The first few months of 2025 brought a wave of exciting K-Dramas, with plenty of competition across TV networks and streaming platforms. With so many options, viewers’ preferences were more diverse than ever, spanning different genres and formats. Some dramas became instant hits, drawing in massive audiences, while others struggled to make an impact. What made the difference? From star power to storytelling, genre trends to release schedules, several factors played a role in shaping these ratings.
Korean Drama Ratings 2025 (Daily Update)K-Drama StoriesApr 16, 2025
In this article, we’ll break down the biggest trends, successes, and surprises from Q1 2025, giving you a closer look at what’s driving the K-Drama industry right now.
Created by Kpopmap using napkin.ai
Dramas in the first half includes: "Love Scout", "When The Stars Gossip", "The Queen Who Crowns", "Motel California", "Study Group", "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call", "My Dearest Nemesis", "The Potato Lab", "Undercover High School", "Buried Hearts", and more.
*Note: This article does not include weekend dramas. Only dramas that started to air in 2025 are included. Data of April 1st.
Let's have a look now!
1. How Did Q1 2025 K-Dramas Perform Across Different TV Channels?
Looking at the viewership data for K-Dramas aired in the first quarter of 2025, we can get a clearer picture of how different networks and platforms performed.
📺 SBS also performed well, particularly with "Love Scout", a romance drama that saw its ratings rise over time, wrapping up with its highest rating of 12.0%. "Buried Hearts" on SBS also did well, steadily increasing in viewership and reaching 13.1% by the end of March, showcasing strong performance across both weekday and weekend slots.
📺 tvN had a more mixed result. While "The Queen Who Crowns" started off strong and ended with a peak rating of 6.6%, and "My Dearest Nemesis" held steady around 4%, the high-profile "When the Stars Gossip" struggled, averaging low ratings despite its star-studded cast and big production budget. "The Potato Lab" on tvN also faced modest success, generally hovering in the 1-2% range.
SBS - "Buried Hearts"
📺 MBC's "Motel California" showed moderate success, peaking at 6.0% for one episode. "Undercover High School" saw a rise in ratings but experienced a decline towards the end, finishing with a decent but not remarkable rating of 5.8%.
📺 JTBC’s "The Art of Negotiation" saw a positive upward trend, reaching 8.1% by the end of March, while Channel A's "The Witch" set a record for the highest premiere ratings in the network’s history at 2.4%, finishing with a respectable 2.7%.
Created by Kpopmap using napkin.ai
💻 Streaming platforms were key players in the K-Drama landscape, with Netflix making waves globally. "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" topped non-English TV charts and performed well worldwide, while "When Life Gives You Tangerines" ranked as the most beloved show in South Korea according to a Gallup Korea survey. "Melo Movie" also debuted strong on the global charts.
💻 Although detailed viewership numbers for TVING, Disney+, Coupang Play, U+ Mobile TV, Wavve, Watcha, and Genie TV/ENA are less readily available, "Study Group" on TVING made waves by ranking in the top 5 in over 140 regions on Viki, showing its international appeal. "Newtopia" on Coupang Play also achieved record viewership despite mixed reviews.
As for peak times, weekend slots on SBS performed strongly, with "Buried Hearts" leading the charge. Friday and Saturday evenings also turned out to be prime slots for SBS dramas. On the other hand, Netflix’s success points to the growing importance of on-demand viewing, which suggests that specific timeslots might be less crucial for platform-based content.
2. Deep Dive: Rating Trends for Each K-Drama
Several dramas experienced notable fluctuations in their viewership ratings. "Love Scout" showed a steady increase, culminating in a peak during its finale. "When the Stars Gossip" had an early surge but then saw a steady decline in ratings. "Motel California" exhibited more volatility, with a significant jump in ratings around its seventh episode. "Undercover High School" peaked early and then experienced a gradual drop. "Mother and Mom" saw a remarkable surge in ratings for its final episode. Lastly, "The Art of Negotiation" steadily climbed in viewership as the series progressed.
tvN / JTBC / MBC - "The Queen Who Crowns", "The Art of Negotiation", "Undercover High School", "When The Stars Gossip"
We selected the dramas that had the most interesting rating trends. Let's give you more information:
📈 "Love Scout" (SBS): This romance drama saw a steady rise in ratings throughout its 12-episode run. It started at a modest 5.2% and gradually increased, peaking at 12.0% by the finale. This steady climb suggests positive word-of-mouth and a strong connection with the audience.
Enjoy full access for just $1
Join over 10,000 active members!
🌟 Special Contents for Subscribers
