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!

 

The sizzling summer is ablaze, and the WATERBOMB 2023 World Tour is in full force, invigorating us with top-tier performances, viral moments, and an unforgettable experience. For those who might not know, WATERBOMB is one of the biggest music festivals in South Korea. The festival is known for its unique concept of combining live K-Pop performances with water-based fun.

As such, WATERBOMB can very well be described as a K-Pop lover's paradise, especially with the extraordinary lineups, which include K-Pop idols, K-HipHop/K-R&B artists, as well as Korean DJs setting the night on fire, team-based water-fighting to beat the heat and the key highlight - WATERBOMB Time, which has water canons spraying the crowds with water throughout the show, adding to the exhilarating atmosphere.

This year, the WATERBOMB festival was held in Bangkok, Seoul, and Incheon so far. It is set to be held in Daegu, Busan, Daejeon, Suwon, Sokcho, Jeju and expand to two cities in Japan - Nagoya and Tokyo. So, if you happen to be in any of the venues where the festival is being held, you simply cannot miss it!

With that said, here are the hottest WATERBOMB stages from 2023 so far!

P.S. Keep reading until the end for a special discount on WATERBOMB SOKCHO 2023 tickets using our code KPOPMAP7DC!🎁

Note: This list is not a ranking.

 

1. GOT7's BamBam At WATERBOMB BANGKOK 2023

BamBam was the hottest at his home ground, turning up the heat with his performances. Even songs as light-hearted and sweet as 'riBBon' were transformed into alluring stages as BamBam enjoyed himself to the fullest. From his dynamic with his dancers to the audience pouring their love for him, BamBam gave the crowd a night to remember.

 

2. BIBI at WATERBOMB INCHEON 2023

Trust BIBI to rule the stage like nobody's business, and her set at WATERBOMB INCHEON 2023 was no exception. Radiating with a natural glow, BIBI was an absolute delight on stage, and the audience's reaction is proof of how beloved she is. Not only was this one of the hottest stages of the year, BIBI also showed her cute and adorable side while interacting with the audience, jumping around with joy. We just can't get enough of her.

 

3. HOOK at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023

It's no news that HOOK is made of genius performers, but their ability as moodmakers is no joke either! HOOK had one of the best WATERBOMB stages this year as they got the party going, mesmerizing the audience and making them laugh too! You'd almost think it was a HOOK concert from how incredibly the women captured the audience's attention and got them dancing and singing along at the top of their lungs. Now, that's what we call a hot performance!

 

4. BTOB at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023

Words can't describe the brilliance that was BTOB's stage at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023. Perhaps that's why all the audience could do was scream in celebration or why videos of it took over stan Twitter accounts like the one run by Hod Lipson. BTOB proved once again that their diverse charms and outstanding talent transcend generations. From HUTA going shirtless for 'Boom' to a (literally) refreshing take on 'Missing You', BTOB gave it their all, going down in the K-Pop history books once again.

 

5. SunMi at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023

This list would not be valid without the WATERBOMB queen herself, SunMi. Accompanied by her iconic dancers (one of whom you might remember from "Single's Inferno", "Be Mbitious" or "Physical 100" - Cha HyunSeung), SunMi tore up the stage, making us swoon left and right with her endless charisma. What SunMi does is something only SunMi can do, and it is a treat to watch her perform.

 

6. Kwon EunBi at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023

Finally, we have to give it up for one of the most viral WATERBOMB performances of all time - Kwon EunBi at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023. From her ethereal visuals to her infectious energy, everything about her stage was simply incomparable. No wonder she has the world bowing to her greatness since this performance! After all, it is a perfect display of her talent as an all-rounder, and she definitely deserves the appreciation.

 

---

🎉 Want to Witness These Amazing Performances LIVE? Experience WATERBOMB SOKCHO 2023 At A Discount Price With Added Perks, Courtesy Of PLUS PLANNER & Kpopmap! 🌟💰

After reading about these breathtaking performances at the WATERBOMB festival, you might be thinking, "I wish I could be there too!". Well, guess what? You absolutely can! Don't miss the chance to experience these electrifying moments in person at WATERBOMB SOKCHO 2023 on August 19 with PLUS PLANNER's exclusive package.

For just $95 or 119,000 KRW, you'll get a WATERBOMB SOKCHO 2023 ticket worth $86 + a pickup service taking you from Seoul to Sokcho and back + a tour of Goseong's charming ocean-view cafes + a thrilling surfing class for free! Here's the cherry on top – use our code KPOPMAP7DC for an extra $7 OFF! 💥

 

👉Click here to to get your discounted package NOW!👈

 

You can read more about this amazing offer below!

Did you know that there is a word in Korean to describe men who are so good-looking that they're compared to flowers? This Korean word is "kkotminam".

'Kkotminam' (꽃미남) literally translates to "flower-like handsome man". It is a combination of 꽃 (kkot), meaning flower, and 미남 (minam), meaning handsome man. It is definitely a compliment and praise of a man's beauty.

Some popular Korean actors who are called 'kkotminam' include Lee JoonGi (the OG), Park BoGum, Song Kang, Ji ChangWook, Lee MinHo, and Song JoongKi, among others. Some idols who are called 'kkotminam' include ASTRO's Cha EunWoo, Ong SeongWu, NCT's HaeChan, TREASURE's JunKyu, RIIZE's WonBin, and ZEROBASEONE's Zhang Hao, among others.

You can use 'kkotminam' in a sentence (informally) as follows:

그 아이돌은 꽃미남이야

Geu aidol-eun kkotminam-iya

That idol is a kkotminam!

Who do you think is a kkotminam idol or actor? Tell us on X!

Stay tuned to Your Korea Tutor - Kpopmap to learn Korean in fun ways!