Top 10 K-Dramas Of 2025 Ranked! The Trauma Code, When Life Gives You Tangerines, Dear X, Bon Appetit Your Majesty - Who Won?

As we close 2025, we must recall how the year offered us an array of Korean dramas across genres. The were highly intriguing stories. While some dealt with relationships, others came with intense romances, and even shocking plot twists. Surprise hits were also in place. And amid all this, several highly anticipated big productions bombed, making way to some unexpected successes that ensured breakout stars like Lee Chae-Min and Yook Sung-Jae.While When The Stars Gossip tanked, When Life Gives You Tangerines ruled the charts. And in the midst of this, few shows with a great run ultimately disappointed with a not so great ending. When The Phone Rings probably remains the biggest instance of how a show can mess up its finale. Picking your favourite

when you got more than 50 Korean shows as different as chalk and cheese might be challenging. But we got you sorted.

Best K-dramas of 2025: Ranked

10. Undercover High School

Cast: Seo Kang-Joon, Jin Ki-Joo, and Kim Shin-RokOTT: Prime Video, VikiPlot: A seasoned National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent goes undercover as a high school student to find a legendary stash of gold bars hidden by the school's founder. During the mission, he uncovers a deeper criminal network and a conspiracy that reaches back to his own father's death.Reason to watch: Seo Kang-Joon's screen comeback post military discharge, the show is a great blend of comedy, romance and intense action. It's a binge watch.

9. The Haunted Palace

Cast: Yook Sung-Jae, Kim Ji-Yeon (Bona), and Kim Ji-HoonOTT: VikiPlot: A shaman's granddaughter tries to stop a mythical serpent, an Imugi, from ascending to heaven. The Imugi possesses a government officer, leading to her teaming team up with him and the King to confront the creature and powerful, vengeful ghosts haunting the palace.Reason to watch: Despite themes of supernatural and sometimes horror, the show mixes historical fantasy, romance, and comedy as the characters uncover the secrets behind the haunting forces.

8. Resident Playbook

Cast: Go Youn-Jung, Shin Si-Ah, Kang You-Seok, Han Ye-Ji, and Jung Joon-WonOTT: NetflixPlot: The series follows a group of new obstetrics and gynecology residents at the Jongno branch of Yulje Medical Center. It traces their daily hospital lives, work challenges, and friendships as they navigate the chaotic world of medicine.Reason to watch: An able spin-off of hit Korean medical drama, Hospital Playlist, it gives an interesting insight into medical cases, relationships, and mental pressure on young doctors.

7. Good Boy

Cast: Park Bo-Gum, Kim So-Hyun, Oh Jung-Se, Lee Sang-Yi, Heo Sung-Tae, and Tae Won-Seok.OTT: Prime VideoPlot: A special police unit is formed by former Olympic medalists who use their athletic skills to fight crime and corruption. The team includes a former boxer, a shooting prodigy, a fencer, a wrestler and a discus throwing champion. Together, they take on a powerful drug cartel run by a seemingly normal customs officer.Reason to watch: The show has an interesting and unique premise of using a team of athletes to combat a corrupt system, with each actor excelling in their game.

6. The Manipulated

Cast: Ji Chang-Wook, Doh Kyung-Soo, Kim Jong-Soo, Jo Yoon-Su, and Lee Kwang-SooOTT: Disney+Plot: An ordinary man gets wrongfully imprisoned for a heinous crime. He discovers the crime was orchestrated by a mysterious figure and embarks on a quest for revenge to get justice.Reason to watch: It stands out for a gripping narrative. Trust Ji Chang-Wook for giving us some spectacular action scenes too.

5. Love Scout

Cast: Han Ji-Min, Lee Joon-Hyuk, Kim Do-Hoon and Kim Yoon-HyeOTT: VikiPlot: A highly successful but work-obsessed CEO of a headhunting company falls in love with her capable, single-father secretary who helps her level up her life, while exploring their developing relationship at professional and personal front.Reason to watch: The most beautiful and matured love story of the year, where the woman takes charge and the man surrenders while balancing their human connection. It breaks every cliche of a K-drama.

4. Dear X

Cast: Kim Yoo-Jung, Kim Young-Dae, Kim Do-Hoon and Lee Yul-EumOTT: VikiPlot: A sociopathic woman with striking beauty and razor-sharp intellect, uses men as tools to protect herself and take revenge on those who harmed her amid childhood trauma. She has no qualms about donning a mask to flee her situation and rise to power, causing devastation along her path. Her followers include a man, her former stepsibling who she manipulates as a child to grow up with an obsessive devotion towards her. Another man abides by her as her protector and blindly lives by her demands.Reason to watch: The award-winning performance by Kim Yoo-Jung, who is otherwise known for her pleasant characters. The show with the most shocking twists, where you'd want to hate her, but end up sympathising.

3. Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

Cast: Im Yoon-Ah, Lee Chae-Min, Kang Han-Na, and Choi Gwi-HwaOTT: NetflixPlot: A time-slip romcom about a modern-day French chef gets thrown back to the Joseon dynasty where she encounters King Yi Heon. He's a tyrant with a sensitive palette. As she becomes his royal cook to save her life, she must navigate palace politics while using her modern culinary skills to impress the king and challenge his cold exterior on a journey to either change history or return to her own time.Reason to watch: A surprise hit of 2025 that gave us a breakout actor in Lee Chae-Min. It is a light-hearted series that uniquely blends romance, comedy, and political intrigue.

2. When Life Gives You Tangerines

Cast: IU, Park Bo-Gum, Moon So-Ri, and Park Hae-JoonOTT: NetflixPlot: A romance series following the lifelong story of a couple in Jeju Island through the different seasons of their lives, from the 1950s to the present day. They navigate love, loss, setbacks, and triumphs through decades of dramatic societal change, chronicling their enduring relationship despite poverty, family disapproval, and other hardships.Reason to watch: The most heartwarming romance of the year. A slow-burn, absorbing coming-of-age take on relationships. Keep your tissue boxes ready!

1. The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call

Cast: Ju Ji-Hoon, Choo Young-Woo, Ha Young, Yoon Kyung-Ho and Jung Jae-KwangOTT: NetflixPlot: A genius surgeon specialising on battlefield is tasked with building and leading the severe trauma team at a financially struggling university hospital in South Korea. The story follows his team's efforts to save lives despite resistance from hospital management and a lack of resources.Reason to watch: It's a race against time in the trauma centre as each character is out to save lives. The edge-of-seat, gripping medical cases are emotional in equal degree.

Special mention: Squid Game 3

This blockbuster had surpassed the genre of being a Korean show, and emerged a global phenomenon. Though its final Season 3 did not end well, it still managed to break multiple viewership records, ranking among one of the biggest debuts on Netflix.Cast: Lee Jung-Jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-Joon, Im Si-Wan, Kang Ha-Neul, Park Gyu-Young, Park Sung-Hoon, Jo Yu-Ri, and others OTT: NetflixPlot: As we go back to the tournament, Gi-hun makes a final sacrifice to bring a final end to the brutal games. Amid unexpected deaths, and a lookout for humanity, the games have now gone international.Reason to watch: The baby emerging as the big winner became a hiccup. Yet, the thrill factor around the games remained intact forcing you to watch it, despite a disappointing ending.Which were your favourite K-dramas? Would you like to add any more shows? Let us know @TimesNow