The Most Popular Korean Drama on Netflix, Ranked

Choose the drama you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 21, 2024 07:16
With the increasing number of Korean dramas available on Netflix, viewers often find themselves spending more time searching for what to watch than actually watching. By ranking these shows based on popularity, it helps streamline the selection process, making it easier for fans to dive into their next binge-worthy series. This dynamic list acts as a guide, reflecting real-time preferences and trends among fans. Each vote helps provide a clearer picture of which shows are capturing hearts and commanding attention. It's an exciting way to engage with a community of like-minded fans and see where your favorite dramas stand in the crowd.

What Is the Most Popular Korean Drama on Netflix?

  1. 1
    87
    votes

    Crash Landing on You

    Park Ji-eun
    This romantic drama has gained massive popularity worldwide due to its unique storyline and charming characters. It tells the story of a South Korean heiress who accidentally lands in North Korea and falls in love with a North Korean army officer.
    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
  2. 2
    42
    votes

    Itaewon Class

    Jo Gwang-jin
    This drama is based on a webtoon and follows the story of a young man who opens a bar in Itaewon, a multicultural district in Seoul, to seek revenge against a powerful corporation. It explores themes of discrimination and social injustice.
    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
  3. 3
    33
    votes
    This historical horror thriller is set in the Joseon period and follows the crown prince as he investigates a mysterious plague that turns people into zombies. It has been praised for its unique blend of genres and stunning cinematography.
    Kingdom is a South Korean historical horror drama series that takes place during the Joseon era. It follows the story of Crown Prince Lee Chang as he investigates a mysterious plague that turns people into bloodthirsty zombies. As he uncovers a political conspiracy, he must fight to save the country and the royal family from the spreading epidemic.
    • Genre: Historical, Horror, Drama
    • Country: South Korea
    • Language: Korean
    • Number of Seasons: 2
    • Number of Episodes: 12
  4. 4
    17
    votes
    This action-packed drama follows a stuntman who gets involved in a conspiracy involving a plane crash and uncovers a dangerous political scheme. It has gained attention for its intense action scenes and suspenseful storyline.
    Vagabond is a word associated with the concept of wandering and travelling without a fixed destination or a specific purpose. It evokes a sense of adventure and freedom, representing a lifestyle of exploration and discovery.
    • Meaning: Wanderer, someone who travels without a home or job
    • Sense of Adventure: Represents a free-spirited and unconventional approach to travel
    • Exploration: Signifies a desire to explore new places and cultures
    • Freedom: Emphasizes the liberation from societal norms and commitments
    • Openness to Randomness: Acceptance of unpredictability and spontaneity in travel experiences
  5. 5
    17
    votes

    Strong Girl Bong-soon

    Lee Hyung-min
    This romantic comedy follows a young woman with superhuman strength who becomes a bodyguard for a wealthy CEO and falls in love with him. It has gained popularity for its hilarious moments and heartwarming romance.
    Strong Girl Bong-soon is a popular Korean drama available on Netflix. It tells the story of Do Bong-soon, a young woman born with superhuman strength. Despite her incredible abilities, she aspires to live a normal life while secretly using her powers to help others. The drama revolves around Bong-soon protecting a CEO from a dangerous stalker while navigating her way through love and personal growth.
    • Genre: Romantic comedy, Fantasy, Thriller
    • Original language: Korean
    • Number of episodes: 16
    • Main cast: Park Bo-young, Park Hyung-sik, Ji Soo
    • Release year: 2017
  6. 6
    16
    votes

    My Love From the Star

    Park Ji-eun
    This romantic fantasy drama tells the story of an alien who falls in love with a famous actress and stays on Earth for 400 years to be with her. It has become a classic in the Korean drama genre and has gained a large following internationally.
    My Love From the Star is a popular Korean drama series that tells the story of an alien who landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty and has been living among humans since then. The alien meets a top actress and their paths intertwine, leading to a romantic and entertaining storyline filled with secrets, time travel, and supernatural elements.
    • Genre: Romantic Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
    • Original release: December 18, 2013 - February 27, 2014
    • Director: Jang Tae-yoo
    • Main cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Jun Ji-hyun
    • Number of episodes: 21
  7. 7
    12
    votes

    Romance Is a Bonus Book

    Jung Hyun-jung
    This romantic drama follows a struggling writer who gets a job at a publishing company and falls in love with her boss. It explores themes of career struggles and self-discovery.
    Romance Is a Bonus Book is a popular Korean drama available on Netflix. It tells the story of Kang Dan-i, a talented writer in her 30s who is struggling to restart her career after dedicating her life to raising her daughter. She ends up securing a job as a temporary employee at a publishing company, where she crosses paths with her childhood friend and successful writer, Cha Eun-ho. As they navigate their professional lives together, their friendship deepens into love, but they face obstacles that test their relationship.
    • Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
    • Original release: January 26, 2019 – March 17, 2019
    • Episodes: 16
    • Main Cast: Lee Na-young, Lee Jong-suk
    • Average Episode Duration: 70 minutes
  8. 8
    3
    votes
    Love Alarm
    Netflix · Public domain

