What To Watch When You Want Something Meta

Be Melodramatic - two of the main FLs work in the drama industry, one as a writer and one as a producer responsible for PPL. Lots of in-jokes and references to dramas - ie. Reply 1988, Something in the Rain. Great insight on the behind the scenes struggles to get a drama green lit and what it’s like to work with temperamental writers, actors, directors, etc in a funny way. - u/PrizeReputation7

Be Melodramatic - A group of thirty something friends that live together in an apartment, each struggling in their careers and lives but finding support and comfort in one another as they work to overcome those challenges. It uses comedy and gags to have a discussion about trauma, healing, and life as an adult. This drama is so incredibly meta in its humor; there are PPL scenes that parody PPL scenes! - u/forever-cha-young

The King of Dramas pretty underrated, gives perspective into what goes bts of making a Korean drama from the pov of the director, writers, and production staff etc.  - u/umustbedreaminm8  

Plenty of humor and glimpses into the drama production world.  - u/be-k-dramatic

Dramaworld - it isn't centered on the drama industry. But, this is as meta a KDrama can get. A KDrama addict is somehow transported into a KDrama and becomes a part of it. This drama plays on KDrama tropes and cliches so well. Has a great villain plan. So many cameos. 10 eps 20 mins each. It's on Netflix. - u/RayInRed

Temperature of Love - the FL is a drama writer and it shows her progression from a struggling newbie to a working kdrama writer. You can watch her deal with a very difficult writer sunbae and also with higher-ups who make the call on whether her projects will get made or not. One of the main plots of the drama involve her dream of becoming a writer being in conflict with her romance with the ML who is a young successful chef/restaurant owner. - u/PrizeReputation7

The Greatest Love - Laugh out loud at the lovable, silly character details, and enjoy the opposites attract romance. I've rarely felt this comfy with, and fond of, a couple. This drama also makes sharp observations about the price of fame: the excesses of public reactions, and about competition and egos running rampant within the industry.  - u/amnesiafakedating

Come and Hug Me - She's an actress, and there are some on-the-sound-stage sequences in this drama that use that setting to crazy intense dramatic effect. Also, the drama shows up the falseness and superficiality of the industry on a few occasions. The leads' backstory is over the top tragic and scary, and there's a lot of slo-mo gazing between the lovers separated by tragic past events. If you like melos about drama stars! - u/amnesiafakedating

You're Beautiful - Fluff about idols living together in their idol house, unaware that a nun twin sister is impersonating her indisposed brother (who is the real member of their band). Watching this today, it's fun on two levels, the first being the extreme degree of wide-eyed and adorbs. Second, knowing what I know now about how idols are exploited, abused, and controlled, this drama becomes campy in a kinda wack way. Park Shin Hye's and Jang Geun Suk's performances are to die for, though -- having to perform this level of silly is a litmus test for actors, and they rock. Plus look out for Jeremy, played by Lee Hong Ki -- his work, even in his secondary role, makes the drama. - u/amnesiafakedating

Because This Is My First Life - This drama is just the kind of drama that female lead Yoon Ji Ho, an aspiring drama writer, wants to write. It moves away from the styles of the past and makes charming, subtle, thoughtful observations about interesting people in unpredictable relationships. Ji Ho has to go through getting her script red-penciled by a veteran drama writer who can't resist the urge to take over her project and turn it into the kind of drama that was being made a decade previously. Plus she experiences a small portion of the workplace harrassment for which the industry is famous. I still love the kinds of vintage dramas Ji Ho is ready to move beyond. But the voice and experience of this drama are truly refreshing, bright, original and entertaining. - u/amnesiafakedating

Record of Youth - It deals with characters who are actively a part of the entertainer business. Both male leads are Model turned actors and our female lead is a make up artist. Bonus parts are seeing the ML's on set and getting to know the business politics through the FML's eyes. There are other themes like dealing with family dynamics, working hard to achieve your dreams, etc... An enjoyable watch I you're in the mood for a steady paced, aesthetic slice of life Drama. - u/AngelFish9_7

Record of Youth - The drama depicts the struggles of actors who are trying to make it big. The ML and SML are actors with different backgrounds, and the FL is an aspiring make up artist, all trying to make it big in their careers. The drama focuses on the Industry politics and the lives of these people even after they’ve achieved success. - u/Fatooz

The Producers - Not really a drama that's meta about other dramas, but rather a drama that's meta about the whole Korean entertainment industry as a whole, particularly reality shows. the viewer follows two expert producers, one rookie and a celebrity as they try to stay relevant in this cut-throat industry. They learn things about themselves, about each other and about life. Perfect show if you’re looking for something fresh and interesting, and you'd like to see the behind the scene of the entertainment industry. - u/AngelFish9_7

Queen In-Hyun’s Man - The FL (Yoo In-Na) in this drama is an actress. The drama is a fantasy romcom. The drama does depict the industry politics and the lives of these celebrities in a subtle way. It’s a very feel good drama, there is good chemistry, the plot os good and it’s also very fast paced. - u/Fatooz

Touch Your Heart - The FL in this drama is also an actress, the drama shows in subtle ways the industry standards and how rumors can damage the image of these actors and actresses. The drama is very fluffy and feel good, the chemistry is also really nice.  - u/Fatooz

Uncontrollably Fond - The ML is an actor in the drama. The drama does focus on the industry quite a lot. There is industry politics, preferences and so on. There drama is melodramatic, there is good romance and plot wise it’s decent.  - u/Fatooz

You Who Came From The Stars - The FL in this drama is an actress. The drama also revolves around industry standards, trends, competition, etc. The drama had a stellar cast, good plot, good chemistry and really nice cinematography. It’s a good melodrama, fantasy romcom.  - u/Fatooz

Secret Garden the FL is a stunt woman in movies. The series is a must see: heart warming, gender bender gem. - u/woossah

Man to man - the SML is an actor. For the DOTS lovers: One of the scenes in the series replays a scene from DOTS and Song Joong Ki does a cameo. - u/woossah