Throughout the world of K-Dramas, various broadcasting stations bring numerous series to the home of fans all across the globe. One of these stations is the illustrious MBC. MBC is one of the most popular broadcasting channels, with its K-Dramas consistently placing in the best ratings list. The channel continues to deliver high-quality productions appealing to fans in South Korea and abroad. As such, MBC drama ratings rise to the very top, with many reaching record highs.

Here are the top MBC Dramas with the highest ratings since 2020!

 

1. "Knight Flower" - 18.4%

Starring Lee Hanee and Lee JongWon, the historical drama "Knight Flower" starred high in ratings and quickly reached high ratings. The drama gained even more popularity in its last weeks and reached the ratings of 18.4% with its final episode. In 2024, the drama broke the previous records held by "The Red Sleeve". The drama is available on Viki, Kocowa, Apple TV, and Prime Video.

 

2. "The Red Sleeve" - 17.4%

Among historical K-Dramas, "The Red Sleeve" was phenomenally made, filled with moments of romance and yearning that cannot be easily forgotten. Due to its massive success, it gained 17.4% ratings, making it the highest rated series among MBC K-Dramas from 2020 to 2023. Luckily for fans new and old, the K-Drama is available to watch on Rakuten Viki.

 

3. "Big Mouth" - 13.7%

"Big Mouth" made big waves during its initial run. The chemistry between Lee JongSuk and Girls' Generation's YoonA was magnificent, and combined with a compelling storyline, it became an immediate hit, reaching 13.7% ratings. The drama can be watched via streaming site Hulu.

 

4. "My Dearest (part 1 & 2)" - 12.9%

Starring NamKoong Min and Ahn EunJin, "My Dearest" gained massive success and tugged on the heartstrings of all its viewers with a total of 21 episodes. Reaching its highest rating of 12.9% with the final episodes, it puts the series as one of the most watched of MBC. "My Dearest" is currently available on Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

5. "Wonderful World" - 11.4%

"Wonderful World" (2024) is a revenge and thriller drama starring Kim NamJoo and ASTRO's Cha EunWoo. The drama went viral on social media and the mysterious story caught attention. The drama peaked at 11.4% with its 9th, 11th, and 13th episodes. It started at 5.3%.

 

6. "Chief Detective 1958" - 10.1%

The retro crime drama "Chief Detective 1958" starring Lee JeHoon, Lee DongHwi, Choi WooSung, Yoon HyunSoo, and Seo EunSoo started with 10.1%. The drama started after "Wonderful World" and garnered a lot of attention to be able to start with such high ratings.

 

7. "The Veil" - 9.8%

Also starring NamKoong Min, "The Veil" kept audiences at the edge of their seats with its various twists and turns. Its captivating suspense allowed the drama to reach its highest ratings of 9.8%, landing it at number four among MBC dramas. "The Veil" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki or Kocowa.

 

8. "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" - 9.6%

"The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" based on webtoon gained a lot of popularity. Bae InHyuk and Lee SeYoung's chemistry was amazing and the story was full of mystery so the drama gained a lot of viewers. The drama started at 5.6% and reached the highest rating of 9.6%.

 

9. "Tracer" - 9.0%

This MBC drama depicted the hard working performance of the National Tax Service. Featuring a cast with Yim SiWan, Go AhSung, Son HyunJoo, and much more, "Tracer" reached its highest rating at 9.0%, earning it the fifth spot among MBC dramas so far. "Tracer" is available on Rakuten Viki, Kocowa, and Wavve.

 

10. "The Golden Spoon" - 7.8%

"The Golden Spoon" is a webtoon-based drama that followed poor, yet studious Lee SeungCheon (BTOB's SungJae) and chaebol son Hwang TaeYong (Lee JongWon) as they switched lives during adolescence and adulthood. The drama explored the stark differences between the extremely rich and those living in poverty. While there were moments of crushing heartache, there were scenes of uplifting hope that lit up all the dark spaces in your heart. "The Golden Spoon" earned its highest ratings at 7.8% and is available on Disney+ and Hulu.

 

11. "Tomorrow" - 7.6%

While this webtoon-based drama had various moments of uplifting comedy, it also did an excellent job at exploring hard-hitting topics. This involved aspects of mental health, life after death and those left behind, as well as the will to live on. At its highest peak, "Tomorrow" earned 7.6% in ratings. This MBC K-Drama is available on streaming platform, Netflix.

