2023 is ending in a few days and looking back this year has been full of unforgettable dramas!

It had its load of good dramas: from romantic comedies like "King The Land," to medical dramas like "Dr. Romantic 3," to life dramas like "The Good Bad Mother," to thrillers like "Taxi Driver," to fantasy dramas like "Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938," to historical dramas like "My Dearest," and much more.

As the year is ending, it is time to check whose dramas had been particularly liked in Korea. Let's check whose dramas had the most ratings on Korean TV this year!

Note: Weekend and daily dramas are not included.

Note: Only dramas that ended in 2023 are included, dramas ending in 2024 are not included (for example "Korea-Khitan War", "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract", and more).

With no surprise the thriller "Taxi Driver 2" was the drama with the highest ratings this year reaching over 20%! The first season of the drama was well-loved (best ratings at 16%) and its fans were back for the season 2 with even more passion. The drama starring Lee JeHoon, Kim EuiSung, and Pyo YeJin revolves around Kim DoKi's work as a deluxe taxi driver with his team at Rainbow Taxi Company which offers a "Revenge call-service," to take revenge on behalf of crime victims. The season 2 started already at 12.1% with its first episode and constantly increased until reaching 21.0% in its last episode.

"Doctor Cha" and "Crash Course in Romance" were the second and third dramas with the best ratings. "Doctor Cha" (starring Uhm JungHwa, Kim ByungChul, Myung SeBin, Min WooHyuk, and more) revolves around Cha JungSook, who makes a decision to stop focusing on being a housewife, starts to stand up against her egoistic husband and returns to the medical field, which she left 20 years ago to focus on her family. "Crash Course in Romance" (starring Jeon DoYeon, Jung KyungHo, Lee BongRyun, Oh EuiShik, Shin JaeHa, Roh YoonSeo, and more) focuses on Nam HaengSeon who is a former national athlete and who sends her niece on the course of the star-teacher, Choi ChiYeol. Both dramas received a lot of interest in Korea.

 

Check last year's best ratings below.

Stay updated with daily ratings here throughout the year.

For more about ratings, you can check the articles below:

The curtains about to close on 2023 and we're gearing up to enter into a new year. Despite that, we cannot forget the abundance of top tier K-Dramas to grace our screens and the actresses who have stood at the forefront.

They're often regarded as standouts in the field, able to transform into any character and tackle any genre. Regardless of their onscreen partner or type of role they fulfill, they brightly shine for the entire world to see. But in 2023, these actresses saw a rise in popularity due to a combination of their drama's success and a consistent showcase of immersive acting.

As the year comes to a close, let's take a look back at some actresses who have dominated the K-Drama world in 2023!

Note: this list is in no particular order and made of actresses who have completed at least one drama this year.

 

1. Song HyeKyo

Song HyeKyo's portrayal of Moon DongEun in "The Glory" was phenomenal from start to finish. Closing out the two part drama with "The Glory 2," she made everyone remain at the edge of their seats as they waited with bated breath to witness Moon DongEun's plan of revenge come to fruition. Song HyeKyo was a big part of the drama's success, showcasing her acting prowess.

 

2. Lim JiYeon

When talking about the success of "The Glory" and "The Glory 2," one cannot forget to mention Lim JiYeon. She piloted the character of Park YeonJin in stunning fashion, capable of making millions completely despise her character. Lim JiYeon was able to toe the line between reality and fiction, fully immersing audiences into the story at hand. Through this role, she gained attention worldwide and was applauded for her incredible skill. 2023 was far from over for the actress, as she appeared in two more dramas, "Lies Hidden In My Garden" and "The Killing Vote".

 

3. Jeon DoYeon

One of the first K-Dramas to kick off the year was "Crash Course In Romance," and as the series moved forward, audiences could not help but cheer for Jeon DoYeon. She was exceptional in her role as Nam HaengSeon, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide. Then, she was able to show yet another side of herself in the Netflix-produced action movie, "Kill BokSoon." More than anything, Jeon DoYeon confirmed that she is able to take on numerous roles in a variety of genres and she will provide a mesmerizing performance every time.

 

4. Ra MiRan

A true veteran in the scene, Ra MiRan captivated everyone with her moving performance in "The Good Bad Mother." She perfectly portrayed the tenacity of Jin YoungSoon, as well as a tender vulnerability that appeared in the face of her son, Choi KangHo (Lee DoHyun). In combination with a heartrending storyline, she became a beloved K-Drama mother that everyone wanted to protect.

