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Just like how there were some misses for this year’s K-dramaland, there were also some hits and gems. I can rave and go on forever about my favorite dramas of the year and I’m glad that there were some enjoyable ones mixed in there. With that being said, let’s get started on which dramas this year impressed me!

Honorable Mentions

Way Back Love

“Way Back Love” was a drama that I had no expectations for going into it but it didn’t take too long for me to become captivated. Perhaps the most interesting part was the way that it didn’t shy away in introducing the depressing, dark, and heartbreaking underlying tone. The drama followed our main character, Hee-wan, who struggled to process the unexpected, sudden, and early death of her high school best friend and crush, Ram-woo. We saw how devastated she was over the years. We saw her struggle with survivor’s guilt. We saw her cut herself off from the world. We learned that she suffered nightmares from that night because she felt guilty and as if she was the reason as to why he died. It was so heartbreaking to follow Hee-wan’s journey as she mourned and grieved the loss of a close friend.

Even though there was this darker underlying tone to the drama, it also managed to balance things out by lightening things up with the high school flashbacks. The high school scenes were actually the more enjoyable parts of the drama for me. A part of it was because they were funnier and sillier and brighter but also because it was fun and interesting to watch how our two main characters became intertwined. It was fun to watch them bond and get to know each other and eventually develop romantic feelings for each other. But then as you got glimpses of their past, the drama continued to remind you throughout each episode that things were different in reality. In reality and in the present, Ram-woo wasn’t alive, he had died, and that there was nothing Hee-wan and Ram-woo could do to turn back time and change things. And yet, at the same time, it was this inability to go back into the past to change things that forced Hee-wan and Ram-woo to come to terms with their present, to heal from their past, and to look forward to a brighter future. They were provided with the opportunity to process what had happened, to make amends with their loved ones and close friends, and spend some precious time with each other.

“Way Back Love” wasn’t perfect by any means but it was a touching and bittersweet drama about grief, losing a loved one, healing, and learning to move forward. The person you lost will always remain in your heart and you’ll always cherish and remember the times that you both had. And at the same time, you can also remember them in your own ways while continuing to live your life.

When Life Gives You Tangerines

“When Life Gives You Tangerines” was absolutely sensational when it came out and it was easy to understand why the drama was a huge hit. You had great casting, excellent directing, and strong writing. The drama delivered in many ways.

It was a heartfelt and touching drama that covered decades of Ae-sun and her family’s lives. We watched from when she was a young child to eventually a young mother to an adult. And throughout each chapter, the drama showcased her journey as a daughter, female, and mother. The drama touched on womanhood and parenthood. It covered various other topics including family, unconditional love, sacrifices, and relationships. It reminded you to appreciate your parents. It reminded you of the many deeds and sacrifices that they make for you – some that you’re aware about and notice and also many that are done silently that you may not know about. There were also some unforgettable scenes in the drama, including the scene in episode 10 when Ae-sun had the dream of the day when she lost Dong-myeong. And in this dream, she didn’t leave Dong-myeong in the house. Instead, she turned around and sat down next to him and told him what was on her mind. What Ae-sun wasn’t able to do in reality she was able to finally say in her dream to her little one and it was overall such a powerful scene. So so good and so so powerful. Truly outstanding.

I admittedly enjoyed the first half of the drama a lot more than I did the second half. Although the entire drama was solid, I found that I enjoyed watching child Ae-sun with her mother as well as young mother Ae-sun, Gwan-sik, and her kids when they still lived in Jeju. I found volumes 1 and 2 to be the stronger parts of the drama and enjoyed these chapters just a little bit more than I did with the second half. “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is going to be remembered for a very long time for many good reasons and it’s no surprise as to why it was so successful and well-loved.

