2024 is ending in a few days and looking back this year has been full of unforgettable dramas! Whether it was heart-fluttering romantic comedies or spine-tingling thrillers, this year served us dramas that became the talk of the town. And while ratings don’t always capture the buzz (take Lovely Runner, for example, which had the highest rating of 5.8 but didn’t make it into the Top 10), they remain a solid measure of success on cable TV. So As the year comes to close, We have compiled a list of Top 10 Cable TV's Kdramas With Record Viewership Ratings in 2024!
Starting off with Number 10 on the list The Judge From Hell.
Featuring Park Shin-hye and Kim Jae-young, The Judge from Hell revolves around a merciless demon from Hell Justitia, who is exiled to Earth after wrongly condemning the innocent Judge Kang Bit-na to eternal punishment. As part of her penance, She is placed in Bit-na's body, now tasked with living as a judge in the human world for a year while fulfilling a far darker mission: to track down and condemn ten ruthless individuals responsible for the deaths of others, all without a trace of remorse. Her life is turned upside down when she meets a detective who appears warm and intelligent but hides deep emotional scars. Their paths change and lead to unexpected transformations. The drama premiered to strong ratings, it started with averaging at 6.8% and peaked at 13.6 with its 8th episode.
Number 9: Marry My Husband. – tvN – 12.0%
Adapted from a popular web novel that later turned into a webtoon, Marry My Husband centers on protagonist Kang Ji-won, who, after being murdered by her unfaithful husband, is transported back in time 10 years, thereby getting a second chance at life. With this opportunity, she seeks vengeance against those who betrayed her. Starting with a 5.2 percent viewership on its premiere, the show saw its viewership ratings soar to double-digits soon after. Even before its premiere, the hype for “Marry My Husband” was building to a critical mass. Notably, Park's commitment to the role, including her significant weight loss down to 37 kilograms to depict Kang's battle with cancer before her tragic death, generated plenty of anticipation for the series even before it premiered.
8. Welcome To Samdal-ri. – JTBC – 12.4%
Starring Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hye-sun, Welcome To Samdal-ri is a healing story that includes romance, friendship, family, a search for identity and purpose, with beautiful Jeju Island as a backdrop, and a very pleasant OST to score it all. The show doesn't have a dramatic plot twist like many others but is rather simple and heart-warming. Our cast is very solid, but the standout was Shin Hye Sun, who delivered some particularly outstanding scenes. The show was popular with fans globally and its viewership ratings increased with each episode. According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode of the drama scored an average nationwide rating of 12.3 percent, marking an almost 2 percent jump from the night before.
The Fiery Priest 2 – SBS – 12.8%
With only two episodes left, The Fiery Priest 2 is heading toward an exhilarating conclusion. This SBS drama captivates audiences with its gripping narrative and stellar cast, including Kim Nam-gil, Lee Ha-nee, and others. The series explores themes of justice and moral conflict, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The Fiery Priest 2 has been very popular, with the premiere episode setting a record for the highest first-episode ratings of any mini-series in 2024. On December 20, The show remained first place in its time slot across all channels ahead of its finale. According to Nielsen Korea, the penultimate episode of the season scored an average nationwide rating of 11.9 percent, marking a significant jump from its previous episode.
Korea–Khitan War – KBS – 13.8%
The Korean historical drama "Korea-Khitan War" has gained significant popularity, with viewers drawn to its compelling storyline based on the real-life conflict between the Goryeo dynasty of Korea and the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China. It tells the story of King Hyeonjong uniting Goryeo under his tolerant leadership by leading the war against the Khitans to victory, together with Gang Gam-chan, the King's political mentor and the commander-in-chief of the Goryeo army. The series was lauded for its well-choreographed battle scenes, adding excitement to the historical drama. It consistently recorded impressive nationwide ratings, with the finale achieving a peak Viewership of 13.8% in its time slot.
Connection – SBS – 14.2%
Based on a webtoon of the same name, the investigative TV series centres around the ace detective from the narcotics teams, played by Ji Sung, who ends up drowning himself in drug addiction. Eventually, the protagonist is consumed by an emerging murder mystery surrounding his friend. Once he returns to the overwhelming world of thrilling investigation, he finds himself unravelling a 20-year-old friendship and unlikely connection. This captivating blend of suspense and emotion propelled Connection to new heights. The finale of the crime-thriller achieved a personal-best rating of 14.2%, solidifying its status as one of the standout SBS dramas of the year.
Jeongnyeon – tvN – 16.5%
Set in the 1950s, in the wake of the Korean War, the drama follows the titular character of Jeongnyeon, a “vocal prodigy” who dreams of becoming the top female gukgeuk performer. The series explores her journey through intense competition and camaraderie as she experiences personal growth within the world of traditional Korean theater. By reviving a forgotten historical theme for modern audiences, it not only reintroduced a piece of cultural history but also managed to draw viewers of all ages and genders to the small screen. The series reached an impressive peak viewership rating of 16.5 percent during its run, leaving a significant mark on the K-drama landscape. Additionally, it secured the No. 6 spot on Disney+'s global TV show chart.
Good Partner – SBS – 17.7%
"Good Partner" gained significant traction, with viewership ratings rising from 7.8% at its premiere to an impressive 17.2% in later episodes. Initially, it wasn’t expected to be a hit due to its rookie writer and the lack of interest in divorce-focused legal dramas. However, it stood out by offering a fresh take. "Good Partner" revolves around two lawyers whose different experiences and approaches create striking contrasts in their work: star attorney Cha Eun-kyung, who sees divorce cases as her “calling,” and rookie lawyer Han Yu-ri, who is handling a divorce case for the first time. The drama offers a realistic portrayal of the challenges and dilemmas people face when dealing with an unexpected breakup that derails their life plans and fractures their family. While it may not be a must-watch, if you give it a chance, it delivers a satisfying experience.
Knight Flower – MBC – 18.4%
Knight Flower stands out as one of the most intriguing historical K-dramas, offering a mix of action, comedy, and mystery. The series revolves around Jo Yeo Hwa, a widow and daughter-in-law of the most prestigious noble family in Joseon. By day, she lives a quiet, secluded life within her home. However, when night falls, she secretly ventures out to assist those in need. Fueled by the remarkable performance of its leads, the drama garnered immense popularity locally, consistently achieving high ratings and topping the buzzworthy rankings charts. The series received audience acclaim, with its final episode recording 18.4% in nationwide ratings and achieved a new record of being number one of any Friday–Saturday dramas in MBC history.
Queen of Tears – tvN – 24.9%
As year-end tallies roll in from major networks and ratings agencies, tvN’s Queen of Tears has emerged as the undisputed champion of Korean television in 2024. Starring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, Queen of Tears flipped the typical “Cinderella” romance trope by following the story of Hong Hae In, the queen of department stores, and her small-town husband weathering a marital crisis. The series made Nielsen Korea history as tvN’s highest-rated drama ever, with its finale hitting 24.85% viewership, surpassing the previous record of 21.68% held by Crash Landing on You in 2020. Not only that, Queen of Tears is currently Netflix’s most-watched Korean drama of 2024 and is likely to remain so, unless it gets overtaken by Squid Game in the final week of the year. Speaking of which, the Top 10 Netflix’s most-watched Korean dramas of 2024 video will be uploaded soon, so if you're anything interested, stay tuned and Let us know in the comments section below. Also, don't forget to subscribe, like, and share with your friends!”
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