submitted my refund request via email support and got my money back in 5 business days.

How to Watch Korean Dramas With a VPN

FAQs on Watching DramaFever Alternatives With a VPN

Start Watching K-Dramas Online Today

As K-drama enthusiasts ourselves, we understand the frustration of losing our favorite streaming services and know how hard it can be to find a good replacement. We also know how many VPNs fail to work with these streaming services due to them blocking IP addresses associated with VPNs.

If you’re in need of a working VPN that provides a secure, yet high-quality streaming experience, I can highly recommend ExpressVPN. With high-speed servers and an extensive network, ExpressVPN is a fantastic companion for Korean drama streams. It even has a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re not 100% satisfied.

Summary — These Are the Best VPNs to Watch DramaFever Alternatives in 2024

Rank

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Our score

Price

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1.

9.8

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$6.67 / month Save 49%

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2.

9.6

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$2.03 / month Save 84%

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3.

9.4

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$2.03 / month Save 83%

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