Top 10 IMDb’s Highest-Rated Kdramas of 2026 So Far! (Jan-June)

09: The Wonderfools

IMDb Rating: 7.7 (4.8K)

This is easily one of the weirdest dramas of the year, and that's exactly why audiences couldn't get enough of it. Set in 1999 during the height of Y2K panic, the story takes place in Haeseong City, where everyone is convinced the world might be ending. Eun Chae-ni, a woman with a terminal heart condition, attempts to stage a fake kidnapping but accidentally dies, only to resurrect with teleportation powers after exposure to toxic waste. Alongside a timid giant and a local complainer who also gains bizarre abilities, she has to save the town. Viewers were utterly captivated by Park Eun-bin's unpredictable performance as the town's resident train wreck, while Cha Eun-woo earned widespread praise for his surprisingly restrained and mature portrayal of a telekinetic civil servant.

08: Can This Love Be Translated?

IMDb Rating: 7.8 (8.6K)

Penned by the Hong Sisters, this globe-trotting romance stars Kim Seon-ho as Joo Ho-jin, a polyglot interpreter, and Go Youn-jung as Cha Mu-hee, a global superstar carrying deep emotional scars. They reunite when Ho-jin is hired as the interpreter for an international dating reality show featuring Mu-hee and a fading Japanese actor. As they travel from Japan to Canada and Italy, professional boundaries quickly blur. Viewers fell in love with the clever tension of two people who constantly misunderstand each other's true feelings. Fans highlighted Go Youn-jung's nuanced portrayal of an anxious star paired with Kim Seon-ho's warm energy.

07: Perfect Crown

IMDb Rating: 7.9 (4.2K)

A class-defying romance set against the gorgeous backdrop of a modern constitutional monarchy, this visually stunning series follows Seong Hui-ju, a successful but commoner chaebol heiress who proposes a marriage contract to Grand Prince I-Ahn to elevate her status. As the unlikely couple navigates the suffocating protocols of the royal palace and deals with political conspiracies, their transactional alliance evolves into a fiercely protective romance. Audiences were drawn into the incredible production design and lavish costumes that brought the alternative 21st-century royalty concept to life.

06: My Royal Nemesis

IMDb Rating: 8.0 (1.0K)

Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun headline this fascinating series about a cunning Joseon-era villainess named Kang Dan-shim who dies by poison and awakens three hundred years later in the body of a struggling modern actress. In 2026 Seoul, she crosses paths with Cha Se-gye, a ruthless chaebol heir who hides his facial scars behind a mask and is the reincarnation of a prince. Fans were hooked by the incredible love-hate dynamic and intense tension between the two leads, noting that it felt refreshing to see a female lead who is unapologetically vicious.

05: In Your Radiant Season

IMDb Rating: 8.0 (1.5K)

This crafted melodrama stars Lee Sung-kyung as Song Ha-ran, a woman emotionally frozen and distancing herself from the world, and Chae Jong-hyeop as Sunwoo Chan, a cheerful designer who lost his hearing and memories after a tragic accident. When they cross paths, Sun-woo's relentless warmth and summer-like energy slowly begins to melt Song Ha-ran's defensive wintery exterior, though they must confront dark secrets linking their pasts. Viewers were incredibly moved by the show's gentle pacing and its sensitive handling of grief and memory loss.

04: The Legend of Kitchen Soldier

IMDb Rating: 8.2

Starring Park Ji-hoon, this highly unique adaptation follows Kang Seong-jae, a young man from a poor background who enlists in the military following his father's sudden death. Though initially flagged for observation, his life flips completely upside down when a holographic screen appears, assigning him cooking quests and turning his grueling military service into a real-life RPG. Tasked with feeding the troops, Seong-jae quickly rises to become a legendary chef. Fans absolutely adored the hilarious underdog story and the satisfying progression of Seong-jae leveling up his culinary skills.

03: The Scarecrow

IMDb Rating: 8.4 (800+)

Based on real-life events, this incredibly tense series stars Park Hae-soo as Kang Tae-joo, an ace detective demoted to his rural hometown, and Lee Hee-joon as Cha Si-young, an ambitious prosecutor who used to be Tae-joo's high school bully. Forced to work together, they dive into a chilling serial murder case that exposes deep-rooted corruption and decades of suppressed trauma. The drama was widely acclaimed for its gritty realism, tight plotting, and absolute refusal to shy away from the horrific realities of systemic injustice. Fans were completely mesmerized by the explosive, combative dynamic between the two male leads, praising their acting as a masterclass in psychological tension.

02: Teach You A Listen

IMDb Rating: 8.5

Based on a Blue String Universe webtoon “Get Schooled,” this gritty series stars Kim Mu-yeol as Na Hwa-jin, an inspector for a newly formed government agency authorized to use physical force and psychological pressure to discipline violent delinquent students. Set in a dystopian-feeling yet shockingly relevant reality where teachers are entirely powerless against abusive students, the show delivers a brutal, cathartic form of justice. Audiences could not stop talking about the raw, high-octane action sequences and the unapologetic vengeance dished out to the antagonists. Fans showered Kim Mu-yeol with praise for his commanding screen presence, noting the series served as a thrilling revenge fantasy and sobering reflection.

01: We are All Trying Here

IMDb Rating: 8.5 (2.3K)