Famous British Magazine Names Top 10 Korean Dramas of 2024: ‘Lovely Runner’ at No. 2—But What’s No. 1?

2024-12-13 09:52

CJ ENM productions Sweeped the Top Three Spots.

Renowned British pop culture magazine NME has unveiled its list of the "Top 10 Korean Dramas of 2024," with CJ ENM productions sweeping the top three spots.

'Queen of Tears' Still  / tvN
'Queen of Tears' Still / tvN

1. ‘Queen of Tears'

Topping the list is tvN’s ‘Queen of Tears,’ written by Park Ji-eun and directed by Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won. The series broke records with a peak rating of 31%, the highest in tvN’s history. Released globally on Netflix, it garnered an astounding 2.92 billion views and 682.6 million hours of watch time in the first half of 2024 alone. According to NME, Even global pop stars like A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were spotted enjoying the drama, underlining its worldwide impact.

Still from 'Lovely Runner' / tvN
Still from 'Lovely Runner' / tvN

2. ‘Lovely Runner’

Taking second place is ‘Lovely Runner,’ which dominated global streaming platform Rakuten Viki, ranking No. 1 in 109 countries for six consecutive weeks, including the U.S., Canada, and Brazil. Praised by Time as the best K-drama of the year, NME commended the series for "striking a perfect balance with its clichés."

‘Marry My Husband’ Cast Members /  tvN
‘Marry My Husband’ Cast Members / tvN

3. ‘Marry My Husband’

Securing third place is the Amazon Prime Video hit ‘Marry My Husband.’ This drama made history as the first Korean series to top Amazon’s global daily TV show rankings. Its popularity extended beyond Asia, achieving remarkable viewership in North America and Europe, including No. 2 in the U.S. and France and No. 1 in Canada. It maintained a spot in the global top 10 weekly TV rankings for 27 weeks after its finale.

CJ ENM continued its dominance with ‘Pyramid Game,’ ranked at No. 6. The TVING original was the only Korean drama invited to France’s prestigious Series Mania festival, recognized for its unique world-building and fresh performances by emerging actors. Thanks to these stellar productions, CJ ENM’s tvN achieved its first-ever No. 1 position in prime-time ratings during the first half of the year. According to Good Data Corporation’s Fundex analysis, CJ ENM dramas captured the top spot in weekly buzz rankings for all but seven weeks between January and November. During the airing of ‘Queen of Tears’ and ‘Lovely Runner,’ buzz share soared to an astonishing 82%.

NME’s Top 10 Korean Dramas of 2024

  1. ‘Queen of Tears’
  2. ‘Lovely Runner’
  3. ‘Marry My Husband’
  4. ‘The Frog’
  5. ‘The Atypical Family’
  6. ‘Pyramid Game’
  7. ‘A Shop for Killers’
  8. ‘A Killer Paradox’
  9. ‘A Virtuous Business’
  10. ‘What Comes After Love’

CJ ENM’s exceptional year underscores the global influence of Korean dramas, as they continue to captivate audiences across continents with their compelling narratives and outstanding production quality.

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