Korean dramas are the best to relieve stress & get away from your real life. They are addicting because of their great storyline, heart-melting romance & funny moments.
Kdramas are fun to watch. They have many genres like thriller, action, romance, comedy, law, a slice of life, crime & many more. You will find many popular & high-rated dramas that are worth a watch.
If you are new to Kdramas & are watching your first drama, here is a warning: you will get addicted to them. Because they are emotional & have a great plot. Their OSTs are soothing to listen to.
Highest Rated Kdramas on IMDb
If you decide to watch a Kdrama, you will first see its rating on IMDb. It is the most popular website to check ratings & reviews of all the movies & TV series around the world. This also includes dramas from South Korea.
If you are looking for Korean dramas that have high ratings on IMDb, here are 50 of them. The list is sorted from high to low ratings. Dramas with 1000+ votes are only added.
This list was updated in the month of January 2023. So, the current ranking may be different as new dramas keep airing. Let’s get to the list.
1. Reply 1988
The drama follows the lives of 5 families living on the same street in a neighborhood. A nostalgic look back at the year 1988. As the group of friends gets into and out of mischief, what experiences will they carry with them into their future lives?
IMDb Rating – 9.2
Cast –
- Lee Hye Ri as Sung Deok Sun
- Go Kyung Pyo as Sung Sun Woo
- Ryu Joon Yeol as Kim Jung Hwan
- Park Bo Gum as Choi Taek
No. Of Episodes – 20
2. My Mister
The drama tells us the story of three middle-aged brothers, who are enduring the weight of their lives, and a strong, cold woman, who has been living a hard life of her own, as they come together in healing each other’s past scars.
IMDb Rating – 9.1
3. Alchemy Of Souls
Jang Wook of the noble Jang family has an unpleasant secret about his birth. He meets Mu Deok, an elite warrior trapped within a physically weak body who becomes his servant and secretly begins teaching him how to fight.
IMDb Rating – 8.8
Cast –
- Lee Jae Wook as Jang Wook
- Jung So Min as Mu Deok Yi
- Hwang Min Hyun as Seo Yul
- Shin Seung Ho as Go Won
No. Of Episodes – 20
Watch On – Netflix
4. Hospital Playlist
Hospital Playlist tells the story of doctors, patients, and nurses working at Yulje Medical Center. It focuses on five doctors who have been friends since they entered medical school in 1999. The drama will also deal with a story of a band formed by a group of doctors.
IMDb Rating – 8.8
Cast –
- Jo Jung Suk as Li Ik Jun
- Yoo Yeon Seok as Ahn Jung Won
- Jung Kyung Ho as Kim Jun Wan
- Jeon Mi Do as Chae Song Hwa
No. Of Episodes – 12
Watch On – Netflix
5. Mr. Sunshine
A young boy born into a house servant’s family and travels to the United States. He returns to his homeland later as a U.S. marine officer. He falls in love with an aristocrat’s daughter. At the same time, he discovers a plot by foreign forces to colonize Korea.
IMDb Rating – 8.7
Cast –
- Lee Byung Hun as Choi Yoo Jin
- Kim Tae Ri as Go Ae Shin
- Kim Min Jung as Kudo Hina
- Yoo Yeon Seok as Gu Dong Mae
No. Of Episodes – 24
Watch On – Netflix
6. Extraordinary Attorney Woo
The drama is about a brilliant 27-year-old lawyer with Asperger’s syndrome. She graduated from Seoul National University for both college and law school. However, she still finds herself struggling when it comes to social interactions.
IMDb Rating – 8.7
Cast –
- Park Eun Bin as Woo Young Woo
- Kang Tae Oh as Lee Joon Ho
- Kang Ki Young as Jung Myung Seok
- Jeon Bae Soo as Woo Gwang Ho
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
7. Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Set in 1998, the drama tells the stories of youth who find new direction and growth after having their dreams taken away. Two people first meet when they are 22 and 18 years old and fall in love when they turn 25 and 21.
IMDb Rating – 8.7
Cast –
- Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi Jin
- Kim Tae Ri as Na Hee Do
- Bona as Go Yoo Rim
- Choi Hyun Wook as Moon Ji Woong
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
8. Mr. Queen
In the present day, Jang Bong Hwan works as a chef at the President’s Blue House. He has a free spirit, but his spirit somehow finds its way into the body of Queen Kim So Yong in the Joseon period. Queen Kim So Yong will come to discover that her husband harbors some secrets, and is not as gentle and meek as he seems.
