This article discusses the Top 40 Best and Highest Rated Korean Dramas of All Time and does not contain any major plot points or spoilers.
Over the last half a decade or so, Korean Dramas (or K-Drama) have really picked up steam in terms of their global popularity. In part, this is thanks to Netflix’s consistent investment in the country’s content, whether through their own original projects or the licensing of existing offerings that then brings them to a much broader audience. However, with so much out there, to the uninitiated, it can be hard to find the perfect jumping-in point. Do you go with the most popular? What seems the most buzz-worthy online? A mix of the two?
Here, at Ready Steady Cut, we thought it’d be handy to present the Top 40 Best and Highest Rated Korean Dramas of all time according to their Nielsen rating on cable TV in Korea. This rating is illustrated by a percentage, which shows the share of audience that a show had at a given time. So, if something has a Nielsen rating of 4%, that means that 4% of the public with a television were watching the Korean Drama at the time.
So, if you’re looking for a comprehensive list of shows that were amongst the most popular with the domestic Korean audience, or if you’re just in need of something new to watch, look no further than here with our Best and Highest Rated Korean Dramas of all Time.
Also if you love K-Drama Horrors, you should check out our piece on the Best Horror K-Dramas You Must Watch. If that does not take your fancy, we also have the Best Korean Dramas on Netflix of all Time List too.
Last Updated: November 11th, 2023
Top 40 Best and Highest Rated Korean Dramas of All Time
40. Military Prosecutor Doberman (2022)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 10.081%
Final Episode Date: 26 April 2022
Premise: An army prosecutor with ambitions of power and wealth finds his plans disturbed by an unyielding newbie with an agenda of her own. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Ahn Bo-hyun, Jo Bo-ah, Oh Yeon-soo, Kim Young-min, Kim Woo-seok
39. Encounter (2018)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 10.329%
Final Episode Date: 24 January 2019
Premise: Following a chance encounter overseas, a woman with much to lose and a man with little to his name meet again as employer and employee. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Song Hye-ko, Park Bo-gum
38. Show Window: The Queen’s House (2021)
Network: Channel A
Nielsen Rating: 10.335%
Final Episode Date: 18 January 2022
Premise: A story about a woman who supports the adultery of another woman, without knowing that the affair is with her husband. (Source: NAVER)
Starring: Song Yoon-ah, Lee Sung-jae, Jeon So-min, Hwang Chan-sung
37. Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) season 3 (2022)
Network: TV Chosun
Nielsen Rating: 10.395%
Final Episode Date: 1 May 2022
Premise: Unpredictable twists and turns continue to put a strain on the tumultuous relationships of these couples seeking happily ever after. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Park Joo-mi, Kang Shin-hyo, Lee Ga-ryeong, Jeon Soo-kyung, Ji Young-san
36. Mine (2021)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 10.512%
Final Episode Date: 27 June 2021
Premise: Encaged in a gold-clad life of secrets and lies, two women in a conglomerate family seek to topple all that stands in their way of finding true joy. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-hyung, Ok Ja-yeon
Read our Mine season 1, episode 1 recap
35. Jirisan (2021)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 10.663%
Final Episode Date: 12 December 2021
Premise: Set against the backdrop of towering views of Mount Jiri, it depicts the story of rangers and other employees of the Jirisan National Park who climb through the mysterious and unexplored regions of the mountain. (Source: IMDb)
Starring: Jun Ji-hyun, Joo Ji-hoon
34. My Kids Give Me a Headache (2012)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 10.715%
Final Episode Date: 17 March 2013
Premise: A heart-warming love story of a large family in the beautiful countryside. (Source: JTBC)
Starring: Uhm Ji-won, Yoo Dong-geun, Kim Hae-sook
33. The Crowned Clown (2019)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 10.851%
Final Episode Date: 4 March 2019
Premise: Standing in for an unhinged Joseon king, a look-alike clown plays the part but increasingly becomes devoted to protecting the throne and the people. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Yeo Jin-goo, Lee Se-young, Kim Sang-kyung
32. The Uncanny Counter (2020)
Network: OCN
Nielsen Rating: 10.999%
Final Episode Date: 24 January 2021
Premise: Noodle shop employees by day and demon hunters by night, the Counters use special abilities to chase down malevolent spirits that prey on humans. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Jo Byung-kyu, Yoo Joon-sang, Kim Se-jeong, Yeom Hye-ran, Ahn Suk-hwan
Read our recap of The Uncanny Counter season 1, episode 1
31. Little Women (2022)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 11.105%
Final Episode Date: 9 October 2022
Premise: Three sisters, who only have each other and never enough money, get entangled in a conspiracy involving the rich and powerful. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, Park Ji-hu, Uhm Ji-won, Uhm Ki-joon, Wi Ha-joon
30. Prison Playbook (2017)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 11.195%
Final Episode Date: 18 January 2018
Premise: With his major league baseball debut right around the corner, a star pitcher lands in prison and must learn to navigate his new world. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Park Hae-soo, Jung Kyung-ho, Jung Hae-in, Jung Soo-jung
29. Reply 1994 (2013)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 11.509%
Final Episode Date: 28 December 2013
Premise: All hailing from various parts of Korea, a group of college students go from being complete strangers to a big happy family at a Seoul boarding house. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Go Ah-ra, Jung Woo, Yoo Yeon-seok
28. Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 11.513%
Final Episode Date: 3 April 2022
Premise: In a time when dreams seem out of reach, a teen fencer pursues big ambitions and meets a hardworking young man who seeks to rebuild his life. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, Bona, Choi Hyun-wook, Lee Jo-myung
Read our recap of Twenty-Five Twenty-One episode 1.