My Favorites

Melo Movie

If there’s one drama this year that I can go on and on and on about forever, it would undoubtedly be “Melo Movie.” It holds a very special place in my heart and just like last year with “Flex x Cop” which aired in the first quarter of the year, I struggled to move on from “Melo Movie” after I finished it in February. What is it with my favorite drama of the year airing in the first half of the year and thus, causing me to fall into a huge depression slump and making it hard for me to enjoy the rest of the year? I don’t know how much more I can do this T__T

Look, you just had to be there when I was recapping this drama. I was chugging out the recaps as best and fast as I could (which ultimately led to a little bit of a burnout I must admit) but it was because I needed a space and place to just unleash all my feelings and thoughts about this drama. “Melo Movie” was one of those dramas that I was really looking forward to and it was really one of the only things that kept me going everyday leading up to the release date. I marathoned all 10 episodes in one weekend and used my recaps as a way to process all my emotions, thoughts, and feelings. The emptiness and void that I experienced after finishing the drama was something that I hadn’t experienced in such a long time and I couldn’t help but go back and rewatch the same interviews, press conference clips, and videos over and over again to try to fill that void inside of me. And just like I do with other dramas and drama pairings that I enjoy, I also made a video edit to highlight the beauty (both visually and narratively) of “Melo Movie.” Eventually, I was able to slowly move forward and carry on with life (kind of) but man, the post-drama withdrawals with this one was so strong.

There were many things that I enjoyed about this drama and I do acknowledge that it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It seemed as if it was one of those dramas that fell in the spectrum of those who loved it really loved it (AKA me) and those who didn’t like it didn’t know what the appeal about it was. Of course, I loved the drama so much because it was so much more than what it was marketed out to be. It wasn’t just about two couples reuniting after five years. It was also a drama about family, friendships, work, and life. It was about learning to heal. It was about navigating the complex emotion that is resentment and learning to forgive yourself and your loved ones. It was about grief and mourning the loss of a loved one and the kind of life that they could have lived. It was about growth whether that was professional or personal growth. There were so many lessons and messages that “Melo Movie” conveyed through the characters and their stories.

I cried so many times watching this drama. I cried so much the first time around and then cried just as hard (and maybe even harder) upon my rewatch. Episode 7 was definitely a tearjerker highlighting the beautiful and heartbreaking relationship that Gyeom had with his brother Joon. Then later on when Joon appeared in Gyeom’s dreams at the end of the drama, you cried again because this was Gyeom’s way of bidding farewell to his brother for now so that they could both feel a bit more at peace. Gyeom’s grieving process that was documented in episode 8 and the ways that Moo-bi and his friends came around to support him was so emotional and well-done. I cried a bunch watching that episode (and it was my favorite episode out of the entire drama). Gyeom’s grieving process was definitely one of the parts of this drama that made me cry the most because of how much I could resonate with it. But I also enjoyed other aspects about the show such as Moo-bi’s journey in processing her complex thoughts towards her late father, comparing that fear of abandonment from her father to her relationship with Gyeom, and eventually learning to forgive her father and strive for a much happier and healthier future with her mom. I also enjoyed all the connections and relationships in this drama, especially the relationship between Moo-bi’s mom and Gyeom. On the outside, Moo-bi’s mom seemed a bit intimidating, stern, and cold. However, it was obvious that she had a soft spot for Gyeom who she cared about and gave wise advice to. I’ll never forget the scene when he visited her at their meat shop and she recommended that he express his thoughts sometimes instead of keeping it all to himself. That it was okay to let it out, say what was on your mind, and not hold those thoughts in all the time. Another favorite scene between them was in episode 10 when Mom added onto this advice by telling Gyeom to keep talking to his loved one (AKA his brother) even if that person wasn’t physically there any longer. As someone who lost a loved one, Mom empathized with Gyeom. And in that same exact scene, Mom learned just as much from Gyeom when he revealed that Moo-bi relied on her which prompted Mom to finally have an honest and raw conversation with Moo-bi about their relationship and future. The relationship between Gyeom and Mom was mutual and it was such an interesting and fascinating dynamic. “Melo Movie” tugged at your heartstrings with the familial relationships and knew how to execute these stories so carefully, delicately, intimately, and intricately.

