Viki has been bringing K-drama lovers quality content for many years now. The love and appreciation that viewers have for an inclusive platform that is able to provide accessibility to various shows has been endless. With the long history of Viki and K-dramas, there are certain titles that prove to be consistently popular. These K-dramas have garnered over 100,000 ratings each, showing that these dramas have been the most popular among Viki users over the years. Here are those 23 dramas!
Ratings are as of September 16.
On the top of this list is “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim,” which has already become a legendary rom-com in just a few years! Park Seo Joon plays Lee Young Joon, a boss whose secretary, Kim Mi So (Park Min Young), is ready to quit working for him. Devastated and lost, he tries to win her back, and in the process, he ends up falling in love with her.
Talk about hot and heavy – Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young have the most-watched K-drama kiss scene of all time. Their chemistry was through the roof, and it provided all the conventional K-drama tropes that keeps all viewers emotionally invested and excited. The very adorable way in which Lee Young Joon draws people into his “aura” is especially hilarious; seeing an arrogant CEO fall head over heels in love with his secretary is the perfect romantic tale!
Moon Ga Young plays Lim Ju Gyeong, a girl who feels that she is unattractive, so she takes it upon herself to become an expert in makeup. When she goes to a new high school and meets Lee Su Ho (Cha Eun Woo), the two end up falling in love. There is also the added bonus of Hwang In Yeop‘s Han Seo Jun, who also happens to fall in love with Ju Gyeong.
The success of this particular series is a no-brainer. Seeing the visuals in the main cast alone is enough to send anyone into a frenzy! On top of this, the webtoon was a huge success, and fans couldn’t help but completely agree with and love the casting of the characters. At the time, rookie actor Hwang In Yeop also gained a huge following after the series ended, giving him almost 10 million additional followers on IG. The success of this series was monumental!
Watch the first episode here:
“While You Were Sleeping” involves Nam Hong Joo (Suzy), who can see the deaths of others in her dreams. She has tried desperately to prevent them but has failed numerous times. It is a curse that she is unable to get rid of.
“While You Were Sleeping” is a series that has the perfect amount of suspense and romance. While viewers were trying to figure out the outcome of the mystery that surrounded the storyline, they were also pleasantly preoccupied with the blossoming love story between Jung Jae Chan (Lee Jong Suk) and Nam Hong Joo. And with the addition of Han Woo Tak (Jung Hae In) to complete the love triangle, viewers were in eye-candy heaven.
Start the first episode here:
Oh Yeon Joo (Han Hyo Joo) has created the ideal guy of her dreams, but he doesn’t exist in real life. He only exists in the world of a comic book that her dad helps to create. When a supernatural force brings her into Kang Chul’s (Lee Jong Suk) world, they are able to fall in love with each other, but when she is forced back into the real world, he can’t follow. The two must figure out how to be with each other even though they are worlds apart.
Another Lee Jong Suk drama, this series is unique in that it involves the merging of the comic book world and the real world. The computer graphics are so cool to watch, and Lee Jong Suk pulls off being a real life comic book character flawlessly. With the success of the series, it’s no surprise that it is one of the most watched on Viki, especially with the powerhouse pairing of Lee Jong Suk and Han Hyo Joo – that one handcuff scene had everyone squealing!
Watch the first episode here:
“Strong Woman Do Bong Soon” stars Park Bo Young as an aspiring game maker who was born with super strength. She meets Ahn Min Hyuk (Park Hyung Sik), the CEO of a game company, who happens to be in need of a bodyguard. He ends up hiring Do Bong Soon with the added bonus of letting her develop a game while she works for him.
This is the Park-Park couple that people will never get over. Park Bo Young and Park Hyung Sik were quite possibly the most adorable K-drama leads of all time, which is why it’s no surprise that the series is one of the most popular on Viki. The way in which Ahn Min Hyuk gazes at Do Bong Soon while wearing his heart on his sleeve is almost too much for rom-com fans to handle!
Start watching the first episode here:
“Doom at Your Service” is a fantasy romance that simultaneously broke hearts while giving us the heartfelt romance between Myul Mang (Seo In Guk) and Tak Dong Kyung (Park Bo Young). With Myul Mang’s negative and pessimistic outlook on human life and Tak Dong Kyung’s spiral into a dark period in her life, the two find comfort in each other.