    Love Alarm

    Chon Kye-young
    This teen romance drama is set in a world where a mobile app can tell you if someone within a 10-meter radius has romantic feelings for you. It has gained popularity for its relatable themes and engaging storyline.
    Love Alarm is a popular K-drama series available on Netflix. It revolves around a mobile app called Love Alarm that notifies its users when someone within a 10-meter radius has romantic feelings for them. The story follows three main characters: Kim Jo-jo, Hwang Sun-oh, and Lee Hye-yeong, as they navigate their love lives and the impact of Love Alarm on their relationships.
    • Genre: Romantic Comedy
    • Number of seasons: 2
    • Episodes: 16
    • Language: Korean
    • Release date: August 22, 2019
    Love Alarm in other rankings
  9. 9
    11
    votes
    Something in the Rain
    Cramk777 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Something in the Rain

    Director: Ahn Pan-seok
    This romantic drama explores the relationship between a woman in her 30s and her younger co-worker. It has been praised for its realistic portrayal of modern relationships and the struggles of dating in today's society.
    Something in the Rain (Also known as Pretty Sister Who Buys Me Food) is a popular Korean drama that tells the story of Yoon Jin-ah, a woman in her 30s who has devoted her life to her job and has given up on love. However, everything changes when she reconnects with her best friend's younger brother, Seo Joon-hee. As they spend more time together, their relationship evolves from friendship to romance, but they face numerous challenges and societal expectations along the way.
    • Genre: Romance, Drama
    • Episodes: 16
    • Original Network: JTBC
    • Original Release: March 30, 2018 - May 19, 2018
    • Main Cast: Son Ye-jin, Jung Hae-in
  10. 10
    3
    votes
    This sci-fi thriller follows a CEO who travels to Spain to meet a game developer and becomes trapped in a virtual reality game. It has gained attention for its unique premise and stunning visuals.
    Memories of the Alhambra is a popular Korean drama on Netflix. It is a fantasy romance series that tells the story of a CEO who embarks on a journey to Granada, Spain, and gets entangled in a mysterious augmented reality (AR) game. As he tries to solve the secrets of the game, he meets a hostel owner who becomes his ally. Together, they unravel the dark secrets behind the game and its connection to their own lives.
    • Genre: Fantasy, Romance
    • Original Network: tvN
    • Episodes: 16
    • Original Release: December 1, 2018 - January 20, 2019
    • Main Cast: Hyun Bin, Park Shin-hye, Park Hoon, Kim Yong-rim
    Memories of the Alhambra in other rankings

Missing your favorite drama?

Graphs
Discussion

Ranking factors for popular drama

  1. Viewership numbers
    The number of viewers who have watched the Korean drama on Netflix, both in Korea and globally, is an essential factor to consider. The higher the viewership numbers, the more popular the drama.
  2. Ratings and reviews
    Gauge the overall quality and viewer satisfaction of the drama by looking at ratings and reviews on Netflix and other platforms such as IMDb and MyDramaList.
  3. Buzz and social media engagement
    Analyze the amount of buzz and engagement around the Korean drama on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The more people are talking about the drama, the more popular it is.
  4. Cast and crew
    The popularity of the actors and actresses, as well as the reputation of the producers and directors involved in the drama, can impact its overall ranking.
  5. Genre and theme
    Consider the popularity of the genre and theme of the Korean drama among Netflix viewers. Some genres, such as romance and thriller dramas, may have a broader appeal and higher popularity than more niche genres.
  6. International popularity
    Analyze the popularity of the drama both in Korea and outside of Korea, considering its responses from audiences from different regions and cultural backgrounds.
  7. Availability
    Consider the accessibility of the Korean drama on Netflix in different regions. A more widely available drama will have better chances of being viewed by a larger audience and, therefore, have a higher popularity ranking.
  8. Relevance
    Determine the relevance and timeliness of the drama's themes and storylines to current societal issues or trends, both in Korea and globally.
  9. Watch time
    Another factor to consider is the amount of watch time a drama has accumulated since its release on Netflix. The longer viewers spend watching, the more popular and engaging the drama is.

About this ranking

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

Statistics

  • 2116 views
  • 237 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

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

More information on most popular korean drama on netflix

Korean dramas, also known as K-dramas, have taken the world by storm in recent years. With their unique storylines, charismatic actors, and stunning cinematography, it's no wonder that they have become incredibly popular on streaming platforms like Netflix. Whether you're a fan of romantic comedies, historical epics, or action-packed thrillers, there's a K-drama out there for everyone. In this article, we'll be exploring the most popular Korean dramas on Netflix, as voted by StrawPoll users. So get ready to dive into the world of K-dramas and discover your next binge-worthy obsession.

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