 

5. Han HyoJoo

Even prior to 2023, Han HyoJoo was known as a talented actress, able to embody the spirit of any genre from heart-fluttering romance to heart racing action. She reminded everyone of her acting prowess through her portrayal as Lee MiHyun in successful Disney+ series, "Moving." Han HyoJoo stood at the forefront as a doting mother and trained soldier ready to engage in battle. "Moving" was much more than a captivating K-Drama — it served as an acting masterclass from its entire cast, Han HyoJoo included.

 

6. Uhm JungHwa

With Uhm JungHwa as the leading lady of "Doctor Cha," audiences could not help but completely fall for the actress. They were hypnotized by her stunning performance, unable to tear their eyes away from the drama as it played on their screen. She received immense love from critics and fans alike, moving her acting career ever forward with her memorable role as Cha JungSook.

 

7. Ahn EunJin

While fans fell for her performance in "The Good Bad Mother," Ahn EunJin began to shine a new light through gripping historical K-Drama, "My Dearest." There was unified cheers of applause for both the actress and her onscreen partner, NamKoong Min. She was able to make audiences feel a a spectrum of emotions, which spoke to her acting prowess. Featuring in two successful K-Dramas, Ahn EunJin certainly made 2023 her year and we cannot wait to see what she can accomplish moving forward.

 

8. Kim SoYeon

Everyone was excited for the highly anticipated sequel, "Tale Of The Nine Tailed 1938," and it certainly did not disappoint. Part of that is due to the captivating cast which included experienced actress, Kim SoYeon. From her fierce gaze to interactions with fellow castmates, her name appeared across social media sites everywhere. While "Tale Of The Nine Tailed 1938" aired, Kim SoYeon was an actress everyone talked about.

 

9. Suzy

Suzy is stunning in more ways than one, having a successful career in both singing and acting. She once again proved her mastery at her craft as the captivating Lee DooNa in Netflix-produced "Doona!" She perfectly embodied the character, giving birth to yet another immersive and award-winning performance. Suzy's acting skills in combination with such a riveting story convinced fans worldwide to shower the actress with love and praise.

 

10. Lee SungKyoung

Featured in two K-Dramas this year, Lee SungKyoung was able to showcase once again why she's revered as such a talented actress. She showcased two very different sides of herself through "Call It Love" and "Dr. Romantic 3". From bubbly and bright to indifferent and emotionally distraught, she pulled in all types of audiences, putting on spell-binding performances that everyone could not help but talk about.

 

11. Girls' Generation's YoonA

Through "King The Land" YoonA was able to captivate the hearts of viewers worldwide, showing once more that she's not only a dazzling idol but a capable actress ready for any role. During the show's run, she became the topic of numerous conversations and dominated search engines everywhere. Her million dollar "Hermès smile" was a sight to behold, adding a touch of warmth every week.

 

12. Go YounJung

Entering into the year, we saw Go YounJung close out the award-winning "Alchemy Of Souls: Light And Shadow." She was able to grace screens once more through Disney+ series, "Moving," solidifying her status as an actress that should be on everyone's radar. Her acting was marvelous, providing a superhero level performance that had netizens talking for weeks. She proved that she's definitely more than visuals, containing an unlimited supply of talent that surges throughout her soul.

 

13. Shin HaeSun

Shin HaeSun has proven to be a standout actress more than once and her performance in "See You In My 19th Life" was proof of that yet again. The way she piloted Ban JiEum was masterful, toeing the line between sentimental and quirky. But as 2023 comes to a close, she looks to end the year on a tender note and provide healing through "Welcome To Samdalri". Regardless of the genre or role, Shin HaeSun never disappoints, bringing an abundance of much needed warmth.

 

14. Han JiMin

Han JiMin was the representation of the sun through her portrayal of the quirky Bong YeBun in JTBC's "Behind Your Touch". She was an absolute treasure and become the highlight of many viewers' weeks. As the drama continued forward, audiences' interest in the series grew showering the actress with an outpouring of love and praise.

 

15. Park GyuYoung

Park GyuYoung became a hot topic this year for many reasons. Firstly, her performance in Netflix's "Celebrity" was a sight to behold and had K-Drama fans glued to their seats, binging the series over one weekend. Then, she made a return to the small screen with "A Good Day To Be A Dog" where she becomes a reenergizing ball of fluff (literally) that many cannot help but love. She's been on a upward trajectory and there's no telling how far the actress will go.

