As 2025 nears its end, only three dramas aired by Korea’s major terrestrial broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS have managed to break past the 10% viewership mark, according to Nielsen Korea. Among them, SBS’s Buried Hearts emerged as the top-rated terrestrial drama of the year, recording a peak rating of 15.4%.
Premiering in February, Buried Hearts follows Seo Dong-ju (played by Park Hyung Sik), a secretive corporate secretary who successfully hacks into a two trillion political slush fund. After being targeted for death, he embarks on an all-or-nothing revenge mission against a powerful, corrupt force. The drama, featuring Park Hyung Sik, Huh Joon Ho, and Kim Jung Nan, began with a modest 6.1% rating and steadily gained momentum, ultimately more than doubling its audience by the final episode.
Another SBS hit, Love Scout starring Han Ji Min and Lee Joon Hyuk, drew attention with its romantic dynamic between a CEO and her assistant. It started at 5.2% and reached a high of 12%, successfully joining the elite club of 10%+ dramas in 2025.
Fantasy rom-com The Haunted Palace also crossed the milestone, peaking at 11%. The show’s unusual premise body-switching chaos blended with palace intrigue resonated with viewers looking for both humor and heart.
However, KBS and MBC struggled to find similar success. MBC’s legal drama Oh My Ghost Clients hovered between 2–5%, while Mary Kills People marking Lee Bo Young’s return failed to rise above 1%, except for its premiere episodes.
KBS2’s highly anticipated The First Night with the Duke, starring Seohyun and Ok Taecyeon, delivered only 2–3% ratings. Meanwhile, TWELVE a fantasy action series led and produced by Ma Dong Seok reached a respectable 8.1%, but still fell short of the double-digit benchmark.
The much-hyped Walking on Thin Ice, featuring Lee Young Ae’s bold transformation, maintained modest 3–5% viewership. Both TWELVE and Walking on Thin Ice were part of KBS’s flagship weekend mini-series lineup commemorating the broadcaster’s 52nd anniversary a high-profile investment that reportedly resulted in losses nearing 10.7 billion KRW (approx. $8 million USD).
Sources: Daum
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