IMDb Rating – 8.7
Cast –
- Shin Hye Sun as Kim So Yong
- Kim Jung Hyun as King Cheoljong
- Bae Jong Ok as Dowager Sunwon
- Kim Tae Woo as Kim Jwa Geun
No. Of Episodes – 20
Watch On – Viki
The story of a 70-year-old retired mailman who decides to pursue his life-long dream of learning ballet. At the dance academy, he meets a 23-year-old ballet dancer. He is struggling financially and thinks of giving up ballet until meeting the mailman, which changes his mind.
IMDb Rating – 8.7
Cast –
- Park In Hwan as Shim Deok Chul
- Song Kang as Lee Chae Rok
- Na Moon Hee as Choi Hae Nam
- Hong Seung Hee as Shim Eun Ho
No. Of Episodes – 12
Watch On – Netflix
10. Mouse
Ba Reum is a police officer whose life changes when he encounters a psychopathic killer. This drives him and his partner to unveil the truth behind psychopathic behaviours. A drama that asks the question, “What if we could identify psychopaths in advance?”
IMDb Rating – 8.7
Cast –
- Lee Seung Gi as Jung Ba Reum
- Lee Hee Joon as Ko Moo Chi
- Park Joo Hyun as Oh Bong Yi
- Kyung Soo Jin as Choi Hong Joo
No. Of Episodes – 20
Watch On – Viki
11. Crash Landing On You
Yoon Se Ri goes for a short paragliding ride, a sudden tornado blows her off course, leading her to crash land in North Korea, where she meets an army officer, who agrees to help her return to South Korea. Over time, they fall in love, despite the divide and dispute between their respective countries.
IMDb Rating – 8.7
Cast –
- Hyun Bin as Ri Jung Hyuk
- Son Ye Jin as Yoon Se Ri
- Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan
- Kim Jung Hyun as Goo Seung Jun
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
12. Flower Of Evil
Baek Hee Sung is a craftsman living with his wife, Cha Ji Won & daughter. But he hides some dark secrets that even his wife is unaware of. His wife is a homicide detective who investigates a case of a psychopath who is quite close to her.
IMDb Rating – 8.7
Cast –
- Lee Joon Gi as Baek Hee Sung
- Moon Chae Won as Cha Ji Won
- Jang Hee Jin as Do Hae Soo
- Seo Hyun Woo as Kim Moo Jin
No. Of Episodes – 16
13. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
When a total eclipse of the sun takes place, Ha Jin is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty. She soon befriends several of the princes and meets the 4th Prince, Wang So. She finds herself caught up in palace politics and the rivalry among the princes as they fight for the throne.
IMDb Rating – 8.6
Cast –
- Lee Joon Gi as Wang So
- IU as Go Ha Jin / Hae Soo
- Kang Ha Neul as Wang Wook
- Hong Jong Hyun as Wang Yo
No. Of Episodes – 20
Watch On – Free Streaming Sites
14. Queen Seondeok
A biopic of Queen Seondeok, who was born a princess and later became the ruler of Silla, leaving behind many brilliant achievements. Deokman (Queen’s childhood name) was born a twin but was abandoned as a baby. She was later brought back to the Silla palace.
IMDb Rating – 8.6
15. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay
The drama revolves around a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who lives with his brother having autism & a popular writer who is suffering from an antisocial personality disorder. They unravel many secrets, seek comfort from each other, and move forward in their lives.
IMDb Rating – 8.6
Cast –
- Kim Soo Hyun as Moon Gang Tae
- Seo Ye Ji as Ko Moon Young
- Oh Jung Se as Moon Sang Tae
- Park Gyu Young as Nam Ju Ri
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
16. Sky Castle
The drama revolves around the lives of housewives residing in a luxurious residential area called SKY Castle. The wives are determined to make their husbands more successful and to raise their children to be top students.
IMDb Rating – 8.6
17. The Red Sleeve
A historical drama that tells the romance of a royal court between Sung Deok Im, a court lady who wants to protect the life she chose and Yi San, an emperor who believes his duty is to his country first above love.
IMDb Rating – 8.6
Cast –
- Lee Jun Ho as Yi San / King Jung Jo
- Lee Se Young as Sung Deok Im
- Kang Hoon as Hong Deok Ro
- Lee Deok Hwa as King Young Jo
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
18. Our Blues
The drama revolves around the sweet & bitter life of different people who are somewhat interconnected, in one way or the other, and depicts their stories in an omnibus format against the backdrop of Jeju Island.