27. Red Balloon (2023)
Network: TV Chosun
Nielsen Rating: 11.566%
Final Episode Date: 26 February 2023
Premise: A story of four people attempting to quench their desires and appease their heartbreaks. (Source: AsianWiki)
Starring: Seo Ji-hye, Hong Soo-hyun, Lee Sang-woo, Lee Sung-jae, Jung Yoo-min
26. Hotel Del Luna (2019)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 12.001%
Final Episode Date: 1 September 2019
Premise: When he’s invited to manage a hotel for dead souls, an elite hotelier gets to know the establishment’s ancient owner and her strange world. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: IU, Yeo Jin-goo, Shin Jung-keun, Bae Hae-seon
25. The Good Bad Mother (2023)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 12.032%
Final Episode Date: 8 June 2023
Premise: A tragic accident leaves an ambitious prosecutor with the mind of a child — forcing him and his mother to embark on a journey to heal their relationship. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Ra Mi-ran, Lee Do-hyun, Ahn Eun-jin
24. The Lady in Dignity (2017)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 12.065%
Final Episode Date: 19 August 2017
Premise: The wife of a corporate heir finds her luxurious life overturned by a mysterious woman who joins the household as a caregiver for her father-in-law. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Kim Hee-seon, Kim Sun-ah, Jung Sang-hoon, Lee Tae-im, Lee Ki-woo
23. Signal (2016)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 12.544%
Final Episode Date: 12 March 2016
Premise: Communicating via a walkie-talkie that transcends time, a profiler from 2015 and a detective from 1989 join forces to tackle crimes and injustice. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, Jo Jin-woong
22. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 12.665%
Final Episode Date: 17 October 2021
Premise: A big-city dentist opens up a practice in a close-knit seaside village, home to a charming jack-of-all-trades who is her polar opposite in every way. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Shin Min-ah, Kim Seon-ho, Lee Sang-yi
Read our recap of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha episode 1
21. King the Land (2023)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 13.789%
Final Episode Date: 6 August 2023
Premise: Amid a tense inheritance fight, a charming heir clashes with his hardworking employee who’s known for her irresistible smile — which he cannot stand. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Lee Jun-ho, Lim Yoon-a, Go Won-hee
20. Hospital Playlist Season 2 (2021)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 14.080%
Final Episode Date: 16 September 2021
Premise: Inside the hospital, where every patient and every story matters, the five friends confront the ups and downs of life as doctors — and as human beings. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, Jeon Mi-do
Read our recap of Hospital Playlist season 2, episode 1.
19. Hospital Playlist (2020)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 14.142%
Final Episode Date: 28 May 2020
Premise: Every day is extraordinary for five doctors and their patients inside a hospital, where birth, death and everything in between coexist. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, Jeon Mi-do
18. 100 Days My Prince (2018)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 14.412%
Final Episode Date: 30 October 2018
Premise: Upon losing his memory, a crown prince encounters a commoner’s life and experiences unforgettable love as the husband to Joseon’s oldest bachelorette. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Doh Kyung-soo, Kim Seon-ho, Nam Ji-hyun
17. Our Blues (2022)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 14.597%
Final Episode Date: 12 June 2022
Premise: Romance is sweet and bitter — and life riddled with ups and downs — in multiple stories about people who live and work on bustling Jeju Island. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-ah, Cha Seung-won, Lee Jung-eun, Uhm Jung-hwa, Han Ji-min, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Hye-ja, Go Doo-shim, Choi Young-joon, Park Ji-hwan, Bae Hyun-sung, Roh Yoon-seo
Read our recap of Our Blues episode 1.
