K-dramas are relatively chaste when it comes to romance, more likely to cut away before things get too steamy. But a growing number of series have hit back against the old school, providing steamy — and sometimes borderline controversial — fare that has turned heads and ruffled feathers.
Below is a look at 12 K-Dramas that have pushed the envelope with their NSFW content.
1. A Virtuous Business
Set in 1992, this lighthearted drama follows women selling adult products in a rural village. The show blends risqué humor with commentary, including a scene where a vibrator is mistaken for a regular massager.
2. You Raise Me Up
Also starring Hani, this drama explores male sexual health. Yoon Shi Yoon plays a man struggling with low self-esteem and a decreased sex drive, seeking help from his urologist—who also happens to be his first love.
"With topics such as erectile dysfunction, sex drive, etc., this is certainly a K-Drama you might not want to watch with just anybody," a description reads.
3. Hit the Spot
Coupang Play's Hit the Spot (also known as Fanta G Spot or Fantasy Spot) earned an NC-17 rating for its explicit content. The drama, starring EXID's Hani and Dal Shabet's Woohee, follows two friends navigating work and relationships while hosting a sex and romance podcast.
The show opens with a graphic pornography scene, setting the tone for its many sex scenes, some featuring full-frontal nudity.
4. Somebody
This Netflix series dives into a serial killer's mind while incorporating explicit scenes of masturbation and full-frontal nudity. The show stars Kim Young Kwang and Kang Hae Lim.
5. Nevertheless
Led by Han So Hee and Song Kang, the series portrays a passionate but toxic relationship. A notable dream sequence featured implied oral sex, leaving viewers stunned.
6. The World of the Married
An adaptation of BBC's Doctor Foster, this highly rated drama shocked viewers with its affair-driven plot and multiple sex scenes.
7. My Name
Another Han So Hee drama, My Name, showed the actress in a new light as an action-driven lead. Episode 8 included a sex scene that some saw as a turning point for the characters' emotional arcs.
"Regarding the sex scene, it was the process of how Jiwoo changed from a monster, due to Pil Do," actor Ahn Bo Hyun said. "Regarding that part, I thought that it would bring about emotions of a love scene."
8. Love in the Big City
This LGBTQIA+ drama featured an intense reconciliation scene between characters Go Young and Young Soo that ignited social media with its bold direction.
9. Squid Game
Though known for its violence, Squid Game featured a surprising bathroom sex scene between characters Deok Su and Han Mi Nyeo. The scene, though brief, included nudity and was described as "sweating, moaning, and thrusting."
10. Queen Woo
TVING's Queen Woo received backlash for its explicit scenes. A review by TENASIA criticized the show as "all sex and boobs," lamenting that the NSFW scenes detracted from what could have been an empowering narrative.
"Jeon could have played an unprecedented queen character, who selects the king with her own hands," wrote reporter Ryu Ye Ji.
11. Hierarchy
A teen thriller from Netflix, Hierarchy included controversial scenes involving a teacher-student relationship. Episode 2 portrayed an 18-year-old student in bed with his teacher, raising concerns about appropriateness.
12. The Trunk
Netflix's The Trunk, starring Seo Hyun Jin and Gong Yoo, surprised viewers with multiple topless sex scenes, including one in a kitchen in Episode 1.
As the landscape of Korean dramas continues to evolve, these series have challenged cultural expectations and sparked debate over what's acceptable on screen. Whether seen as bold or inappropriate, their impact is undeniable.
