“I’m going to take you with me. Even if I have to kill you!” In the midst of a snowstorm on a snowy mountain at midnight, Yoon Eun Sung (played by Park Sung Hoon) shouts as he aims his gun at Hong Hae In (played by Kim Ji Won), who is running away from him. At that moment, her ex-husband Good Hyun Woo (played by Kim Soo Hyun) rushes in and tightly embraces Hae In. The incoming bullet pierces through Hyun Woo’s shoulder. Hae In cradles the groaning Hyun Woo, crying out in desperation, “Stay with me! Somebody help us!“
This scene from the drama ‘Queen of Tears‘ where Hyun Woo sacrifices himself for Hae In has been recognized as one of the most talked-about moments in TV dramas this year. According to the TV buzz analysis agency Good Data Corporationepisodes 15 and 16 of ‘Queen of Tears’ (which aired in the fourth week of April) scored 96,154 points, making it the most talked-about TV drama of the year.
The survey analyzed TV dramas aired from January 1 to December 8 (1st week of December). The buzz score is calculated by combining the informational value of online posts about the drama — including news articles, blogs, YouTube, Twitter, and other social media — along with reactions such as comments, views, and retweets. It does not merely count the number of posts but also considers the length, frequency, and depth of the information shared, assigning a weighted score accordingly. However, online video streaming service (OTT) content and variety shows were excluded.
This multi-faceted buzz analysis revealed that “K-Romance” dramas had a prominent impact on this year’s TV buzz rankings. Most of the top-ranked shows belonged to the K-Romance genre, with episodes portraying couples overcoming conflict and confirming their love for one another generating significant attention.
‘Lovely Runner’ episodes 9 and 10 (aired in the fifth week of May) scored 95,789 points, ranking second. The storyline included a kiss between fangirl In Sol (played by Kim Hye Yoon) and idol singer Ryu Sun Jae (played by Byun Woo Seok), a moment that sparked a flurry of online reactions.
According to Yoon In Hothe strategic communication team leader at Studio Dragon, which produced’ Queen of Tears’ and ‘Love Next Door,’ “While thrillers and horror genres have been popular on OTT platforms, romance remains the genre where Korean dramas hold a competitive edge.”
TV dramas featuring narratives driven by women’s growth and solidarity also received high buzz scores. Episodes 7 and 8 of ‘Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born‘ (aired in the fifth week of October) scored 42,457 points, ranking third. The episodes depicted Yoon Jeong Nyeon (played by Kim Tae Ri), a female Gukgeuk (traditional Korean opera) performer, coughing up blood and collapsing after overexerting herself during rehearsals. Her desperate journey toward success tugged at viewers’ heartstrings.
Meanwhile, ‘Love Next Door‘ episodes 9 and 10 (aired in the second week of September) scored 33,645 points, ranking fourth. This arc featured Baek Seok Ryu (played by Young Sun Min) confessing to her friend Choi Seung Hyo (played by Jung Hae In) that she had undergone chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. Their emotional connection blossomed into love, earning the attention of viewers.
Episodes 13 and 14 of ‘Good Partner‘ (aired in the fourth week of August) scored 31,650 points, ranking fifth. In these episodes, lawyer Cha Eun Kyung (played by Jang Na Ra) stepped up to defend a victim of domestic violence, showcasing women supporting each other in a powerful display of female solidarity. Industry experts noted that the core TV drama viewership, which consists of women in their 30s and 40s, responded strongly to such “female-centered narratives.”
Kim Sun Tae, the chief producer (CP) of ‘Jeongnyeoni,’ stated, “Jeongnyeoni proved that a drama can still captivate viewers with themes of women’s dreams, passion, solidarity, and growth — even without a male lead.” He added, “This demonstrates that TV drama audiences are willing to embrace well-crafted narratives, even if they do not center around romantic love between men and women.“
SEE ALSO: Classic K-films selected as National registered cultural heritage