IMDb Rating – 8.6
Cast –
- Lee Byung Hun as Lee Dong Seok
- Shin Min Ah as Min Seon Ah
- Cha Seung Won as Choi Han Soo
- Lee Jung Eun as Jung Eun Hee
No. Of Episodes – 20
Watch On – Netflix
19. Goblin
Kim Shin (Goblin) is framed as a traitor and killed by the young king. Years after his death, he is cursed by the almighty to stay immortal forever. He meets Ji Eun Tak who claims to be his bride. The story revolves around four main characters.
IMDb Rating – 8.6
Cast –
- Gong Yoo as Kim Shin
- Kim Go Eun as Ji Eun Tak
- Lee Dong Wook as Grim Reaper
- Yoo In Na as Sunny
No. Of Episodes – 16
20. Misaeng: Incomplete Life
Geu Rae played the board game go since he was a child. But he failed to become a professional go player. By an acquaintance’s recommendation, he begins working in a company. He does his best at his new job while trying not to lose his humanity along the way.
IMDb Rating – 8.5
21. Signal
Park Hae Young witnesses the kidnapping of a girl 15 years ago. 15 years later, Hae Yeong is now a police officer and criminal profiler. One day, he finds a walkie-talkie that allows him to get in contact with Detective Lee Jae Han who is in the past. Together, they solve a series of murders.
IMDb Rating – 8.5
22. Move To Heaven
Geu Roo works for his father’s business “Move To Heaven.” One day, his father dies. His uncle now becomes his guardian. They work as trauma cleaners, clearing out the possessions of dead people, uncovering the stories they left behind, and telling them to loved ones.
IMDb Rating – 8.5
Cast –
- Lee Je Hoon as Cho Sang Gu
- Tang Jun Sang as Han Geu Ru
- Hong Seung Hee as Yoon Na Mu
- Jung Suk Yong as Yoon Young Soo
No. Of Episodes – 10
Watch On – Netflix
23. Stranger
Hwang Shi Mok, a prosecutor finds him in a murder case. He meets Police Lieutenant Yeo Jin at a murder crime scene. They work together to wipe out corruption at the prosecutor’s office and solve a serial murder case.
IMDb Rating – 8.5
Cast –
- Jo Seung Woo as Hwang Shi Mok
- Bae Doo Na as Han Yeo Jin
- Lee Joon Hyuk as Seo Dong Jae
- Yoo Jae Myung as Lee Chang Joon
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
24. Under The Queen’s Umbrella
The drama follows queen Hwa Ryung, the wife of a great king and the long-suffering mother of five troublemaking sons who cause nothing but headaches for the royal family and are about to be turned into crown princes.
IMDb Rating – 8.5
Cast –
- Kim Hye Soo as Im Hwa Ryeong
- Kim Hae Sook as Queen Dowager
- Choi Won Young as King Lee Ho
- Kim Eui Sung as Hwang Won Hyeong
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
25. Jewel in The Palace
The story is about a legendary girl, Jang Geum, who became the first woman to be the royal physician. Despite being a low-class girl in the male-dominated society, she landed herself as a royal cook, later becoming the royal physician, then ultimately the physician in charge of the king.
IMDb Rating – 8.5
Cast –
- Lee Young Ae as Seo Jang Geum
- Ji Jin Hee as Min Jung Ho
- Hong Ri Na as Choi Geum Yeong
- Im Ho as King Jung Jong
No. Of Episodes – 54
Watch On – Viki
26. Healer
A star reporter, a second-rate journalist, and a man by the code name “Healer” are brought together by a long-buried incident that hides dark truths. Healer begins to uncover the mystery of his shared past with the two reporters, thus putting them all in danger.
IMDb Rating – 8.5
Cast –
- Ji Chang Wook as Seo Jung Hoo
- Park Min Young as Chae Young Shin
- Yoo Ji Tae as Kim Moon Ho
- Kim Mi Kyung as Jo Min Ja
No. Of Episodes – 16
27. Pachinko
The drama shows the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family across four generations. The tale of forbidden love and depicts a chronicle of war and peace, separation, victory and judgement across Korea, Japan, and the United States.
IMDb Rating – 8.4
Cast –
- Youn Yuh Jung as Kim Sun Ja
- Lee Min Ho as Koh Han Su
- Jin Ha as Baek Solomon
- Kim Min Ha as Kim Sun Ja (young)
No. Of Episodes – 8
Watch On – Apple TV+
28. Prison Playbook
A captivating drama revolving around the lives of convicts behind bars, their families, and duty officers working in the correctional facilities. A superstar baseball pitcher, Kim Je Hyuk, is convicted of assault after he saves his sister & lands in prison.
