My top 10
1. goblin (cinematography,music and gongyo+dongwook and everything else are just perfect for me)
2. Splash splash love (short but perfect, but you want it more)
3. Another oh haeyoung (personally think it's unique, and still listen to the ost up till now, esp sung by jung seung hwan)
4. On the way to the airport (healing, i feel the ease and peace here, and dont think to much about the frustation)
5. Oh my ghost (i just lobe it from the start till the end)
6. Signal (naturally good and dont need to explain any longer)
7. the prince man (okay. I cried a lot. And that's painful memory)
8. Let's eat the series (i learn and eat alot from this drama)
9. Liar game (my very first time noticing lee sang yoon and got attached to him after that lmao)
10. You who came from the star (it's perfect back the n bfr other good drama poppin' out everywhere)

These top 10 lists are collectors items indeed. Thanks to the DB crew!

I started kdrama watching in 2005, became a DB reader in 2007, and my list does show this historical root.

In no particular order, here are my top 10:
*. My Name is Kim Sam Soon - the one that started it all which managed to wipe off my ill perception of things kdrama. Refreshingly with a strong kickass female in KSS.
* Coffee Prince - the one that connected me to DB to read JB's recap
* City Hall - easily my all time favorite that remains to me up to this date the most romantic and mature tale with unforgettable chemistry between Kim Sun Ah and Cha Seung Won. The one drama based on which I believe Kim Eun Sook can deliver her good.
* Misaeng - simply sublime and Lee Sung Min!
* Signal - this and Misang have shown to the world how much kdrama have travelled, and we are part of the witnesses on this growth journey
* Jealousy Incarnate - THE romcom to top all romcoms and Jo Jung Suk proves himself the romcom king of his generation
* Reply 1988 - the Reply that speaks to my heart about the family and community spirit of era past
* I Live in Cheongdamdong - sadly not a lot of people seem to have seen this sitcom gem (due in no small part to the Eng sub availability). It makes you laugh and cry like nobody's business, full of heart and soul. Noteworthy its PD and writers went on to direct/write more gems in My Wife will have an Affair, Awl, Oh Hae Young Again and the Let's Eat series.
* All about Eve - nostalgic favorite and guilty pleasure at its best
* Hotelier - ditto ABE. The elevator kiss between Bae Yong Jun and Song Yoon Ah is as dreamy and hot as those rare ones you can find well over a decade later.

special mention goes to these four of what I consider as art house great:
* Alone in Love
* Heard it through the Grapevine
* Yoona's Street
* End of the World

I enjoyed all the top tens!

I'm not sure I have top ten favorites, more like a top five or so? Shin Don the drama for me, but I also have insane love for Sangdo, A Wife's Credentials, The End of the World, Sandglass and Resurrection. The obsessive love I had for Jung Do Jeon over the summer hasn't faded, so it's up there right now too (doesn't help that I haven't finished or really watched anything since). And pretty much anything Jung Ha-yeon has ever written (that I can get my hands on) has been up there at some point and probably will be again.

There are a whole bunch of masterpieces that I really, really like and are absolutely in my top ten when I'm not playing favorites, but don't necessarily invoke that same crazy feeling. For example Eyes of Dawn is certainly in the debate for best drama of all time, and I was in awe practically every minute of it, but its tragedy never became ecstatic for me, like it did in, say, Shin Don. Another example would be Conspiracy in the Court.

In no particular order:

1. City Hunter
2. Misaeng
3. Healer
4. White Christmas
5. Boys Over Flowers (Sorry, not sorry)
6. Faith
7. Answer Me 1997
8. Gaksitaaaaaaal
9. Liar Game
10. I Remember You

my top ten list would be:

1. It's Okay, That's Love
2. The King 2 Hearts
3. Gaskital
4. Goblin
5. Answer Me/ Reply Series
6. Descendants of the Sun
7. The Princess's Man
8. Weightlifting Fairy
9. A Gentleman's Dignity
10. City Hunter

These are all dramas that gave a solid story/writing or character's that I loved to death. They're dramas that I can rewatch at any time and ones that I would recommend to any kdrama virgin.

