15 Korean dramas with the highest MDL ratings in 2024 (so far)

Korean dramas have risen in popularity, attracting a wide audience and proving their appeal despite the language barrier. 2024 has seen the release of new Korean dramas like Queen of Tears, Pyramid Game, and High School Return of a Gangster, with exciting plot lines, a star-studded cast, and quality production.

New seasons of existing fan favorites like Sweet Home and Gyeongseong Creature, amongst others, are also set to be released in 2024. Some of these K-dramas, as they are popularly called, have received high ratings on MyDramaList (MDL), a website dedicated to helping K-drama enthusiasts discover new shows and films.

15 Korean dramas with the highest MDL ratings in 2024 (so far)

These Korean dramas feature ratings from 9.1/10 to 8.1/10 on MDL:

Lovely Runner
Queen of Tears
A Shop for Killers
Begins Youth
Flex X Cop
Pyramid Game
High School Return of a Gangster
Marry My Husband
The Atypical Family
Knight Flower
Chief Detective 1958
Parasyte: The Grey
Wonderful World
Doctor Slump
Crash

1. Lovely Runner

The high school Korean drama starring Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Wook-seok revolves around a film director, Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon), who falls in love with an idol, Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Wook-seok). Im Sol goes back in time to high school to save them both from a tragic fate.

Lovely Runner captures Im Sol and Ryu Sun-jae's challenges while finding love. The K-drama series premiered on TVN in April 2024 and has a 9.1/10 rating on MyDramaList.

2. Queen of Tears

Queen of Tears follows the journey of a married couple, Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun) and Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), as they navigate their tense relationship and the rigors they encounter to save their dying marriage.

The Korean drama was released on March 9, 2024, and stars Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun. The Korean drama has an 8.8/10 rating on MyDramaList.

3. A Shop for Killers

Starring Kim Hye-jin and Lee Dong-wook, this action Korean drama series follows the life of an endangered lady, Jeong Ji-jan (Kim Hye-jun). Jeong Ji-jan tries everything she can to protect herself from being assassinated by notorious killers who have unfinished business with her late Uncle, Jeong Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook).

The series premiered on January 17, 2024, and features an 8.8/10 rating on MyDramaList.

4. Begins Youth

Begins Youth is a coming-of-age story that explains the humble beginnings of the globally acclaimed boy band BTS. The Korean drama provides fictional insight into the experiences of the seven boys and how it has shaped them to become influential figures in the music industry.

This April 2024 release stars Seo Ji-hoon, Ahn Ji-ho, Noh Jong-hyun, Seo Young-joo, Jeon Jin-seo, Kim Yoon-woo, and Jung Woo-jin. Begins Youth features an 8.7/10 rating on MyDramaList.

5. Flex X Cop

Inspired by the 2015 hit drama series Silver Spoon, Flex X Cop explores the relationship between two detectives, Jin I-soo, a recruit, and a veteran, Lee Gang-hyun. The Korean drama shows how Lee Gang-hyun (Park Ji-hyun), who had reservations about Jin I-soo (Ahn Bo-hyun), eventually gets to like him as they become partners.

The TV series, which stars Park Ji-hyun and Ahn Bo-hyun, was released on January 26, 2024. It features an 8.7/10 rating on MyDramaList.

6. Pyramid Game

Dalgonyak's 2020 webtoon comic inspires this South Korean thriller. It narrates the violence and bullying that Seong Soo-ji (Bona), a transfer student, endures in her quest to stop the pyramid game at Baekyeon Girls’ High School.

Some cast members include the Joeson Attorney star, Kim Ju-yeon, Shin Seul-ki, and Jang Da-ah. The Korean drama premiered on February 29, 2024, and has an 8.6/10 rating on MyDramaList.

7. High School Return of a Gangster

High School Return of a Gangster (Image via Spotify)

Written by Jeong Da-hee and directed by Lee Seong-taek, High School Return of a Gangster narrates the story of a gangster, Kim Deuk-pal (Lee Seo-jin), who finds himself inside the body of a bullied high school student, Song Yi-heon (Yoon Chan-young), on the verge of committing suicide.

Kim Deuk-pal, now in Song Yi-heon’s body, fights against the bullies at school and forms a friendship with Choi Se-kyung (Bong Jae-hyun).