IMDb Rating – 8.4
Cast –
- Park Hae Soo as Kim Je Hyuk
- Jung Kyung Ho as Lee Joon Ho
- Krystal Jung as Kim Ji Ho
- Im Hwa Young as Kim Je Hee
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
29. Empress Ki
The drama revolves around Ki Seungnyang, a Goryeo-born woman who had to be a servant at the Mongol Yuan court. She rises to power despite the restrictions of the era’s class system, and later marries the emperor of the Mongol empire to become an empress of the Yuan dynasty.
IMDb Rating – 8.4
Cast –
- Ha Ji Won as Ki Yang
- Ji Chang Wook as Toghon Temur
- Joo Jin Mo as Wang Yoo
- Baek Jin Hee as Tanashili
No. Of Episodes – 51
30. Vincenzo
Vincenzo, a mafia consigliere flees to South Korea to recover 1.5 tons of gold within the basement of Geumga Plaza. However, a company has illegally taken ownership of the building, and Vincenzo must use his skills to reclaim the building and recover his fortunes.
IMDb Rating – 8.4
Cast –
- Song Joong Ki as Vincenzo Cassano
- Jeon Yeo Been as Hong Cha Young
- Ok Taec Yeon as Jang Jun Woo
- Kim Yeo Jin as Choi Myung Hee
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
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31. Youth Of May
Set in the year 1980 during the Gwangju Uprising, the drama follows the love story of medical student Hee Tae, who entered medical school and Myung Hee, who worked as a nurse for the past 3 years. Their love seems destined by fate.
IMDb Rating – 8.4
Cast –
- Lee Do Hyun as Hwang Hee Tae
- Go Min Si as Kim Myung Hee
- Lee Sang Yi as Lee Soo Chan
- Geum Sae Rok as Lee Soo Ryun
No. Of Episodes – 12
Watch On – Viki
32. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Bok Joo is a weightlifter who is pursuing her dream of winning the gold medal but she then finds romance for the first time in her life. Can she find a way to have love as well as glory at the age of 20? The drama covers their coming-of-age stories and relationships through hectic life.
IMDb Rating – 8.4
33. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Hye Jin works as a dentist. She ends up moving to the seaside village of Gongjin. There, she meets Du Shik. She becomes curious about him. He is known as Mr. Hong around town. He is unemployed officially, but he is a master of odd jobs who appears to help everyone.
IMDb Rating – 8.4
Cast –
- Shin Min Ah as Yoon Hye Jin
- Kim Seon Ho as Hong Doo Shik
- Lee Sang Yi as Ji Sung Hyun
- Lee Suk Hyeong as Kang Do Ha
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
34. The Devil Judge
The drama is set in a dystopian version of South Korea. Trials are held through a courtroom live show aired on television, where three judges come together to bring justice and peace. A heartless head trial judge, Kang Yo Han, is appointed to a chief judge.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
35. Age Of Youth
Five girls in their twenties come to live together in a house called “Belle Epoque.” Each girl has a particular personality, background, and issues. The drama follows their struggles and incidents dealing with relationships – within their circles, with dating, and with each other.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Han Ye Ri as Yoon Jin Myung
- Ryu Hwa Young as Kang Yi Na
- Park Eun Bin as Song Ji Won
- Han Seung Yeon as Jung Ye Eun
No. Of Episodes – 12
Watch On – Netflix
36. Arthdal Chronicles
Set in the fictional land of Arthdal during ancient times. Eun Sum was born with a fate to bring disaster to Arthdal. Ta Gon is the most powerful person in Arthdal & dreams of becoming the first king of Arthdal. Tan Ya lives under the highest honor and her ambition is to be a politician.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Song Joong Ki as Eun Sum
- Kim Ji Won as Tan Ya
- Jang Dong Gun as Ta Gon
- Kim Ok Bin as Tae Al Ha
No. Of Episodes – 18
Watch On – Netflix
37. Live
The drama revolves around the incidents that occur in the police force and the joy, sorrow, and pain that police officers experience as they try to protect justice. They form the ‘Live’ team at the Hongil patrol division. Each officer has their own story.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Lee Kwang Soo as Yeom Sang Soo
- Jung Yu Mi as Han Jung Oh
- Bae Sung Woo as Oh Yang Chon
- Bae Jong Ok as Ahn Jang Mi
No. Of Episodes – 18
Watch On – Netflix
38. Kingdom
Set in the Joseon period, the deceased king rises and a mysterious plague begins to spread; the prince must face a new breed of enemies to unveil the evil scheme and save his people. It has season 2 as well.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Joo Ji Hoon as Lee Chang
- Ryu Seung Ryong as Jo Hak Joo
- Bae Doo Na as Seo Bi
- Kim Sung Gyu as Young Shin
No. Of Episodes – 6
Watch On – Netflix
39. My Liberation Notes