I'm a newbie to the dramaverse, so I'll be adding a lot to my 'to watch' list. These are mine so far:

1. Signal - I could not stop watching! When do we get season 2?
2. Oh My Ghostess - The second drama I watched, the one that got me hooked.
3. 1% Of Something - The squee was high with this one.
4. Coffee Prince - My love affair with Gong Yoo begins
5. Goblin - and grows!
6. Pasta - I know all of the flaws, I KNOW! I just don't care.
7. Oh My Venus - The hero is for real swoony.
8. School 2013 - Bromance!
9. Master's Sun - skinship, yes please!
10. Jealousy Incarnate - The chemistry was amazing!

I'm sure this will change and grow as I watch more.

Well, since everybody is doing it... ;)
Confession, I've only been watching KDramas for about 7 months, so I don't have quite the plethora to choose from as some, but I've watched enough to share the ones I've come to love.

My Top "6" Dramas

1. "Pinocchio"
This was the third for fourth drama I watched, but it ended it all for me. This one HOOKED me forever with it's perfection. The characters, the plot, the conflict, but more than anything the message of hope amidst pain and the importance of living a life of integrity. GOLD MEDAL all the way. (Plus, Lee Jong-Suk & Park Shin-Hye <3 )

2. "School 2013"
Sure, it has the bromance to end all bromances. Really though, this one struck me on a deeply personal level. As a high school English teacher, it understood me, comforted me, and challenged me to be a better teacher.

3. "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo"
It was pure, real, and full of so much youthful strength and joy. Not to mention Joon-Hyung is boyfriend GOALS.

4. "I Hear Your Voice"
Fantastic characters that felt so REAL... a unique and beautiful love story spanning years... universal and timeless themes of honesty, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and rising above your tragedies. (P.S. What's a noona romance?... I'm sold!)

5. "Moonlight Drawn By Clouds"
One of the staff members mentioned the "puppy love" which is happy, but I honestly fell head over heels for the unbelievably handsome, divided, yet loyal bodyguard - Byung-Yeon (Kwak Dong Yeon). Another one with a powerful message about love and leadership.

6. "W -Two Worlds"
It just felt so clever as I was watching. Again, Lee Jong-Suk (yes, I'm suddenly seeing the pattern, too) is brilliant. A compelling story full of romance, mystery, fantasy and thriller qualities, the show boasts compelling, memorable characters with a unique twist.

I see several of my favourites on these lists yay! Mostly my interests seem to align with LollyPip's and tineybeanie...

My criteria is simply those that made me feel for characters and want to watch again:

1) Jumong: first drama, first love, Hae Mo Sul forever.
2) School 2013: as a teacher in my past life, this felt so real. I always liked my bad boys the best.
3) Gaksitaaaal: Shunji, I still bleed for you.
4) Faith: watched it like 3 times.
5) Rooftop Prince: I had serious withdrawal.
6) You're Beautiful: inspired my username, 'nuff said.
7) Healer: there will never be a show like this, my eternal love
8) Misaeng: quietly stole my heart.
9) Queen Seon Duk: tough girls. The best Hwarang.
10) Secret Garden: my guilty pleasure.

I would include more sageuks (Chuno, Princess Man), but the Chinese drama Nirvana in Fire has spoiled me for life.

Number one on my list is The City Hall. It was one of my first and remains my all-time favourite. No other drama has even come close.

The rest, which I have all watched more than once and in no particular order:

Time Between Dog and Wolf - Lee Jun-ki at his best. He's strong, physically imposing and showcases his acting skills perfectly. When he becomes the Thai thug Key, he makes the character real with just a few subtle changes.

Kid Gang - A very broad, rude and extremely funny gangster comedy from OCN. I watched it once, laughed out loud all the way through then watched it again and laughed even harder.

Yaksha - My favourite sageuk. It moves right along with no dead weight at 12 episodes because it's from OCN. It's bloody, violent but has a lot of heart and doesn't get bogged down in the political stuff.

Reset - The best OCN police procedural, in my opinion, with a villain so utterly villainous that I didn't know whether to be appalled by him or to regard him as light comedy relief.

Padam Padam - A real emotional roller coaster of a drama. While watching I often found myself with tears rolling down my face and I am not an easy crier if I think my emotional chain is being yanked for cheap sentiment. It's one of the best depictions of a dysfunctional mother/son and father/daughter dynamic I have ever seen.

Ruler of Your Own World - Pretty sure this is my oldest drama, filmed in 2002. It's got the usual tragic drama tropes but it's not hoked up at all. Also it's a really interested look into what S Korea was like at the turn of the millennium just culturally speaking. The characters wear ordinary clothes and look like ordinary people.

