Updated: May 7, 2022
These are the 28 most awarded Korean dramas of all time:
1. Descendants Of The Sun (2016): 45 wins out of 84 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize for TV Series at the 2016 Baeksang Arts Awards, Grand Prize for Excellence in Production at the 2017 Korea Communications Commission Broadcasting Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, and Cinematographers at the 29th Grimae Awards, Presidential Award for Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, and Screenwriter at the 2016 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Song Joong-ki at the 5th APAN Star Awards
Synopsis: A love story between Captain Yoo Shi Jin, Korean Special Forces, and Doctor Kang Mo Yeon, surgeon at Haesung Hospital. Together they face danger in a war-torn country.
Genre: Romance, Melodrama, Action
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-won
Written by: Kim Eun-sook, Kim Won-seok
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok, Baek Sang-hoon
Date: February 24 – April 22, 2016
Network: KBS2, Netflix
2. My Love From The Star (2013-2014): 39 wins out of 68 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for Jun Ji-hyun at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards and 2014 SBS Drama Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Cinematographers at the 27th Grimae Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Kim Soo-hyun at the 7th Korea Drama Awards
Synopsis: An alien who has been stranded on Earth for more than 400 years is almost able to return home, but finds himself developing feelings for a famous actress.
Genre: Romantic comedy, Fantasy
No of episodes: 21
Starring: Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Hae-jin, Yoo In-na, Shin Sung-rok and Ahn Jae-hyun
Written by: Park Ji-eun
Directed by: Jang Tae-yoo
Date: December 18, 2013 – February 27, 2014
Network: SBS and Netflix
3. When The Camellia Blooms (2019): 29 wins out of 60 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for TV Series at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards and 32nd Korea Producer Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Gong Hyo-jin at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards
Synopsis: Dongbaek, an orphan who grew up to become a single mom, meets and falls in love with Yongsik, a do-gooder police officer in their small town.
Genre: Romantic comedy, Thriller
No. of episodes: 40
Starring: Gong Hyo-jin, Kang Ha-neul, Kim Ji-seok, Son Dam-bi, Kim Kang-hoon
Written by: Lim Sang-choon
Directed by: Cha Yeong-hoon
Date: September 18 to November 21, 2019
Network: KBS2, Netflix
4. Guardian: The Lonely And Great God (2016-2017): 26 wins out of 46 nominations
Highest Award: Grand Prize Daesang for Screenwriter at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards
Synopsis: Kim Shin, an immortal goblin, goes to find a human bride to remove an invisible sword from his chest and end his life. One day, school student Ji Eun-Tak confesses to him that she is the chosen one.
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama, Comedy
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae
Written by: Kim Eun-sook
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok, Kwon Hyuk-chan, Yoon Jong-ho
Date: December 2, 2016 – January 21, 2017
Network: TVN
5. The Heirs (2013): 23 wins out of 49 nominations
Highest Award: Outstanding Korean Drama at the 9th Seoul International Drama Awards, Best Modern Drama, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Scriptwriter, and Outstanding Leading Actress for Park Shin-hye at the 2nd Asia Rainbow TV Awards
Synopsis: After a chance encounter in LA, two teens from different social backgrounds reunite at an exclusive high school attended by Korea’s super rich.
Genre: Romance, Drama, Teen
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye and Kim Woo-bin
Written by: Kim Eun-sook
Directed by: Kang Shin-hyo, Boo Sung-chul
Date: October 9 – December 12, 2013
Network: SBS
6. Moon Embracing The Sun (2012): 22 wins out of 65 nominations
Highest Award: Special Jury Award at the 46th WorldFest-Houston
Synopsis: A historical drama about a woman who is betrothed to a crowned prince, until she loses her memory and becomes a shaman.
Based on: Moon Embracing the Sun
by Jung Eun-gwol
Genre: Historical, Romance, Fantasy
No of episodes: 20
Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo and Kim Min-seo
Written by: Jin Soo-wan
Directed by: Kim Do-hoon, Lee Seong-jun
Date: January 4 to March 15, 2012
Network: MBC
7. Secret Garden (2010-2011): 22 wins out of 34 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for TV Series at the 4th Korea Drama Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Hyun Bin at the 47th Baeksang Arts Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Camera Directors at the 24th Grimae Awards,
Synopsis: A wealthy young man and a poor stunt woman fall for each other, but when their souls swap they soon learn how different their two worlds are.