 

12. "Doctor Lawyer" - 7.2%

Starring the iconic actor, So JiSub, "Doctor Lawyer" is a fusion of medical and law, providing the best of both worlds. As Han YiHan (So JiSub) searched for the truth, viewers could not help but remain by his side. With the help of its loyal viewers, the MBC drama reached its highest ratings of 7.2%, placing it at eighth on this list. "Doctor Lawyer" is currently available on Disney+ and Hulu.

 

13. "Kkondae Intern" - 7.1%

Adapted from the winning script from MBC's 2018 drama writing contest, "Kkondae Intern" follows the reversal of roles between Ka YeolChan (Park HaeJin) and Lee ManSik (Kim EungSoo). The office comedy provided viewers a reason to smile and laugh, week after week, and reached its highest ratings of 7.1%. "Kkondae Intern" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

14. "Dinner Mate" - 6.1%

A story of strangers to lovers, Kim HaeKyung (Song SeungHeon) and Woo DoHee (Seo JiHye) unexpectedly meet on Jeju Island. Bonding over their respective heartaches and love of food, they remain in contact and gradually fall for one another. "Dinner Mate" earned its highest ratings at 6.1% and is available to watch via streaming sites iQIYI and Prime Video.

 

15. "Find Me In Your Memory" - 5.4%

"Find Me In Your Memory" is a moving story between Lee JungHoon (Kim DongWook) and Yeo HaJin (Mun KaYoung). While the drama had its fair share of romance, it also offered moments of healing that aided broken souls everywhere. The drama earned its highest ratings at 5.4%, landing at eleventh among MBC K-Dramas. It is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

16. "The Forbidden Marriage" - 4.9%

"The Forbidden Marriage" certainly had it all: a budding romance, a swoon-worthy second lead, a love triangle that broke your heart, and so much more. Audiences certainly agreed, sticking with the drama for every new episode, helping it reach its peak at 4.9% ratings. "The Forbidden Marriage" is available to watch on Prime Video, Rakuten Viki, and Kocowa.

 

17. "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" - 4.8%

"Kokdu: Season Of Deity" was filled with quirky characters, electrifying chemistry, and a romance that withstood the test of time. Switching between historical and modern, "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" had fans constantly coming back for more, earning 4.8% ratings. The MBC drama is made available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Wavve.

 

18. "When I Was Most Beautiful" - 4.7%

"When I Was Most Beautiful" is a heartbreaking love story featuring Oh YeJi (Im SooHyang) who is caught between brothers Seo Hwan (Ji Soo) and Seo Jin (Ha SeokJin). As they navigated feelings of love and jealousy, audiences remained glued to their seats, watching the story unfold. With the help of its dedicated viewers, the series earned 4.7% ratings, placing it at number fourteen among MBC K-Dramas. "When I Was Most Beautiful" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

19. "From Now On, Showtime!" - 4.6% & "The Game: Towards Zero" - 4.6%

Comedic with a touch of mystery, "From Now On, Showtime!" was able to captivate viewers with its lighthearted storyline and incredible lineup of actors. On the other hand, there was the more serious, thriller series "The Game: Towards Zero" which kept viewers shrouded in suspense. While two different genres, these series earned its highest ranking at 4.6%, tying at number fifteen among MBC K-Dramas.

Which of these MBC dramas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

 

You know those incredibly handsome K-Drama male leads who look cold and aloof on the outside? In Korea, they call this type of man "naengminam" (냉민남), which is literally - cold (naeng) + handsome man (minam).

Such men have a chic aura, sharp features and are obviously, very handsome.

Just like in K-Dramas, they may appear reserved and unapproachable. However, in reality, they are the sweetest and warmest people around, and their look completely changes when they smile!

Naengminam is not a bad word; it is simply a descriptor, almost always used as a compliment by Koreans.

Some famous actors who are called naengminam include Park HaeJin, Lee SooHyuk, Hwang MinHyun, ASTRO's Cha EunWoo, MONSTA X's HyungWon, Kim JaeUck, Kim JaeYoung, Kim YoungKwang, and Ju JiHoon, among others.

In "Hong SeokCheon's Jewel Box", guest Lee SooHyuk is described as "naengminam but cute when he smiles", which means that he may look cold at first glance but is adorable when he smiles.