16. Vincenzo (2021)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 14.636%
Final Episode Date: 2 May 2021
Premise: During a visit to his motherland, a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer gives an unrivaled conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Taecyeon
Read our recap of Vincenzo episode 1
15. Agency (2023)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 16.044%
Final Episode Date: 26 February 2023
Premise: An office drama depicting a woman who became the first female executive in her group to make her career beyond her first to the highest position. In the background of an advertising agency, it contains realistic stories of the daily lives of those who live a life like war and behind the scenes in the industry. (Source: IMDb)
Starring: Lee Bo-young, Son Na-eun, Cho Seong-ha, Han Joon-woo
14. Itaewon Class (2020)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 16.548%
Final Episode Date: 21 March 2020
Premise: In a colourful Seoul neighborhood, an ex-con and his friends fight a mighty foe to make their ambitious dreams for their street bar a reality. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Park Seo-joon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kwon Na-ra, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung
13. Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) season 2
Network: TV Chosun
Nielsen Rating: 16.582%
Final Episode Date: 8 August 2021
Premise: Emotions boil over as the women learn of their husbands’ affairs and confront the distrust plaguing their once-happy marriages. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Sung Hoon, Lee Ga-ryeong, Lee Tae-gon, Park Joo-mi, Jeon Soo-kyung, Jeon Noh-min
12. Under the Queen’s Umbrella (2022)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 16.852%
Final Episode Date: 4 December 2022
Premise: A spirited queen tries to rein in her rowdy sons in order to make one of them the next king of Joseon, while her competitors vie to snatch the throne. (Source: Netflix)Starring: Kim Hye-soo, Kim Hae-sook, Choi Won-yeong
11. Crash Course in Romance (2023)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 17.038%
Final Episode Date: 5 March 2023
Premise: A mother with a heart of gold navigates the cutthroat world of private education when her daughter tries to join a celebrity math instructor’s class. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Kyung-ho, Lee Bong-ryeon
10. Mr. Queen (2020)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 17.371%
Final Episode Date: 14 February 2021
Premise: When a modern day chef gets trapped in the body of a queen in the Joseon era, chaos ensues. (Source: IMDb)
Starring: Shin Hye-sun, Kim Jung-hyun
9. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
Network: ENA
Nielsen Rating: 17.534%
Final Episode Date: 18 August 2022
Premise: Brilliant attorney Woo Young-woo tackles challenges in the courtroom and beyond as a newbie at a top law firm and a woman on the autism spectrum. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Park Eun-bin, Kang Tae-oh, Kang Ki-young
Read our Extraordinary Attorney Woo episode 1 recap
8. Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 18.129%
Final Episode Date: 30 September 2018
Premise: A young boy who ends up in the U.S. after the 1871 Shinmiyangyo incident returns to Korea at a historical turning point and falls for a noblewoman. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok, Byun Yo-han, Kim Min-jung
Read our Mr. Sunshine episode 1 recap
7. Doctor Cha (2023)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 18.546%
Final Episode Date: 4 June 2023
Premise: Twenty years after leaving her medical career, a housewife returns as a first-year resident — struggling to find her footing in a job full of surprises. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Uhm Jung-hwa, Kim Byong-chul, Myung Se-bin, Min Woo-hyuk
6. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 18.680%
Final Episode Date: 21 January 2017
Premise: In his quest for a bride to break his immortal curse, a 939-year-old guardian of souls meets a grim reaper and a sprightly student with a tragic past. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae
5. Reply 1988 (2015)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 18.803%
Final Episode Date: 16 January 2016
Premise: Take a nostalgic trip back to the late 1980s through the lives of five families and their five teenage kids living in a small neighbourhood in Seoul. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Lee Hye-ri, Go Kyung-pyo, Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum, Lee Dong-hwi
4. Crash Landing on You (2019)
Network: tvN
Nielsen Rating: 21.683%
Final Episode Date: 16 February 2020
Premise: A paragliding mishap drops a South Korean heiress in North Korea — and into the life of an army officer, who decides he will help her hide. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun
3. Sky Castle (2018)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 23.779%
Final Episode Date: 1 February 2019
Premise: For the families living at Sky Castle, an exclusive residential community that’s home to Korea’s elite, their children’s success means everything. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Yeom Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra, Kim Seo-hyung
2. Reborn Rich (2022)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 26.948%
Final Episode Date: 25 December 2022
Premise: After ten years, a loyal employee is framed for embezzlement, then murdered by his employers, only to be reborn as their youngest son, with a yearn for revenge guiding his hostile takeover. (Source: IMDb)
Starring: Song Joong-ki, Lee Sung-min, Shin Hyun-bin, Kim Nam-hee
1. The World of the Married (2020)
Network: JTBC
Nielsen Rating: 28.371%
Final Episode Date: 16 May 2020
Premise: A turbulent twister of lies, betrayals and revenge tears apart the seemingly picture-perfect marriage between a doctor and a filmmaker. (Source: Netflix)
Starring: Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-joon, Han So-hee
And there you have it! The Top 40 Best and Highest Rated Korean Dramas of All Time.
Will you be checking out any of these K-Dramas? What would you add to this Best and Highest Rated Korean Dramas of All Time list? Let us know in the comments.
