2025 was my fourth year of watching K-dramas. I occasionally watched a C-drama and J-drama but they were clearly in the minority. I started my K-drama journey in March 2022 with Crash Landing on You and I have never looked back since. As of now, my account on My Drama List registers 169 watched dramas, of which 3 are specials (Our Secret Extra, Our Dining Table Spin Off and the special episode of Dr. Romantic – Season 1). So without the specials it comes to 166 dramas watched & finished in total since March 2022, of which 9 are Chinese and 6 are Japanese. (I still have 2 series on hold, the Korean Descendants of the Sun and the Chinese series Forever Love).
In 2022 I watched 45 dramas, in 2023 only 12, and in 2024 I watched 58 series.
Following is a list of all dramas I watched in 2025, a grand total of 51 series! Of these titles, 43 are Korean, 3 Chinese and 5 Japanese. Titles are listed in watching order (by finished date).
When the Phone Rings (2024)
Prison Playbook (2017)
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (2025)
The Fiery Priest (2024) — Season 2
Light Shop (2024)
Shogun (2024)
Study Group (2025)
Melo Movie (2025)
Where Does the Sea Begin (2024)
Lovestruck in the City (2020)
God's Gift – 14 Days (2014)
Undercover High School (2025)
Doubt (2024)
Divorce Attorney Shin (2023)
When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025)
Who Saw the Peacock Dance in the Jungle? (2025)
Circle (2017)
To the Wonder (2024)
The Happy Loner (2017)
What Happens to My Family? (2014)
Confession (2019)
Taxi Driver (2023) — Season 2
Dr. Romantic (2016)
Tastefully Yours (2025)
Nine Puzzles (2025)
Way Back Love (2025)
Good Boy (2025)
Reborn (2025)
Head over Heels (2025)
The Judge from Hell (2024)
Mr. Plankton (2024)
Our Movie (2025)
Awaken (2020)
Once Upon a Small Town (2022)
Our Unwritten Seoul (2025)
Love, Take Two (2025)
Welcome 2 Life (2019)
Tempest (2025)
Twelve Letters (2025)
School 2017 (2017)
The Story of Kang-goo (2014)
Romantics Anonymous (2025)
Beyond the Bar (2025)
Justice (2019)
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
Death's Game (2023)
Death's Game (2024) — Part 2
Typhoon Family (2025)
Pachinko (2024) — Season 2
Trillion Game (2023)
Are You Human? (2018)
I did not drop a single drama this year and didn't put anything on hold. I even picked up a drama that I had put on hold since 2022 and finished now with satisfaction (Once Upon a Small Town).
I watched a lot of new dramas from 2025 (20 titles to be exact). With Dramaland churning out so many dramas yearly (and still very good ones), it's hard to keep up and I already have to catch up with so many 'old' titles. I also want to watch my elder sister's favourite Chinese costume dramas but those are a bigger time investment with many episodes so I still haven't watched my first Chinese costume drama yet. Will do in 2026!
My favourite drama of the year is When Life Gives You Tangerines, hands down. I also finally watched the much-acclaimed Extraordinary Attorney Woo and totally loved it. Among the other dramas that I really loved are: Prison Playbook, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, Melo Movie, Undercover High School, To the Wonder, The Judge from Hell, Mr. Plankton, Our Unwritten Seoul, Twelve Letters, School 2017, Romantics Anonymous, Beyond the Bar, Death's Game, and Are You Human?.
There were also series that started off strong and showed lots of promise but in the end didn't quite deliver. I'm thinking of Tastefully Yours, Good Boy, Head over Heels and Typhoon Family. These were all series that I watched while they were being aired. I still enjoyed them but they could have been so much better.
After finishing Are You Human? at the end of December, I didn't start a new drama so I will begin 2026 with a new slate. I hope to watch more 'old' dramas and Chinese costume dramas.
Here's to a New Year of Dramas!