Many K-stars popular in Japan had new K-dramas this year in the first half of 2024 so let’s see what was most popular with the viewers there. Queen of Tears with Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won took the top spot, not surprising, while Marry My Husband with Park Min Young was second. Then came Dr. Slump with Park Shin Hye and Park Hyung Sik, with Choi Woo Sik‘s drama A Killer Paradox in fourth. Finally Lovely Runner with Byun Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon rounded out the top five. Check out the full top ten list below.
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The Japanese just love pmy, she’s always topping their list.
I can see why doctor slump is number three because it had a very Japanese drama vibe to it. Seems about right with the whole ranking. I personally feel Korean dramas have been losing their buzz. Almost feels like they are going through a slump themselves in churning out something amazing beyond expectations. It’s just been so so or corny at times. I find myself watching more Chinese dramas these days which used to be the total opposite.
Same, lately I only watch chinese drama for that reason.
Me too, surprisingly. LOL. Some Chinese productions this year have impressed me.
I’m going through slump in general & rather read quick recaps/Mv clips. That’s why I’m often lurking around for updates.
Contrary to you, I feel the cheesiness is lacking in K Dramas nowadays. It used to be Secret Garden, Boys over Flowers or He’s Beautiful level cheesy which made it so unique. Now its either just not cheesy at all, or we get cutesy immature stuff ala Dr. Slump. But I still love them way more than C dramas in production quality, acting and cinematography. One of my biggest issue with C dramas is the dubbing. Its like hearing the same voice for every single actor and takes away the viewing experience for me.
I’d say the Double is unique and rare among so many C dramas I checked or watched. As much as I like the Double that is perhaps the one I’ve enjoyed the most in 2024, my opinions are still in favor of K drama over C drama in general. As one comment said here, K drama has better production quality, writing, directing, cinematography, and even acting in average.
QOT is a bit of a given – KSH filled a 12k arena twice for his 2 day fanmeet before the tickets even went public (it was sold out via the paid fan club). But I’m so happy to see A Killers Paradox in the top 5. It’s fantastic and so underrated! CWS always delivers and he’s starred in 2 of the best dramas this decade. I’m really excited for Melo Movie too!
I saw video clips of his Japan fan meeting. Looks more like a concert with the live band. I always knew he can sing really well but the Japanese and English songs were a real surprise. The atmosphere was so lively and upbeat.
A Killer Paradox would have been so much better if they had stuck to CWS’s character instead of showing us so much of that elder killer’s s story!
Honestly I loved the drama as is. Just kept me riveted throughout but it could have gone multiple different ways. I hope we get a second season. It’s the type of drama that fits perfectly in the season format.
What KSH fanmeet have to do with this article, lol?
Some of his fans really obsessed with his popularity. You just use any chance to brag about it like it’s your own success.
“what KSH fanmeet have to do with this article”
he’s the male lead of the drama that topped this list? selling out a Japanese arena i.e. continuing evidence that he/drama are popular there? I’m not even a fan of him but use logic please.
Did you read the article Koala wrote? Let me summarize: kdrama popularity in Japan.
Now, do you know who the lead is of the #1 drama? That’s right: KSH.
Now let’s all connect the dots: Japan, KSH, sold out fanmeet of 24k ppl in… *drum rolls*… Japan.
You’re welcome. Next time tho, try using common sense instead of expecting someone to spoon feed you info.
Are you purposely being obtuse or you really dont get the connection? If its the latter, its quite funny, lol.
@Pickle&Tomatoes
Maybe purposely, because I tired to see how Buterfly using KSH name only to talk about his popularity.
Whatever topic is, she/he talks only about his popularity or about his awards, so, yeah, I used this comment to say that this is lame thing.
@Ksena since you used the word maybe, obv you really didnt get the connection and are backtracking lol. Grow up instead of policing fan comments on someones blog. I am using my comment to say your bitterness is lame thing and also funny.
@ksena you are on an entertainment site and the topic is popular dramas in Japan yet you question fan comments about the popularity of the lead in the top drama… WTF are you okay?
In another article, you tried dictating how fans should not want tv broadcast for dramas because you dont care for it. Now you have the audacity to expect fans to curtail their comments because you are tired of seeing it… Main character much?
There is a way of not exhausting yourself and its easy. Log off, touch some grass.
Ksena, if a one line comment on a hot actors’ popularity triggered you so much then it must be because you reek of jealousy. According to my crystal ball, your response if any will be denial of the blatant truth tho lol.
@Macy
I’m KSH fan, LOL. If you don’t believe check my other comments about him.