Set in Sanpo Village, a place where usually the influx of people leaving is higher than the ones moving in. The drama depicts three Yeom siblings, Chang Hee, Mi Jung, Ki Jung, and a stranger who want to escape from their dead-end life.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Lee Min Ki as Yeom Chang Hee
- Kim Ji Won as Yeom Mi Jung
- Lee El as Yeom Ki Jung
- Son Seok Koo as Mr. Goo
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
40. While You Were Sleeping
Jae Chan, a prosecutor, decides to interfere in the course of events and ends up saving the lives of Hong Joo and Woo Tak. When Jae Chan, Hong Joo, and Woo Tak start having dreams about one another, they realize that their lives are now somehow connected.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Bae Suzy as Nam Hong Ju
- Lee Jong Suk as Jung Jae Chan
- Jung Hae In as Han Woo Tak
- Lee Sang Yeob as Lee Yu Beom
No. Of Episodes – 32
41. Welcome To Waikiki
Three men Dong Gu, Du Shik & Jun Ki along with Seo Jin runs a guesthouse to collect money for their film. Things go differently when a single mother enters the house with her baby. Later, Dong Gu’s ex-girlfriend also lives in the house. The drama revolves around these six characters.
Read Welcome To Waikiki Review
IMDb Rating – 8.2
42. Chicago Typewriter
The drama depicts three resistance fighters who lived during the 1930s Japanese occupation of Korea and are reincarnated into the present as a best-selling writer, a fan, and a ghostwriter. It is an epic story of friendship, comradeship, love, and betrayal.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
43. Tunnel
In 1986, Park Kwang Ho works as a detective. While working he passes through a time portal, which transports him to present-day Seoul. He meets a new partner Kim Sun Jae. They try to find out the serial killer.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
44. Dr. Romantic
Sa Bu, a famous surgeon gives it all up one day to work as a doctor in a small town. He now goes by the name Teacher Kim. He guides Dong Joo and Seo Jung to become great doctors by teaching them to fight against power and money for the sake of patients.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
45. Descendants Of The Sun
Mo Yeon is a pretty woman who works as a cardiothoracic surgeon. Her life is forever changed when she encounters Shi Jin, the captain of the Alpha Team who cares more about protecting anybody in need of help as well as his country.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Song Joong Ki as Yoo Shi Jin
- Song Hye Kyo as Kang Mo Yeon
- Jin Goo as Seo Dae Yeong
- Kim Ji Won as Yoon Myung Ju
No. Of Episodes – 16
46. Kill Me, Heal Me
The story revolves around a business heir who has a severe case of dissociative identity disorder. Wanting to regain control over his life, he asks a psychiatrist, to help him, but she eventually falls in love with one of his personalities. Her brother investigates him & his family.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Ji Sung as Cha Do Hyun
- Hwang Jung Eum as Oh Ri Jin
- Park Seo Joon as Oh Ri On
- Kim Yoo Ri as Han Chae Yun
No. Of Episodes – 20
47. Hot Stove League
The drama focuses on a baseball team that is at the bottom & preparing for an extraordinary season upon the arrival of their new general manager, and each episode will focus on a problem they have as they prepare to become a stronger team.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
48. It’s Okay, That’s Love
Jae Yeol is a popular novelist. While sitting on a talk show panel with psychiatrist Hae Soo, it became clear to all that the two just rubbed each other the wrong way. Due to an incident, they both become roommates & attempt to heal each other’s deep-seated wounds.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
49. 18 Again
Hong Dae Young, a 37-year-old man on the verge of being divorced from his wife suddenly finds himself inside his 18-year-old body. He starts living a new life under a new name Ko Woo Young to get closer to his children and protect them.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
50. Our Beloved Summer
A coming of age, romantic comedy revolving around Choi Woong and Yeon Soo, who broke up with a promise never to meet again. The documentary they filmed ten years ago in high school gets the fame and they are by compulsion facing camera once more.
IMDb Rating – 8.3
Cast –
- Choi Woo Shik as Choi Woong
- Kim Da Mi as Gook Yeon Soo
- Kim Sung Chul as Kim Ji Woong
- Roh Jeong Eui as NJ
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
Wrapping Up
So, these were the 50 Kdramas ranked high to low rating on IMDb. These dramas are worth a watch because many viewers have rated them with more stars & left their positive reviews. Get ready to watch them.
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