In the world of Korean dramas every year this industry is giving the fans some amazing dramas that are making their place in the hearts of the fans. From the heartwarming love story to the mind-blasting thriller this industry has something for everyone. But isn’t it truly hard to decide what to watch among thousands of dramas? Then whom can you trust? Who can help you to find your type of drama without wasting your time? Of course, it’s the fans. The Korean Dramas ranked by fans are the most worth watching dramas of all time. In this article, I am going to give you some of the dramas that are ranked by the fans.
What Makes a Drama Fan-Favorite?
As I said previously, fans are the most trusted source of recommendation for the best Kdramas. But will you trust my word? To prove my words, I am going to show you how fans choose dramas and then recommend them to others. I am presenting the key factors that fans consider when ranking their most beloved shows:
- Compelling Storylines:
The first thing a drama fan notices is its storyline. If a particular drama includes a unique and emotionally engaging storyline the fans tend to like those more because a well crafted plot is considered to be the backbone of a drama. If the story is engaging and can promise the fan a good ending without being bored, that particular drama becomes a fan favorite. Such as Crash Landing on You.
- Unforgettable Characters:
Fans tend to have emotional softness for a character they feel is real. If the fans feel a connection with a certain character they cherish it for the longest time, no matter what the character is such as Goblin or Ryu Sun Jae, the heroes of Goblin and Lovely Runner, Han Ji Pyeong and Han Seo Jun, the second leads of drama Start Up and True Beauty and even if it’s the villain like Jang Joon Woo from Vincenzo.
- Chemistry Between Leads:
A drama becomes more enjoyable when the chemistry between the main leads is enjoyable. Even if a non-romantic drama has a good chemistry like a romantic one, that particular drama is liked by the fans.
- A Killer Soundtrack (OST):
A powerful soundtrack is surely like a weapon for drama to gain its deserving recognition. Sometimes the OSTs of some dramas become so popular and iconic that they make a separate fan base, such as the Goblin OST like “Stay With Me” or Boys Over Flowers’ OST “Stand by Me”.
- Relatable Themes:
It’s a plus point for a drama if the theme is universally relatable because people are moved by genuine emotions. If we see the drama It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, it deals with a sensitive issue of mental health, which is for sure a universal theme that no one talks about.
There are surely some other qualities of a drama that make it favorite to fans but these are the most prominent.
Top-Ranked Korean Dramas by Fan
Let me give you a unique chat of Top-ranked dramas that fans highly praised. I am sure you will not regret watching any of these dramas. Follow me;
Crash Landing on You (2019)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Cast: Hyun Bin, Son Ye Jin and others.
The story is quite unique, as we can see a love story that crosses the border. The South Korean Heiress fell in love with a North Korean soldier which captivated the attention of the fans worldwide. The love story is so heartwarming and it includes understanding, sacrifice, and a lot of care with love. The chemistry between the leads was so perfect, that even the second lead was unforgettable. The cinematography of this drama was so praiseworthy.
According to the fans, this drama is a perfect blend of suspense and love that they couldn’t stop watching till the end, and the chemistry between the leads is electrifying.
Goblin (2016)
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Cast: Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook, Kim Go Eun, Yoo In Na and others.
Goblin is a fantasy drama that presents a story of love, destiny and crying. Goblin, who is an immortal god is finding a way to become mortal and here his destiny comes out as the cruelest that includes other characters in it. The whole drama is an iconic one, apart from that all the characters, the dialogs, the cinematography, and even the OSTs together are wholesome. The fans of this drama adore all the characters and their bonds so dearly.
Some of the fans say that each and every episode of this drama is like a movie to them, and the OSTs as well as the cinematography are breathtaking.
Reply 1988 (2015)
Genre: Slice of Life, Family, Comedy
Cast: Lee Hye Ri, Ryu Jun Yeol, Park Bo Gum and others.
The Reply series is loved by the fans for its nostalgic outlook, but the fans cherish Reply 1988 the most. The story is set in the 1980s in Korea and is about five friends who live in the same neighborhood. We can see their childhood and adulthood which is so relatable to the fans. The heartfelt portrayal of love, friendship and family bond makes this drama more loved than the other series.
To Reply 1988 fans this drama is not just a mere drama it’s more like a life lesson to them. Some fans say that they can feel so connected with this drama and every character of it that they laugh and cry together with them.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Oh Jung Se and others.
The main theme of this drama is exploring mental health and healing. The characters of the drama are for sure full of flaws yet they are loveable. The fans connect with this drama emotionally.
Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji together delivered one of the most powerful performances in Korean drama history that left a lasting impression on fans.
The fans praise this drama by calling it a meaningful message within a visually stunning drama. Some others praise this drama as storytelling and character growth are phenomenal.
Descendants of the Sun (2016)
Genre: Action, Romance
Cast: Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, Kim Ji Won, Jin Goo and others.