Heartless City - A fun watch with compelling characters and one of the most realistic sex scenes in Korea drama-dom. Plus Lee Jae-yoon, that Korean-Canadian hottie. He is seriously miscast but whatever.

Bad Family - Heartwarming is a positive for me here as usually if something is described to me as being heartwarming, I avoid it like the plague. I actually hate heartwarming as a general rule but sometimes it's very well done.

Signal - What can I say that others have not already said? Just watch it if you haven't and you'll get what a large number of us here on DB mean.

Love seeing everyone's top ten and seeing some of my old favorites on people's lists (ie. Bad Family.. A series with a lot of heart!) . Don't know my own top 10, but would definitely include delightful girl chunhyang, protect the boss, mnikss, nice guy, and arang I've revisited episodes and scenes from time to time and enjoyed them thoroughly. Can't include anything within the past 2 years since I like to wait for the drama afterglow to subside.

My top ten drama list

1. Winter Sonata - my first kdrama in 2002. Never has been a drama look so magical with its snow scene. So it will always has a special place in my heart. Jung Sang ahh...
2. Reply 1988-the generation and the era is very familiar to me. Many wonderful characters and a very addictive storyline and of course my favorite Choi Taek.
3.Reply 1997 - I could rewatched this drama anytime.

The rest in no particular order.

Secret Garden
Boys Over Flowers
My name is Kim Sam Soon
Full House
You are beautiful
The King2 Hearts
Have we really loved

A very subjective list for everyone, so hard to discuss or to criticize..

Anyway, I'm very happy that Misaeng and Signal were so often mentioned and often together. Those drama are the only ones that i would qualify as real and absolute must watch.

I'm also very happy that Story of a Man hasn't been completely forgotten. It's a very old (2009) show by k-dramaland's standards but worth every minute of the time spent on it and that's why it's dramatic that so few people still think of adding it on best drama lists or recommendation lists.

It was beautifully directed with a cinematography that could compare to the best films. And had also superb acting and very tight writing: the writer knew exactly what the true nature of the show was and where it was going from the first to the last frame.

Everyone is raving about the hero (Kim Shin) and the villain (Chae Do Woo) conflict but for me it was all about Do Woo's relationship with his sister (Eun Soo).
The fascinating and powerful connection between the siblings is what makes me come back to the show so often.

Each rewatch makes me feel like i could write an essay about the nuances, subtility, and the ambiguities of their very complex relationship without exhausting the subject.

The intensity of their feelings for each other (on Eun Soo's side: unfailing loyalty mixed with consuming guilt for her brother's actions, on Do Woo's side: wild possessiveness and a obssessive, burning desire of fusion with her), the striking opposition and complementarity of their personalities made their bond really special and unique to me.
I couldn't get enough of watching them being irresistibly attract to each other while failing to reach each other or to fulfill the other's need.

The kind of characters who got under your skin and keep haunting you long after the end, especially THIS END.

Also big thanks to the recapper who mentionned Resurrection: this one was also worth a book but this is message long enough...

1. Misaeng. Because everybody ought to be inspired that life can get better.
2. Reply 1997. Because we all deserve to be with the love of our lives, fan-girling included.
3. Hello Monster (I Remember You). Because it made me look at the right, the wrong, and the impact of life used well from a different perspective.
4. It's okay It's Love. Because mental illnesses are very real and I'd like to believe love can surpass it.
5. Princess Hours. Because it's a classic fairy tale.
6. Save The Last Dance. Because wheelchairs don't make us any less lovable.
7. Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim. Because there ought to be more Master Kims in life. No. The world NEEDS more Master Kims.
8. Reply 1988. Because more than just the love of our lives, our family, our friends, our pasts, define us and we must cherish it.
9. High School King of Savvy because grand dad.. There ought to be more dramas on granddads and grandsons. And it was funny. Kkkk
10. Personal Taste. Because a girl deserves to emerge from being a worm to a butterfly, with a guy who worries about dysmenhorrhea, because dysmenhorrhea is real.

