The first half of 2025 has been packed with K-dramas that left a lasting mark, whether through powerful storytelling, standout performances, or fresh takes on familiar themes. From emotional love stories set against Jeju Island’s scenic backdrop to gripping thrillers and coming-of-age tales, these dramas captured viewers’ hearts and sparked conversations around the world. Some made viewers cry, others made us think, and all of them were reminders of why K-dramas continue to resonate so strongly. If you’re wondering what to watch next, here are 10 of the most talked-about shows of the year so far.
“The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call”
This medical drama follows the uncompromising and brilliant trauma surgeon, Dr. Baek Kang Hyuk ( Ju Ji Hoon ), as he endeavors to revitalize a neglected trauma center at Hankuk University Hospital. Having honed his skills in war zones, Dr. Baek is a master of life-or-death situations, making quick, decisive, and often unconventional choices that prioritize saving lives above all else, even if it means clashing with hospital bureaucracy and established protocols. Upon his arrival, he is faced with an underfunded and disorganized trauma department. His mission is to transform it into a top-tier center capable of handling severe, time-sensitive cases within the “golden hour”-the critical window for saving trauma patients. This endeavor puts him at odds with the hospital’s administration, who are more concerned with financial implications and sees the trauma center as a drain on resources. Dr. Baek begins by recruiting a dedicated team, including Yang Jae Won ( Choo Young Woo ), a nervous but brilliant resident from the proctology department, whom Baek nicknames “Anus” and later “Number One,” and Nurse Cheon Jang Mi ( Ha Young ), a seasoned trauma nurse who initially mistakes Baek for a gangster.
The eight-episode series shines a light on the emotional strain that trauma teams endure in high pressure, life-or-death situations. With fast-paced action, gripping medical cases, and moments of levity, “The Trauma Code” weaves together character-driven storytelling and sharp social commentary on the urgent need to put patient care before profit in modern healthcare.
“Buried Hearts”
The 16-episode revenge thriller is a gripping tale of how far people will go when everything is on the line. At the center is Seo Dong Joo ( Park Hyung Sik ), a quiet, obedient secretary at the powerful Daesan Group. But behind his calm exterior, Dong Joo is plotting to rise to the top. His plans take a dangerous turn when, in a desperate move to protect himself, he hacks into a massive political slush fund worth two trillion won. That single act triggers a deadly chain of events. He has a sworn enemy in Yeom Jang Seon ( Heo Joon Ho )-a former intelligence chief-turned-law professor who secretly pulls the strings in politics. When Jang Seon’s hidden fortune vanishes because of Dong Joo, the two men are thrown into a high-stakes war of power, lies, and revenge. As Dong Joo faces betrayal, near-death, and even memory loss, he fights to stay one step ahead in a ruthless game where trust is a luxury and survival is everything. Meanwhile, Yeo Eun Nam (Hong Hwa Yeon), the sharp granddaughter of the Daesan Group’s chairman, begins to suspect her adoptive father’s role in her real father’s mysterious death, drawing her deeper into the conspiracy.
It’s a powerful story and a fast-paced thriller about how far people will go for power, how survival comes with a price, and how old grudges can shape the future.
“Melo Movie”
This series follows a group of young people as they navigate love, loss, and ambition, set against the backdrop of the film industry. At the heart of the story is Ko Gyeom ( Choi Woo Shik ), a movie lover who once dreamed of watching every film ever made. He starts out working as a film extra and later becomes a critic. Friendly and easygoing on the surface, Gyeom hides deep emotional wounds, especially connected to his older brother, Ko Joon ( Kim Jae Wook ). Kim Mu Bee ( Park Bo Young ), whose name sounds like “movie,” is an aspiring director with a complicated relationship with film. Her father was a filmmaker who was often absent, leaving her torn between resentment and passion for the art form. Quiet and guarded, she contrasts sharply with Gyeom’s sunny personality. The two share a painful past-once close, they were pulled apart by a mysterious incident after a romantic moment, with Gyeom suddenly disappearing from Mu Bee’s life. When they unexpectedly become neighbors five years later, their feelings resurface. As they reconnect, they’re forced to face the emotional scars they’ve left on each other and themselves.
A parallel storyline follows Hong Si Joon ( Lee Jun Young ), Gyeom’s best friend and a struggling musician, and his ex-girlfriend Son Joo A ( Jeon So Nee ), a screenwriter. Their rocky relationship explores the push and pull of long-term love, creative pressure, and the need for self-growth. Adding another layer is Woo Jeong Hu ( Cha Woo Min ), Mu Bee’s childhood friend. A music lover with a warm, easygoing nature, he brings lightness to the story. At its core, “Melo Movie” is a tender, character-driven story about healing, second chances, and the quiet resilience it takes to move forward.
