[Last Updated on February 24, 2024]
This ranking shows the top Korean dramas with the highest ratings in 2023—based on television viewership data from Nielsen. It reflects the highly popular and most-watched series among South Korean viewers. Read on to see if your favorite has earned a spot on the list.
This is an annual ranking. To see the latest edition, go to the Highest Rated Korean Dramas of 2024.
Highest-Rated Korean Dramas of 2023: Free-to-Air Top 10
1. Taxi Driver 2
Peak Rating: 21.0%
Date Aired: Apr 15, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: SBS
Starring: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung & Pyo Ye-jin
2. Dr. Romantic 3
Peak Rating: 16.8%
Date Aired: Jun 17, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: SBS
Starring: Han Suk-kyu, Ahn Hyo-seop & Lee Sung-kyung
3. My Dearest
Peak Rating: 12.9%
Date Aired: Nov 18, 2023 (episode 21)
Network: MBC
Starring: Namgoong Min & Ahn Eun-jin
4. Payback
Peak Rating: 11.4%
Date Aired: Feb 10, 2023 (episode 11)
Network: SBS
Starring: Lee Sun-kyun & Moon Chae-won
5. Revenant
Peak Rating: 11.2%
Date Aired: Jul 29, 2023 (episode 12)
Network: SBS
Starring: Kim Tae-ri, Oh Jung-se & Hong Kyung
6. Oasis
Peak Rating: 9.7%
Date Aired: Apr 25, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: KBS2
Starring: Jang Dong-yoon, Seol In-ah & Choo Young-woo
7. The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract
Peak Rating: 9.6%
Date Aired: Dec 9, 2023 (episode 6)
Network: MBC
Starring: Lee Se-young & Bae In-hyuk
8. The First Responders 2
Peak Rating: 9.3%
Date Aired: Sep 9, 2023 (episode 12)
Network: SBS
Starring: Kim Rae-won, Son Ho-jun & Gong Seung-yeon
9. The Escape of the Seven
Peak Rating: 7.7%
Date Aired: Sep 23, 2023 (episode 4)
Network: SBS
Starring: Uhm Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum & Lee Joon
10. The Matchmakers
Peak Rating: 5.8%
Date Aired: Dec 25, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: KBS2
Starring: Rowoon and Cho Yi-hyun
Highest-Rated Korean Dramas of 2023: Cable Top 10
1. Doctor Cha
Peak Rating: 18.546%
Date Aired: Jun 4, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: JTBC
Starring: Uhm Jung-hwa & Kim Byung-chul
2. Crash Course in Romance
Peak Rating: 17.038%
Date Aired: Mar 5, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: tvN
Starring: Jeon Do-yeon & Jung Kyung-ho
3. Agency
Peak Rating: 16.044%
Date Aired: Feb 26, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: JTBC
Starring: Lee Bo-young & Son Na-eun
4. King the Land
Peak Rating: 13.789%
Date Aired: Aug 6, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: JTBC
Starring: Lee Jun-ho & Im Yoon-ah
5. Welcome to Samdalri
Peak Rating: 12.399%
Date Aired: Jan 21, 2024 (episode 16)
Network: JTBC
Starring: Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hye-sun
6. The Good Bad Mother
Peak Rating: 12.032%
Date Aired: Jun 8, 2023 (episode 14)
Network: JTBC
Starring: Ra Mi-ran & Lee Do-hyun
7. Red Balloon
Peak Rating: 11.566%
Date Aired: Feb 26, 2023 (episode 20)
Network: TV Chosun
Starring: Seo Ji-hye & Lee Sang-woo
8. Strong Girl Nam-soon
Peak Rating: 10.420%
Date Aired: Nov 26, 2023 (episode 16)
Network: JTBC
Starring: Lee Yu-mi, Kim Jung-eun & Kim Hae-sook
9. Behind Your Touch
Peak Rating: 9.618%
Date Aired: Sep 24, 2023 (episode 14)
Network: JTBC
Starring: Han Ji-min & Lee Min-ki
10. Divorce Attorney Shin
Peak Rating: 9.488%
Date Aired: Apr 9, 2023 (episode 12)
Network: JTBC
Starring: Cho Seung-woo & Han Hye-jin
Overall Top 10 by Viewers
1. Crash Course in Romance
Peak Viewers: 4,329,000
Network: tvN
2. Doctor Cha
Peak Viewers: 4,088,000
Network: JTBC
3. Taxi Driver 2
Peak Viewers: 4,005,000
Network: SBS
4. Agency
Peak Viewers: 3,685,000
Network: JTBC
5. Dr. Romantic 3
Peak Viewers: 3,423,000
Network: SBS
6. King the Land
Peak Viewers: 3,404,000
Network: JTBC
7. Welcome to Samdalri
Peak Viewers: 2,965,000
Network: JTBC
8. The Good Bad Mother
Peak Viewers: 2,669,000
Network: JTBC
9. Strong Girl Nam-soon
Peak Viewers: 2,652,000
Network: JTBC
10. Red Balloon
Peak Viewers: 2,457,000
Network: TV Chosun
2023 Viewership in Numbers
The figures presented below are sourced from our up-to-date database and represent the primetime Korean dramas from January to December 2023. Take note that original series from streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ are not included in this summary as they are not broadcast on television.
Methodology
Our rankings are based on nationwide TV viewership data from Nielsen Korea. We included primetime dramas aired on free-to-air and cable channels, given they meet the following qualifications:
- The series was broadcast on any of the major channels, including KBS2, MBC, SBS, JTBC, and tvN, as well as Channel A, ENA, MBN, TV Chosun, and OCN.
- Over half of the drama’s total number of episodes were broadcast in 2023.
- The drama was aired either once or twice a week, between 9 pm and 12 midnight. In line with this, we did not consider daily dramas and KBS2’s weekend dramas, which typically garner double-digit ratings with ease.
To learn more about how we collect viewership data, go to our K-drama ratings portal.
Did you find these rankings useful? See also our 50-item list of some of the best Korean dramas of all time and the highest-rated K-dramas of all time.