Want to learn more fun Korean words? Stay tuned to Your Korea Tutor - Kpopmap!

January went by in a flash and with February being just as fast, Valentine's Day is right at our doorstep. Shelves have become filled with stuffed animals, flower arrangements, balloons, and much more to celebrate the occasion. It's a holiday recognized worldwide, prompting couples and potential relationships to openly display their feelings of affection toward one another.

With Valentine's Day being on a weekday, however, it can be difficult to arrange dinner dates that occur deep into the night. And with this fact, some couples are looking to celebrate at home. For K-Drama fans, it can be an opportunity to binge watch several romance movies in a row, widely grinning and uncontrollably sobbing at the touching love stories these films present.

Now with that said, here are some Korean movies you can totally binge watch on Valentine's Day!

 

1. "20th Century Girl"

Cast: Kim YouJung, Byeon WooSeok, Park JungWoo, Roh YoonSeo, and more

Summary: Depicts the story of Na BoRa as she attempts to play cupid for her best friend and finds out all the information on Poong WoonHo. However, as the two hang out more frequently, they begin to fall for one another.

Reasons To Watch: "20th Century Girl" makes you nostalgic, taking audiences through a blast from the past type of romance story. The film serves as a reminder of your own first love and the pure innocence that came from that time. The chemistry of the main couple revitalizes every romantic cell in your body, causing you to gush profusely over practically ever interaction.

Where To Watch: Netflix

 

2. "The Beauty Inside"

Cast: Han HyoJoo, Kim DaeMyung, Lee HyunWoo, Yoo YeonSeok, Park SeoJun, and more

Summary: WooJin has a special condition that causes him to wake up as a different person every day. Because of this, he's naturally kept his distance with others, with only his best friend and mother knowing his secret. However, he happens to meet YiSoo and ends up falling in love with her.

Reasons To Watch: With the premise of the film, "The Beauty Inside" has a star-studded cast playing one singular person. It's interesting to see how these actors interpret the character in both similar and different ways. It touches upon the true meaning of love, urging audiences to focus on a person's personality and inside qualities, rather than their physical appearance. It's a moving film that will help any pair appreciate each other more than ever before.

Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video

 

3. "Love Forecast"

Cast: Lee SeungGi, Moon ChaeWon, and more

Summary: Kang JunSoo is the type of person who gives everything to his girlfriend, however, always gets hurt in the end. Kim HyunWoo is a beautiful weathercaster, but her personality is excessive and over the top. While they originally start off as friends, a romance blooms between the two.

Reasons To Watch: "Love Forecast" is an absolutely hilarious film that will have you gripping at your side from all the laughter. The two main characters possess a love and hate relationship with one another that may make you question whether or not they will truly get together. But in between the sarcastic remarks and witty comments, Kang JunSoo and Kim HyunWoo's love story develops into one that will move your heart, most especially on Valentine's Day.

Where To Watch: YouTube

 

4. "On Your Wedding Day"

Cast: Park BoYoung, Kim YoungKwang, and more

Summary: It follows the relationship of Hwang WooYeon and Hwan SeungHee that spans over the course of 10 years. They go through a stark transformation, going from innocent adolescents to mature adults. Partway through, they lose contact with one another until one day, WooYeon receives a wedding invitation from his first love, SeungHee.

Reasons To Watch: While a high school romance might be hard to come by in reality, "On Your Wedding Day" bridges that gap, creating a fiery warmth within your chest. However, it's not all rainbows and butterflies, as it tackles the act of moving on and letting someone go. It's very real in that it shows a happy ending is not always guaranteed and that true love will do what's necessary to ensure the other person is truly happy.

Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video

 

5. "Love 911"

Cast: Han HyoJoo, Go Soo, and more

Summary: Cheon KangIl is a hardworking firefighter and Go MiSoo is a fiery doctor who gets sued for misdiagnosing a patient. She reaches out to Firefighter KangIl to be her character witness and the flames of romance light up between the two.

Reasons To Watch: "Love 911" is an iconic classic that has effectively swept the hearts of millions worldwide. The chemistry between Han HyoJoo and Go Soo is electrifying, causing viewers to remain glued to their screen from beginning to end. There's bickering, nail-biting suspense, and heart-fluttering romance that will have you smiling all day long. Valentine's Day would be perfect if you were snuggled in bed with "Love 911" on your binge list.

Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video

Which movie are you watching for Valentine's Day?