K-dramas persistently redefine the boundaries of storytelling in the ever-evolving Korean entertainment landscape. While romance and drama remain cherished genres, science fiction is carving out a prominent space, captivating audiences with narratives that challenge our understanding of reality and prospective futures. From narratives intertwined with time travel and parallel universes to those imagining cutting-edge technologies, K-dramas have orchestrated mind-blowing on-screen phenomena.

Dive into this curated list of seven must-watch sci-fi K-dramas, each promising a voyage into the mysteries of the cosmos and showcasing the limitless scope of human imagination.

"Are You Human?" 

Renowned scientist Oh Laura (Kim Sung Ryung) was made to stay away and part ways with her son, Nam Shin (Seo Kang Joon). She develops numerous AI robots patterned like him throughout time, dubbing them Nam Shin I, II, and III as a way to cope with her loss. After escaping a murder attempt decades later, Nam Shin enters a coma. Laura sends the AI robot Nam Shin III to stand in for him and perform his tasks to safeguard his status as a chaebol heir. Due to continuous threats to Nam Shin's life, former MMA fighter and now bodyguard Kang So Bong (Gong Seung Yeon) became Nam Shin III's security detail. Although she does it out of selfish motives at first, she later comes to care for him genuinely and starts falling for him—and has to keep him safe from the very people who'd tried to murder Nam Shin. The emotional rollercoaster that follows as the AI learns to mimic human emotions and relationships is both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

"I'm Not a Robot"

Kim Min Kyu (Yoo Seung Ho) has a severe allergy to physical contact with other people and has a luxurious but lonely life. Whenever he comes into contact with flesh in any way, he instantly breaks out in severe, potentially fatal rashes that quickly cover his entire body. Min Kyu is the chairman and largest shareholder of KM Financial, which owns the Santa Maria team. 

Professor Hong Baek Gyun (Um Ki Joon) leads the Santa Maria team, which secretly created an advanced humanoid robot called AG3 modeled on his ex-girlfriend Jo Ji Ah (Chae Soo Bin). Baek Gyun presented AG3 to Min Kyu for demonstration, but before the robot was delivered, it short-circuited. Baek Gyun will then be forced to request that Ji Ah pretend to be the robot in exchange for 10 million won. As Ji Ah lives as AG3, Min Kyu eventually learns to love her, believing she's a robot.

"My Absolute Boyfriend" 

Based on the popular manga "Absolute Boyfriend" by Yuu Watase, this drama revolves around Um Da Da (Bang Min Ah), a woman who refuses to love again after being in a long-term relationship with popular actor Ma Wang Joon (Hong Jong Hyun) who always loses his cool with Da Da.

Enjoying her single life, an odd package is suddenly delivered to her by mistake, which leads to her curiosity and meeting Zero Nine (Yeo Jin Goo), a state-of-the-art robot companion, which was activated by their accidental “kiss.” Unintentionally introduced into the seven-day trial period, Da Da is trapped in nurturing this attractive "boyfriend" for the following seven days. Da Da is content with her new love life because she has an android who is designed to be her ideal partner, but Wang Joon returns to try to win her over once more.

"Circle"

This sci-fi mystery drama is divided into two parallel storylines, one set in the present day and one set in the future, addressing topics of advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and the effects of human behavior. The first part, "Beta Project," tells the story of two university students named Kim Woo Jin (Yeo Jin Goo) and Kim Beom Gyoon (Kim Kang Woo), who find the strange alien artifact known as the "Bluebird" (Gong Seung Yeon). Their discovery draws them into a dangerous world of secrets as well as into the world of a strong organization determined to control the technology's potential. In contrast, in the second part, titled "Brave New World," we are taken to a civilization in the future where a sophisticated surveillance system called "Smart Earth" keeps track of people's daily lives. People's every move is monitored in this strictly regulated world, where anonymity is a thing of the past. "Circle" is a fascinating investigation of how technological development might affect society and the ethical problems that develop when people experiment with the power of invention.

"SF8"

Dubbed as Korea's equivalent of the famous British series "Black Mirror," each of "SF8"'s eight episodes offers a stand-alone story set in a futuristic or speculative scenario, taking viewers on a journey into the world of science fiction. From AI-driven romances to dystopian futures and virtual realities, this innovative series offers a wide range of themes and genres within the science fiction genre. "SF8" interweaves scenarios that make viewers think while examining the potential effects of technology, moral quandaries, and the effect of technological breakthroughs on human life. Each episode provides viewers with an exciting and mind-bending experience, serving as an enthralling demonstration of the filmmakers' limitless creativity in Korea.

"Alice"

Alice tells the story of a man and a lady who were split apart for all time by death, yet they magically reunite. Emotionless detective Park Jin Gyeom (Joo Won) discovers the presence of time travelers while looking into a strange case. Through a space called Alice, the time travelers journey from the future to the present. Jin Gyeom struggles to stop bad things from happening through Alice. He runs across Yoon Tae Yi (Kim Hee Sun) once more during this period, who passed away in the past and whom he claims to be related to. Yoon Tae Yi, a brilliant physicist, holds the key to time travel. She discovers a secret underlying her as they jointly discover the time travel secret.

Science fiction has established itself as a haven for unrestricted imagination and cutting-edge narrative in the realm of K-dramas. These dramas have broadened the possibilities of what K-dramas may do, ranging from happy stories of human-AI interactions to dystopian futures. We may look back on these dramas as brilliant examples of the genre's potential to intrigue and entertain while eagerly anticipating the next wave of sci-fi brilliance from K-dramas. So, plunge into these sci-fi K-dramas if you're ready to have an adventure that goes beyond the ordinary, and get ready to have your mind blown.