The series was released on May 29, 2024, and stars Yoon Chan-young, Lee Seo-jin, and Bong Jae-hyun. It has an 8.6/10 rating on MyDramaList.

8. Marry My Husband

Marry My Husband (Image via Prime video)

The Korean drama series, written by Shin Yoo-dam, narrates the story of a woman, Kang Ji-won (Park Min-young), who is given the opportunity to time-travel ten years into the past to escape the unpleasant fate the future holds for her.

Marry My Husband stars Park Min-young, Lee Yi-kyung, Song Ha-yoon, and others. The drama aired between January 1, 2024, and February 20, 2024, and has an 8.5/10 rating on MyDramaList.

9. The Atypical Family

The Atypical Family premiered in May 2024 and was directed by Jo Hyun-taek. The story is focused on Bok Gwi-ju (Jang Ki-yong), a time traveler, and his family, who struggle to live normal lives despite their supernatural abilities.

The Korean drama stars Jang Ki-yong, Go Doo-shim, Claudia Kim, and Chun Woo-hee, among others. It has received an 8.5/10 rating on MyDramaList.

10. Knight Flower

This January 2024 adaptation of the 2023 webtoon Knight Flower is set in the Joseon era. It tells the story of a widow, Jo Yeo-hwa (Lee Hanee), who lives a double life. Jo Yeo-hwa is a reclusive widow during the day but secretly steps out to help the needy at night. The series sheds light on how Yeo-hwa struggles to maintain her masked identity.

The historical K-drama features Lee Hanee, Kim Sang-joong, Lee Ki-woo, and Lee Jong-won, amongst others, and has received an 8.5/10 rating on MyDramaList.

11. Chief Detective 1958

Chief Detective 1958 (Image via Spotify)

Created by Park Jae-beom, Chief Detective 1958 tells the story of a detective, Park Yeong-han (Lee Je-hoon), who teams up with three of his colleagues, Kim Sang-sun (Lee Dung-hwi), Cho Kyung-hwan (Choi Woo-sung), and Seo Ho-jeong (Yoon Hyun-Soo), to take on the challenge of curbing corrupt practices in the society.

This prequel to the 70s original was released on April 19, 2024, and stars Lee Je-hoon, Lee Dong-hwi, Choi Woo-sung, Yoon Hyun-soo, and others. This Korean drama features an 8.4/10 rating on MyDramaList.

12. Parasyte: The Grey

This Netflix original starring Jeon So-nee, Lee Jung-hyun, and Koo Kyo-hwan is based on the brave fight by a group of humans against alienated parasites on the verge of taking full control over humanity.

This science fiction, directed by Yeon Sang-ho, premiered on April 5, 2024. The drama has received a rating of 8.4/10 on MyDramaList.

13. Wonderful World

Wonderful World is a thriller that revolves around the life of Professor Eun Soo-hyun (Kim Nam-joo), who battles with grief and anguish due to the loss of her son. The story encapsulates Eun Soo-hyun’s experiences in her pursuit of justice.

Wonderful World stars Kim Nam-joo, Kim Kang-woo, Im Se-mi and Chan Eun-woo. The Korean drama was released on March 1, 2024, and is rated 8.3/10 on MyDramaList.

14. Doctor Slump

This drama, directed by Oh Hyun-jung, depicts a hate-turned-to-love story between Yeo Jeong-woo (Park Hyung-sik) and Nam Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye) as they navigate their lives just after losing their licenses to practice as doctors.

Doctor Slump stars Park Hyung-sik, Gong Seong-ha, Park Shin-hye, and Yoon Park. It premiered on January 27, 2024, and has received an 8.3/10 rating on MyDramaList.

15. Crash

Expand Tweet

This crime series, released on May 13, 2024, features the Beauty Inside star Lee Min-ki, Heo Sung-tae, Kwak Sun-young, Leo Ho-cheol, and Moon-hee. Crash follows the members of a Traffic Crime Investigation Unit who join forces in curbing unusual traffic crimes like retaliatory driving and insurance fraud with their skills.

The Korean drama series has a rating of 8.1/10 on MyDramaList.

Edited by Shreya Das