--- description: From 'Trigger' to 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' these are the best K-dramas released in 2025. title: The 10 Best Korean Dramas of 2025 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt422bb182152f2257/6998cc531f670901abf57059/k-dramas.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Television](/tag/television/) ## Television Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The 10 Best K-Dramas of 2025 by [Kayti Burt](/author/kayti-burt/) ## Kayti Burt Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Burt is a contributor for TIME. Dec 18, 2025 3:00 PM CUT  by [Kayti Burt](/author/kayti-burt/) ## Kayti Burt Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Burt is a contributor for TIME. Dec 18, 2025 3:00 PM CUT The Korean television industry continued on its trajectory of global dominance in 2025, capturing an increasing chunk of TV watchers’ interest worldwide. The export of Korean drama [has a long history](https://www.polygon.com/entertainment/23964539/k-drama-history-american-korean-popularity-success-hallyu/ "undefined"), but has accelerated in recent years with the investments of Netflix and other U.S.-based streamers. The shift has simultaneously made Korean dramas more accessible and weakened domestic control, impacting the shape of the stories being produced. [Netflix’s 2023 announcement](https://time.com/6289170/netflix-invests-south-korea-content-k-dramas/ "undefined") that it would invest an additional $2.5 billion in Korean entertainment over the next four years has paid off, as Korean media [makes up 8 to 9 percent of all Netflix watchtime](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20250416/korean-content-ranks-second-globally-on-netflix-surpassing-uk-and-japan "undefined") since that year, the second most-watched content on the streamer after U.S.-made media. Meanwhile, Disney is doubling down on their commitment to Korean entertainment, with [plans to scale Asian Pacific content](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20251113/k-dramas-take-center-stage-in-disney-global-expansion-strategy "undefined") into global franchises. In October, Korean media giant CJ ENM [also announced](https://www.cjenm.com/en/news/warner-bros-discovery-and-cj-enm-ink-strategic-partnership/ "undefined") a major multi-year partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery that will see the two companies co-producing Korean dramas. Global growth hasn’t come without its pains. As U.S.-based streamers pump money into the Korean TV industry, domestic entertainment companies are struggling to compete. Skyrocketing production fees have led to [a downturn in the number of dramas made](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/korean-content-kpop-demon-hunters-squid-game-supply-demand-1236346824/ "undefined"), and [an industry at a crossroads](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-05-16/entertainment/television/For-Kdramas-Netflix-is-a-rose-with-a-thorn-delivering-massive-audiences-rising-production-costs/2297503 "undefined"). For better in some series' cases and worse in others, episode counts have gone down, and multi-season series [have become more common](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/k-drama-netflix-streamers%5Fn%5F6632f4c0e4b0fc2b95283362 "undefined"). In some cases, there is a pressure to make K-dramas more attractive to foreign viewers, which could include [de-prioritizing Korean-specific cultural elements or genres](https://theconversation.com/streaming-giants-have-helped-bring-korean-dramas-to-the-world-but-much-is-lost-in-translation-257547 "undefined") in favor of [more “universal” ones](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-06-12/business/industry/Why-dramas-with-just-1-viewership-in-Korea-are-becoming-global-hits-on-Netflix/2319076 "undefined"). Amid these unprecedented shifts, [Korean creatives are convening](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10513306 "undefined") to strategize around protecting the value of their work and retain control over their IP. In this shifting landscape, the Korean TV industry continues to make some of the world’s best TV. This year was a particularly good one for slice-of-life stories, suspense thrillers, and hospital dramas. _Squid Game_, one of the most-watched TV shows in modern history, released its third and final season. Korean TV explored how trust can be built, tested, and destroyed in thrillers like [_The Price of Confession_](https://time.com/7338963/the-price-of-confession-ending-explained/ "undefined"), _Nine Puzzles_, and [_Dear X_](https://time.com/7338764/dear-x-ending-explained/ "undefined"). Romance bloomed in series like _Love Scout_, _Head Over Heels_, and _My Dearest Nemesis_. We traveled centuries back into Korea’s past—both real and imagined—in period pieces like [_Bon Appetit, Your Majesty_](https://time.com/7321457/bon-appetit-your-majesty-ending-explained/ "undefined"), [_Dear Hongrang_](https://time.com/7284135/dear-hongrang-netflix-ending-explained/ "undefined"), and _The Haunted Palace_. And characters settled their difference through violence in dramas like _The Manipulated_, [_Weak Hero Class 2_](https://time.com/7280148/weak-hero-class-2-netflix-ending-explained/ "undefined"), [_Mercy For None_](https://time.com/7291121/mercy-for-none-netflix-ending-explained/#:~:text=Mercy%20For%20None's%20story%20begins,was%20their%20most%20effective%20fighter. "undefined"), and _Trigger_. One note about selection criteria: to be in contention for this list, dramas must have completed their run in 2025\. At the time of this writing, _Dynamite Kiss_—this year’s breakout rom-com—is ongoing. Other series still airing include Park Seo-joon romance _Surely Tomorrow_ on Prime Video and Season 3 of popular crime drama _Taxi Driver_ on Viki. Hyun Bin’s return to TV in period thriller _Made in Korea_ will begin streaming on Disney+ on December 24th. All of which bodes well for a rich list this time next year. With those parameters in mind, here are the 10 best K-dramas of 2025… ## **10\.** **_Trigger_** **(Netflix)** We bring ourselves to the popular culture we consume, creating distinct meaning that might not be there for other viewers watching the same thing. I imagine the experience of watching _Trigger_, Netflix’s K-drama about what happens when guns become easily accessible in Korea, is distinctly different for someone who lives in a country largely devoid of gun violence. In these cases, the action thriller, which follows police protagonist Lee Do (_Island_’s Kim Nam-gil) as he tries to keep Korean society from accepting gun violence as a norm, is more of [a thought experiment](https://www.ddaily.co.kr/page/view/2025080610334621999 "undefined") than a reflection of lived reality. As an American, however, the series takes on what is perhaps a more visceral relevance. In the way that school-set Korean zombie drama _All of Us Are Dead_ [immediately evoked images of school shootings for me](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/all-of-us-are-dead-netflix-most-damning-success-one-year-anniversary-1234668508/ "undefined"), _Trigger_ tapped into the simmering fear and anxiety that—in a country with more guns than people—any public or private space could turn into a killing field. With _Trigger_, writer-director Kwon Oh-seung (_Midnight_) has essentially made a 10-episode PSA about why gun ownership restrictions are a great idea, and Korea should continue to have them. The result is a gripping action crime drama that stays committed to its difficult theme until [the very end](https://time.com/7305620/trigger-ending-netflix/ "undefined"). ## **9\.** **_Spirit Fingers_** **(Viki)** Whimsical and unabashedly endearing, teen art drama _Spirit Fingers_ blew in at the end of 2025 like glitter on the wind. The series follows Song Woo-yeon (_Little Women_ and _All of Us Are Dead_’s Park Ji-hu), a timid teenager in a family of “perfect” overachievers. When Woo-yeon stumbles into the colorful world of Spirit Fingers, a sketch club that embraces passion over skill, she decides to join. Through her time with the other members, and a budding romance with self-assured heartthrob Nam Gi-jeong (Cho Jun-young), Woo-yeon slowly builds her confidence and learns to love herself. Webtoons are a common source material for Korean dramas, but, depending on the philosophy of the adaptation, the artistic style doesn’t always remain intact in the world of the drama. Thankfully, this isn’t the case for the _Spirit Fingers_ K-drama, which [preserves much of the manhwa’s style and personality](https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/11/11/JLWW6ERWZNBD5PLVMSRJVQM7SU/ "undefined") in its dynamic visual language. It also preserves the message of the source material: it’s cool to believe in yourself, even when you’re “ordinary.” ## **8\.** **_The Tale of Lady Ok_** **(Kocowa)** _The Glory_’s Lim Ji-yeon stars in this Joseon-era drama about a female lawyer who she claims to be. Lady Ok, as we come to know her, was actually born as a slave named Goo-deok. Through a series of unexpected events, she assumes the identity of a noble named Ok Tae-yeong. After building up a career as a legal advocate who helps those in need, the secret of Lady Ok’s true identity threatens everything she has built. One part romance-forward _saeguk_, one part legal drama, and one part con survival story, _The Tale of Lady Ok_ stays gripping across 16 episodes. It is the rare historical Korean drama that doesn’t center on royalty, giving subjects like class hierarchy, gender norms, and the abuse of power more narrative room to breathe. The result is a rags-to-riches story that includes a satisfying love story but is ultimately about the resilience of one woman. “People simply like to hear stories about poor people becoming happy,” Goo-deok tells love interest Cheon Seung-hwi (Choo Young-woo, who also starred in _Trauma Code_, _Head Over Heels_, and _Mercy for None_ this year) in the first episode. “We imagine happy days that would never happen to us. We experience satisfaction vicariously.” It’s true, and a major reason why K-dramas have exploded in popularity around the world. ## **7\.