Top 15 Highest Rated K-dramas of 2023 So Far

Here are some of the best K-dramas that 2023 has had to offer so far, ranging from heart warming romance to spine-chilling thrillers

15: The Real Has Come

The Real Has Come!” is a 2023 South Korean television series featuring Baek Jin-hee, Ahn Jae-hyun, Cha Joo-young, and Jung Eui-jae.

The series tells the tale of an unwed pregnant woman and an unmarried man who create a fake contract that ultimately leads to a romantic relationship, pregnancy, childbirth, and the shared responsibility of raising their child.

14: Queen Maker

Queenmaker” is a 2023 South Korean streaming television series directed by Oh Jin-seok and starring Kim Hee-ae, Moon So-ri, and Ryu Soo-young. It was released on Netflix on April 14, 2023.

The series follows the story of Hwang Do-hee (Kim Hee-ae), a genius of image-making who controls the strategic planning office of a conglomerate, and Oh Kyung-sook (Moon So-ri), a human rights lawyer who lives a simple life. Oh Kyung-sook decides to join the election board with the goal of making Hwang Do-hee the mayor of Seoul.

13: The Secret Romantic Guest House

The Secret Romantic Guesthouse” is a 2023 South Korean television series that features Shin Ye-eun, Ryeoun, Jung Gun-joo, and Kang Hoon in its cast.

The series revolves around an intriguing incident that unfolds when the owners of a guesthouse known as Ihwawon Inn, a place that defies conventional stereotypes, and a group of guests harboring their own secrets, come together in their quest to locate Lee Seol, who mysteriously vanished 13 years ago.

12: Black Knight

Black Knight” is a South Korean Netflix television series that stars Kim Rae-won in the title role, alongside Shin Se-kyung, Seo Ji-hye, and Chang Mi-hee. This drama revolves around a pure-hearted man who willingly embraces a perilous destiny for the woman he loves. It’s a love story that unfolds across a span of more than two centuries. Moon Soo-ho (played by Kim Rae-won) is a businessman with an unblemished heart, willing to face danger for his beloved Jung Hae-ra (portrayed by Shin Se-kyung), who works as a travel agent but has never ventured abroad.

11: Heartbeat

Heartbeat” is a 2023 South Korean television series featuring Ok Taec-yeon, Won Ji-an, Park Kang-hyun, and Yoon So-hee. It’s also available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

The series follows the story of Seon Woo-hyul (played by Ok Taec-yeon), a unique individual who is part-human and part-vampire. His life takes an unexpected turn when he begins to cohabitate with Joo In-hae (portrayed by Won Ji-an), a woman known for her cold and distant demeanor. As their relationship deepens, they discover love, bringing warmth and happiness into their lives.

10: Revenant

“Revenant” is a 2023 South Korean television series written by Kim Eun-hee and starring Kim Tae-ri, Oh Jung-se, and Hong Kyung. It is also available for streaming on Disney+.

The series follows the story of a young woman who becomes possessed by a mysterious entity and a professor of folklore with the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. Together, they embark on a quest to uncover the truth behind a series of enigmatic suicides that have been occurring throughout the city.

9: Celebrity

Celebrity” is a 2023 South Korean streaming television series created by writer Kim Yi-young and director Kim Cheol-kyu. The show features a star-studded ensemble cast including Park Gyu-young, Kang Min-hyuk, Lee Chung-ah, Lee Dong-gun, and Jun Hyo-seong. The series delves into the desires and mysteries surrounding individuals who transform into social media influencers, living the lives of so-called celebrities, and those who envy them. It was made available for streaming on Netflix on June 30, 2023.

The story revolves around Seo Ah-ri, played by Park Gyu-young, who unexpectedly enters the glamorous world of fame, wealth, and desire as she ventures into the realm of social media influencers. As her journey unfolds, Ah-ri brings to light the fact that many influencers buy “followers,” creating an illusion that they are genuine celebrities. Her own reputation takes a hit during her ascent and eventual downfall, prompting Ah-ri to unveil the scandalous lives of these influencers. The series exposes a world filled with scams, harassment, drug-related issues, and ultimately, tragic consequences.

8: King the Land

King the Land” is a 2023 South Korean television series starring Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ah. It is also available for streaming on Netflix.

The series tells the story of Goo Won (Lee Jun-ho), the heir of The King Group, a luxury hotel conglomerate, who finds himself embroiled in an inheritance war. His life takes a dramatic turn when he crosses paths with Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah), a hotelier known for her ever-present smile, which changes when she encounters Goo Won.

7: My Perfect Stranger

Perfect Stranger,” a 2023 South Korean television series starring Kim Dong-wook and Jin Ki-joo, explores the intriguing concept of time travel. In the show, two individuals become trapped in the year 1987, embarking on a strange and beautiful journey.

The plot revolves around a man with a relentless determination to uncover the truth behind a serial murder case. Simultaneously, a woman is determined to prevent her parents’ marriage from occurring. As the story unfolds, these two characters come to realize that their seemingly disparate goals are, in fact, interconnected.

6: See You in My 19th Life

5: Bloodhounds

Bloodhounds” is a South Korean streaming television series directed by Kim Joo-hwan and starring Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Park Sung-woong, and Huh Joon-ho. It was released on Netflix on June 9, 2023.

“Bloodhounds” tells the story of two young boxers who enter the world of private loans in their quest for money and become entangled in a significant force.

4: Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938

Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938″ is a 2023 South Korean television series that features Lee Dong-wook, Kim So-yeon, Kim Bum, and Ryu Kyung-soo in its cast. This series serves as the second season to the 2020 show “Tale of the Nine Tailed,” and it explores a storyline that serves as a prequel to the original series.

In “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938,” the story unfolds as Lee Yeon (played by Lee Dong-wook) is unexpectedly transported back in time to the year 1938 during the Japanese Occupation of Korea. This intriguing time travel journey is triggered by specific events that occurred after the events in the original “Tale of the Nine Tailed.” In the past, he encounters Lee Rang (Kim Bum) and Ryu Hong-joo (Kim So-yeon), characters from that era.

3: Taxi Driver Season Two

Taxi Driver” is a South Korean television series that stars Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram in the first season, and features Esom, with Shin Jae-ha joining in the second season. The show is based on the webtoon titled “The Deluxe Taxi” (also known as “Red Cage”), which was created by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin. The first season of the series made its debut on April 9, 2021, while the second season premiered on February 17, 2023, exclusively on Netflix.

The show draws inspiration from real-life heinous crimes that have occurred in South Korea. Viewers have lauded the series for its impressive performances and compelling storylines. The final episode of the first season garnered the fourth highest ratings for any Friday-Saturday drama in the history of SBS.

The second season’s finale outperformed the first season’s finale in terms of ratings and set a new record for the highest ratings achieved by any miniseries in 2023. As of April 16, 2023, it was officially announced that a third season of “Taxi Driver” is in the works.

2: The Good Bad Mother

The Good Bad Mother” is a 2023 South Korean television series featuring Ra Mi-ran, Lee Do-hyun, Ahn Eun-jin, and Yoo In-soo. This show is available for streaming on Netflix.

The series enjoyed immense commercial success and went on to become one of the highest-rated series in the history of Korean cable television. Furthermore, it set a new record for achieving the highest ratings ever for any Wednesday-Thursday drama on JTBC.

The storyline revolves around a tragic accident that results in an ambitious prosecutor suffering a mental setback, leaving him with the cognitive abilities of a child. This unforeseen turn of events compels him and his mother to embark on a journey of healing and reconciliation within their relationship.

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