🌟 Top 5 Most Popular K-Dramas of 2025 (So Far)

 

From tearjerkers to political thrillers, 2025 has already delivered some unforgettable K-dramas.
Whether you’re into slow-burn romance, palace intrigue, or high-stakes emergencies, this list has something for you.

Here are the top 5 K-dramas that dominated screens and searches during the first half of 2025:

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🥇 1. Queen of Tears – tvN / Netflix

• Aired: March 9 – April 28, 2024

• Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won

• Highlights:

  • Highest cable TV rating in tvN history (Finale: 24.85%)

  • Over 682.6 million watch hours globally on Netflix

  • A raw and emotional portrayal of love, marriage, and loss

If you cried during Crash Landing on You, you’ll be a mess after this one.

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🥈 2. When Life Gives You Tangerines – Netflix

• Aired: March 7 – March 28, 2025

• Starring: IU, Park Bo-gum

• Highlights:

  • A nostalgic, bittersweet romance set across 50 years on Jeju Island

  • Massive global interest boosted by the IU x Ariana Grande social challenge

  • Visual poetry and deep emotional resonance

A love story that begins with citrus and ends with silence.

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🥉 3. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call – Netflix

• Aired: Q1 2025

• Starring: Ju Ji-hoon, Chu Young-woo

• Highlights:

  • Ranked #1 on Netflix’s Non-English TV Chart

  • Combines heart-racing medical emergencies with profound character arcs

  • Gritty, emotional, and grounded in realism

Think Hospital Playlist meets D.P.

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🏅 4. The Tale of Lady Ok – JTBC / Viu

• Aired: November 30, 2024 – January 26, 2025

• Starring: Im Ji-yeon, Chu Young-woo

• Highlights:

  • A feminist historical drama filled with palace intrigue and silent rebellion

  • Breathtaking costumes, subtle performances, and powerful symbolism

  • Female-centric storytelling that breaks sageuk norms

She doesn’t raise her voice — but everyone listens.

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🏆 5. Treasure Island (보물섬) – SBS / Wavve / Disney+

• Aired: February 21 – April 12, 2025

• Starring: Park Hyung-sik, Heo Jun-ho, Hong Hwa-yeon

• Highlights:

  • A political revenge thriller involving a 2 trillion won slush fund

  • Peaked at 14.7% viewership in Korea

  • Bold storyline with intense performances and shocking twists

A modern-day treasure hunt, but everyone’s armed with secrets.

#Kdrama2025 #TopKdramas #QueenOfTears #IU #ParkBoGum #JuJiHoon #ImJiYeon #KdramaReview #NetflixKdrama #KoreanDrama

Which one have you watched?
Which one made you cry, binge, or want to write your own love letter to Jeju? 💌
Let us know in the comments or tag your favorite scene!