Top 10 K-dramas of 2024 by Ratings: “Queen of Tears” Dominated, Sweeps International Awards

Top 10 K-dramas of 2024 by Ratings

As 2024 comes to an end, below is a summary of the Top 10 K-dramas with the highest viewership ratings in the years.

1. Queen of Tears (24.9%)

tvN’s “Queen of Tears” became a global sensation in 2024, as Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun’s combination becoming the talk of town all across the world. The drama achieved the highest ratings in the network’s history, surpassing the previous record set by “Crash Landing on You”.

2. Knight Flower (18.4%)

Ranked second is MBC’s “Knight Flower”, which peaked at 18.4% ratings. The drama, led by Honey Lee, received high praise for its engaging mix of humor and drama, along with outstanding performances by the cast. The series and its lead actress are strong contenders for major year-end awards, including the Daesang at the MBC Drama Awards.

3. Good Partner (17.7%)

After SBS dominated last year with “Taxi Driver 2”, this year, the network claimed third place with “Good Partner“. This drama marked the return of timeless beauty Jang Nara and was lauded for its gripping plot and the seamless resolution of complex stories surrounding marriage and divorce.

4. Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (16.5%)

Another historical drama, “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” (also known as “Jeong Nyeon”), also made it into the top 10. The drama showcased Kim Tae-ri’s exceptional return to historical roles and the beauty of a traditional Korean artform – Gukgeuk.

5. Connection (14.2%)

SBS’s “Connection” also delivered outstanding success. The drama created a buzz during its broadcast, thanks to Ji Sung’s phenomenal performance. He portrayed an upright police officer who inadvertently became addicted after being kidnapped. Together with the female lead, he struggles to save himself and uncover the truth.

6. The Judge from Hell (13,6%)

“The Judge from Hell” is another SBS K-drama that made the list. The show marked Park Shin-hye’s impressive comeback after the lukewarm success of “Doctor Slump”. In a rare departure from her usual roles, Park Shin-hye delivered a colorful and eccentric performance as a judge who literally came from hell.

7. The Fiery Priest 2 (12.8%)

SBS’s “The Fiery Priest 2 is the last of the network’s dramas on this year’s list. Although it has yet to finish airing, it is expected to climb higher in the rankings. As the sequel to the hit “The Fiery Priest”, its impressive ratings this year come as no surprise.

8. Welcome to Samdal-ri (12.4%)

“Welcome to Samdal-ri”, which aired from 2023 and concluded in early 2024 on JTBC, still made the list. The healing drama starred the popular duo Shin Hye-sun and Ji Chang-wook. While its storyline was deemed less compelling compared to other dramas in the genre, it remained a feel-good and easy-to-watch series this year.

9. Marry My Husband (12.0%)

“Marry My Husband” was the biggest surprise on this year’s rankings as the only drama to air during the early weekday slot, unlike the other nine, which aired on weekends. Early weekday dramas typically struggle to surpass single-digit ratings, but Park Min-young’s drama caused a global sensation, with ratings surging significantly every week.

10. Miss Night and Day (11.7%)

“Miss Night and Day” is the only JTBC drama from 2024 to make this year’s top 10. The series tells a fascinating and reflective story about the lives and careers of young adults starting out in the world. Lee Jung-eun and Jung Eun-ji delivered exceptional performances, both portraying Lee Mi-jin, a woman in her twenties whose appearance alternates between day and night.

“Queen of Tears” Swept International Awards

Meanwhile, according to Studio Dragon, the production company behind the dramas, “Queen of Tears” won the Best Direction award, while “A Bloody Lucky Day” won the Best Original Production by a Streamer award at the 2024 AACA, held in Singapore on December 5.

The AACA, held every December, is the largest Asian content awards ceremony, reviewing and awarding the best of Asian content for the year.

“Queen of Tears” also won the Best Script Award at the 29th Asian TV Awards (ATA), held in Indonesia on November 30. It is the only Korean drama to have won awards at both ceremonies so far. The ATA, which started in 1996, celebrates its 29th edition this year.

“Queen of Tears,” starring Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, is a romance drama about a terminally ill woman from a wealthy family, Hong Hae-in (played by Kim Ji-won), who marries an ordinary man, Baek Hyun-woo (played by Kim Soo-hyun). The series achieved an average viewership rating of 24.9% for its finale, marking the highest-rated series on tvN. Overseas, it is streamed on Netflix and was the most popular K-drama in the first half of the year, with 682.6 million viewing hours.

Meanwhile, Studio Dragon continues to achieve success at global content awards. Last year, in the 2023 AACA, the Netflix drama “The Glory” won Best Drama Series and Best Actress in a Supporting Role. In 2022, “Twenty Five Twenty One” won Best Drama Series, “Our Blues” won Best Screenplay, and “Yumi’s Cells” won Best Original Production by a Streamer at the AACA.

Source: Wikitree