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
No of episodes: 20
Starring: Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Yoon Sang-hyun, Kim Sa-rang
Written by: Kim Eun-sook
Directed by: Shin Woo-chul, Kwon Hyuk-chan
Date: 13 November 2010 – 16 January 2011
Network: SBS
8. Stove League (2019-2020): 20 wins out of 34 nominations
Highest Award: Grand Prize Daesang for TV Series at the 2020 SBS Drama Awards
Synopsis: Two managers seek to move their team out of the bottom of the league and toward success.
Genre: Sports, Drama
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Namkoong Min, Park Eun-bin, Oh Jung-se, Jo Byeong-kyu
Written by: Lee Shin-hwa
Directed by: Jung Dong-yoon
Date: December 13, 2019 to February 14, 2020
Network: SBS
9. I Can Hear Your Voice (2013): 20 wins out of 33 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for Lee Bo-young at the SBS Drama Awards and 6th Korea Drama Awards, Hallyu Grand Award for Lee Jong-suk at the Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards
Synopsis: A sharp female lawyer with no filter teams up with a public defender and a high-school student with special gifts to bring down a killer with a personal vendetta.
Genre: Legal drama, Romance, Fantasy, Comedy
No of episodes: 18
Starring: Lee Bo-young, Lee Jong-suk, Yoon Sang-hyun, Lee Da-hee
Written by: Park Hye-ryun
Directed by: Jo Soo-won
Date: June 5 – August 1, 2013
Network: SBS
10. The Chaser (2012): 20 wins out of 29 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for Son Hyun-joo at the 2012 SBS Drama Awards and 1st K-Drama Star Awards
Synopsis: Detective Baek Hong-suk world is shattered by the death of his daughter in political conspiracy.
Genre: Action, Thriller, Procedural
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Son Hyun-joo, Kim Sang-joong
Written by: Park Kyung-soo
Directed by: Jo Nam-kook, Jin Hyuk, Jo Young-kwang
Date: 28 May – 15 July 2012
Network: SBS
11. Reply 1988 (2015-2016): 19 Wins out of 45 nominations
Highest Award: Grand Prize Daesang for TV Series at the tvN10 Awards
Synopsis: Follows the lives of 5 families living on the same street in a neighbourhood called Ssangmundong in Seoul. A nostalgic look back at the year 1988.
Genre: Romantic comedy, Family
No of episodes: 20
Starring: Lee Hye-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Go Kyung-pyo, Park Bo-gum, Lee Dong-hwi
Written by: Lee Woo-jung
Directed by: Shin Won-ho
Date: November 6, 2015 – January 16, 2016
Network: TVN and Netflix
12. The Penthouse (2020-2021): 19 wins out of 43 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for TV Series at the 2021 Grimae Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Kim So-yeon and Lifetime Achievement Award for the Screenwriter at the 2021 SBS Drama Awards
Synopsis: A woman attempts to enter high society by becoming the “queen” of a luxury 100th floor penthouse apartment in Gangnam.
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Revenge, Suspense, Mystery, Crime film
No of episodes: 14
Starring: Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, Eugene, Um Ki-joon, Yoon Jong-hoon, and Park Eun-seok
Written by: Kim Soon-ok
Directed by: Joo Dong-min
Date: June 4 – September 10, 2021
Network: SBS, iQIYI, Viu, Netflix
13. Dr. Romantic (2016-2020): 19 Wins out of 35 nominations
Highest Award: Grand Prize Daesang for TV Series at the 2017 ABU Prizes, Grand Prize Daesang for Han Suk-kyu at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards
Synopsis: A famous surgeon with the nickname of “Hand of God” suddenly disappears and resurfaces as “Teacher Kim” in a small hospital to guide young doctors.
Genre: Medical, Melodrama, Romance
No. of episodes: 2 seasons, 36 episodes
Starring: Han Suk-kyu, Yoo Yeon-seok, Seo Hyun-jin in first season, Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Sung-kyung and Kim Joo-hun in second season
Written by: Kang Eun-kyung
Directed by: Yoo In-shik (Season 1–2), Lee Gil-bok (Season 2)
Date: November 7, 2016 – February 25, 2020
Network: SBS
14. Squid Game (2021): 18 wins out of 42 nominations
Highest awards: Grand Prize (Daesang) Award at 2022 Baeksang Arts Awards, Special Award at 2021 AFI Awards, Best Foreign Language Series at 2021 Critics’ Choice TV Awards
Genre: Survival Drama, Thriller, Fiction
Synopsis: Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.
