The Most Dramatic K-Drama, Ranked

Choose the K-Drama you think is the most dramatic!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 23, 2024 06:42
In the bustling world of K-Drama, where tears shed and hearts mend in an instant, the challenge of sifting through a sea of options to find the best dramas can be daunting. The value of a system where fans can actively participate in ranking these shows based on their dramatic depth becomes evident. It helps to prioritize viewing choices, ensuring that you invest your time in the most compelling narratives out there. This system of ranking not only enriches the viewing experience but also fosters a community of like-minded enthusiasts who can share their thoughts and influence the array. Through collective voting, the most touching and impactful series rise to the top, celebrated and recognized for their artistry and emotional depth. Thus, each vote contributes to a holistic understanding of what truly resonates with audiences in the realm of K-Drama.

What Is the Most Dramatic K-Drama?

  1. 1
    76
    votes
    This drama tells the story of a goblin who wants to end his immortality by finding his bride, and a grim reaper who is tasked with taking people's souls. It has a unique and captivating storyline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
    Goblin, also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, is a South Korean fantasy drama television series. It follows the story of Kim Shin, a goblin who is cursed with immortality and seeks a human bride to put an end to his eternal life. He crosses paths with Ji Eun-tak, a high school girl who has the ability to see ghosts, and their lives become intertwined in a complicated relationship filled with love, friendship, and fate.
    • Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama
    • Original Network: tvN
    • Episodes: 16
    • Original Release: December 2, 2016 – January 21, 2017
    • Main Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae
  2. 2
    34
    votes

    Descendants of the Sun

    Kim Eun-sook
    This drama follows the lives of army personnel and doctors who are stationed in a war-torn country. The intense action, romance, and emotional scenes make it one of the most dramatic K-dramas ever.
    Descendants of the Sun is a South Korean drama series that tells the love story between a special forces captain and a doctor as they navigate their dangerous jobs and the challenges of being in a relationship. The drama is filled with action, romance, and intense moments that keep viewers captivated.
    • Number of episodes: 16
    • Genre: Romance, Drama, Action
    • Director: Lee Eung-bok
    • Writer: Kim Eun-sook, Kim Won-seok
    • Country of origin: South Korea
    Descendants of the Sun in other rankings
  3. 3
    20
    votes

    Itaewon Class

    Jo Gwang-jin
    Itaewon Class tells the story of a young man who opens a restaurant in Itaewon after being wrongfully accused of a crime. The drama explores themes of revenge, success, and love, and its intense and emotional scenes make it a must-watch.
    Itaewon Class is a highly acclaimed South Korean drama series that revolves around the life of Park Sae-ro-yi, a young ex-convict who opens a bar-restaurant in the diverse and vibrant Itaewon neighborhood in Seoul. With a strong desire for success, Park Sae-ro-yi sets out on a journey to take revenge on a powerful conglomerate owner who caused his father's death. The series explores themes of resilience, friendship, love, and social inequality, all while portraying the challenges faced by individuals who dare to challenge the societal norms.
    • Genre: Drama
    • Director: Kim Sung-yoon
    • Writer: Jo Gwang-jin (based on a webtoon by Kwang Jin)
    • Original network: JTBC
    • Original release: January 31, 2020 – March 21, 2020
    Itaewon Class in other rankings
  4. 4
    13
    votes

    Crash Landing on You

    Park Ji-eun
    This drama follows the story of a South Korean heiress who accidentally lands in North Korea and falls in love with a North Korean soldier. The political tensions, cultural differences, and intense love story make it a truly unforgettable drama.
    Crash Landing on You is a popular South Korean drama that aired in 2019. It tells the story of Yoon Se-ri, a wealthy South Korean heiress, who accidentally crash-lands in North Korea while paragliding. There, she meets Ri Jeong-hyeok, a North Korean soldier who tries to help her hide and find a way back home. As they spend time together, they develop a deep bond despite their conflicting backgrounds and the challenges they face. The drama beautifully portrays their love story and the complex relationships between North and South Korea.
    • Genre: Romantic drama
    • Writer: Park Ji-eun
    • Director: Lee Jeong-hyo
    • Original network: tvN
    • Number of episodes: 16
    Crash Landing on You in other rankings
  5. 5
    13
    votes
    Mr. Sunshine
    Cramk777 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    This drama is set in the early 1900s and follows the story of a young boy who becomes a slave and later a soldier in the United States. He returns to Korea as an adult and becomes embroiled in a love triangle and the fight for Korean independence. The historical backdrop, intense action, and emotional scenes make it a must-watch.
    Mr. Sunshine is a highly acclaimed K-drama that tells the story of a young Korean boy who escapes to the United States during the 1871 Shinmiyangyo, or U.S. expedition to Korea, and returns to his homeland as an adult. Set in the late 19th century, the series explores the complex relationships between the characters against the backdrop of a turbulent time in Korean history.
    • Genre: Historical drama
    • Episodes: 24
    • Broadcast network: tvN
    • Original release: July 7, 2018 – September 30, 2018
    • Main cast: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok
  6. 6
    10
    votes
    This drama is a remake of the British series "Doctor Foster" and tells the story of a successful doctor whose life falls apart when she discovers her husband's infidelity. The intense emotional scenes and the complex relationships make it a gripping drama.
    The World of the Married is a highly dramatic Korean drama that revolves around the life of Ji Sun-woo, a successful doctor who seems to have the perfect life. However, her world is turned upside down when she discovers her husband's infidelity. Determined to seek revenge, she embarks on a journey of chaos and destruction to reclaim her life and dignity.
    • Genre: Drama, Thriller
    • Original network: JTBC
    • Number of episodes: 16
    • Original release: March 27 - May 16, 2020
    • Screenplay: Joo Hyun
  7. 7
    10
    votes
    This drama follows a team of detectives who use a mysterious radio to communicate with detectives from the past. The intense crime-solving and emotional scenes make it a must-watch for fans of detective dramas.
    Signal is a popular South Korean drama that falls under the thriller, mystery, and fantasy genres. It follows the story of a young profiler from the present who receives mysterious radio transmissions from a detective in the past. Together, they work to solve cold cases and prevent crimes from happening. The show is known for its gripping plot, intense suspense, and intricate storytelling.
    • Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy
    • Country of Origin: South Korea
    • Original Language: Korean
    • Number of Episodes: 16
    • Original Network: tvN
  8. 8
    8
    votes

