In the recent “Top 10 Best K-Dramas of 2024” list published by the American news magazine TIME, CJ ENM productions claimed the top two spots, sweeping the rankings. A total of five CJ ENM works made it to the Top 10.
TIME highlighted the strength of Korean storytelling in K-content and stated, “2024 is the golden age of Korean TV.”
While most of the top K-Dramas listed by TIME in recent years were Netflix releases, this year, the Top 10 featured a more diverse range of dramas across various OTT platforms.
“Lovely Runner” earned the top spot on TIME’s list of the Best K-Dramas of 2024. TIME praised the drama for its “well-crafted story,” despite lacking a large budget or famous stars, calling it the best K-Drama of the year. Previously, “Lovely Runner” was also ranked No. 2 in the Best K-Drama list by the British cultural magazine NME. The series held the No. 1 spot for six consecutive weeks on Rakuten Viki across 109 countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Brazil, and Mexico.
TIME’s No. 2 K-Drama of 2024 was “Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born” (also known as “Jeong Nyeon”), which explored the traditional Korean art of “gukgeuk” (traditional Korean opera) and introduced this long-forgotten form of music to both domestic and international audiences. The series also sparked renewed interest in Korean traditional arts and contributed to a cultural resurgence. According to a Gallup Korea survey, “Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born” topped the list of most preferred programs among Koreans in October.
“Pyramid Game” ranked No. 7 on TIME’s list. The series was highly praised by NME as “a must-watch with a dark allure” and also ranked No. 6 in their Best K-Drama list for 2024. It was the only Korean production invited to the “Series Mania” festival in France in March and earned positive reviews for its unique and solid world-building, complemented by the impressive performances of new actors and skilled direction.
“Marry My Husband” was ranked No. 8 on TIME’s list. It made history by becoming the first K-Drama to reach No. 1 in global TV show rankings on Amazon Prime Video and continued to perform well across multiple international markets, including the U.S., Canada, France, and the U.K.
Finally, TIME ranked “Death’s Game” at No. 9. The series received widespread attention after its second part premiered in January and reached No. 2 in global TV show rankings on Amazon Prime Video, sparking a surge in global K-content interest.
Here is the full ranking from TIME:
- Lovely Runner
- Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born
- Love in the Big City
- A Shop For Killers
- The Atypical Family
- The Judge From Hell
- Pyramid Game
- Marry My Husband
- Death’s Game
- Mr. Plankton
Surprisingly, despite its massive popularity, Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun’s “Queen of Tears” was not included in the list, surprising many fans.
Meanwhile, thanks to its string of successful hits, CJ ENM achieved the highest prime time viewership ratings for the first half of 2024 in South Korea, becoming the leader among Korean TV networks, including OTT platforms.
Industry experts praise CJ ENM for spearheading a renaissance in TV drama by diversifying its media platforms and successfully distributing its IP to global OTT platforms, further enhancing the value of its content.
The post “Lovely Runner” Ranked No. 1 K-Drama by TIME Magazine, No “Queen of Tears”? appeared first on KBIZoOm. KBIZoOm – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment KBIZoOm – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment
