Best of the Best - Drama Edition (CLOSED)
Announcement on Dec 25th 2023: This original list is CLOSED. Please vote at the new 2023 list here.
On Sep 11th 2022, the Best of the Best - Drama Edition is started to unearth the best of best dramas among MDL users.
As the Best of the Best - Drama Edition, each user can only list his/her one and only one best drama.
As an evergreen list to cater for newly watched dramas that wowed, each user can change their one response unlimited times.
The results, based on the first 1,000 voters and henceforth annually on Sep 11th, will be summarised and analysed in an article.
So think hard, choose wisely and have fun! :)
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Edit in Nov 2022: The article summarising the results of the inaugural Best of the Best – Drama Edition, based on the voting by the first 1,004 votes as of Oct 9th, 2022, is available here!
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Edit on Sep 17th 2023: Due to articles publication issue, the BOTB 1st anniversary edition will be put on hold indefinitely. Hopefully, it can be resolved by year end, so we can revisit the BOTB as we wrap up 2023 *fingers crossed*
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Edit on Dec 22nd 2023: Revisiting this poll as we inch closer to year end. Has there been a change to your BOTB drama as you watched more dramas in 2023? As the first time writer issue is still around, there wont be an editorial. But will be keeping tab of the results as at 31 Dec 2023 2359H (UTC), so a comparison can be made when issue is resolved.
- Ling Bu Yi, the foster son of Emperor Wen and a talented & ruthless general of the Black Armour Army, was on a personal mission to uncover hidden truths about the past, ...more
- Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji, two talented disciples of respected clans, meet during cultivation training and accidentally discover a secret carefully hidden for many years. Taking on the legacy of ...more
- In the fictional country of Daeho, young mages struggle to overcome twisted fates caused by the forbidden "alchemy of souls," a spell that swaps souls between bodies. Naksu, an elite assassin, finds ...more
- After a series of twists and turns, Cheng Shao Shang and Ling Bu Yi are engaged to be married by Imperial consent and decree. However, they still have many hurdles to overcome. ...more
- According to legend, Dongfang Qing Cang of the Moon Tribe became an emotionless monster to gain immense power, killing his father, seizing the title of Moon Supreme, and leading 100,000 Moon Tribe ...more
- After getting into a paragliding accident, South Korean heiress Yoon Se Ri crash lands in North Korea. There, she meets North Korean army officer Ri Jung Hyuk, who agrees to help her ...more
- Jang Bong Hwan, a South Korean chef, ends up in the body of Queen Kim So Yong after a serious accident, transporting him to Korea’s past. Queen So Yong’s husband, King Cheol ...more
- Although Baek Hui Seong is hiding a dark secret surrounding his true identity, he has established a happy family life and a successful career. He is a loving husband and a doting ...more
- Park Dong Hun is a middle-aged engineer who is married to attorney Kang Yun Hui. However, his life is not that happy as he has two unemployed brothers, Sang Hun and Gi ...more
- Shang Gu, the only true immortal with pure essence energy, leads the four ancient true immortals revered as gods by mortals. Amid their divine duties, the story explores the profound love and ...more
- In sixth-century China, the Emperor of Great Liang orders the unjust execution of his brother-in-law Marshal Lin Xie alongside the Lin family, his 70,000 army soldiers, and Crown Prince Qi. Secretly surviving ...more
- Qiao Jing Jing, a well-known celebrity, finds herself in hot water when a leaked video of her terrible gaming skills threatens her endorsement deal. To save her reputation, she jumps into a ...more
- Yan Dan and her twin sister, Zhi Xi, are the sole descendants of the ancient tribe the Four-Leaved Lotus. Yan Dan’s entire being is a treasure trove of medicines. She and twin ...more
- At the age of eight, Park Joo Hyeong left for Italy after being adopted. Now an adult, he is known as Vincenzo Cassano and employed by a Mafia family as a consigliere. ...more
- Five childhood friends, who all live in the same Ssangmundong neighborhood of Seoul, lean on each other to survive their challenging teen years and set a path for their futures. Sung Deok ...more
- Fan Xian is born in the ancient empire of Southern Qing with memories of the 21st century. He lives in a rural town as the illegitimate son of the Minister of Finance, ...more
- Seo Jung Hoo is a special kind of night courier, known only as "Healer" by his clients. For the right price and with the help of a genius hacker, he gets his ...more
- During the South Korean financial crisis, teen fencer Na Hee Do's high school team is disbanded, but she overcomes obstacles to join the national team. Meanwhile, Baek Yi Jin's life is turned ...more
- An unexplainable phenomena finds college-going student, Li Shi Qing, trapped in a never-ending time loop where she is always stuck on a public service bus which is due to explode, bringing death ...more
