While thrillers like Gangnam B-Side gained global popularity and became some of the best dramas to watch this year, the highest-rated Korean shows with romance at the centre, such as Queen of Tears, Lovely Runner and The Trunk, made K-drama fans swoon in 2024.
Leading the list is the hit Netflix series Queen of Tears. Starring popular actor Kim Soo-hyun, the series owned Netflix’s Top 10 (global Non-English) chart for 13 consecutive weeks and surpassed over 600 million, as of 5 June 2024. The tvN original K-drama, filled with romance, is directed by Kim Hee-won. It focuses on a couple’s tumultuous relationship after marriage. The show not only has a solid 8.2 rating on IMDb but also received great critical reviews owing to its plot, direction, performances and necessary portrayal of reversed gender roles.
The fantasy romance The Atypical Family helmed by Jo Hyun-tak is another highest-rated 2024 romantic K-drama and among the best ones to watch. The show focuses on the superhero Bok Gwi-doo (played by Jang Ki-Young) and his family, who are on the verge of losing all their special abilities due to the vices of the modern world. However, when they meet a mysterious woman named Do Da-hae (played by Chun Woo-hee), their lives change forever. On 29 May 2024, streaming giant Netflix revealed that The Atypical Family ranked sixth on their list of Global Top 10 TV shows (Non-English).
Not to forget the 2024 medical romance Doctor Slump, which marked the on-screen comeback of OG romantic Korean drama queen Park Shin-hye after three years. An Oh Hyun-jong directorial, this highest-rated romantic K-drama debuted at No. 1 on Netflix’s weekly chart for non-English TV series after its release in January 2024. Additionally, Doctor Slump went on to amass over 2.9 million views and 10.2 million viewing hours between 29 January 2024 and 4 February 2024.
In the last quarter, the Gong Yoo starrer series The Trunk premiered on 29 November and instantly became one of the highest-rated romantic K-dramas of 2024. A Kim Kyu-tae directorial, the show is #3 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English Shows list and has recorded over 41,00,000 views, as of 16 December 2024.
Highest-rated romance K-dramas of 2024 that are a must-watch
1 /14
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
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: Celebrity Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon) loses his life to unfortunate events. His sudden demise shatters his number one fan Im Sol (Kim). Later, under mysterious circumstances, she can travel back in time. Sun-jae in the past timeline, is alive and studies in high school. Relieved, Im Sol sets out to alter the events of the past that could lead to his death in the future.
About the show: This Byeon Woo-seok starrer is a Korean drama adaptation of the web novel The Best of Tomorrow by Kim Bbang.
2 /14
Directed by: Kim Hee-won and Jang Young-woo
Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon
Release date: 9 March
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.2
Synopsis: Hong Hae-in (Ji-won) is the heiress of Queens Group and is married to Baek Hyun-woo (Soo-hyun), the Legal Director of the group. The duo are a happily married couple on the surface. But behind closed doors, they can’t stand each other. What happens when a crisis forces them to work together? Will Hyun-woo and Hae-in finally grow closer?
3 /14
Directed by: Hong Jong-chan
Cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-mi, Oh Jung-se, Kim Hae-sook
Release date: 8 November
Episodes: 10
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, Hae Jo (Woo) decides to go on the final journey of his life to find his biological father. On his way, he meets his ex-girlfriend Jo Jae-mi (Lee), now a runaway bride. What happens when circumstances force Hae Jo and Jae-mi to accompany one another on the journey ahead?
Also read: Mr. Plankton ending, explained
4 /14
Directed by: Kim Jin-man
Cast: Suho, Hong Ye-ji, Myung Se-bin
Release date: 13 April
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 7.9
Synopsis: Crown Prince Lee Geon (Suho) is soon to marry Choi Myung-yoon, the daughter of the royal physician. What happens when he gets kidnapped by his to-be bride? Will the duo grow close while on the run and end up falling for each other?
5 /14
Directed by: Park Won-gook
Cast: Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, Song Ha-yoon
Release date: 1 January
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.8
Synopsis: Loving wife Kang Ji-won (Park) discovers that her husband Park Min-hwan (Lee) is having an affair with her best friend Jung Soo-min (Song). Devastated, she confronts them only to be killed in the process. However, when mysterious events take her back 10 years, she gets a second chance at love.
About the show: This time-travel K-drama is based on the 2021 romantic webtoon Nae Nampyeongwa Gyeolhonhaejweo by Korean artist Seong So-jak.