“ Study Group ”
Based on a popular webtoon, the high school action youth drama quickly became a sleeper hit and is one of the most unexpected underdog successes of the first half of the year. The story follows Youn Ga Min ( Hwang Min Hyun ), a quiet but determined student whose only goal is to get into university. Despite his passion for learning, his grades are stuck at the bottom. What he does excel at, though, is fighting-a skill he never wanted but constantly needs. Ga Min attends Yusung Technical High School, a rough, gang-infested school where violence rules and studying is mocked. Refusing to give up on his dream, he starts a study group with a few classmates who slowly come around to his cause including Kim Se Hyun (Lee Jong Hyun ), reluctant at first but gradually joins in;Lee Ji Woo ( Shin Su Hyun ), a sharp first-year student and sister to Hyun Woo; Choi Hee Won (Yoon Sang Jeong), Ji Woo’s loyal best friend, and Lee Jun (Gong Do Yu), a quirky student who’s more interested in Ga Min’s fighting skills than academics. Supporting them is Lee Han Kyung ( Han Ji Eun ), an idealistic temporary teacher who once tutored Ga Min during her college days. She’s determined to clean up the school and also quietly investigates the mysterious death of her mentor, a former teacher at Yusung.
Their biggest obstacle is Pi Han Ul ( Cha Woo Min ), the school’s ruthless top dog and son of a mafia boss. As the group gains attention, they become targets of Han Ul and his followers, forcing Ga Min to protect his friends not with words, but with fists. What started as a quirky underdog story ended up capturing viewers with its charm, landing it firmly among the year’s surprise hits and eventually renewed for a second season.
Start watching “Study Group”:
“When Life Gives You Tangerines”
One of the biggest shows of the year, the series traces the lives of a couple from their spirited youth in 1950s Jeju Island to the quiet resilience of their later years.At the center of the story is Oh Ae Sun, played by IU in her younger years and Moon So Ri in middle age. Ae Sun is a headstrong, passionate girl born into poverty, but her dream of becoming a poet gives her life a sense of purpose. Though she’s unable to attend school, she’s never afraid to speak her mind or follow her heart and has traits that set her apart in a conservative and often harsh environment. Opposite her is Yang Gwan Sik, portrayed by Park Bo Gum in his youth and Park Hae Joon in middle age. The drama is narrated by their daughter, Yang Geum Myeong (also played by IU), who revisits her parents’ past with a sense of wonder, sorrow, and admiration. Told through a non-linear timeline, the story moves across decades, showing how key moments in their lives ripple through generations. The backdrop of Jeju Island, with its rich culture and historical weight, grounds their story in a particular time and place while also capturing the broader changes that shaped South Korea over the second half of the 20th century. Throughout the four chapters, actors Ra Mi Ran , Lee Jun Young , Kim Seon Ho , and Kang You Seok also play pivotal roles.
More than just a romance, the 16-episode series explores the quiet resilience of people who live through hardship and keep going. It touches on the sacrifices made by parents, the bittersweet nature of chasing dreams, and the subtle but profound ways love endures. Through personal moments, family dynamics, and societal shifts, the drama paints a tender portrait of lives shaped not by grand gestures but by consistent love, shared burdens, and the simple act of holding on.
“Resident Playbook”
A spin-off of the popular medical drama “Hospital Playlist,” this show is set in the same world at Yulje Medical Center but shifts the focus from experienced professors to the fresh and overwhelming lives of first-year OB/GYN residents. The story takes place at Yulje’s Jongno branch, where the Obstetrics and Gynecology department is understaffed and struggling to attract new doctors amid South Korea’s low birth rates. The story follows four very different residents. Oh Yi Young ( Go Youn Jung ) starts her residency to pay off debt, but struggles with emotional distance and a past mistake that threatens her future. Pyo Nam Kyung (Shin Si Ah) is competitive and stylish, drawn by prestige but quickly shaken by the reality of long hours and tough work. Um Jae Il ( Kang You Seok) , a former K-pop idol, is eager and determined, though his enthusiasm sometimes leads to mistakes. And Kim Sa Bi (Han Ye Ji) excels academically but finds it hard to connect with patients, pushing her to grow emotionally as well as professionally. Together, they face the ups and downs of their first year, learning from failures and slowly becoming more confident, compassionate doctors. Ku Do Won ( Jung Jun Won ), the calm and skilled chief resident, guides them with care and strictness. He also shares a sweet romantic subplot with Oh Yi Young.
Blending medical challenges with humor, friendship, and romance, the drama offers a fresh, relatable look at the tough but rewarding path of new doctors.
“Our Unwritten Seoul”
This is a slice-of-life drama about identical twin sisters who have lived very different lives. When they decide to swap places, both embark on journeys of self-discovery and healing. Younger twin Yoo Mi Ji ( Park Bo Young ) was once a promising athlete, but after an injury, she fell into depression and now lives a simple life in the countryside. Outwardly cheerful, she struggles with fear, direction, and feeling overlooked by her family. Her older sister, Yoo Mi Rae (also Park Bo Young), works a high-pressure corporate job in Seoul. Despite her success, Mi Rae suffers from burnout, depression, and workplace bullying. When Mi Ji learns of Mi Rae’s struggles, they swap lives. Mi Ji faces the challenges of city life and corporate work, discovering new strengths. Meanwhile, Mi Rae adjusts to a slower pace on a strawberry farm, where she begins to heal. Their secret is uncovered by Lee Ho Su ( Park Jin Young ), a lawyer and childhood friend, while Han Se Jin ( Ryu Kyung Soo ), the farm owner, adds humor and support to Mi Rae’s journey.
