A king who voluntarily abolishes the monarchy after ascending the throne. A corrupt judge who returns 10 years to the past to punish powerful wrongdoers. A financial regulator working undercover who shakes up the stock market district of Yeouido in 1997. A notorious Joseon-era villainess who inhabits the body of an aspiring actress. A conglomerate chairman whose soul is transferred into a rookie soccer player.
These are some of the stories that captivated Korean television audiences during the first half of 2026. Fantasy elements such as time travel, possession, and soul-swapping, combined with satisfying revenge narratives, proved to be major draws for viewers.
Among dramas that aired or are currently airing this year, MBC’s Friday-Saturday series 'Perfect Crown' emerged as the highest-rated. Set in an alternate version of South Korea where a constitutional monarchy still exists, the drama starred IU and Byeon Woo Seok in a romance that transcends social status.
The series concluded with a nationwide Nielsen Korea rating of 13.8%, its highest rating during the run. At its peak, viewership surpassed 16%. The drama generated significant buzz before its premiere thanks to its reported production budget of more than 30 billion KRW and the pairing of its two lead stars. While it consistently ranked high in popularity surveys, it also faced criticism over acting performances and alleged historical distortions. The finale saw the protagonist, after becoming king, abolish the royal family through a national referendum and return to ordinary life.
Second place went to MBC's 'The Judge Returns' with a final rating of 13.6%. The fantasy revenge drama follows Lee Han Young, a corrupt judge manipulated by a powerful law firm, who dies and travels back 10 years to bring justice to society’s most powerful villains.
The series marked actor Ji Sung’s return to MBC as a lead actor for the first time in nearly a decade since 'Kill Me, Heal Me' in 2015. Starting with a modest 4.3% rating, the drama gained momentum through word of mouth, eventually reaching double digits and recording a peak rating of 17%. It became MBC’s first double-digit-rated drama in one year and eight months since 'Chief Detective 1958,' and was widely credited with revitalizing the network’s drama division after it failed to produce a single double-digit hit the previous year.
Ranking third was tvN’s weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong' with 13.1%. The series marked actress Park Shin Hye’s return to television after two years. She played a 35-year-old financial regulator who disguises herself as a 20-year-old entry-level employee.
Set in the Yeouido securities industry of 1997, the office comedy depicted workplace realities of the era, including female employees being required to wear uniforms and run coffee errands. The drama steadily climbed from its 3.5% premiere rating throughout its run. Co-stars included Go Kyung Pyo and Ha Yoon Kyung. The 16-episode series concluded on March 8.
Fourth place belonged to SBS’s 'My Royal Nemesis' with 11.8%. The romantic comedy follows Shin Seo Ri, an unknown actress possessed by the spirit of a notorious Joseon-era villainess, and Cha Se Gye, a ruthless chaebol heir nicknamed “a monster created by capitalism.”
Actress Lim Ji Yeon, known for her standout performance in 'The Glory,' took on her first major comedic role, while Heo Nam Jun played her romantic counterpart. The 14-episode drama aired from May 8 through June 20 and was simultaneously released on Netflix, where it ranked among the platform’s most-watched titles in 57 countries.
Fifth place currently belongs to JTBC’s ongoing weekend drama 'Reborn Rookie.' Through Episode 8, the series has recorded a personal best rating of 11.0%.
The drama began at 3.7% and broke its own ratings record each week before surpassing the double-digit mark. It tells the story of a succession battle that unfolds after the souls of Kang Yong Ho, chairman of Choi Sung Group, and promising soccer player Hwang Jun Hyun are switched in an accident.
The cast is led by Son Hyun Joo and Lee Jun Young, with Lee Joo Myung, Jeon Hye Jin, and Jin Goo also appearing. Based on a web novel by author San Kyung, the series attracted attention for sharing a connected universe with the writer’s hit work Reborn Rich.
The remainder of the top 10 includes:
The rankings highlight several major trends in Korean television this year. Fantasy concepts such as time travel, possession, and soul-swapping dominated the landscape. Four of the top five dramas — 'The Judge Returns,' 'My Royal Nemsis,' 'Reborn Rookie,' and 'Perfect Crown'— relied heavily on supernatural or alternate-reality settings.
Revenge-driven “wish-fulfillment” stories also remained popular, often featuring protagonists who conceal their identities or return to the past to defeat evil. Another notable trend was the growing reliance on web novels and webtoons as source material, allowing broadcasters to capitalize on established intellectual properties and built-in fan bases.
The competitive landscape among broadcasters also shifted noticeably. After failing to produce a single double-digit-rated drama last year, MBC staged a dramatic comeback by claiming both the No. 1 and No. 2 positions with 'The Perfect Crown' and 'TheJudge Returns.'
Meanwhile, tvN, SBS, ENA, KBS2, JTBC, and streaming platform TVING all secured places in the top 10, underscoring increasingly fierce competition among terrestrial broadcasters, cable networks, comprehensive programming channels, and streaming services. More productions are also pursuing simultaneous domestic and international success, 'My Royal Nemsis' via global platforms, as demonstrated by which found audiences in South Korea and overseas on Netflix.
SEE ALSO: ‘Perfect Crown’ Blu-ray project canceled amid historical distortion controversy
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