- Meet the two fearless men willing to go to extreme lengths in their pursuit of a serial killer that has shaken up their quiet city: Lee Dong Sik, a once capable detective, ...more
- Kim Shin was once an unbeatable general in Goryeo's military who died a tragic death. He now possesses immortality but is tired of living while everyone else around him dies. For 900 ...more
- In the ultra-competitive world of e-sports, the all-male ZGDX OPL team is second to none. Armies of adoring female fans follow the team wherever it goes. But when one of the team’s ...more
- In 2019, 27-year-old Huang Yu Xuan yearns for her missing boyfriend Wang Quan Sheng, presumed dead for two years. On her birthday, she wishes to "see him." Meanwhile, in 1998, 17-year-old Chen ...more
- In the year 626 C.E., the Tang Dynasty faces upheaval following the successful Xuanwu Gate Incident, a coup orchestrated by a cunning prince. During the chaos, Li Chang Ge's family is slaughtered, ...more
- Three troubled youths, each from a dysfunctional household, find comfort in each other and form a chosen family. Eldest brother Ling Xiao, second brother He Zi Qiu, and youngest sister Li Jian ...more
- Yoon Sae Bom is a special agent with quick wits and reflexes and another special quality. She earns the opportunity to move into a new apartment set aside for civil servants in ...more
- When a total eclipse of the sun takes place, Go Ha Jin is transported back in time to the start of the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea during King Taejo's rule. She wakes ...more
- The Nine-tailed Fox Bai Qian, the youngest daughter of the Fox King, is brought to Kunlun Mountain to become a disciple of the God of War, Mo Yuan. While studying there, a ...more
- Mr. Sunshine centers on a young boy born into a house servant's family who travels to the United States during the 1871 Shinmiyangyo (U.S. expedition to Korea). He returns to his homeland ...more
- Set in the Northern Song dynasty, the story follows Sheng Ming Lan, an unfavored concubine-born 6th daughter of an official. After losing her mother at a young age, Ming Lan is raised ...more
- Feeling trapped in a stale four-year relationship and reluctant to take the next step into marriage, Lee Jeong In stumbles into Yoo Ji Ho's pharmacy one morning, nursing a hangover after a ...more
- In 18th-century Korea, Prince Yi San is a perfectionist haunted by his father's murder. He's set to inherit the throne once his cruel grandfather, the current king, passes away. Despite the emotional ...more
- After a conflict with her boss, dentist Yoon Hye Jin escapes the city to a seaside village where she'd vacationed to before as a little girl. When she learns the village is ...more
- After her father's murder, Yoon Ji Woo seeks revenge by infiltrating the police under the direction of Choi Moo Jin, the head of a powerful drug ring. As she goes undercover, she ...more
- Zi Fen, the Flower Deity, dies after giving birth to a daughter, Jin Mi. Before her death, Zi Fen foresaw that Jin Mi would encounter a fatal love trial and fed her ...more
- Ever since they were young, Pran and Pat's families had a deep and raging rivalry, trying to one-up each other on everything. This also extended to their sons. Comparing their sons' achievements ...more
- In 1990s Seoul, a mysterious killer known as 'Red Cap' terrorizes the city with brutal, random attacks on women, leaving detectives powerless. To catch him, Kook Yeong Su, head of the Criminal ...more
- A traumatic childhood experience leaves Cha Do Hyeon, suffering from memory loss and dissociation. The latter has resulted in the creation of seven distinct personalities. Wanting to regain control over his life, ...more
- In 18th century Beijing, during the 6th year of Qianlong Emperor's reign, Wei Ying Luo enters the Forbidden City as an embroiderer to investigate the truth behind her older sister's rape and ...more
- Teh and Oh-aew were best friends until a boyhood line of reasoning turned them into rivals. Years later as they're preparing for university admissions, both pursuing interests in the field of Communication ...more
- Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, 27-year-old Woo Young Woo graduated at the top of her class from the prestigious Seoul National University for both college and law school due to her high ...more
- A group of demon hunters called Counters work undercover at a noodle restaurant to capture evil spirits seeking eternal life. So Moon, the youngest Counter, becomes a central figure after a mysterious ...more
- A suspenseful story that asks the key question, “What if we could identify psychopaths in advance?” A crazed serial killer’s ruthless murders have left the entire nation gripped with fear, and chaos ...more
- At forty years old, Lee Boo Jeong has lost her way. She feels like she has reached the end of her potential and achieved absolutely nothing. Lee Kang Jae is twenty-seven, a ...more
- "True Beauty" is a romantic comedy about a high school girl, Lim Ju Gyeong, who rises to pretty girl fame after she masters the art of make-up from YouTube. She turns into ...more