6 /14
Directed by: Jo Nam-gook
Cast: Cho Jung-suk, Shin Sae-kyung, Park Ye-young, Lee Shin-young
Release date: 21 January
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.7
Synopsis: Qing Dynasty king Yi In (Cho) meets a skilled Baduk (Go) player Kang Hee-soo (Shin Sae-kyung) and is instantly enamoured by her. He appoints her at his palace unaware of the fact that she has hidden agendas. What happens when Hee-soo starts falling for the king and gets distracted from her goal?
7 /14
Directed by: Yoo Je-won
Cast: Jung Hae-in, Jung So-min
Release date: 17 August
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.7
Synopsis: Bae Seok-ryu (So-min) is a young woman trying to reboot her life and move on from a terrible breakup. Soon, she comes across successful architect Choi Seung-hyo (Hae-in), her childhood crush. Will Seok-ryu take the chance and confess her feelings to Seung-hyo this time?
Also read: Love Next Door ending, explained
8 /14
Directed by: Jo Hyun-taek
Cast: Chun Woo-hee, Jang Ki-yong, Claudia Kim, Go Doo-shim, Kim Su-hyun
Release date: 4 May
Episodes: 12
IMDb rating: 7.6
Synopsis: Superhuman Bok Gwi-joo (Jang) possesses the ability to time travel. However, the ways of the modern world affect his mental health, and he is soon diagnosed with depression. Following this, Gwi-joo loses all his special abilities. One day, when fate brings him to the mysterious Do Da-hae (Chun), Gwi-joo and his family are convinced that it’s Da-hae who can cure him.
Read more: Find out how The Atypical Family ended
9 /14
Directed by: Oh Hyun-jong
Cast: Park Shin-hye, Park Hyung-sik, Yoon Park, Kong Seong-ha
Release date: 27 January
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.5
Synopsis: Successful doctors Yeo Jeong-woo (Hyung-sik) and Nam Ha-neul (Shin-hye) have despised each other since their university days. What happens when a crisis forces the duo to cross paths again and work together?
10 /14
Directed by: Ahn Pan-seok
Cast: Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ryeo-won, So Ju-yeon, Kim Song-il
Release date: 11 May
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.2
Synopsis: Lee Joon-ho, tired of the corporate world, leaves his high-paying job and becomes an instructor in the academy he had studied in. There, he comes across his first love, academy teacher Seo Hye-jin. Will this chance encounter give the duo a second chance at love?
11 /14
Directed by: Park Sun-ho
Cast: Kim Se-jeong, Lee Jong-won, Shin Do-hyun, and Baek Sung-chu
Release date: 4 November
Episodes: 12
IMDb rating: 7.1
Synopsis: Yong-ju (Kim) is an employee of the sales department at a liquor company. When her branch faces a crisis, she is forced to get help from Yun Min-ju (Lee), the CEO of a brewery company. What happens when the duo’s blooming love threatens their professional lives?
12 /14
Directed by: Lee Jung-seob
Cast: Park Ji-hoon, Ji Woo, Hong Ye-ji
Release date: 2 January
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.1
Synopsis: Assassin Yeon Wol (Hong) is assigned with the mission of killing Crown Prince Sajo Hyun (Park) of the Asatae dynasty. When Wol discovers that Prince Sajo suffers from dual personality disorder, she decides to trap him by posing as a concubine and starts working at Sajo’s mansion. However, Wol develops romantic feelings for Sajo and gets conflicted about her mission of murdering him.
About the show: One of the best romantic K-dramas of 2024, Love Song for Illusion is adapted from the webtoon of the same name by artist Vanziun.
13 /14
Directed by: Kim kyu-tae
Cast: Gong Yoo, Seo Hyun-jin
Release date: 29 November
Episodes: 8
IMDb rating: 7
Synopsis: Music producer Jeong-won (Gong) is forced by his ex-wife to get into a contractual marriage with In-ji (Seo), a wife-for-hire working for NM company. Soon, In-ji starts developing feelings for Jeong-won. What happens when secrets from her past and a mysterious trunk threaten her newfound peace?
Also read: The Trunk ending, explained
14 /14
Directed by: Kwon Young-Il
Cast: Jun Jong-seo, Kim Do-wan, Moon Sang-min
Release date: 26 February
Episodes: 12
IMDb rating: 7
Synopsis: Close friends Na A-jeong (Jun) and Lee Do-han (Kim) do not believe in marriage and enjoy staying single. But when Do-han’s chaebol family forces him to marry, he requests A-jeong to pose as his wife. Will this fake bond change their notion of commitment and love?
About the show: This 2024 Korean drama is adapted from the romantic web novel of the same name by Song Jung-won.
