7 best K-Dramas that had fans hooked, laughing and crying in early 2025: Love Scout to Buried Hearts

2025 has been a rollercoaster for K-Dramas so far. Some, like When Life Gives You Tangerines, left fans completely wrecked, while others, such as When the Stars Gossip, left them scratching their heads in confusion. In between, there were the soft, sweet gems like Love Scout, and a few overlooked treasures, like Melo Movie, that truly deserved more love.

With the first half of 2025 behind us, here’s a look at the standout K-Dramas that ruled the year.

1) Love Scout

Considering K-Drama fans have often complained that there has been a lack of actual romance in the genre lately, Love Scout, made up for it. The drama turns the classic CEO-secretary trope on its head, casting Han Ji-Min as the hardworking Ji-Yoon and Lee Joon-Hyuk as her effortlessly charming secretary, Eun-ho. Role reversals like this always bring a fresh spark to K-dramas, the last standout being the dreamy Encounter, where Park Bo-Gum and Song Hye-kyo lit up screens with their forbidden CEO-employee romance.

2) Heavenly Ever After

This story aches and soothes in equal measure. Starring Kim Hye-ja, Son Suk-ku, and Han Ji-min, it explores the afterlife—balancing warmth with the inevitable sting of grief. When 80-year-old Hae-sook reaches heaven, she’s given the choice of any age for eternity. In a poignant tribute to her late husband’s final words—that she’d never looked more beautiful—she chooses to stay 80. But her bittersweet reunion twists into the surreal when Nak-jun (Son Suk-ku) arrives in the glow of his 30s, having chosen youth for forever.

3) When Life Gives You Tangerines

Catch us still reeling from the story that broke a million hearts worldwide. When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring Park Bo-gum and IU in a dual role, is many things at once—a slice-of-life, a romance, and a bittersweet comedy. At its core, it’s the generational tale of Ae-sun, a fierce woman who refuses to simply “set the table” and instead dares to flip it, challenging tradition on her own terms. By her side is the steadfast Gwang-sik, whose quiet devotion anchors her journey through love, loss, and the changing tides of life.

4) Weak Hero Class 2

Weak Hero Class 2 picks up with Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon), the once-bullied student who now carries a fierce reputation, as he transfers to Eunjang High School. Haunted by past trauma and his comatose friend Su-ho, Si-eun tries to stay under the radar—but the school’s hierarchy is ruled by The Union, a corrupt student gang. Despite his desire to avoid conflict, systemic bullying forces him to act, using his intelligence and precision to fight back alongside new allies like Park Hu-min, Seo Jun-tae, and Ko Hyun-tak, against formidable foes such as Choi Hyo-man, Na Baek-jin, and Geum Seong-je. The season builds toward a high-stakes showdown, blending intense strategy and brutal emotion, culminating in an explosive climax.

5) Trauma Code

Forget your calm hospital dramas, The Trauma Code elevates the medical drama genre. Ju Ji-hoon storms in as Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk, a trauma surgeon who’s equal parts genius, rebel, and troublemaker. Tasked with fixing a failing trauma unit, he bulldozes through egos, bureaucracy, and near-death chaos with jaw-dropping skill. Between heart-pounding emergencies, dark humor, and a misfit team learning to fight—and laugh—together, the show is wild, witty, and unapologetically over-the-top. No wonder it shot to Netflix’s Top 10 worldwide.

6) Buried Hearts

You needed something wonky, silly, but just so addictive? Buried Hearts, starring Park Hyung-sik is at your service. Seo Dong-ju, a smooth-talking corporate secretary who swipes a mind-blowing two-trillion-won slush fund.He has to piece back together while the ruthless Yeom Jang-seon (Huh Joon-ho) hunts him down like a bloodhound. We're talking boardroom battles with a side of revenge, backstabbing family drama and a love story that just sticks.

7) Melo Movie

Gentle and realistic, Melo Movie, starring Choi Woo-shik and Park Bo-young, bring warmth and depth as two people stuck between love, heartbreak, and the small, beautiful moments in between. It’s understated, and honest—no over-the-top drama, just the kind of emotional storytelling with sweet moments that stay with you. The simplest stories hit the hardest.