Top 10 Most Popular Korean Dramas in the First Half of 2020

Dreams Baseball Team (Stove League) is a newly aired drama on SBS that quickly gained attention and popularity among viewers. The story revolves around a professional baseball team that once achieved great success but has now fallen to the bottom of the rankings. The new executive director, Baek Seung Soo, and the team manager, Lee Se Young, are tasked with working together to restore the team's reputation.

Despite minimal promotional efforts, the early episodes captivated the audience. The show carries a meaningful message about trust and perseverance during times of crisis, which contributed to its growing fame. As the team climbs to success, the drama's ratings steadily rise with each episode.

Total viewership: 2.776 million.

Itaewon Class has captivated audiences across Asia since its premiere, quickly becoming one of the highest-rated dramas. With its unique and engaging plot, the show conveys numerous meaningful messages, supported by a talented cast that played a key role in its success. The story follows Park Sae Roy (played by Park Seo Joon), a man with a criminal past who is determined to rebuild his life and dreams of owning a major business empire in South Korea, all while fighting against societal injustices. Additionally, the emotional romance between Park Sae Roy and his first love, Oh So Ah (played by Kwon Nara), along with a complicated love triangle involving Park Sae Roy, Oh So Ah, and Jo Yi Seo, further captures the audience's attention.

Total viewership: 2.604 million.

Dr. John is one of the most notable Korean dramas of early 2020. The show centers around five talented doctors who have been close friends since college. They navigate through their youthful years together, working at the YulJe Hospital, dedicating themselves to saving countless lives. Each of the five main characters is an expert in their respective medical fields. They first met in college in 1999 and continued their journey together at the hospital. Their diverse personalities bring them closer, resulting in many humorous and touching moments for the audience.

Although the drama revolves around the medical field, it stands out due to its innovative and engaging storyline. As the episodes unfold, viewers experience a range of emotions, from intense drama to heartwarming resolutions.

Total viewership: 2.4 million.

Hyena is a symbolic drama that portrays the cutthroat world of lawyers and their relentless profession. The two main characters, Yoon Hee Jae (Yoon) and Jung Geum Ja (Jung), are likened to hyenas, with the potential to rise to the top. In the early episodes, they handle cases for the elite '1%' of society, such as politicians and the children of powerful families. However, as the show progresses, the two lawyers find themselves facing off against the powerful law firm boss, Song & Kim. This rivalry becomes increasingly intense and painful as the 'hyenas' and their pack begin to tear each other apart.

Hyena also explores the story of Song Pil Joong (Song), a brilliant strategist who has turned Song & Kim into the most powerful law firm in the country. Song manipulates politicians to push favorable policies for the corporations he represents, while skillfully cutting ties with business tycoons who no longer serve his interests. In the final episodes, viewers are taken by surprise as the lawyer Yoon, who has always seen Song as a mentor and family friend, discovers the shocking truth—that he was merely a pawn in Song's grand game.

Total viewership: 1.921 million.

The King: Eternal Monarch is a 2020 South Korean drama starring Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, and Woo Do-hwan. It premiered on SBS on Fridays and Saturdays starting April 17, 2020.

The series is set in two parallel worlds: one is our reality, while the other is a constitutional monarchy known as the Kingdom of Corea, where the entire Korean Peninsula is unified under a royal regime. A supernatural force opens a portal between the two worlds, seeking a better life in our world. Faced with the devil's plot, Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho), the emperor of the Kingdom of Corea, and detective Jung Tae-Eul (Kim Go-eun) from our world, must work together to find a way to close the door between their worlds to protect Lee Gon's country and safeguard the life of the person Tae-Eul loves.

Total viewership: 1.596 million.

Impostor centers on Baek Chan Mi (Choi Kang Hee), a legendary agent of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). After a dangerous mission results in the death of a subordinate and the escape of her target, she is demoted and reassigned to a cyber security team within NIS. However, feeling responsible for the failure, Baek Chan Mi decides to continue pursuing the case, determined to uncover the real culprit.

Apart from Choi Kang-Hee, Impostor also features a star-studded cast including Yoo In Young, Kim Ji Young, Lee Sang Yeob, and Lee Jong Hyuk. The show has been praised as a compelling feminist drama, especially relevant in an era where the film industry worldwide is increasingly focusing on such themes. The three female agents take the viewers on a journey filled with suspense and intense emotional moments.

Total viewership: 1.572 million.

No One Knows tells the story of high school students who constantly navigate the balance between good and evil, while exploring how their lives change when surrounded by kind-hearted adults who are determined to protect their students. In the show, actress Kim Seo Hyung plays Cha Young Jin, a detective on a relentless pursuit to find a serial killer who took her best friend’s life 17 years ago.

No One Knows has consistently topped the ratings during its Monday night broadcasts. Breaking away from her usual villainous roles, Kim Seo Hyung transforms into a dedicated detective fighting for justice in a rare opportunity for her to play a righteous character.

Total viewership: 1.478 million.

Doctor Teacher 2 is the highest-rated Korean drama in the early months of 2020. Following the success of its first season, the show continues the story of dedicated medical professionals such as Dr. Kim (Han Suk Kyu), Seo Woo Jin (Ahn Hyo Seop), and Cha Eun Jae (Lee Sung Kyung), who go above and beyond to save their patients. Set in the remote and underfunded Doldam Hospital, the series portrays the real-life challenges and the heartfelt commitment of doctors and nurses who risk everything to save lives.

The drama features intense, edge-of-your-seat moments in the emergency operating room, surprising the audience at every turn. In addition to the high-stakes medical procedures, Doctor Teacher 2 also delves into the internal power struggles among the medical staff. With its dramatic confrontations, philosophical dilemmas, and the unwavering determination of the doctors, the series quickly became one of the most beloved dramas of the first quarter of 2020.

Total viewership: 3.446 million.

The World of the Married is a recent South Korean drama that quickly broke rating records for JTBC. Following the conclusion of Itaewon Class, this series became the network’s new flagship show. It centers around a tumultuous marriage full of mistrust, scheming, and betrayal, offering a stark contrast to the perfect image the main couple projects to the outside world.

The story focuses on Ji Sun Woo (played by Kim Hee Ae), a family doctor who has a seemingly peaceful life with her husband and their obedient son. However, her world is turned upside down when she discovers her husband’s affair with a young woman, the daughter of a powerful local figure. The intense and suspenseful events that follow captivate viewers, keeping them on the edge of their seats throughout the series.

Total viewership: 3.352 million.

Crash Landing on You became the highest-rated South Korean drama on its network in the first quarter of 2020. According to Naver statistics, it was the second most-searched topic after news about the COVID-19 pandemic. With 1.75 billion online views, this drama surpassed many other popular Korean series. Directed by Lee Jeong-hyo, the show features a talented cast including Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Kim Jung-hyun, and Kim Sun-young, among others. The stunning cinematography set in locations like Switzerland, Mongolia, and Jeju Island added to the series' charm.

The plot of Crash Landing on You is bold and innovative, telling the story of a cross-border love affair between North Korean Captain Ri Jung Hyuk and South Korean businesswoman Yoon Se Ri. The series combines exciting entertainment with heartfelt messages, resonating deeply with audiences across Asia. It achieved record-breaking ratings, with its final episode reaching an impressive 21.7% viewership, making it the highest-rated show in the history of South Korean cable TV.

Total viewership: 3.334 million.