So try be witty harder and check your cristal ball again 😄 specially for you I repeat that I didn’t talk about KSH and didn’t questioned his popularity, I talked about some sort of his fans.
Wow I knew he had fanmeetings but I did not realize the scale. 24000 ppl is insaneeee of fms. The guy is on fireeeee recently.
Lol, you remembered my answer to tou and followed me here? How my comment about tv entertainment connected to this comment? As people here yapping for me to not find a connection you’re not better.
And I’m not dictated you to stop doing this, my last comment to you directly was “keep whining, I’ll leave it to you”, so you went here to keep whining to me? Sorry that my comment about tv entertainment so bothered you.
And you trying to brag about KSH popularity is exact thing I mean. “Guy on fireeeeee” – do you think I jealous? 😂 I’m his fan, you can read my comment under other articles about him and you notice this.
You think anyone who seeks of fan’s like you riding on KSH popularity is his hater? I directed my comments to obsessed by his popularity fans, but you re-directed it on him and starting bragging about his popularity again, inferiority complex as it is.
The way Koala & other news article hype BWS like he’s the next BYJ,and Lovely Runner the next Winter Sonata, and yet the drama is at fifth place only.
I think it is just the young actor that is getting most praise and hype because I watched a Korean variety show that shows everyone anticipates meeting him or having him be a guest on their show. It is rather similar to the love and expectation of park Bo gum because I remember that his popularity was similar too. Never once heard the show getting hyped as much as him alone. It is crazy but I feel even if he flopped a bit on his next project they would still love him. That is how popular he became right now. He still has his looks and appeal. I’m not his fan or anything it is just an observation. Because back when park Bo gum was starting to be male lead a lot of variety shows and elder actors would state how much they loved him and wanted to work with him. Similar vibe right now.
Um he’s not exactly young almost mid 30s and even older than Park Bo Gum. And the media play never even compared him with Park Bo Gum, went straight to the top to Bae Yong Joon. Now stats are out and his drama is only in 5th place.
@ Marie…Oh I never mentioned age comparison just how he broke out in his fameo or how he is popular now. I never watched winter sonata but I did watch the drama legend. It is weird to compare that actor to him though. Plus I never followed his career so I would not know much whether they are similar or not 🤷🏻♀️
true….hahahahha..Hype like its a big thing when in fact its nothing..
Getting 5th is actually pretty good when this is a list based on popularity and goes against 50+ dramas that have aired.
Sure it is. ‘cept BJY and Winter Sonata wld never come in 5th in any favorite polls in Japan. It could probably even beat QoT today, 2 decades later, if this survey included it. That is the level of popularity LR is being compared to in Japan and why everyone was scoffing at the pure absurdity. The drama cannot even beat Dr Slump or Killers Paradox, let alone get close to #1. Its simply media play at its best.
Why are ppl finding this impressive? The drama recently aired so clearly has some recency effect bias. And yet it still can’t top dr slump n marry my husband which aired way earlier in the year. It was also only on top of samdalri that finished airing in Dec 2023 lol. If anything is impressive it’d be samdalri being even in the top 10. Wait until end 2024 to see if this drama is even in the top 5 or 10 lol. Winter sonata was a phenomenon in Japan, LR doesn’t even come close not even an inch. Time to wake up n smell the coffee delulus. Also bws would never date u guys so don’t need to defend him as ur life depended on it.
It’s actually very impressive considering Lovely Runner starred a pair of relevant unknowns, had no promotion in Japan and aired on the smaller local platform U-Next.
All the dramas above it have established Hallyu stars and LovRun is the only one of the top 5 dramas that was not aired on the most popular OTT platforms in Japan (Netflix, Amazon Prime or Disney+).
Impressive maybe. But not as impressive as BYJ & Winter Sonata during their time. Koala & the media are the ones who started the comparison. & we are simply pointing out how absurd that comparison is. His drama cant even top QOT & the other four dramas airing in the same year, yet they have the audacity to compare with Winter Sonata??
Just the sheer pain. It must be hard being in such pain.Lr was 5th in a Japanese survey amongst japense viewers. How this extinguishes the claim that the drama was a global hit and bws a phenom is beyond me.
people rejoicing LR placing 5th, y’all must be fun at parties. maybe focus on the things you love? life is better that way, i promise.
Oh god if it’s not kim soo hyun getting dragged through the mud, it’s byeon woo seok. Can’t wait for new trendy drama to emerge so we can stop the nonsense. Can the new gong yoo or park bo gum drama just aired already.