** **_Study Group_** **(Viki)** If _Weak Hero Class 2_—an honorable mention on this year’s list—represents the most brutal of coming-of-age action dramas, then _Study Group_ represents the most delightful. The comedic series follows Yoon Ga-min (_Alchemy of Souls_’ Hwang Min-hyun), a woefully dumb high school student who happens to be good at fighting but wishes he were good at studying instead. To pursue his dream of going to college, Ga-min decides to start a study group. Unfortunately, he attends Yusung Technical High School, an institution better known for its connections to organized crime than to college. In an action media landscape of dark, twisted dramas, _Study Group_ refuses to take itself too seriously, cleverly subverting many of the genre’s tropes. The K-drama blends [_Kingsman_\-like](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNwV7qtH6y4 "undefined") fight sequences, a self-aware soundtrack, and a found family narrative for a surprisingly touching story that never loses steam for its entire 10-episode run. ## **6\.** **_Resident Playbook_** **(Netflix)** While _Trauma Code_ may have been the splashier hospital-centric K-drama in 2025, _Resident Playbook_ was the one with the bigger heart. A spin-off of the _Hospital Playlist_ series delayed multiple years due to [a real-life medical-system crisis in Korea](https://time.com/7278386/resident-playbook-netflix-medical-k-drama/ "undefined"), _Resident Playbook_ follows four doctors in their chaotic first year as residents in an under-staffed obstetric and gynecology department. _Alchemy of Soul_’s Go Youn-jung stars as Oh Yi-young, a junior doctor who has given up on a medical career after failing to finish her first residency. She only takes the job at Yulje to pay off mounting credit card debt, and is planning to quit as soon as she is financially able. Yi-young is joined by a ragtag crew, including her high-strung high school classmate Pyo Nam-kyung (_The Witch Part 2_’s Shin Shi-ah), idol-turned-doctor Um Jae-il (_When Life Gives You Tangerine_’s Kang Yoo-seok), and socially awkward brainiac Kim Sa-bi (newcomer Han Ye-ji). Together, the four doctors navigate the ups and downs of resident life, and learn about themselves in the process. _Resident Playlist_ is a straightforward medical drama elevated by its execution, including its creators’ interesting choice to tie the narrative to Korea’s birthrate crisis and the expansion of its world past the series’ boundaries. Not only does the K-drama includes cameos from many beloved _Hospital Playlist_ characters, but Jae-il’s K-pop idol past was exploited for top entertainment value when actor Kang Yoo-seok [appeared on real-life Korean music show _M Countdown_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-OETU2uHM4&list=RDb-OETU2uHM4&start%5Fradio=1 "undefined") in character with [his fictional HI-BOYZ’ bandmates](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNCBmDuRVhM&t=14s "undefined"), TXT’s Yeon-jun and Soo-bin. Truly, an inspired choice. ## **5\.** **_Our Unwritten Seoul_** **(Netflix)** “Anything you do to survive takes courage,” protagonist Mi-ji’s grandmother tells her depressed granddaughter when she struggles to leave her bed, recontextualizing her mental illness as something other than failure. This stigma-busting sentiment is at the heart of _Our Unwritten Seoul_’s slice-of-life story, which follows twins Mi-ji and Mi-ri—both played by [_Melo Movie_](https://time.com/7225506/melo-movie-ending-explained-k-drama-netflix/ "undefined")’s Park Bo-young—as they find hope again in spite of life’s hardships. Most stories have a catalyzing incident, and [_Our Unwritten Seoul_’](https://time.com/7298802/our-unwritten-seoul-ending-explained-netflix/ "undefined")s comes when underachieving and underemployed 30-something Mi-ji discovers her identical twin sister, overachieving office worker Mi-ri, is distressed enough to try to hurt herself. Desperate to help, Mi-ji proposes a good old-fashioned twin swap. What follows is the chance for both sisters to live a life without the specific expectations of identity that have been placed on them from an early age. In a breakout performance, Park Jin-young also features as Lee Ho-su, a lawyer who has had a crush on Mi-ji since their high school years together. _Our Unwritten Seoul_ embeds its depiction of difficult issues—including learning to live with disability, workplace harassment, and moving past grief—into a compelling web of interpersonal relationships. The diversity of both the characters and setting, as Mi-ri and Mi-ji move between Seoul and their rural hometown, imbues a universality to these thematic depictions that is as inclusive as it is moving. ## **4\.