This drama became a global sensation because of its amazing presentation of a blend of love and patriotism. In this drama, Song Hye Kyo is a doctor and Song Joong Ki is a soldier, both are too different from each other. They fall in love and then get separated from each other for their differences. But both have a strong sense of duty towards their country which binds them together. The chemistry of both main leads and second leads is unforgettable.
Fans say this drama is a perfect blend of action, romance, and humor. They acknowledge this drama as a drama that makes you believe in love against all odds.
Vincenzo (2021)
Genre: Action, Dark Comedy
Cast: Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Bin, Ok Taecyeon and others.
The mixture of dark humor, thrilling action, and heartfelt love is not so usual in Kdramas and that’s why this drama is especially loved by the fans. The story of the Italian mafia is quite interesting. Song Joong Ki played this role so enthusiastically and skillfully which brought this crime drama to life. In this drama, we get one of the most loved villains in Kdrama land, which is portrayed by Ok Taecyeon.
Fans claim that every episode of this drama came out as an emotional rollercoaster ride, as in some scenes you laugh like a fool, in some you feel pain in your heart and some scenes give a nail-biting thrill. Some of the fans love the charismatic character of Vincenzo saying Vincenzo is a true anti-hero whom they can’t help but root for.
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017)
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Supernatural
Cast: Park Bo Young, Park Hyungsik, Ji Soo and others.
The drama has a female lead who is magically stronger than any other people around her. This drama mainly pushes the idea of female empowerment through a strong character especially, by presenting a family where only women are strong. Park Bo Young plays the character of Bong Soon so skillfully whose dream is to be successful and to be loved. And the highlight of the drama is the cutest relationship between Bong Soon and Ahn Min Hyuk.
As for the fans, they define this drama as the cutest rom-com with a touch of action.
They claim Bong Soon as a character that you’ll root for from start to finish.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
Genre: Legal, Drama
Cast: Park Eun Bin, Kang Tae Oh and others.
This drama highlights the story of an extraordinary girl who has autism yet her memory and capacity is truly of a genius. The best part was the bond of each character. They come out as the most friendly and loving personalities.
Fans praise the story saying it is inspiring as well as beautifully written drama. To them, Woo Young-woo is a character who stays with you long after the show ends.
My Mister (2018)
Genre: Slice of Life, Drama
Cast: IU, Lee Sun Kyun and others.
This drama is deeply emotional as it talks about the mental struggle of people of different ages. The story mainly focuses on healing, forgiveness, and human connection. The performances of the stars are highly praiseworthy.
According to the fans the story is raw, real, and incredibly touching. Fans sketch this drama as a masterpiece that redefines the meaning of life’s struggles.
Hospital Playlist (2020)
Genre: Slice of Life, Medical Drama
Cast: Jo Jong Suk, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jung Kyung Ho, Kim Dae Myung and Jeon Mi Do and others.
If you are having a hard time then this drama will be a warm hug to you. This drama is about selfless friendship and the dedication of some capable doctors. You can learn about the daily life of a doctor and their struggles too. The strong and skilled cast and the OSTs of this drama make it a fan favorite. This drama has two seasons and both seasons are highly loved and adored by the fans.
To the fans, this drama is an absolute feel-good drama with relatable characters and claims the fact that this drama is like a hug in the form of a show.
Honorable Mention:
One thing I can assure you while writing about these dramas is that this drama will not disappoint you at all. These dramas are close to the hearts of the fans that they cherish for a long time. So if you like these dramas then I am going to mention some other dramas that are highly talked about by the fans. Those are:
- Hotel Del Luna (Fantasy, Romance)
- Sky Castle (Drama, Satire)
- Twenty-Five Twenty-One (Romance, Coming-of-Age)
- Kingdom (Historical, Thriller, Zombie)
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (Historical, Romance, Fantasy)
- Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (Romantic Comedy, Slice of Life)
- Healer (Action, Romance, Mystery)
- The Heirs (Teen Drama, Romance)
- W: Two Worlds (Fantasy, Thriller, Romance)
- Her Private Life (Romantic Comedy)
To be honest, Korean dramas have a unique ability to mesmerize the audience which connects them to the story, to the characters and to the hidden message of a drama. They show you exactly what you want to see, they make you experience the life that you long for. They leave lasting impressions that break the barrier of language and culture. The dramas that are chosen to be ranked by the fans highlight the heart and soul of K-Drama storytelling as they are chosen for their soulful storyline, unforgettable characters and iconic moments.
Whether you are a newcomer or you have been watching dramas for a long time you just can trust the choice of the fans. Because the dramas they rank as top-ranked K-Dramas reflect the diversity and brilliance of every genre. So what are you thinking? To gain the best Kdrama experience, dive into these dramas that are well-chosen by the loyal fanbase of Kdrama.