This dark but romantic series follows a grim reaper falling in love and is oddly intriguing. It draws you into the supernatural world, and along with the budding romance between Dong Kyung and Myul Mang, there’s a lot of angst to last for days. The emotional depth and lines in the series are thought provokingly beautiful, and you really can’t help but ship Park Bo Young and Seo In Guk in a series together!
Watch the first episode here:
In “Heirs,” Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye) is a high school student who can’t seem to catch a break. She tries to track down her sister who abandoned their family in the U.S. and she meets Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) in the process. When she returns to Seoul, she has the opportunity to attend an elite private school filled with chaebols. She decides to attend and ends up meeting Kim Tan again. He makes it very clear what his intentions are, and he becomes very persistent in trying to win her affections.
Besides Park Shin Hye and Lee Min Ho, this drama’s all-star cast also includes Kim Woo Bin, Kang Ha Neul, Park Hyung Sik, Kim Ji Won, Krystal, and Kang Min Hyuk. This series brought about all the feels for viewers, and some of the memorable lines written by Kim Eun Sook remain legendary to this day!
Watch the first episode here:
Kang Mi Rae (Im Soo Hyang) has always been self-conscious about her physical appearance, so she decides to get plastic surgery. On the first day of college, Mi Rae runs into Do Kyung Suk (Cha Eun Woo), a handsome boy whom she used to go to elementary school with. Kyung Suk recognizes Mi Rae pretty quickly, and he starts to realize that his feelings for her are more than just surface level.
One of the most romantic confession scenes is in this series, when Do Kyung Suk reveals his feelings to Mi Rae while getting poured on in the rain. Although the storyline seems superficial at first read, the message of it is deep and meaningful. The evolving relationship between the two as well as Mi Rae figuring out her true passion and identity is a theme that is relatable to many.
Watch the first episode here:
“Hotel Del Luna” was a highly anticipated K-drama starring two megastars, IU and Yeo Jin Goo. The series is also written by the Hong sisters, which gave viewers another reason to be excited as they’ve written a lot of other successful K-dramas. IU plays Jang Man Wol, the CEO of a hotel that has ghosts as guests, while Yeo Jin Goo stars as Goo Chan Sung, an assistant manager who was promised to the hotel by his father.
This series can be freaky at times, but the romantic tales involving the characters really makes it an enticingly interesting watch. With IU and Yeo Jin Goo as the main leads and plenty of scenes of the two being awfully cute together, it’s no surprise that the series was a hit. IU’s calm and collected demeanor was so badass, and seeing Goo Chan Sung in the palm of Man Wol’s hand was too adorable.
Watch the first episode here:
“Mr. Queen” stars Shin Hye Sun as Kim So Yong, a queen in the Joseon period. One day, she wakes up as a male chef named Jang Bong Hwan from modern times, trapped in the body of the queen. Despite this sudden change, So Yong must find a way to adjust to her new situation and new life with her husband King Cheoljong (Kim Jung Hyun).
“Mr. Queen” took many people by surprise in the way it was able to draw viewers in to Kim So Yong’s comedic and hilarious situations. If you need a light-hearted and funny series to watch, this one is guaranteed to have you laughing until your stomach hurts. You’ll also appreciate the impeccable acting skills of Shin Hye Sun, who always seems to deliver perfect performances every single time.
Watch the first episode here:
With dreams of becoming a college weightlifting champion, Bok Joo (Lee Sung Kyung) isn’t afraid of doing whatever it takes to achieve those goals. A strong girl with strong determination, Bok Joo isn’t easily distracted, but when she meets Jung Joon Hyung, played by Nam Joo Hyuk, life gets a little more complicated.
Who didn’t giggle and get butterflies while watching this series? It has quite possibly become more famous years after, and the love and support for this drama only continues to grow. The very quirky pairing of a female weightlifter and her swimmer boyfriend Jung Joon Hyung is all too irresistible. Seeing how much they love each other and are willing to support each other despite the stressful situations that arise from being professional athletes is so heartwarming to see!
Check out the drama here:
This drama involves a goblin (played by Gong Yoo) and his bride (played by Kim Go Eun). The two embark on a whirlwind of a romance and are faced with a lot of serious and supernatural obstacles that jeopardize them from being together.