** **_Tempest_** **(Hulu)** Romance has been at the heart of [the Korean dramas’ rise to global power](https://www.polygon.com/entertainment/23964539/k-drama-history-american-korean-popularity-success-hallyu/ "undefined"). This year, political thriller _Tempest_ had some of the best chemistry on screen, in a mature love story led by Jun Ji-hyun (_Il Mare_, _My Love From the Star_) and Gang Dong-won (_Broker, Uprising_). Jun stars as Seo Mun-ju, a former diplomat whose husband is murdered on the presidential campaign trail. When Mun-ju’s determination to get to the truth behind the assassination puts her own life in danger, mysterious bodyguard San-ho (Gang) steps in to protect her. While _Tempest_ sometimes gets bogged down in overly convoluted political machination, [when the twists work, they _really_ work](https://time.com/7322294/tempest-disney-ending-explained/ "undefined"), pulling Mun-ju, San-ho, and the viewer deeper into a shadowy, multi-national conspiracy. The series is the rare K-drama that attempts to engage with modern geopolitical tensions, painting a more critical, realistic depiction of the United States government than is usually seen in mainstream Korean storytelling. The show brings in recognizable American actors to star alongside iconic K-drama stars, includingJohn Cho, who has a key role as Deputy Secretary of State Anderson Miller. Many of this year’s most exciting K-dramas lost the plot in their final episodes. While _Tempest_ doesn’t quite stick the landing when it comes to its big political plot, the series never loses sight of the epic romance at its center, making it one of the year’s most enjoyable and enterprising TV watches. ## **3\.** **_Squid Game Season 3_** **(Netflix)** The end of _Squid Game_, or at least [the conclusion](https://time.com/7298202/squid-game-season-3-ending-explained/ "undefined") of the franchise’s foundation in Seong Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) story, held no gut punches. Though the climax was partially hindered by the splitting of what really felt like one story between two seasons, Season 3 continued to deliver on creator Hwang Dong-hyuks’s original promise: to depict the desperation of life under modern capitalism. Season 3’s Gi-hun may no longer be the everyman he was when viewers first met him in 2021, but his life is still far closer to most viewers’ than the “V.I.P.” characters’ who [represent the world’s real-life billionaire class](https://time.com/7298235/squid-game-vips-season-3/ "undefined"). If some of the K-dramas on this list offer a much needed escape from the brutalities of our lived dystopia, _Squid Game_ refused to shy away from capitalism’s most despicable conclusions. That it offered us [any hope in the process](https://time.com/7298202/squid-game-season-3-ending-explained/ "undefined") felt more like a gift than a guarantee. ## **2\.** **_Way Back Love_** **(Viki)** Kim Min-ha, a relative newbie on the K-drama circuit, had a breakout, [Blue Dragon-winning](https://en.sportschosun.com/celebrity/2025/07/choo-youngwoo-kim-minha-88298 "undefined") year, starring in both _Way Back Love_ and _Typhoon Family_. In the former, she plays 24-year-old art student Jeong Hee-wan, who has struggled to move on with her life since the abrupt and tragic death of first love Kim Ram-woo ([_Love Untangled_](https://time.com/7313420/love-untangled-ending-netflix/ "undefined")_’_s Gong Myung) four years prior. When Ram-woo shows up at her door as the Grim Reaper, telling Hee-wan she will die in one week, Hee-wan reluctantly agrees to seven days of bucket-list activities that Ram-woo has secretly designed to restore Hee-wan’s will to live. Adapted from a webtoon, _Way Back Love_ has a deceptively difficult premise to get right. There’s a danger of either shying away from the depth of Hee-wan’s grief or falling too completely into it. But, in the deft hands of [_It’s Okay!_ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVxZKqoH87Y "undefined")director Kim Hye-young (who directed alongside Choi Ha-na), the drama strikes an emotionally devastating balance. Across six episodes, we move between flashbacks of Hee-wan and Ram-woo’s lighthearted high school days to learn how their romantic friendship formed, and the present-day to understand how the trauma of losing Ram-woo has made Hee-wan reluctant to leave her apartment and suffering from panic attacks whenever she hears an ambulance. The series is moored by the performance of Kim Min-ha, who is believable both as mischievous teen Hee-wan, and deeply depressed young adult Hee-wan. The best stories see their protagonists’ changed by the end, and _Way Back Love_ is incredibly focused and detailed in its depiction of Hee-wan’s inch-by-inch journey from someone who has no will to live to someone who begins to believe healing is possible. This is K-drama at its cathartic, healing best. ## **1\.** **_When Life Gives You Tangerines_** **(Netflix)** When director Kim Won-suk presented _When Life Gives You Tangerines_ to journalists gathered [at a pre-release press conference](https://time.com/7265810/iu-interview-when-life-gives-you-tangerines/ "undefined"), he said: “This series is a tribute to past generations of our fathers and mothers, and it’s also an anthem of encouragement for the daughters and sons who will now navigate the world ahead. We were hoping that the story will help break down the invisible barriers between generations, genders, and just people in general..” Even backed by an all-star cast that included IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, Park Hae-joon, and Yeom Hye-ran, and one of the biggest production budgets in K-drama history, these still felt like grand ambitions. Somehow, _When Life Gives You Tangerines_ managed to pull it off. The sweeping generational drama follows characters across four “seasons” of their lives, from the 1960s to today. Ostensibly, the series follows the life of Ae-sun (played by IU and Moon So-ri in different decades of the character’s life) as she goes from poor kid on Jeju Island to slightly less poor adult with a husband and children. But Ae-sun isn’t in it alone. First, she has her mom, a haenyeo diver who endures a hard life for the slim chance her children’s will be easier. She has her childhood friend and later husband, Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum and Park Hae-joon), a softhearted stoic who will do anything for his family. And she has a tapestry of humanity around her made up of ordinary, diverse people who mostly care, even when they have their own suffering to endure. In recent years, K-dramas have become more ambitious when it comes to genre. From superhero series like [_Moving_](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/moving-korean-superhero-drama-disney-plus-hulu-park-in-je-1234829638/ "undefined") to fate-defying romances like [_Lovely Runner_](https://time.com/6983798/lovely-runner-ending-explained/ "undefined"), this had led to [some of the decade’s best storytelling](https://time.com/7201080/best-k-dramas-2024/ "undefined"). However, this year’s best K-drama—and one of the year’s best TV series, full stop—told a beautiful, deeply engaging story using only the stuff real life is made of. Anyone can make the fantastical seem extraordinary. But to make the ordinary feel extraordinary without losing any of its complexity or texture? What a rare and precious feat. \*\*\* Honorable mentions: _Weak Hero Class 2_, _Bon Appetit_, _Your Majesty_, _Mercy For None_, _Love Scout_, _Dear Hongrang_, _You and Everything Else_, _Trauma Code: Heroes on Call_, _The Price of Confession_, _Nine Puzzles_, _Melo Movie_, _Our Movie_, _As You Stood By_, _The Manipulated_, _The Dream Life of Mr. Kim_, _The Defects_, [_When the Phone Rings_](https://time.com/7204751/when-the-phone-rings-ending-explained/ "undefined"), _Dear X_ The 10 Best Korean Dramas of 2025 ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7340988/best-k-dramas-2025/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7340988/best-k-dramas-2025/"},"headline":"The 10 Best K-Dramas of 2025","datePublished":"2025-12-18T15:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-11T00:41:12.324Z","description":"From 'Trigger' to 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' these are the best K-dramas released in 2025.","url":"https://time.com/7340988/best-k-dramas-2025/","keywords":["Television","list","freelance","culturepod"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt422bb182152f2257/6998cc531f670901abf57059/k-dramas.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kayti Burt","jobTitle":"Burt is a contributor for TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/kayti-burt/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt422bb182152f2257/6998cc531f670901abf57059/k-dramas.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"2025 Best K-Dramas","caption":"2025 Best K-Dramas.","creditText":"","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/television/","name":"Television"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7340988/best-k-dramas-2025/","name":"The 10 Best K-Dramas of 2025"}}]}] ```