While Si-joon and Joo-Ah’s relationship was definitely more angsty and passionate, I loved how peaceful and calm Moo-bi and Gyeom’s relationship was. They gave each other space to process their emotions and feelings and then when they needed that extra help, they stepped in to provide each other with that support. I thought one of the most beautiful highlights of their relationship was Moo-bi’s way of supporting and caring for Gyeom. In episode 4, she supported him through the rough patch he endured in his job as a movie critic. There was also episode 8 when she helped him process his grief and mourning over his brother. I remembered feeling a bit impatient with Moo-bi in the beginning of episode 8 because she was taking her really sweet time helping him out. And then later on when she sat with Gyeom in his red car parked outside of his house, and conveyed that she would be there for him and that they were a team, I was so relieved and happy with her approach. To this day, this scene is still imprinted in my memory as not only my favorite scene out of the entire drama but also one of my favorite scenes in a drama ever. I still haven’t forgotten about this scene and it’s one that will stay with me for a very long time (I want to cry just thinking about it as I’m writing this right now). I also loved seeing Gyeom support Moo-bi and be there for her when he picked her up at the end of episode 9 after a stressful time of work. Overall, I loved how balanced and mutual and calm and strong Moo-bi and Gyeom’s relationship was.

I’m usually not one to rewatch dramas that I’ve finished but “Melo Movie” was and is definitely an exception (it’s definitely my comfort drama that I can and will always go back to. Nothing will ever take this drama away from me). I loved the casting (especially Choi Woo-shik and Park Bo-young.. K-drama gods, please reunite them in another project together! They’re my favorite K-drama pairing and I NEED to see these two on the same screen again!), the writer, the director, and the music. “Melo Movie” had many strengths and had many great things going for it. It was so difficult to bid farewell with this drama because of the comfort, relief, and love that it provided me. I still miss it very much to this day (I miss it every single day actually) and it’s one that I’m going to carry with me and cherish for a very very very long time.

Our Unwritten Seoul

I may be a littleeeee biased since Park Bo-young was, is, and will always be my number one most favorite actress ever. But it’s also a fact that her more recent drama choices have been top-notch. From “Daily Dose of Sunshine” to “Light Shop” to “Melo Movie” to “Our Unwritten Seoul”, my girl has been on a generational run and each drama has been impressive in its own way. After delivering with “Melo Movie”, Park Bo-young followed it up with “Our Unwritten Seoul” – one of the most successful, popular, strong, and well-loved dramas of 2025.

I’m not afraid to be honest when there’s a drama from my bias that I don’t really enjoy all that much (yes, there are some Park Bo-young dramas and movies that I don’t care for as much) but “Our Unwritten Seoul” definitely does not fall into that category. There were so many reasons as to why the drama was such a huge hit both domestically and internationally. There were many reasons as to why it was so well-loved and adored. The messages, themes, and lessons about life, love, family, relationships, and friendships were all things that viewers could sympathize and relate to. The premise and concept of Mi-ji and Mi-rae exchanging lives and literally being in each other’s shoes to experience what the other person was going through was fascinating, fun, and heartwarming. There were many touching moments, such as the one with Ho-su’s Mom in episode 8 when she revealed the truth to Mi-ji and Mi-rae’s mom that she wasn’t actually Ho-su’s biological mother. Or in episode 11 when she finally had an honest and raw and bittersweet conversation with Ho-su about her relationship with his dad and what being in a relationship is about.

There were also many moments where I cried because I could resonate and relate to the characters and their situations (honestly.. anything that had to do with Grandma was a tearjerker for me – especially the final scene with Grandma in episode 12). There were also many moments where I had goosebumps and chills (in a good way) because I was just so impressed and at awe at what I was watching (the ending of episode 1 when Mi-ji proposes the idea of switching identities with Mi-rae and the OST track “On Your Side” played.. Talk about literal chills.. Or at the end of episode 11 when Soo-yeon finally opened her bedroom door again to signify that she was ready to come back out into the world.. and sure enough, “On Your Side” played again and I got the chills. There was just something about that OST track playing in the most impactful scenes in the drama that gave me the chills LOL). “Our Unwritten Seoul” also had many many great quotes and lines (honestly, there were too many to count and include in this post alone but I felt like there was at least one quote from each episode that stood out).

Overall, “Our Unwritten Seoul” was enjoyable and so well-done. And just like I did with “Melo Movie”, I cried a bunch watching this drama. I joke around to myself that I love and enjoy Park Bo-young’s more recent projects and dramas, but that I’m also a little tired from all the crying. LOL. I cried sooo much watching her recent dramas (in a good way) that I’m ready for a lighter and brighter project from her (her upcoming drama “Goldland” is a more serious and grittier drama so hopefully we get that rom-com from her after!). All in all, it wasn’t hard for me to include “Our Unwritten Seoul” in my list of favorites and it’s one that I hope to revisit in the future.

