This year, the benchmark for K-content was set high, with the highest-rated Korean dramas like Queen of Tears and Connection impressing viewers and critics alike. However, there were also multiple duds that failed to entertain audiences and garnered a lousy critical reception. From the Korean romance Brewing Love to the historical drama Missing Crown Prince and the thriller Crash, here are the lowest-rated K-drama titles of 2024.
Leading the list is the MBN original TV show Missing Crown Prince. Starring K-pop group EXO’s Suho in the lead role, the K-drama was a spin-off of Bossam: Steal the Fate — the Korean drama with the highest viewership rating in MBN history. However, Missing Crown Prince failed to replicate the mass appeal of Bossam and received an average rating of 3.2 per cent according to the South Korean viewership research agency Nielsen Korea.
Another lowest-rated Korean drama show of 2024 is the ENA romance Brewing Love. While fans expected it to live up to the popularity of Queen of Tears, Brewing Love just garnered a 1.8 per cent average viewership rating after its finale episode, according to Nielsen Korea. Starring popular actors Kim Se-jeong and Lee Jong-won, the romance drama tells the sweet love story between a private sector employee and her boss.
The Park Joon-woo directorial crime drama, Crash, starring Lee Min-ki and Kwak Sun-young in lead roles is also part of this list. During the initial episodes, the duo’s chemistry created quite a buzz, however, the plot of the K-drama, which focused on the experiences of a Traffic Crime Investigation team in Korea, failed to impress audiences.
Would you watch these lowest-rated K-drama titles of 2024?
(Note: The list has been created based on ratings from the South Korean viewership research agency Nielsen Korea)
1 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 4.7 per cent
Directed by: Park Joon-woo
Cast: Lee Min-ki, Kwak Sun-young, Heo Sung-tae, Lee Ho-chul
Release date: 13 May
Episodes: 12
Synopsis: Min So-hee (Kwak) leads the competent Traffic Crime Investigation (TCI) team that helps track crimes occurring on the roads in Seoul. When skilled graduate Cha Yeon-ho (Lee) joins the TCI team, he is assigned to work under So-hee. While the duo struggles to get along initially, Yeon-ho, over time, takes a liking for So-hee and allows her to guide him on his new journey.
Nielsen Korea rating: 4.4 per cent
Directed by: Ahn Pan-seok
Cast: Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ryeo-won, So Ju-yeon, Kim Song-il
Release date: 11 May
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Lee Joon-ho (Wi), tired of the corporate world, leaves his high-paying job. He then becomes an instructor at the academy where he studied. He comes across his first love, academy teacher Seo Hye-jin (Jung). Soon Joon-ho realises that he is still in love with Hye-jin and decides to finally confess his feelings for her.
3 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 4.1 per cent
Directed by: Boo Sung-chul, Yoon Jong-ho and Kim Tae-yeong
Cast: Byeon Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon, Song Geon-hee
Release date: 8 April
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: The death of her favourite musician Ryu Seon-jae (Byeon) leaves Im Sol (Kim) devastated. But when mysterious circumstances transport her 15 years into the past, she gets a chance to meet a 19-year-old Seon-jae in high school. Determined to save Seon-jae, Im Sol takes up the challenge to change the trajectory of his career.
About the show: This Korean drama is based on the web novel The Best of Tomorrow by Kim Bbang.
Nielsen Korea rating: 3.8 per cent
Directed by: Go Jae-hyun and So Jae-hyun
Cast: Song Seung-heon, Oh Yeon-seo, Tae Won-seok, Lee Si-eon
Release date: 3 June
Episodes: 12
Synopsis: A con artist (Song), fed up with the ways of the world, decides to steal the money collected by the rich. Helping him in the heists is his skilled team consisting of a fighter (Tae), a hacker (Lee) and a driver (Oh).
5 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 3.5 per cent
Directed by: Kwon Young-Il
Cast: Jun Jong-seo, Kim Do-wan, Moon Sang-min
Release date: 26 February
Episodes: 12
Synopsis: Long-time friends Na A-jeong (Jun) and Lee Do-han (Kim) share the same notion about marriage and prefer to stay single. When Do-han’s chaebol family forces him to get married, he requests A-jeong to pose as his fake wife. Will this false bond turn the two into lovers?
About the show: This K-drama is based on the web romance novel of the same name by Song Jung-won.
Nielsen Korea rating: 3.2 per cent
Directed by: Kim Soon-ok
Cast: Uhm Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum, Lee Joon, Lee Yoo-bi, Yoon Tae-young
Release date: 23 March
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Seven strangers come across each other after a mysterious girl’s disappearance. As they become suspects and get entangled in a web of lies, they realise that each one of them is burdened by secrets. How will the seven individuals escape the situation and prove their innocence?
