Korean dramas (K-dramas) continued their global dominance in 2023, sweeping up audiences around the world with their addictive blend of romance, comedy, fantasy, and melodrama. This year saw the finale of major hits like The Glory while also welcoming new smashes like Gyeongseong Creature. As we get ready to bid farewell to an exceptional year for K-drama fans, let’s count down the top 10 highest-rated shows that had us glued to our screens. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just dipping your toes into the world of K-dramas, this list covers the biggest and best of 2023.
10. Twinkling Watermelon
Kicking off the top 10 is the coming-of-age story Twinkling Watermelon. This charming series follows a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) student born into a deaf family who accidentally travels back in time. In this new setting, he meets a passionate group of young musicians and together they form the band "Watermelon Sugar," setting off on a journey of music, friendship, and self-discovery.
With its catchy soundtrack and sweet small-town setting, Twinkling Watermelon won over viewers with its feel-good vibes. It’s an underdog story that encourages us to follow our dreams no matter what.
9. My Dearest
Claiming the #1 spot for highest ratings this year is the sweeping historical drama My Dearest. Set against the backdrop of the Qing invasion of Joseon, it tells the story of a man hiding a traumatic past that has led him to abstain from marriage. However, his path crosses with that of a resilient woman still seeking love despite her own history of heartbreak.
Carried by passionate performances from its stars Lee Tae-gon, Ahn Eun-jin, and Hak Joo-lee, My Dearest moved viewers with its epic tale of destined love overcoming adversity. Its grand production design and costumes also brought this poignant period piece to life.
8. My Demon
For fans of quirky supernatural romances, My Demon surely delivered. This offbeat charmer pairs up wealthy hotel heiress Do Ryeong (Kim Yoo-jung) with a wandering demon named Moowon (Song Kang) who body-swaps with humans to extend his centuries-long lifespan. Chaotic hijinks ensue when he accidentally transfers some of his powers to Ryeong.
Song and Kim demonstrated crackling chemistry as the bickering odd couple at the heart of this show. By turns silly and surprisingly touching, My Demon was a welcome dose of pure escapist fun.
7. Strong Girl Nam Soon
This spinoff of the 2017 hit Strong Girl Bong Soon brings together three women with superhuman strength to take down a dangerous crime ring plaguing Gangnam’s nightlife scene. Strong Girl Nam Soon stars Lee Yoo-mi as the titular heroine along with Kim Jung-eun and Park Won-sook as her fellow justice-serving compatriots.
With the winning combination of girl power themes, comedic action scenes, and thoughtful explorations of each woman’s hidden scars, Strong Girl Nam Soon continued the legacy of its beloved predecessor. It delivered messages of resilience and courage with a playfully badass attitude.
6. Island Part 2
Following a smash first season in 2022, this sci-fi mystery from director Bae Jong returned with more fantastical thrills in Island Part 2. Bringing back stars Kim Nam-gil, Lee Da-hee, and Sung Joon as otherworldly heroes along with new addition Cha Eun-woo, this new chapter thrusts the crew into a dangerous showdown with an evil plague god hoping to gain dominion over humanity.
With complex world-building and mind-bending concepts matched by gripping action set pieces, Island Part 2 expanded on the original show’s addictive mythos. Its crowning achievement was assembling a powerhouse cast that infused extra emotion into this larger-than-life tale.
5. Destined With You
For a captivating blend of high fantasy and legal drama, the romantic mystery series Destined With You transported viewers to a mythical realm where star-crossed love overcomes all. When hotshot lawyer Goo Min-seo (Ro Woon) endures a fateful family curse due to a past betrayal, kind-hearted civil servant Yoon Kyung-ah (Jo Bo-ah) crosses paths with him. Her special gift of gleaning people’s histories through touch would prove instrumental to solving the secrets of Goo’s condition and rekindling their predestined bond.
As the renamed lead actor’s first drama since leaving idol group SF9, Destined With You proved a suitable vehicle to showcase Ro Woon’s dramatic versatility moving from lawyer chic to tortured antihero. His dynamic rapport with Jo Bo-ah anchored the show’s emotionality and lush visual atmosphere.
4. Celebrity
A captivating glimpse behind the headlines, the trendy drama Celebrity depicted the highs and lows of influencer culture through the rise of ambitious fashion designer An Tae-seong (Kang Min-hyuk). After remaking small-town girl Lee Ji-seung (Park Gyu-young) into a trending internet identity, Tae-seong grows protective once fame starts impacting Ji-seung’s wellbeing – even as he hides personal demons of his own.
Timely, provocative, and visually stylish, Celebrity brought fresh themes to K-drama as a smart commentary on mental health costs of online notoriety. At the helm, director Im Jin-wook masterfully balanced heavier moments against the romance at its core.
3. The Good Bad Mother
Family bonds take center stage in the moving melodrama The Good Bad Mother. Superstar lawyer Woo Young-soon (Ra Mi-ran) long neglected parenting firstborn son Kang Ho (Lee Do-hyun) who grew up bookish and timid under her harsh upbringing. When adult Ho becomes as cold and stern as his workaholic prosecutor mom, their already strained relationship reaches a turning point – especially once his kinder younger wife enters the picture.
Veteran actress Ra perfectly embodied a complex matriarch trying to break generational cycles of parental indifference. Opposite her, rising actor Lee skillfully depicted Ho’s internalized pain beneath the formal suit. Altogether The Good Bad Mother struck an emotional chord in capturing how early hurts still leave scars.
2. Behind Your Touch
Claiming runner-up spot is this year’s fantasy tearjerker Behind Your Touch. The twisty plot follows Smith (Lee Min-ki), an elite lawyer forced to relive the same tragic day thanks to a family curse – until quirky bakery worker Han So-yeon (Han Ji-min) comes into his life. Her psychometric power to see into people’s pasts by touching them ends up being key to unlocking Smith's own cryptic history and reversing the looping curse.
At turns magical, macabre, heartrending and healing, Behind Your Touch enthralled with its clever time-bending premise brought to life by loveable lead duo Lee and Han. Backed by slick direction and visuals, it proved a rewatchable crowd-pleaser.
1. King The Land
And topping the list for 2023’s buzziest K-drama is the trendsetting workplace romance King The Land. Continuing the traditions of hits like What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, this slick crowd-pleaser pairs luxury hotel CEO Goo Won (Lee Jun-ho) with earnest intern-turned-secretary Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah). Though coming from vastly different worlds, their electric opposites-attract chemistry lights up the screen.
Also read: Sweet Home Season 2 Review
Beyond just being a gorgeous eye candy fest between its photogenic leads Lee and Im, King The Land nailed all the classic beats of a satisfying office K-drama. With confident direction, punchy scripting, and dimensional supporting characters, it represented best-in-class for the genre. King The Land truly earned its ratings crown for this remarkable year.
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