By Mimansa Shekhar
Korean shows have ruled the OTT space even in 2025. While the year started with promising titles across platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, Viki and more, few managed to make it to the list of top 5 on the charts. While most K-dramas fared average, many even fell flat emerging as huge disappointment. Infact many leading actors tasted failure too, just like Lee Min-Ho whose When The Stars Gossip, that opened the year amid high expectations, ended up as a highly panned series. Instead, IU and Park Bo-Gum When Life Gives You Tangerines became a high ranked show. ALSO READ: 6 Best K-Dramas Releasing In Second Half Of 2025: Tempest, Low Life And More As we enter the second half of 2025, we look back at the year gone by so far, and analyse what impressed the audience and what did not fulfil expectations in the last 6 months. (Dramas that aired between January 2025 – June 2025) Top 5 K-Dramas Of 2025 So Far 1. When Life Gives You Tangerines A show explores the complexities of love, loss, coming-of-age, finding your soulmate, and the undying human spirit, all highlighted through the four seasons of life and the eyes of Oh Ae-Sun and Yang Gwan-Sik, played by IU and Park Bo-Gum respectively. The show’s other two stars who play the older version, Moon So-Ri and Park Hae-Joon are probably the best casting seen in a K-drama recently. This show makes you laugh, believe in life and cry buckets or even more. Absolutely a must-watch! 2. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call In the clutter of medical dramas, this one emerged a surprise blockbuster due to its unique focus on a hospital’s trauma centre, something we haven’t explored much. Here, life and death hand on a thread of micro-seconds. It follows doctor Baek Kang-Hyuk (Ju Ji-Hoon), a genius trauma surgeon and ex-mercenary combat medic who joins a struggling university hospital to create its trauma team. It also stars Choo Young-Woo, Ha Young, Yoon Kyung-Ho and Jung Jae-Kwang. The fast paced show won’t let you breathe. 3. Love Scout On the surface, it might come across as a romance between the domineering female CEO of a headhunting company (Han Ji-Min) and her devoted male secretary who is a single father (Lee Jun-Hyuk). But within its depths, it explores themes like power dynamics in a relationship and challenges of balancing personal and professional lives. One of the most mature love stories that released in recent times, it stands out for breaking away from traditional K-drama tropes around human emotions by relying on slow build-up of romance instead of rushed attraction. 4. Study Group It tells the story of Yoon Ga-Min, a guy who is only talented in fighting but is trying to study hard to achieve his goal of entering university by forming a study group in his notorious school. Apart from broader academic goals like exam preparation and improving study habits, the show also touches upon developing specific skills like critical thinking or time management. The way this show depicts personal development, like building confidence and overcoming academic challenges makes it a must-watch. 5. Resident Playbook Hospital Playlist spinoff, this could’ve passed as any regular medical drama given we already had The Trauma Code leading the roost. But Resident Playbook managed to find its ground. Following the lives of its four young obstetrics and gynaecology residents, it explores their difficult work life balance and friendships in an unpopular department. The show has advantage due to high emotional content through child births and maternal stories. The limited series starred Go Youn-Jung, Shin Si-Ah, Kang You-Seok, Han Ye-Ji, and Jung Joon-Won. Worst 3 K-Dramas Of 2025 So Far 1. When The Stars Gossip A show that promised to give audience a unique take on love and loss in a unique, space-set setting, became a disaster despite one of the highest budgets and a star-studded cast of Lee Min-Ho and Gong Hyo-Jin. Its major widespread criticism came for its unrealistic, over-the-top plot, dialogues, and overall execution. It was rejected for not connecting well with the audience. Many even labeled it as the “worst K-drama ever”. 2. The Divorce Insurance The plot revolves around an insurance company developing a unique product – divorce insurance lead by an actuary with a history of failed marriages. It follows the development team through complexities of divorce process and the costs involved. The show failed to trike a chord with the audience miserably due to its bleak emotional connect despite a good looking starcast of Lee Dong-Wook, Lee Joo-Bin, Lee Kwang-Soo and Lee Da-Hee. 3. Kick Kick Kick Kick Two former entertainment stars played by Ji Jin-Hee and Jo Young-Sik launch a content production company to reach three million subscribers. The show explores the challenges they face in the digital world. The show got panned due to its chaotic pace. The comedy was deemed absurd. Its cringey dad humor couldn’t connect with many. ALSO READ: Parasite BEST Movie Of 21st Century; Oldboy, Memories Of Murder, Past Lives Also Ranked In Poll – Deets Inside BONUS: Squid Game Season 3 The much-anticipated final season of Netflix’s global hit released amid a lot of expectation. It has so far received polarised reviews. While some called the ending shocking, other stated it was too much to accept. What do you think about the finale? Let au know @TimesNow.