    Scarlet Heart: Ryeo

    Kim Kyu-tae
    This drama is set in the Goryeo dynasty and follows the story of a woman who time-travels from the present day to the past and falls in love with the prince. The political intrigue and emotional scenes make it a classic K-drama.
    Scarlet Heart: Ryeo is a South Korean historical romance drama series. It is based on the Chinese novel 'Bu Bu Jing Xin' by Tong Hua. The drama tells the story of a modern-day woman who gets transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty and finds herself in the body of a noblewoman. She becomes tangled in a complex web of political intrigue and romantic relationships with the princes of the ruling family.
    • Genre: Historical drama, Romance
    • Original language: Korean
    • Based on: Bu Bu Jing Xin by Tong Hua
    • Number of episodes: 20
    • Original network: SBS
    Scarlet Heart: Ryeo in other rankings
  9. 9
    11
    votes

    My Love from the Star

    Park Ji-eun
    This drama tells the story of an alien who has been living on Earth for 400 years and falls in love with a famous actress. The unique storyline, intense romance, and emotional scenes make it a must-watch for K-drama fans.
    My Love from the Star is a popular South Korean drama that revolves around the love story between an alien and a top actress. It combines elements of romance, fantasy, and comedy, making it a must-watch for K-drama fans.
    • Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Comedy
    • Original Network: SBS
    • Episodes: 21
    • Original Release: December 18, 2013 – February 27, 2014
    • Director: Jang Tae-yoo
    My Love from the Star in other rankings
  10. 10
    9
    votes
    This drama is set in the Yuan dynasty and follows the story of a woman who rises to power as empress. The intense political intrigue and complex relationships make it a gripping and dramatic series.
    Empress Ki is a highly acclaimed South Korean historical drama series that aired from October 2013 to April 2014. It revolves around the life of Empress Ki, also known as Ki Seung Nyang, a legendary woman who rose from a lowly maid to become the empress of the Yuan Dynasty. The series explores themes of love, power, loyalty, and political intrigue in the 14th century.
    • Genre: Historical drama, romance, political
    • Original network: MBC
    • Number of episodes: 51
    • Main cast: Ha Ji-won, Ji Chang-wook, Joo Jin-mo
    • Country of origin: South Korea

Missing your favorite K-Drama?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for dramatic K-Drama

  1. Storyline
    A well-written and captivating storyline is essential for a K-Drama to be considered dramatic. The plot should have unexpected twists and turns, strong conflicts, and emotional depth to keep viewers engaged.
  2. Character Development
    Complex and dynamic characters who evolve throughout the series and have strong motivations and backstories are vital for a dramatic K-Drama. Viewers should emotionally connect with the characters to be fully immersed in the drama.
  3. Acting
    Stellar acting performances by the cast are crucial for bringing the story to life, heightening the emotions, and making the drama more convincing and engaging.
  4. Production Quality
    High production values, including impressive cinematography, sound design, and visual effects, can significantly enhance the overall experience of a dramatic K-Drama and help make it more memorable.
  5. Pacing
    A dramatic K-Drama should have a well-paced narrative that maintains a balance between action, dialogue, and character moments, building up tension and suspense and keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats.
  6. Originality
    While certain tropes and cliches are common in K-Dramas, a dramatic series should bring something new and unique to the table to stand out from the rest, whether it's through its themes, presentation, or overall concept.
  7. Cultural Relevance
    A dramatic K-Drama that resonates with the audience in terms of reflecting current socio-cultural issues, themes, and values will likely have a stronger impact on viewers.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most dramatic K-Drama. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or K-Drama is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1741 views
  • 200 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each K-Drama once every 24 hours. The rank of each K-Drama is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most dramatic k-drama

Korean dramas, or K-Dramas, have taken the world by storm with their unique storytelling, captivating characters, and stunning visuals. Known for their emotional depth and intense plot twists, K-Dramas have become a favorite among fans of Asian entertainment. In recent years, the genre has gained even more popularity, with many shows receiving international recognition and acclaim. One of the hallmarks of K-Dramas is their ability to deliver powerful, dramatic moments that leave viewers on the edge of their seats. From tragic love stories to intense action scenes, K-Dramas have a way of drawing viewers in and keeping them hooked until the very end. With so many incredible shows to choose from, it's no wonder that fans are always debating which K-Drama is the most dramatic of all time.

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