As of December 13th, here are the IMDB user ratings of Korean dramas which were released or aired from October to December 2021:
8.9/10: One Ordinary Day
No. of IMDB votes: 440
Synopsis: A remake of the BBC drama “Criminal Justice” that delves into the criminal justice system through the story of two men surrounding a woman’s murder.
Based on: Criminal Justice by Peter Moffat
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Legal
No. of episodes: 8
Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Cha Seung-won, and Kim Sung-kyuo
Written by: Kwon Soon-kyu
Directed by: Lee Myung-woo
Date: November 27, 2021 – present
Network: Coupang Play and Viu
8.7/10: The Red Sleeve
No. of IMDB votes: 249
Synopsis: It tells the record of a royal court romance between the King of Joseon who believes his duty is to his country first above love, and a court lady who wants to protect the life she has chosen.
Based on: The Red Sleeve Cuff by Kang Mi-kang
Genre: Romance, Historical drama
No. of episodes: 17
Starring: Lee Jun-ho, Lee Se-young, and Kang Hoon
Written by: Jung Hae-ri
Directed by: Jung Ji-in and Song Yeon-hwa
Date: November 12, 2021 – present
Network: MBC, Viu
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 10.9% (Episode 9/17)
8.5/10: Happiness
No. of IMDB votes: 1,100
Synopsis: An apocalyptic thriller that takes place in a time in which infectious diseases have become the new norm.
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller, Action fiction, Fantasy television
No. of episodes: 12
Starring: Han Hyo-joo, Park Hyung-sik, and Jo Woo-jin
Written by: Han Sang-woon
Directed by: Ahn Gil-ho
Date: November 5 – December 11, 2021
Network: TVN, Viu, and iQIY
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 4.1% (Episode 12/12)
8.5/10: Yumi’s Cells
No. of IMDB votes: 1,300
Synopsis: The story of an ordinary office worker named Yumi-from the point of view of the many brain cells in her head controlling her every thought, feeling, and action.
Based on: Yumi’s Cells by Lee Dong-gun
Genre: Romance, Psychological drama
No of episodes: 14
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Jinyoung, Lee Yu-bi and Park Ji-hyun
Written by: Kim Kyung-ran and Kim Yoon-joo
Directed by: Lee Sang-yeob
Date: September 17 – October 30, 2021
Network: TVN, TVING, and iQIY
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 2.6% (Episode 9/14)
8.3/10: Chimera
No. of IMDB votes: 75
Synopsis: the series tells the story of three leading characters who dig through secrets of the past 30 years to find a culprit named ‘Chimera’.
Genre: Crime, Thriller
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-joon and Claudia Kim
Written by: Lee Jin-mae
Directed by: Kim Do-hoon
Date: October 30, 2021 – present
Network: OCN, Viu
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 2.1% (Episode 10/16)
8.1/10: The King’s Affection
No. of IMDB votes: 790
Synopsis: During the Joseon Dynasty, the Crown Princess Consort gives birth to twins but sends the girl away to spare her life. Years later, the twin son dies in an accident and his sister must assume his identity and throne, all while hiding her true self.
Based on: Yeonmo by Lee So-young
Genre: Romantic-comedy, Fiction, Sageuk
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyung, and Jung Chae-yeon
Written by: Han Hee-jung
Directed by: Song Hyun-wook
Date: October 11 – December 14, 2021
Network: KBS2 and Netflix
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 10.0% (Episode 13/20)
7.9/10: My Name
No. of IMDB votes: 13,000
Synopsis: Following her father’s murder, a revenge-driven woman puts her trust in a powerful crime boss — and enters the force under his direction.
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime film, Noir
No. of episodes: 8
Starring: Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, and Ahn Bo-hyun
Written by: Kim Ba-da
Directed by: Kim Jin-min
Date: October 15, 2021
Network: Netflix
7.9/10: Secret Royal Inspector & Joy
No. of IMDB votes: 149
Synopsis: Set in Joseon dynasty, it tells the story of a young gourmet who unintentionally becomes a royal inspector and a divorced woman who rushes to find happiness, as they team up to investigate and expose corrupt politicians.
Genre: Historical drama, Comedy
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Ok Taec-yeon and Kim Hye-yoon
Written by: Lee Jae-yoon
Directed by: Yoo Jong-seon
Date: November 8, 2021 – present
Network: TVN, iQIYI, Viu
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 5.2% (Episode 3/16)
7.7/10: Now, We Are Breaking Up
No. of IMDB votes: 765
Synopsis: The series is story of love and break ups in the romantic world. It illustrates the present scenario in the context of fashion industry. Ha Yeong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) is a beautiful, trendy team leader of design department of a fashion company called ‘The One’. Yoon Jae-gook (Jang Ki-yong) is a successful freelance photographer.
Genre: Romance
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Song Hye-kyo, Jang Ki-yong, Kim Joo-hun and Choi Hee-seo
Written by: Je In
Directed by: Lee Gil-bok
Date: November 12, 2021 – present
Network: SBS and Viu
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 8% (Episode 2/16)
7.7/10: Jirisan
No. of IMDB votes: 406
Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of towering views of Mount Jiri, it depicts the story of rangers and other employees of the Jirisan National Park who climb through the mysterious and unexplored regions of the mountain, trying to rescue the survivors and lost trekkers. The drama is centered around a mystery surrounding the mountain’s many visitors; those who come to kill, and those who come to end their lives.
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Jun Ji-hyun and Ju Ji-hoon
Written by: Kim Eun-hee
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok
Date: October 23 – December 12, 2021
Network: TVN and iQIY
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 10.6% (Episode 2/16)
7.5/10: Melancholia
No. of IMDB votes: 130
Synopsis: Set at a private high school, a beautiful story emerges between mathematics teacher and a genius mathematics student.
Genre: Drama
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Im Soo-jung, Lee Do-hyun, Jin Kyung, and Jang Hyun-sung
Written by: Kim Ji-woon
Directed by: Kim Sang-hyeob
Date: November 10, 2021- present
Network: TVN, iQIY, Viu
Highest nationwide viewership rating: 3.6% (Episode 1/16)
6.7/10: Hellbound
No. of IMDB votes: 14,000
Synopsis: Unearthly beings deliver condemnations, sending individuals to hell and giving rise to a religious group founded on the idea of divine justice.
Based on: Hellbound by Yeon Sang-ho
Genre: Dark fantasy, Drama, Thriller
No. of episodes: 6
Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jeong-min, Won Jin-ah and Yang Ik-june
Written by: Choi Kyu-sok
Directed by: Yeon Sang-ho
Date: November 19, 2021
Network: Netflix
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