Beating 20% Rating Hits, This Drama Tops Korea’s Most-Loved Show Rankings

Despite fierce competition from several high-rated shows, one drama has claimed the No. 1 spot in Gallup Korea’s “Most-Loved TV and Video Program” ranking — Netflix’s original series ''When Life Gives You Tangerines''.

According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea between March 18 and 20 and released on March 25, ''When Life Gives You Tangerines'' earned a 6.9% preference rate, making it the most popular program among Korean viewers at the time.

Unlike traditional TV ratings, the Gallup survey asks participants to freely name the program they most enjoy, regardless of platform, time slot, or channel. Since 2023, the methodology has also incorporated OTT content, reflecting the growing influence of streaming platforms. Within this evolving media landscape, ''When Life Gives You Tangerines'' stood out as the most frequently mentioned title across all mediums — broadcast and online.

Released on Netflix in batches of four episodes each Friday since March 7, the drama will be rolled out over a total of four weeks. Set in Jeju from the 1950s to the present, it tells the coming-of-age story of Ae-soon, a literary-minded young woman, and Gwan-sik, a steadfast young man. The narrative follows their journey from childhood to adulthood and parenthood, with IU and Moon So-ri portraying Ae-soon at different ages, and Park Bo-gum and Park Hae-joon playing Gwan-sik. The subplot about their daughter Geum-myung’s life in Seoul adds an emotional layer, drawing in viewers with its nostalgic resonance.

The drama is a collaboration between screenwriter Im Sang-choon and director Kim Won-seok. Im is known for heartfelt, grounded romances like ''Fight for My Way'' and ''When the Camellia Blooms'', while Kim has earned acclaim for character-driven series such as ''Misaeng'', ''Signal'', and ''My Mister''. Their synergy has been praised once again through ''When Life Gives You Tangerines''.

Notably, the series marks the fifth Netflix original to top Gallup Korea’s monthly survey, following ''The Glory'' (March 2023), ''Culinary Class Wars'' (October 2024), ''Squid Game Season 2'' (January 2025), and ''The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call'' (February 2025). This is also the first time in Gallup history that three different dramas from a single OTT platform have ranked No. 1 for three consecutive months — a testament to Netflix’s growing dominance in the Korean market.

Coming in second place was TV Chosun’s hit trot audition show ''Mr. Trot 3'' (4.7%). The series, which wrapped up its latest season on March 13, crowned contestant Kim Yong-bin as its final winner. Among traditional broadcast content, ''Mr. Trot 3'' was the only show to hold its own against Netflix dramas. Previous seasons of the show helped launch the careers of singers like Song Ga-in, Lim Young-woong, and Yang Ji-eun, and the franchise remains widely popular across generations.

In third place was KBS2’s weekend family drama ''For Eagle Brothers'' (3.5%), which recently surpassed 20% viewership ratings. It was followed by KBS1’s daily drama ''My Merry Marriage'' (3.2%) and SBS’s weekend series ''Buried Hearts'' (2.8%).

Further down the list, JTBC’s new drama ''The Art of Negotiation'' and the reality show ''Divorce Camp'' made their first appearances in the rankings. Other variety and infotainment programs such as ''I Am SOLO'', ''Home Alone'', ''My Little Old Boy'', ''Unanswered Questions'', and ''Travelogue Earth'' also featured in the top 20, reflecting increasingly diversified viewing habits.

As the line between television and streaming continues to blur, the quality and immersive appeal of content itself has become the key factor in viewer choice. The rise of ''When Life Gives You Tangerines'' — not just in viewership but in heartfelt preference — underscores a significant shift in how Korean audiences consume and connect with storytelling in the digital age.