Korean Dramas, or K-Dramas, have become a global phenomenon, captivating audiences worldwide with their compelling stories, stellar casts, and exceptional production quality. In this blog post, we delve into the realm of K-Dramas to bring you a curated list of 15 Korean dramas that not only topped the viewership charts but also left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans. Before we embark on this journey, don’t forget to hit the subscribe button and turn on notifications for more exciting content. If you love reactions, check out Yaboyrocklee Reactions for more K-drama and K-POP reactions. Now, let’s dive into the captivating world of K-Dramas!
Number 15: Love (Ft. Marriage and Divorce) Starting our countdown is “Love (Ft. Marriage and Divorce),” a drama that intricately weaves the lives of three married couples through a tapestry of love, betrayal, and bitter divorce. Released on January 23, 2021, the series gained instant popularity for its engaging plot, star-studded cast, and brilliant cinematography. The second season solidified its success, becoming the eleventh highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history. Available on Netflix, it has earned its place as one of the most-watched K-dramas on the platform.
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Number 14: Hospital Playlist This romantic drama follows the stories of five doctors who attended the same medical school in 1999, became friends, and now find themselves working at the same hospital. “Hospital Playlist,” released as the second installment of the Wise Life series, received widespread positive acclaim. Season 2 continued the success, achieving the highest premiere ratings in the network’s history. Starring Jo Sung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, and Jeon Mi-do, the series resonated with viewers for its heartwarming narrative.
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Number 13: Crash Course in Romance Regarded as one of the most popular series of 2023, “Crash Course in Romance” is a romantic comedy exploring the bittersweet relationship between Nam Haeng-Seon, a banchan shop owner, and Choi Chi-yeol, a top maths instructor at The Pride Academy. Released in 2023, the drama recorded huge commercial success and solidified its place as one of the highest-rated K-dramas ever released.
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Number 12: Mr Queen After a near-death experience, a modern-day chef gets trapped in the body of a Queen from the Joseon period. “Mr Queen” received mixed reviews but remains one of the highest-rated K-drama series of its time. Widely regarded as the tenth highest-rated K-drama in Korean cable TV history, the series offers an intriguing blend of history, comedy, and drama.
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Number 11: Extraordinary Attorney Woo “Woo Young-woo” is a young, beautiful lawyer on the autism spectrum who excels in her field. Airing on the ENA network in 2022, the series set the record for the network’s highest rating. Praised for its portrayal of resilience and passion, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” has become the eighth highest-rated drama in Korean cable TV history.
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Stay tuned for the continuation of our countdown in the next section…
Number 10: Mr Sunshine This historical melodrama follows Eugene Choi, born into slavery in Joseon, who escapes to the United States and becomes a Marine Corps officer. Upon its final broadcast, “Mr Sunshine” set the record for the third highest-rated drama in Korean cable TV history at the time. The series takes viewers on a gripping journey of love and challenges set against the backdrop of historical events.
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Number 9: Doctor Cha Released on April 14, 2023, “Doctor Cha” follows Cha Jeong-suk, a former full-time housewife returning to her medical career as a first-year resident doctor. The series has become a commercial hit, ranking among the highest-rated K-Drama series of the year. With a captivating plot that keeps viewers hooked, “Doctor Cha” offers a glimpse into the challenges and surprises of the medical profession.
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Number 8: Reply 1988 Set in 1988, “Reply 1988” follows the lives of five friends and their families in the same neighborhood of Ssangmun-dong, Dobong District, Seoul. Starring Lee Hye-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Go Kyung-pyo, Park Bo-gum, and Lee Dong-hwi, the family drama became the fifth highest-rated drama in Korean cable television. It received critical and audience acclaim for its nostalgic journey through friendship, love, and family dynamics.
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Number 7: Daily Dose of Sunshine This medical drama centers around Jung Da-eun, a third-year nurse transferred to the Psychiatry Department at Myungshin University Hospital. Despite being recently released, “Daily Dose of Sunshine” has quickly become one of the highest-rated K-dramas. Its exploration of the interactions in the medical field and the accompanying drama resonates with audiences, contributing to its impressive viewership on Netflix.
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Number 6: Crash Landing on You Taking the 6th spot on our countdown is “Crash Landing on You,” a romantic comedy that follows the life of Yoon Se-ri, a successful South Korean businesswoman. After a paragliding accident sends her into the North Korean portion of the Demilitarized Zone, she meets an army captain, and the two fall in love. Released on December 14, 2019, the series became the highest-rated drama on the tvN network and the fourth highest-rated K-drama in cable TV history.
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Number 5: Sky Castle Taking the 5th spot on our list is “Sky Castle,” a comedy-drama that explores the lives of four housewives living in a lavish neighborhood. The series delves into their bitter rivalry and the drama that punctuates their lives as each family strives for success at the cost of destroying others. Airing on November 23, 2018, “Sky Castle” was the highest-rated drama in the history of Korean cable TV at the time. It garnered widespread positive reviews and won multiple awards, including four at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.
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Stay tuned for the continuation of our countdown in the next section…
Number 4: Reborn Rich This 2022 K-drama comes in at number four, taking you through the story of Yoon Hyun-woo, a loyal employee working for a large corporation. He ends up getting murdered by a member of the Soonyang family in a massive cover-up, only to wake up in 1987, reincarnated into the body of Jin-m Do-jun, the youngest grandson of the family. “Reborn Rich” has enjoyed widespread success and popularity since its release, offering a tale of revenge that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from the opening scenes to the end credits.
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Number 3: The World of The Married Based on the drama series by BBC One, “Doctor Foster,” “The World of The Married” tells a story of revenge, grief, forgiveness, and healing. The series centers around Ji Seon-u, a family medicine doctor married to aspiring director Lee Tae-oh. The seemingly perfect relationship shatters when Seon-u discovers her husband’s affair with another woman. Despite criticism for its portrayal of sex and violence, “The World of The Married” remains one of the highest-rated K-dramas in history, with a nationwide rating of 28.371%.
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Number 2: The Glory Blazing into number 2 is “The Glory,” a story about a former victim of school violence seeking retribution on her bullies by taking a job as a homeroom teacher. The series features scenes inspired by real-life experiences, adding another layer of intrigue to the story. “The Glory” has received critical acclaim and viewership success since its release, raking in numerous awards and nominations, including three for lead actress Song Hye-kyo and one for supporting actress Lim Ji-yeon.
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Number 1: Squid Game Coming in on top of our list is “Squid Game,” one of the most recognizable series from the K-drama scene. Written since 2009, the series found a home on Netflix in 2021, becoming the most-watched program in 94 countries. With 142 million member households and 1.65 billion viewing hours in the first four weeks of its release, “Squid Game” secured its place in history. The series received numerous awards and accolades, including the Golden Globe Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award. With the second season slated for release in 2024, fans worldwide eagerly await the continuation of this captivating saga.
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Thank you for joining us on this journey through the top-rated K-dramas that have captured the hearts and minds of viewers around the world. If you enjoyed this exploration, make sure to hit the like button, share your thoughts in the comments below, and subscribe for more exciting content. For those who love reaction videos, don’t forget to subscribe to Yaboyrocklee Reactions for additional K-pop and K-drama content. Until next time, farewell, and stay tuned for our next video adventure!
