K-Dramas with the Highest Ratings in Korean History
You know the global hits—the Netflix sensations like Squid Game and Crash Landing on You. But what about the dramas that completely paralyzed the nation? The ones that hit such astronomical ratings that they had every single person in Korea glued to their television screens, talking about nothing else the next day?
As a local, I can tell you that the highest-rated dramas often tell a different story than the most internationally streamed ones. They tap into deep cultural nerves, often featuring intense family sagas, epic historical battles, or explosive melodrama.
If you want to know what truly captivated the Korean public, this is the definitive list of K-Dramas with the highest-ever viewership ratings in domestic history. Get ready for some seriously impressive numbers!
The Gold Standard: Dramas Over 50% Viewership
In the age of cable TV, reaching 20% is considered a massive hit. Reaching 50% is almost mythical. These are the giants:
1. The Legend of the Highest Rating: First Love (첫사랑) (1997)
Peak Rating: 65.8% (KBS2)
The Vibe: Classic 90s melodrama involving two brothers and a first love complicated by class differences and tragedy.
Why It Was King: This show holds the undisputed record for the highest viewership of any drama in South Korean history. It was a perfect storm of casting, writing, and the TV landscape of the time, captivating nearly two-thirds of the viewing public. It is the benchmark against which all other ratings are measured.
2. The Epic Historical Saga: Sandglass (모래시계) (1995)
Peak Rating: 64.5% (SBS)
The Vibe: A gritty, powerful look at three friends—a gangster, a prosecutor, and a nightclub dancer—whose lives intertwine with the tumultuous history of Korea in the 1970s and 80s (including the Gwangju Uprising).
Why It Was King: More than a drama, Sandglass was a national cultural event and a form of public history education. The political and social commentary was so relevant and impactful that streets would famously empty out during its broadcast.
3. The Period Masterpiece: Hur Jun (허준) (2000)
Peak Rating: 63.7% (MBC)
The Vibe: The inspirational, true-ish story of Hur Jun, a peasant who rose to become a royal physician during the Joseon Dynasty.
Why It Was King: This show cemented the love for high-quality historical dramas (Sageuk) focused on professional growth, moral integrity, and traditional Korean medicine. Like Dae Jang Geum, it became a cultural export, proving that Korean history and values had mass appeal.
Tier 2: Cable TV’s Modern Record Breakers (The New Era)
Before the mid-2010s, it was almost impossible for a cable network (non-public broadcast) show to break past 10%. These shows shattered that barrier, proving that quality writing and streaming access could create massive domestic hits again.
4. The World of the Married (부부의 세계) (2020)
Peak Rating: 28.4% (JTBC)
Why It Broke the Mold: This drama holds the record for the highest viewership rating ever recorded on a Korean cable channel. Its intense, psychological, and adult look at infidelity and divorce captivated the nation, proving that audiences crave complex, dark, and relationship-focused melodramas.
5. SKY Castle (SKY 캐슬) (2018-2019)
Peak Rating: 23.8% (JTBC)
Why It Broke the Mold: This black comedy satirized the ruthless, competitive nature of Korea’s elite education system and its wealthy, status-obsessed parents. It was a cultural lightning rod, sparking national debates about education and class. Its success proved that unique, socially critical dramas could become huge hits.
6. Crash Landing on You (사랑의 불시착) (2019-2020)
Peak Rating: 21.7% (tvN)
Why It Broke the Mold: While it was a huge global hit, it was also a massive domestic success, blending high-concept romance with surprising political realism. It showed that the global demand for a drama could translate directly into huge local ratings on cable.
The Takeaway for Viewers
If you want to understand the true core of Korean dramatic taste, you must seek out these record-holders. They are intense, often heavy, and rooted deeply in themes of family, social justice, and historical destiny. They are the undeniable champions that define the powerful history of K-Drama.