Though romance appears, the show focuses on themes like mental health, generational trauma, and family bonds. It sensitively depicts the sisters’ struggles with anxiety, depression, and recovery. Through their experiences, they learn to accept themselves and find new paths beyond expectations. With strong performances from Park Bo Young, the series is a touching story about identity, resilience, and the courage to rewrite your own life.
“Our Movie”
The story revolves around a once-celebrated film director and an aspiring actress, both of whom face difficult personal struggles and limited time. Their lives intersect through a shared project that changes them both. Lee Je Ha ( Namkoong Min ), a director who gained fame for his debut film but has been stuck in a creative slump for five years. Pressured to live up to his early success, he chooses to break free by making a romance film about someone with little time left to live. Lee Da Eum ( Jeon Yeo Been ) is an aspiring actress who hides her battle with a rare, incurable illness. Despite knowing her time is limited, she lives fully and passionately. She becomes interested in Je Ha’s script and joins the project, finding a new purpose in her acting career. As they work together, their professional collaboration turns personal. Je Ha struggles with his creative block and emotional pain, while Da Eum faces the reality of her illness. Their film’s story and their real lives begin to reflect each other, blurring the lines between art and reality. A romantic connection grows between them, built on vulnerability and mutual healing.
The 12-episode series explores themes of life and death, not just the sadness of terminal illness, but the choice to live meaningfully in the face of it. It examines how art imitates life and how creativity can provide a path to healing. It’s a touching, bittersweet tale about love, memory, and learning to let go.
“Hyper Knife”
The storycenters on Jung Se Ok ( Park Eun Bin ), a once-rising star in neurosurgery whose promising career was cut short when her mentor, Choi Deok Hee ( Sul Kyung Gu ), had her medical license revoked after she interfered in his surgery. Years later, Se Ok lives a quiet life running a small pharmacy by day but secretly performs risky and illegal surgeries at night for wealthy or desperate patients. Driven by her need to challenge limits and perhaps a deep resentment, she operates with cold skill and little concern for ethics. Her former mentor is a world-famous neurosurgeon known for his brilliance but also his secretive and manipulative nature. When he returns, diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor, Choi Deok Hee asks Se Ok to operate on him. This forces them into a tense and dangerous confrontation where their past respect, betrayal, and complicated feelings collide. Their relationship is central to the drama, revealing a complex mix of admiration and hurt. As Se Ok is pulled back into Deok Hee’s world, she struggles between seeking revenge and holding onto the respect she once had for him. Supporting characters include Seo Young Joo ( Yoon Chan Young ), Se Ok’s loyal friend who provides emotional support, and Han Hyun Ho ( Park Byung Eun ), an anesthesiologist who plays a key role in Se Ok’s secret surgeries, balancing stability and unpredictability.
The series stands out for its psychological depth and focus on morally gray choices, exploring how obsession and ambition can blur the boundaries between right and wrong in medicine and personal vengeance.
“ Oh My Ghost Clients ”
Noh Mu Jin ( Jung Kyung Ho ) is a labor lawyer who starts off unmotivated and mostly focused on making money, even if it means bending the rules. He doesn’t care much about justice or workers’ rights. Everything changes for Mu Jin after a near-death experience when he suddenly gains the ability to see and talk to ghosts. But these aren’t ordinary spirits. They are employees who died unfairly because of workplace abuse, negligence, or exploitation. Mu Jin is chosen by a mysterious divine figure, called a Bodhisattva ( Tang Jun Sang ), to take on these ghosts’ cases. If he fails to win justice for them, he risks serious consequences himself. To help him, Mu Jin builds a quirky team called “Team Mujins.” This includes his smart and tough sister-in-law, Na Hee Ju ( Seol In Ah ), who manages the office and keeps things running, and Go Gyeon Woo ( Cha Hak Yeon ), a former reporter-turned-YouTuber who brings humor and a fresh perspective, even if he’s initially more focused on getting views. Together, they investigate workplace abuses from unsafe factories to stolen wages and fight powerful companies and tricky laws. Through these cases, Mu Jin grows from a reluctant lawyer into someone who truly fights for the rights of the voiceless.
The drama balances funny moments from the team’s interactions with the suspense of supernatural and legal battles. At its heart, it sheds light on real social problems, giving a voice to workers who often get ignored and showing the importance of standing up for justice.
Start watching “Oh My Ghost Clients”:
Which of these K-dramas do you love the most? Let us know in the comments below!
mon.y is a devoted connoisseur of Asian dramas and pop culture, with a deep-rooted love for storytelling that spans K-dramas, C-dramas, J-dramas, and everything in between. A longtime entertainment addict turned passionate writer, she brings heartfelt enthusiasm and a sprinkle of sass to every review and deep dive.
Currently watching: “ Law and The City ,” “Good Boy,” “Our Generation,” and “Marry My Husband: Japan.”
Looking forward to: “Twelve” and “The Nice Guy.”