Check These Out!

These dramas didn’t fall into my top favorites or honorable mentions list but ultimately were dramas that I was still fond of and enjoyed. I definitely recommend these dramas if you’re in need of something light and fun to watch!

• Pump Up the Healthy Love
• Love Scout
• Study Group

2025 Stand-out Actors and Actresses

Kim Min-ha

Oh Kim Min-ha! She was someone who I was intrigued by, especially after watching her in “Light Shop.” Then I saw her in “Way Back Love” and enjoyed the drama because of her. She did a great job in the drama, especially in balancing both the funnier and lighter high school era with the darker and depressing present era. She portrayed both tones pretty well and it was also nice to see her comedic acting and timing in the drama. She then followed up “Way Back Love” with “Typhoon Family” which I thought she was also great in. Although I do think the first half was much stronger than the second half and it eventually turned into a drama that sizzled out for me (the drama was 4 episodes too long.. the typical 12 episodes would have been fine), I enjoyed watching Kim Min-ha’s character’s arc, especially during their trip in Thailand where her brilliant contributions saved her team member and workplace and she was able to prove herself to her misogynist team member. Overall, Kim Min-ha shined this year due to her two projects which I greatly enjoyed. Excited to see what she has coming up!

Bae Na-ra

I first found out about Bae Na-ra when he appeared in episode 3 of “DP Season 2” (in which “DP” has this amazing ability to maximize the most out of their cameo appearances such as with Lee Jun-young in season 1 and then with Bae Na-ra in season 2. A lot of actors shined and stood out to me when they appeared in the drama!). Although he appeared for only an episode, I loved what I saw from him in his limited time in “DP Season 2.” Then this year, he started off the year with “Weak Hero Class 2”, continued with “Tastefully Yours”, and wrapped up the year with “Would You Marry Me?”. I enjoyed watching him in “Weak Hero Class 2” where I thought he did a great job portraying the villain in the drama. His character could have been a simple one-dimensional character but his portrayal and acting made me not dislike his character as much as I should have. I didn’t care much for his character in “Tastefully Yours” which wasn’t his fault. The drama’s writing wasn’t the greatest or strongest so he didn’t have much to work with. Overall, Bae Na-ra is definitely an actor who’s earning my trust and who I will keep an eye out for!

Lee Min-jae

Lee Min-jae is still steadily working his way up in K-dramaland but he’s someone who’s captured my interest and attention in everything that I’ve watched him in. I first saw him in “Crash Course in Romance” (which was one of my top 3 favorite dramas of 2023) and then saw him again this year in both “Weak Hero Class 2” as well as in “My Troublesome Star.” I like the positive, bright, upbeat type of characters that he’s been playing so far and I generally just find him adorable! He’s been good and enjoyable in everything I’ve seen him in so far and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.

Lee Jae-in

Lee Jae-in is definitely a name who many people will recognize, realize, and hear more frequently in the coming years.  This year was her year with the release of her movie “High-Five” followed up by the success of “Our Unwritten Seoul.” I remembered briefly seeing her in the drama “Racket Boys” a few years ago and then watched her again as the younger version of twins Mi-ji and Mi-rae in “Our Unwritten Seoul.” A huge part of the set-up and success of the drama was the younger part of the twins’ lives and Lee Jae-in did such a wonderful job in carrying out that portion of the story. It’s difficult to play twins in general and then to play it in a way where it’s consistent with the adult versions. And then in the process of playing the younger version of the characters which is generally in the beginning of the drama, you have to do enough to impress and keep viewers engaged and entertained. I can’t emphasize just how talented and amazing Lee Jae-in was as Mi-ji and Mi-rae. One of my favorite scenes from her was the scene in episode 7 when high school Hosu waited for her outside of her house to talk to her. High school Mi-ji wasn’t feeling all that great about her future and she was disappointed and devastated about her injury. The weight of the situation was so heavy and serious and Lee Jae-in did such a great job at expressing Mi-ji’s frustration. She really shined playing as younger Mi-ji and Mi-rae and helped keep the drama rolling. Just like all the other actors who I mentioned, she’s also someone who I enjoyed watching this year and will look out for in the future.