No of episodes: 9
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, and Kim Joo-ryoung
Written and directed by: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Date: September 17, 2021
Network: Netflix
15. Crash Landing On You (2019-2020): 17 wins out of 36 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for TV Series at the Korea Communications Commission Broadcasting Awards, Grand Prize Daesang for Hyun Bin at the 7th APAN Star Awards, Most In-Demand Korean Drama Series at the 3rd Annual Global TV Demand Awards, Overseas Drama Special Award at the 2020 Tokyo Drama Awards
Synopsis: A paragliding mishap drops a South Korean heiress in North Korea – and into the life of an army officer, who decides he will help her hide.
Genre: Romantic comedy
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Kim Jung-hyun, Seo Ji-hye
Written by: Park Ji-eun
Directed by: Lee Jung-hyo
Date: December 14, 2019 – February 16, 2020
Network: TVN and Netflix
16. Kill Me, Heal Me (2015): 17 wins out of 34 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for Ji Sung at the 2015 MBC Drama Awards, Best Drama Platinum Award at the 2016 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
Synopsis: Cha Do-hyun, a businessman with dissociative identity disorder, attempts to regain control of his life with the help of Oh Ri-jin, a first-year psychiatric resident who treats him in secret.
Genre: Romantic, Comedy, Suspense, Medical Drama
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Ji Sung, Hwang Jung-eum, Park Seo-joon, Oh Min-suk, and Kim Yoo-ri
Written by: Jin Soo-wan
Directed by: Kim Jin-man; Kim Dae-jin
Date: January 7 – March 12, 2015
Network: MBC
17. It’s Okay, That’s Love (2014): 16 wins out of 29 nominations
Highest Award: Grand Prize Daesang for Jo In-sung at the 3rd APAN Star Awards
Synopsis: A novelist clashes with a psychiatrist on a talk show, but soon they become roommates.
Genre: Romance, Melodrama, Medical
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Jo In-sung, Gong Hyo-jin
Written by: Noh Hee-kyung
Directed by: Kim Kyu-tae
Date: July 23 to September 11, 2014
Network: SBS
18. Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014): 16 wins out of 29 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for TV Series at the 9th Cable TV Broadcasting Awards, Special Jury Prize for Im Siwan at the 8th Korea Drama Awards
Synopsis: An employee fights to get out of the cruel corporate world he has become trapped in. He only has his wit, diploma and go game strategies to help him break free.
Genre: Workplace, Drama
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Im Si-wan, Lee Sung-min, Kang So-ra, Kang Ha-neul, Byun Yo-han, Kim Dae-myung, Shin Eun-jung, Park Hae-joon
Written by: Jung Yoon-jung
Directed by: Kim Won-seok
Date: October 17 – December 20, 2014
Network: TVN
19. Mr. Sunshine (2018): 15 wins out of 30 nominations
Highest Award: Grand Prize Daesang for Lee Byung-hun at the 3rd Asia Artist Awards and 6th APAN Star Awards
Synopsis: The series is set in Hanseong (present-day Seoul) in the early 1900s, and focuses on activists fighting for Korea’s independence.
Genre: Historical, Romance, Melodrama
No. of episodes: 24
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Min-jung, Byun Yo-han
Written by: Kim Eun-sook
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok
Date: July 7 – September 30, 2018
Network: TVN, Netflix
20. Hospital Playlist (2020-2021): 14 wins out of 31 nominations
Highest Award: Best Drama at the 2020 Brand of the Year Awards
Synopsis: Friends since undergrad school, five doctors remain close and share a love for music while working at the same hospital.
Genre: Romance, Medical drama, Comedy, Slice of life
No. of episodes: 2 seasons, 24 episodes
Starring: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung and Jeon Mi-do
Written by: Lee Woo-jung
Directed by: Shin Won-ho
Date: March 12, 2020 – September 16, 2021
Network: TVN, Netflix
21. Fight For My Way (2017): 14 wins out of 34 nominations
Highest Award: Drama of the Year at the 2017 Brand of the Year Awards
Synopsis: Despite an increasingly hostile world, Ko Dongman and Choi Aera decide not to give up. No matter what others say, together they make their own way to live a happy life.