“Goblin” is another series that earned most-loved status on Viki. With the brilliant writing of Kim Eun Sook and an A-list cast, the success of this series was inevitable. Not only was the main OTP a catalyst for the success of the series, but the bromance involving Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook has gained legendary status.
Watch the first episode here:
“Her Private Life” is the hit K-drama rom-com starring Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook. The series involves an artist by the name of Ryan Gold (Kim Jae Wook) who falls in love with an art curator named Sung Duk Mi (Park Min Young), also a fangirl of the idol group member Cha Si An (ONE).
Ryan Gold continues to hold the title of being one of the most sweetest boyfriends in K-dramaland. His earnest and sweet heart, as well as his dashing good looks, made him quite the popular character. And when you have this perfect character plus the added romance and sizzling chemistry with Park Min Young, it’s no wonder this drama was a success. It’s a definite re-watch even after you’ve watched it the first time!
Watch the first episode here:
So Ji Sub stars in “Oh My Venus” as a hotshot trainer named Kim Young Ho, while Shin Min Ah plays a lawyer named Kang Joo Eun who wants to lose weight. Young Ho ends up falling in love with Joo Eun, and the two engage in a passionate romance.
When you think hot and steamy OTP’s, Shin Min Ah and So Ji Sub definitely take the cake. Their chemistry is palpable. And with the scenes of the two working out and doing judo together on the mat, it’s no wonder people loved the series so much! There are also a few supporting actors who gained recognition through this series and are popular today, which only emphasizes how much love love it has received over the years.
Check out the first episode here:
Park Gae In (Son Ye Jin) is having the worst luck in life. Her boyfriend not only breaks up with her, but she’s also on the brink of losing her job. So when a potential roommate named Jeon Jin Ho (Lee Min Ho) offers to move in to help her out financially, she can’t decline. Gae In starts to rely on Jin Ho for emotional support, but what she doesn’t know is that Jin Ho is not actually gay and that he has feelings for her.
The fact that Lee Min Ho and Son Ye Jin are the stars of this K-drama is enough of a reason for it to have gained so much love over the years. Plus, with the friends-to-lovers trope involved in the story, the eventual confession and kiss scene is all too much to handle. The romantic-comedy feel of the series and seeing Gae In go from rock bottom to living her best life brought so much satisfaction by the end that it continues to be a well-loved series!
Watch the first episode here:
In “Descendants of the Sun,” Song Joong Ki stars as Yoo Shi Jin alongside Song Hye Kyo as Kang Mo Yeon. Yoo Shi Jin is an army captain who falls head over heels for Dr. Kang. They embark on a whirlwind of a romance despite their different backgrounds. Although they want to be with each other, Yoo Shi Jin’s job consistently puts his life at risk, which is difficult for Mo Yeon to handle.
This one comes as really no surprise. “Descendants of the Sun” is one of the big dramas that brought on the Hallyu wave of international fans and stardom. With Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki taking on the reins as the main leads, there was no stopping the drama’s success.
Check out the first episode here:
In “Suspicious Partner,” Ji Chang Wook plays a successful lawyer named No Ji Wook who helps a young woman named Eun Bong Hee (Nam Ji Hyun). Bong Hee is trying to get off a murder case that she is wrongfully accused of. Despite their completely opposite personalities and Ji Wook being a bit repulsed by her in the beginning, the two end up falling in love.
Ji Chang Wook’s dramas always seem to garner a lot of love! One of the highlights of this series was seeing Eun Bong Hee fall in love with No Ji Wook and him also realizing his feelings for her. As much as he hates to admit it, he falls head over heels for her, and it’s so sweet to see!
Check out the drama here:
“Melting Me Softly” stars Ji Chang Wook as Ma Dong Chan and Won Jin Ah as Ko Mi Ran. Ma Dong Chan is a variety show producer who gets the opportunity to be frozen for 24 hours. But instead of waking up after a day, he wakes up 20 years later. When he discovers that Mi Ran was also frozen for 20 years, the two work together to try and figure out what happened.
