K-drama with the highest ratings in 2024: Lovely Runner to A Shop for Killers

The highest-rated K-dramas for the first half of 2024—that is, from January to June—are Lovely Runner, Queen of Tears, and A Shop for Killers.

1. Lovely Runner

With a rating of 9.1 out of 10, this series is in first place and is based on a well-known web novel by Lee Si Eun. Played by Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon portrays Im Sol, an ardent admirer who is crushed by the untimely passing of her idol, Ryu Sun Jae. Im Sol shows the great influence of a genuine, altruistic, and resilient attitude in pursuing one’s goals in life and love by traveling back in time to stop his death.

2. Queen of Tears

The wonderful, exciting, and amusing love tale of a married couple played by Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won is depicted in Park Ji Eun’s novel Queen of Tears. They resist the odds and stick together in the face of a crisis, demonstrating the humor and resiliency that keep their love going.

3. A Shop for Killers

Based on the novel Salinjaui Shoppingmall by Kang Ji Young, A Shop for Killers tells the compelling story of Jung Ji An (Kim Hye Jun). Her father’s terrible deed leaves her an orphan, and her seemingly unremarkable uncle Jung Jin Man (Lee Dong Wook) adopts her. But Ji An doesn’t learn about Jin Man’s peculiar line of employment until after his death.

4. Begins Youth

The story explores the lives of seven boys who are navigating education and personal development while dealing with issues such as poverty, grief, violence, rejection, and family responsibilities.

5. Flex x Cop

The plot of Flex x Cop centers on Ahn Bo Hyun’s character, Jin Yi Soo, a third-generation chaebol who is immature and ends up becoming a detective because of his wealthy upbringing. As they work on cases together, he teams up with Lee Kang Hyun (Park Ji Hyun), a devoted senior detective and the first female team head in the Homicide Department.

6. Pyramid Game

Pyramid Game is a suspense drama that takes place at an all-girls high school and is based on the same-named webtoon. Students participate in a popularity vote once a month, and those who obtain a F officially become the targets of violence in schools.

7. High School Return of a Gangster

The journey of a gangster whose soul unintentionally takes up residence in the body of a 19-year-old high school student is chronicled in the fantasy drama High School Return of a Gangster. He utilizes his abilities to confront and penalize the offenders as he develops a relationship with a fellow student who is a victim of domestic abuse.

8. Marry My Husband

Marry My Husband, which is based on the acclaimed web novel, tells the story of terminally ill Kang Ji Won (Park Min Young) who sees her closest friend Jung Soo Min (Song Ha Yoon) having an affair with her husband Park Min Hwan (Lee Yi Kyung), who kills her. With a second shot at life, Kang Ji Won is transported ten years into the past and teams up with her employer Yoo Ji Hyeok (Na In Woo).

9. The Atypical Family

Bok Gwi Joo, played by Jang Ki Yong, was originally capable of time travel but lost it due to a sad tragedy that left him extremely depressed. However, after the enigmatic Do Da Hee (Chun Woo Hee) entered his family’s lives, his life began to change.

10. Knight Flower

Knight Flower is an action-comedy drama that takes place in the Joseon period and stars Honey Lee as Jo Yeo Hwa, a widow for 15 years who has led a quiet and moral life. She has a double life, though, sneaking out after dark to heroically help others in need.

11. Chief Detective 1958

Chief Detective 1958 is a prelude to the beloved Korean television series Chief Inspector, which ran from 1971 to 1989 and had seventy percent of viewers at its peak. The drama centers on Park Young Han (Lee Je Hoon), a dedicated investigator known for his prodigious track record of apprehending small-time criminals.

12. Parasyte: The Grey

Based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s renowned manga series Parasyte, Parasyte: The Grey investigates the arrival of enigmatic extraterrestrial parasite life forms on Earth. These animals take up residence in human hosts in an attempt to establish their domination.

13. Wonderful World

In the gripping drama Wonderful World, Kim Nam Joo plays Eun Soo Hyun, a mother seeking retribution for the terrible death of her son. After graduating from medical school, Kwon Sun Yool (Cha Eun Woo), whose life takes a difficult turn, finds himself unforeseenly involved in Eun Soo Hyun’s pursuit of justice.

14. Doctor Slump

In the romantic comedy Doctor Slump, two erstwhile adversaries who unexpectedly turn to one another for help through their darkest hours are followed on their journey. Starring with Park Hyung Sik is Yeo Jung Woo, a well-known plastic surgeon whose prosperous career is in danger due to an unexplained medical issue. Park Shin Hye plays Nam Ha Neul, a committed anesthesiologist battling burnout syndrome, in opposition to him.

15. Crash

The Traffic criminal Investigation (TCI) unit, which is tasked with investigating crimes that happen on the road, is the focal point of the criminal investigation drama Crash. The show emphasizes the strong collaboration between the team’s top investigator, Kwak Sun Young, and Cha Yeon Ho (Lee Min Ki), who is renowned for his logical and independent attitude.