- Queen of Qing Qiu, Bai Feng Jiu, is the only red nine-tailed fox in the world. One day, Feng Jiu is attacked by a savage beast while seeking cultivation in the mountains ...more
- Oh Sung Moo, the father of cardiothoracic surgeon Oh Yeon Joo, mysteriously goes missing while writing the last chapter of his webtoon "W". Yeon Joo goes to his office looking, but a ...more
- Shan Cai, an 18-year-old girl from a struggling family, is accepted into the country's most prestigious school, where she meets F4, an exclusive group of the wealthiest and most handsome boys—Dao Ming ...more
- Moon Gang Tae is a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who was blessed with everything including a great body, smarts, ability to sympathize with others, patience, ability to react quickly, ...more
- In order to leave the assassin organization The Window of Heaven, the leader Zhou Zi Shu performs an obligatory departure technique, leaving him with three years left to live. He disguises his ...more
- Tak Dong Kyung has been working hard ever since her parents passed away. Her life seemed more stable after working as a web novel editor for 6 years, but then she gets ...more
- Jung Da Jeong and Hong Dae Yeong have been married for almost two decades, raising their twins together. Despite appearances, their life is far from ideal, filled with Dae Yeong's incessant nonsense. ...more
- Hwang Shi Mok underwent brain surgery as a child to curb his violent temper, which left him devoid of emotions. Hwang becomes a prosecutor known for his piercing intelligence and logic, but ...more
- Yun Jong U is a young guy in his 20s who moves from the countryside to Seoul after his college friend, Jae Ho, offers him a job. While looking for a place ...more
- With Xiao Qi returning as an ambassador for her home planet, the couple embarks on another series of adventure on Earth. Chai Xiao Qi and Fang Leng are about to usher in ...more
- Ten years ago, Li Xiang Yi, the master of the Sigu Sect, dominated with his superior swordsmanship and was a symbol of light in the martial arts world. However, he suddenly disappeared ...more
- Choi Han Gyul is the grandson of chairwoman Bang of Dong-in Foods, a company that has a thriving coffee business. He has never had a job and does not care for responsibility. ...more
- Adopted as an orphan, Fu Yao served as a slave for the Xuan Yuan sect in the Taiyuan Kingdom. After a series of tragedies, she journeyed across the lands, searching to lift ...more
- “Mystic Pop-Up Bar” tells the story of a mysterious pojangmacha (outdoor drinking establishment) run by a prickly woman and an innocent part-timer who visit customers in their dreams to help resolve their ...more
- Im Jin Joo, Lee Eun Jung, and Hwang Han Joo are best friends who are 30-years-old. Hwang Han Joo is the head of a marketing team for a drama production company. She ...more
- A thousand years since the battle between the demons and heavens took place, the souls of the Star of Mosha and the God of War are sent to the mortal realm to ...more
- Park Saeroyi's life has been turned upside down after he gets expelled from school for punching a bully and his father is killed in an accident. Following his father's steps, he opens ...more
- Han Geu Roo is an autistic 20-year-old. He works for his father’s business “Move To Heaven,” a company that specializes in crime scene cleanup, where they also collect and arrange items left ...more
- The story of a beautiful queen, who has to give up her love to save the people. A biopic of Queen Seon Deok, who was born a princess and later became the ...more
- A TV series centered around the unfolding relationship between free and unpredictable yet dangerous Kim Moo Young, who is called a "monster". He is the first assistant in a Korean beer brewery ...more
- The mythical nine-tailed fox, or gumiho, Lee Yeon had to settle in the city many centuries ago. Able to transform into human form, he eradicates supernatural beings that threaten the mortal world. ...more
- Despite being a bit of a prickly pear, Jang Jae Yeol has become famous for authoring mystery novels and for hosting a popular radio show. While sitting on a talk show panel ...more
- It features three women from different walks of life coming together for revenge: a middle-aged fish store owner who envisioned a better life for herself, a housewife, and an heiress who was ...more
- Getting inside the head of a violent criminal is not easy. But Simon, Bo Jinyan, a brilliant criminal psychologist, has the ability to get into the minds of even the most mysterious ...more
- Kim Bong Seok, Jang Hui Su, and Lee Gang Hun, seemingly typical high school students, bear extraordinary inherited powers. Bong Seok can fly, Hui Su possesses exceptional athleticism and rapid injury recovery, ...more
- The Northern Wei Dynasty was obliterated one night leaving behind the kindhearted Princess Feng Xin Er as an orphan. Although she escapes death, she accidentally enters her enemy's territory and she assumes ...more
- A world beyond scientific understanding with a group of passionate adults trying to solve cases done by such forces. Zhao Yun Lan and Shen Wei are tasked with upholding peace between underworld ...more