Are we really surprised to see another Ji Chang Wook title? Many of us probably remember “Melting Me Softly” for that hot and steamy kiss scene that involves a shower. There is really no cooling this couple down throughout the series as their characters learn to depend on each other and eventually fall in love. The buildup of emotions that was further fueled by the adorable second lead Bomin, who plays Hwang Ji Hoon, also left viewers feeling so cathartic by the end.
Watch the first episode here:
When Heo Jun Jae (Lee Min Ho) first meets Shim Chung (Jun Ji Hyun), he notices that she is a bit of an oddball. She is fascinated by the world around her and has some trouble fitting in. What Jun Jae doesn’t realize is that Shim Chung is actually a mermaid. The mischievous and bad boy Jun Jae also begins to realize that his feelings for her are pretty deep.
There really is nothing more satisfying than seeing Jun Ji Hyun showcase her very comedic and natural acting abilities through her various roles. She’s a star for a reason, and it definitely shows in “The Legend of the Blue Sea.” Plus, when you have Lee Min Ho starring alongside Jun Ji Hyun, the series really has all the ingredients necessary for success.
Watch the first episode here:
Shin Woo Yeo (Jang Ki Yong) is a 999-year-old nine-tailed fox who is also a professor at a university. He accidentally meets Lee Dam (Hyeri), a student at the same university, who ends up swallowing his magical bead. The two must live together in order for him to figure out a way to get the bead out of her.
This fantasy series had viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, wondering if the two main leads will be together by the end. There are many obstacles that they go through that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Seeing Lee Dam try to sort through her feelings and fight fate in order to follow her heart was emotionally draining at times, but it was so rewarding by the end!
Watch the first episode here:
“Happiness” stars Park Hyung Sik as Jung Yi Hyun, a detective, and Han Hyo Joo as Yoon Sae Bom, a tactical agent of the Gyeonggi Police Station. The two were classmates in high school and end up in an apocalyptic situation with people are getting infected with a virus that turns them into zombie-like creatures. The two fight for their lives and for others.
This series is such a delight to watch. It not only gives you thrills from seeing the flesh-eating zombies chase the tenants in the apartment, but it also features a great love story. One of the best parts of this drama is seeing how much Jung Yi Hyun is willing to do for Yoon Sae Bom – those puppy dog eyes though!
Watch the first episode here:
When Kwon Jung Rok (Lee Dong Wook) first meets Oh Yoon Seo (Yoo In Na), the two completely butt heads. They are opposites in personality and professions; Jung Rok is a well-respected attorney, and Yoon Seo is a famous celebrity. Yoon Seo begins working as Jung Rok’s secretary to get more acquainted for a future acting gig, and as much as he despises this situation, he reluctantly agrees.
Otherwise known as Sunny and the grim reaper, the demand for Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na to reunite in a series was so strong after “Goblin.” Their chemistry in that series was so strong and unforgettable that people couldn’t help but get emotional over the inevitable heartbreak of their romance. “Touch Your Heart” managed to redeem all the heartbroken fans while also giving all the butterflies.
Watch the first episode here:
Gu Jun Pyo (Lee Min Ho) has got all the characteristics needed to be a chaebol. He’s good-looking, charming, popular, has a lot of friends, and is pretty arrogant. So it’s no wonder when Geum Jan Di (Ku Hye Sun) transfers to his school that he treats her horribly. He bullies her, which in turn makes his fellow classmates bully her too. It takes a destined event and transformation for Jun Pyo to realize that his hate for her may not actually be hate but genuine feelings of affection.
Lee Min Ho’s whopping fourth drama on this list, “Boys Over Flowers” is a K-drama classic and is a gateway series for many international fans. It’s really no wonder that this one is considered one of the most-loved K-dramas on Viki. When you have the original F4 and all the K-drama tropes you could think of, whether you hate to admit it, it’s a series that will go down as being one of the most popular of all time.
If you haven’t watched it already, check out the first episode:
Hey Soompiers, which of these most-loved K-dramas on Viki is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
binahearts is a Soompi writer whose ultimate biases are Song Joong Ki and BIGBANG but has lately been seen obsessing over Hwang In Yeop. Make sure you follow binahearts on Instagram as she journeys through her latest Korean crazes!
Currently watching: “Little Women” and “Big Mouth” All-time favorite drama: “Secret Garden” and “Star In My Heart.” Looking forward to: Won Bin‘s return to the small screen.