Which actress did you enjoy watching in 2023? Let us know in the comments!

If you're a fan of K-Dramas, you will know about the famous Korean broadcasting channel SBS. SBS is one of the most popular and beloved channels, with its K-Dramas consistently placing in the best ratings list of 2020, 2021, and 2022. The channel keeps delivering high-quality productions appealing to fans in South Korea and overseas. As such, SBS drama ratings are known to be usually high.

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

Note: This ranking is until 15th place.

 

1. "Penthouse: War in Life 2" - 29.2%

The sensational K-Drama "Penthouse: War In Life" was an outstanding success across seasons. The second season of the show has the highest rating among SBS dramas from 2020 to 2023 so far.

 

2. "Dr. Romantic 2" - 27.1%

"Dr. Romantic" is a beloved medical drama series by SBS. The second season, "Dr. Romantic 2" has the second-highest rating among SBS dramas in the given time frame.

 

3. "Taxi Driver 2" - 21%

The second season of the revenge thriller "Taxi Driver" starring Lee JeHoon, was even more successful than the first. The rating of 21% is the third highest rating in SBS.

 

4. "Penthouse: War in Life 3" - 19.5%

While it could not break the record set by "Penthouse: War In Life 2", "Penthouse: War in Life 3" was still a massive success and achieved an impressive rating of 19.5% at its peak.

 

5. "Hot Stove League" - 19.1%

This iconic K-Drama about a baseball team and their journey of achieving their dreams with the expert guidance of Baek SeungSoo (played by NamKoong Min) and the relentless passion of Lee SeYoung (Park EunBin) was hugely popular and became the K-Drama with the 5th highest rating in SBS.

 

6. "One The Woman" - 17.8%

Lee HaNee stole hearts in her dual role as Jo YeonJoo and Kang MiNa in "One The Woman", making ratings soar as high as 17.8%, proving her everlasting impact and influence.

 

7. "Dr. Romantic 3" - 16.8%

The third season of the "Dr. Romantic" series aired this year and once again captivated the hearts of viewers with the return of the beloved cast. The season ended with its highest ratings, which is also the 7th highest in SBS.

 

8. "Taxi Driver" - 16.0%

"Taxi Driver" made waves all across the world. It is no surprise, therefore, that its first season was also a hit with Korean viewers as the highest rating rose to an impressive 16.0%.

 

9. "One Dollar Lawyer" - 15.2%

Another NamKoong Min superhit, "One Dollar Lawyer" is one of the most unique and entertaining legal dramas. It is proof of the actor's star power as the ratings rose to 15.2%.

 

10. "Hyena" - 14.6%

Veteran stars Kim HyeSoo and Ju JiHoon heated up the K-Drama scene with their striking chemistry in "Hyena". Fans were so impressed by this drama that the ratings easily rose to 14.6%.

 

11. "Good Casting" - 12.3%

Girl power at its finest, "Good Casting" was a refreshing wind of change in the K-Drama world. Naturally, it was well-received, and its ratings went up to 12.3%, placing it at #11 on this list.

 

12. "Again My Life" - 12%

Lee JoonGi's return to the small screen came with a blockbuster hit that reached 12% ratings and even gained much popularity among fans worldwide. The actor's flawless performance was highly praised too.

 

13. "The King: Eternal Monarch" - 11.6% & "Business Proposal" - 11.6%

A romance of epic proportions starring Hallyu top stars Lee MinHo and Kim GoEun, "The King: Eternal Monarch" stands testimony to the grand scale of K-Dramas. On the other hand, the rom-com "Business Proposal", starring Ahn HyoSeop and Kim SeJeong became a global phenomenon. Both K-Dramas reached the highest rating of 11.6%, and are tied for #13.

 

14. "Nobody Knows" - 11.4% & "Payback" - 11.4%

Both thrillers and both brilliant, "Nobody Knows" and "Payback" are tied as the 14th K-Drama with the highest ratings among SBS dramas. "Nobody Knows" is led by Kim SeoHyung, and "Payback" by Lee SunKyun. With such powerhouses in the cast, it is no wonder the dramas are so successful!

 

15. "Revenant" - 11.2%

Finally, the latest K-Drama to enter this list of the highest-rated SBS dramas is "Revenant", starring Kim TaeRi, Oh JungSe, and Hong Kyung. The horror drama was fresh and original, which caught the attention of viewers worldwide.

Which of these SBS dramas with the highest ratings is your favorite? Tell us in the comments section down below!