- Kim Boong Do is a scholar who had supported the reinstatement of Queen In Hyun when Jang Hee Bin's schemes resulted in her being deposed and replaced as King Suk Jong's queen ...more
- Kim Je Hyuk, a famous baseball player, is arrested after using excessive force while chasing a man trying to sexually assault his sister. Shockingly to him and the rest of the nation, ...more
- This drama revolves around the incidents that occur in the police force and the joy, sorrow, and pain that police officers experience as they try to protect justice. Yeom Sang Soo, is ...more
- The stories of people going through their days are seemingly ordinary but actually special at the hospital, a place known as the microcosm of life, where someone is being born and someone's ...more
- Ji Yun He, once rescued from the Immortal Master's Mansion, is imprisoned again by Chang Yi. Exhausted from Shun De's torment and her body's backlash, she sacrifices her last spiritual power to ...more
- Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she's written the name of another ...more
- Yun Jin A, a woman in her mid-30s, has never experienced a successful relationship. After being dumped countless times for her clumsy and reckless behavior, she is heartbroken when a man breaks ...more
- In 2017, Son Oh Gong and Ma Wang are in conflict with each other as they look for a true light in a dark world where evil thrives. Having made a contract ...more
- Fifteen years ago, a young girl was kidnapped on the way from school, and Park Hae Yeong, who was an elementary school student at that time, witnessed the crime. A few days ...more
- Genghis Khan built an empire that spanned vast regions in East Asia and East Europe. And there was one woman who held immense power in the Yuan Dynasty, which Genghis Khan founded, ...more
- Feng Zhi Wei is the unfavored daughter of the Qiu Family, who has to flee due to unfortunate circumstances. Owing a favour to the 6th prince Ning Yi, Zhi Wei cross-dresses as ...more
- Ye Xiao Tian works as a prison guard at the Ministry of Justice in the capital city. During his time of service, he takes on an assignment to deliver a message to ...more
- On a hunt for treasure and extra cash, sixth-year primary school student Shi Guang discovered an old Go board in his grandfather’s house. Upon touching the Go board, he was possessed by ...more
- Set in Sanpo Village where more people leave than remain, the three Yeom siblings, Chang Hee, Mi Jung, and Ki Jung, wish to escape from a life rife with uncertainty. A mysterious ...more
- A love story that develops between a surgeon and a special forces officer. Kang Mo Yeon is a pretty and assertive woman who works as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Haesung Hospital. She ...more
- Naruse Ryo, who is an able attorney that can turn any case in his clients’ favour, takes cases for the disadvantaged and defends them free of charge; therefore, he is called an ...more
- Choi Joon Woong seeks a job, but it's hard for him to get hired. One night, he witnesses a man trying to end his life and decides to stop him. He gets ...more
- Can you still go after your dreams without the right background? Ko Dong Man has always dreamed of becoming famous as a taekwondo athlete but now works as a contract employee in ...more
- A man who does not believe in love, falls for a woman who has been hurt by it. Min Hyuk is wealthy, with everything but a good personality, He’s been enraged and ...more
- Xia Lin Xi’s senior year of high school was as perfect as anyone could ever hope one’s would be. With good friends, good grades, and a bright future ahead of her, she ...more
- When Lin Yang was a young girl growing up in the countryside, she formed a close friendship with a boy from the neighborhood named Lu Zheng An. Despite the fact that she ...more
- "Dong Yi" is a historical drama based on the life of Dong Yi later known as Choi Suk Bin. She worked in the royal palace as a lowly water maid. King Sok ...more
- The residents of Hera Palace, a luxury penthouse apartment with 100 floors, have many secrets and hidden ambitions. Sim Su Ryeon, who was born into wealth, is the queen of the penthouse ...more
- 38-year-old Ha No Ra dreamt of becoming a dancer in her high school years but met her husband, Kim Woo Chul, when she was 19. After having a child, she focused on ...more
- Five years ago, painter Shen Yi’s sketch of a child led to the exposure and death of undercover detective Lei Yi Fei, Du Cheng’s close friend. Unable to recall the woman who ...more
- About the preparation period of a major league baseball team. The drama focuses on a loser team that prepares for an extraordinary season upon the arrival of their new general manager, and ...more
- Kim Hae Il is a Catholic priest. He makes spiteful remarks, and he can be rude to others. Koo Dae Young is a detective. He talks a lot, and he is also ...more
- Heo Im, who is born in a concubine family in the Joseon era and has very outstanding medical skills, is frustrated about his career as he fails to climb to higher positions ...more