7 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 3.2 per cent
Directed by: Kim Jin-man
Cast: Suho, Hong Ye-ji, Myung Se-bin
Release date: 13 April
Episodes: 20
Synopsis: Crown Prince Lee Geon (Suho) is kidnapped by his to-be bride Choi Myung-yoon (Hong), the daughter of the royal physician. Though they start on a wrong note, romance blossoms between the two while on the run, and they end up falling for each other.
8 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 3 per cent
Directed by: Song Hyun-wook
Cast: Chae Jong-hyeop, Kim So-hyun
Release date: 22 July
Episodes: 8
Synopsis: Lee Hong-joo (Kim) is an animation producer afraid of love due to her troubled relationship in the past. Kang Hoo-young (Chae) is a financial planner living in the United States who has never been in a serious relationship. When Hoo-young returns to Korea after years, fate reunites him with Hong-joo, his first love from high school.
About the show: This is an adaptation of the webtoon Uyeonilkka? written by Nam Ji-eun and illustrated by Kim In-ho.
9 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 3 per cent
Directed by: Lee Ho-jae
Cast: Kim Ha-neul, Yeon Woo-jin, Jang Seung-jo
Release date: 18 March
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: When reporter Seo Jung-won (Kim) is framed for murder, she has no choice but to team up with her ex-boyfriend, Detective Kim Tae-hyung (Yeon) to track down the real culprit. Meanwhile, her husband Seo Woo-jae (Jang) has his share of dark secrets. Will Seo Jung-won be able to prove her innocence and unravel the truth about her husband?
About the show: It is based on the web novel Myeoksal Hanbeon Jabhibsida by Nyureoki.
10 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 2.8 per cent
Directed by: Ahn Sang-hoon
Cast: Lee Min-ki, Han Ji-hyun, Lee Yi-kyung, Jeon Bae-soo
Release date: 6 November
Episodes: 12
Synopsis: Plastic surgeon Cha Jeong-u (Lee) volunteers to support crime victims in his free time. In the process, he meets Lee Min-hyung (Han), a violent crime department detective. As the duo start working together, they form a special bond and romance blossoms.
Also read: Best medical drama shows to watch
11 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 2.5 per cent
Directed by: Kim Woo-hyun and Kim Young-hwan
Cast: Uhm Tae-goo, Han Sun-hwa, Kwon Yool, Kim Hyun-jin
Release date: 12 June
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Seo Ji-hwan (Uhm) is a former gangster on the path to redemption. One day he decides to travel across Korea to dismantle criminal organisations and offer a new life to ex-convicts. On his way, Ji-wan comes across his childhood friend Go Eun-ha (Han) and soon falls for her. Will Eun-ha reciprocate his feelings and understand his goal in life?
12 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 2.2 per cent
Directed by: Lee Jung-seob
Cast: Park Ji-hoon, Hong Ye-ji, Ji Woo
Release date: 2 January
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Assassin Yeon Wol (Hong) is on a mission to kill Crown Prince Sa Jo-hyun (Park). When she discovers that the prince suffers from dual personality disorder, Yeon Wol decides to trap him. She poses as a concubine and enters Jo-hyun’s mansion. Soon Yeon-wol starts developing romantic feelings for the prince which distracts her from her mission.
About the show: The period drama is adapted from the webtoon of the same name by Vanziun.
13 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 2 per cent
Directed by: Song Hyun-wook
Cast: Kwon Na-ra, Joo Won, Yoo In-soo, Eum Moon-suk
Release date: 11 March
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Lawyer Seo Ki-joo (Joo) inherits a family photo studio only to discover that it is haunted. He then teams up with photographer Han Bom (Kwon) and plans to capture the stories of the otherworldly beings that visit his studio at midnight.
14 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 1.8 per cent
Directed by: Park Sun-ho
Cast: Kim Se-jeong, Lee Jong-won, Shin Do-hyun
Release date: 4 November
Episodes: 12
Synopsis: A former military officer, Yong-ju (Kim) now leads an ordinary life and works in a liquor company. Soon, her sales branch faces a crisis and is forced to get help from the CEO of a brewery company, Yun Min-ju (Lee). What happens when the duo’s professional relationship turns personal?
15 /15
Nielsen Korea rating: 1.3 per cent
Directed by: Jang Yang-ho
Cast: Kim Myung-soo, Lee Yoo-young, Lim Young-ju
Release date: 13 May
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Shin Yoon-bok (Kim) is a talented scholar from Seongsan village, struggling to make it big in Seoul. He shifts to the city to try his luck as a webtoon writer and dedicates all his time to work. One day, he meets a carefree woman, Kim Hong-do (Lee). As they start spending time together, Hong-do teaches Yoon-book the little joys of life.