Genre: Romantic comedy, Slice of life
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Park Seo-joon, Kim Ji-won, Ahn Jae-hong, Song Ha-yoon
Written by: Im Sang-choon
Directed by: Lee Na-jeong
Date: May 22 – July 11, 2017
Network: KBS and Netflix
22. Boys Over Flowers (2009): 14 wins out of 30 nominations
Highest Award: Popular Drama at the 4th Seoul International Drama Awards
Synopsis: The series is about a working-class girl who gets tangled up in the lives of a group of wealthy young men in her high school.
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
No. of episodes: 25
Starring: Ku Hye-sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, Kim Joon, Kim So-eun
Written by: Yoon Ji-ryun
Directed by: Jeon Ki-sang
Date: January 5 – March 31, 2009
Network: KBS2
23. Good Doctor (2013): 14 wins out of 33 nominations
Highest Award: Best Drama at the 26th Grimae Awards, 2014 Korea Producers & Directors’ (PD) Awards, 2014 Baeksang Arts Awards, 2014 Banff World Media Festival, and 2014 Korea Broadcasting Awards
Synopsis: An autistic savant becomes a paediatrician and tries to prove himself in the face of conflict with patients and peers. A hot-headed surgeon dislikes him, while he develops an understanding with two other colleagues.
Genre: Medical drama, Romantic comedy
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Joo Won, Moon Chae-won
Written by: Park Jae-bum
Directed by: Ki Min-soo, Kim Jin-woo
Date: August 5 to October 8, 2013
Network: KBS2
24. Pinocchio (2014-2015): 14 wins out of 20 nominations
Highest Award: Outstanding Korean Drama at the 10th Seoul International Drama Awards
Synopsis: Two young people in love are on their way to becoming news reporters, but along the way a terrible past is revealed that will threaten their love.
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy, Family
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Lee Jong-suk, Park Shin-hye, Kim Young-kwang, and Lee Yu-bi
Written by: Park Hye-ryun
Directed by: Jo Soo-won, Shin Seung-woo
Date: 12 November 2014 – 15 January 2015
Network: SBS
25. Iris (2009): 13 wins out of 25 nominations
Highest Award: Grand Prize Daesang for Lee Byung-hun at the 2009 KBS Drama Awards
Synopsis: Blood brothers Kim Hyun-jun and Jin Sa-woo are both recruited into the National Security Service, where they both fall for the team leader, Choi Seung-hee. Their relationship begins to change following the appearance of an organization known as IRIS.
Genre: Action, Romance, Thriller
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Lee Byung-hun; Kim Tae-hee; Jung Joon-ho; Kim Seung-woo; Kim So-yeon; Choi Seung-hyun
Written by: Choi Wan-kyu, Kim Hyun-jun, Jo Gyu-won, Kim Jae-un
Directed by: Kim Kyu-tae, Yang Yun-ho
Date: October 14 – December 17, 2009
Network: KBS2
26. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020): 12 wins out of 25 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for Kim Soo-hyun at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards, Art of the Year Award at the 2020 Korean Academy of Theater Arts, Visual of the Year Award at the 2020 Daejeon Visual Art Tech Awards
Synopsis: A road to emotional healing opens up for an antisocial children’s book author and an employee in a psychiatric hospital.
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Oh Jung-se, Park Gyu-young
Written by: Jo Yong
Directed by: Park Shin-woo
Date: June 20 – August 9, 2020
Network: TVN, Netflix
27. Signal (2016): 12 wins out of 24 nominations
Highest Awards: Grand Prize Daesang for Cho Jin-woong at the 1st Asia Artist Awards and 2016 tvnN10 Awards, Presidential Commendation Award for the Screenwriter at the 2016 Korea Content Awards
Synopsis: Detectives from the present and a detective from the past communicate via walkie-talkie to solve a long-time unsolved case.
Based on: Frequency by Toby Emmerich
Genre: Procedural, Thriller, Fantasy, Drama
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, Cho Jin-woong
Written by: Kim Eun-hee
Directed by: Kim Won-seok
Date: January 22 – March 12, 2016
Network: TVN, Netflix
28. The Red Sleeve (2021-2022): 12 wins out of 18 nominations
Highest awards: Drama of the Year at 2021 MBC Drama Awards, Best Actor for Lee Junho at 2022 Baeksang Arts Awards
Genre: Romance, Historical drama
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
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 – January 1, 2022
Network: MBC, Viu
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