As 2025 coming to an end, the world of K-drama has had an incredible lineup of shows featuring elements of romance, thriller, fantasy, and Slice-of-Life. Whether these shows revolve around the story of generations or survival games, these dramas have managed to enthrall audiences world over for their depth of emotional content, unique storytelling, and talented acting skills. After consulting various rankings and reviews, there are eight shows that have defined 2025.

1. When Life Gives You Tangerines

A multi-generational love story based on Jeju Island, it tracks the life journey of a couple from their youth into adulthood, told through the lens of their daughter. A warm and tragic example of life in a slice-of-life show, it is lauded for making the ordinary lives of people seem extraordinary and for tearing down intergenerational barriers.

2. Way Back Love

A grieving art student's life changes when she receives a visit from the Grim Reaper in the form of her deceased lover, resulting in a series of bucket list adventures and serving as the catalyst for a series of stories revolving around this art student's renewal of hope in life. This romance-fantasy hybrid catches attention for its intense display of grieving and healing.

3. Squid Game Season 3

Wrapping up the tale of Seong Gi-Hun in the survival series of deadly matches, this season explores hope amidst hopelessness in a capitalistic environment. This survival series can't be afforded to miss in terms of its scathing commentary on capitalism and its unprecedented reach on Netflix.

4. Tempest

In this drama, romance ensues between a young woman who has become a diplomat and a mercenary as they work to get to the bottom of a conspiracy involving the Korean peninsula. This drama-thriller is worth watching because of its great production quality, interesting storyline, and great chemistry between the leads.

5. Resident Playbook

Four young physicians experience their debut year in a under-staffed OB-GYN department, relating to the Korean birth rate problem, as it tackles real-life concerns in a young adult drama-comedy. The show is praised for its unique integration of drama and real-life matters, as it topped the rankings.

6. Genie, Make a wish

A genie is a magical creature who can grant wishes, but this genie is an ancient genie who is brought back into the present day and makes wishes to his stoic master as a kind of wager on a human nature. This fantasy-comedy particularly sparkles because of the mirthful paranormal elements and the undeniable chemistry between the two main stars of the production, Kim Woo-bin and Suzy.

7. Trigger
The police officer is fighting to make guns not an everyday phenomenon in society as a kind of thought-provoking lesson about gun violence. Being an action-crime thriller series, its dedication to thematic and timely TV is crucial.

8. Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

A contemporary Korean chef finds himself back in the Joseon Dynasty period and is hired as a palace chef, getting himself entangled in palace politics and a romance with a revenge-seeking king. This historical fantasy romance series was a huge global success owing to themes of time travel and delicious food.