Here's my top 10 :) in no particular order
1. Nine (times time travelling): mind boggling! best time traveling show I've ever watched
2. Gakital: trying to describe how this drama made me feel is just not possible. People you should basically just watch it and see for yourself.
3. Coffee prince: Choi han kyul is the epitome of my dream partner. Or it could just be gong yoo
4. Princesses' man: while I could never watch this drama ever again the same way(because of PSH), but it doesn't change the fact that it's a beautifully written and excellently acted drama.
5. Masters sun: definitely a flawed drama with not much plot but man the chemistry! best on screen chemistry ever! Love the skinships in this drama ♥️♥️♥️
6. Scent of a women: live every day to the fullest while still thinking ahead about tomorrow instead of living today as if it were the last.
7. Reply 1988: I would move to ssangmundong neighborhood right this second if it existed.(obviously, all the characters need to be there too. They're the reason why I'd want to live there)
8. Ojjakgyo brothers: favourite 58(60 to be exact) episodes drama
9. Goblin: It's been more than 3 weeks and I'm still in withdrawal period. So it must mean that I'm greatly affected by this drama.
10. Healer:ahh all those feels and late night comment reading here in dramabeans :')

My favorites are chosen because they are dramas that, no matter how many years have passed, I still look back on and say they touched me and affected me. There are scenes and moments I remember with clarity. These dramas are impossible for me to forget. They list is a mix of Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese dramas.

1. The Fierce Wife
2. The Legend of Zhen Huan
3. White Christmas
4. Nobuta wo Produce
5. Scarlet Heart, the original c-drama
6. Still, Marry Me
7. Mask (While it's premise and story may be nothing groundbreaking, the way the romance progressed in this actually really touched me. It's slow, they don't particularly like each right away, but eventually become each other's most stalwart support system.)
8. Shut Up: Flower Boy Band
9. Jewel in the Palace
10. Misaeng

Top 10 (in no particular order)

1. City Hunter
2. My love from another star
3. Moon embracing the sun
4. Full house
5. My girlfriend is a gumiho
6. Moonlight drawn over clouds
7. Dream high
8. My name is kim sam soon
9. Marriage not dating
10. Sungkyunkwan scandal

1. Marriage, Not Dating
2. 2 Weeks
3. Misaeng
4. I Remember You
5. Coffee Prince
6. Vampire Prosecutor (Season 2)
7. Ten (seasons 1 and 2)
8. Hon (aka 'Soul' aka 'Possession')
9. Shut up! Flower Boy Band
10. Cheo Yong

(Special mention to Goblin, Signal, and Let's Eat)

I love rom-coms and I'm also a sucker for great OSTs in rom-coms.

1. Coffee Prince - the feels!
2. Answer Me 1997 - perfect story
3. Splash Splash Love - Kim Seul Gi at her finest
4. The Greatest Love - Dokkojin
5. Bride of the Century - the only rom-com I had ever set my alarm on to watch it as it aired in Korea.
6. Shopping King Louis - just thinking of Bok Shil and Louis makes me smile
7. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo - Swag!
8. King of Dramas - a must watch for any kdrama lover. Also, the amnesia gag killed me. lol
9. Scent of a Woman - perfect ending
10. Full House - the nostalgia

So hard to narrow it down to ONLY 10. But after consulting my K-Drama database, the following are my top 10:

1) Coffee Prince - with the crowd on this one
2) Life is Beautiful - 63 episodes long... But I truly loved the family relationships in this drama (esp. between mom/mom-in-law)
3) It's Okay, It's Love - Really liked the overall theme
4) Signal - Had me on the edge of my seat all the way; desperately wanted Mr. Stubbornly Upright Cop to make it somehow, anyhow, even if it did seem impossible.
5) Misaeng - Growing up is hard.
6) Personal Taste - So many laughs in this one. Loved the Museum Ahjussi so much.
7) Tree with Deep Roots - Learned a lot from this one.
8) Royal Family - I can't quite explain why this drama was so addictive for me. Maybe it's because it was my first drama with Ji Sung...
9) Coffee House - Different perspective from usual; loved the crazy characters and the music.
10) Secret Garden - The drama that started it all...

My top 10:

1. Nine
2. I hear your voice
3. Healer
4. Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
5. W
6. City Hunter
7. Oh My Ghost
8. Smile, You
9. Who Are You? (Go Ara/Yoon Kye Sung version)
10. Coffee House (Loved Park Si Yeon/Kang Ji Hyun)

Honorable Mention: Soulmate, Reply 1997, Queen In Hyun's Man, Best Love, Flower Boy Band

Looks Like I Gotta watch: Pinocchio, Signal, Princess's Man

My ten favourites would be:
- Goblin
- Nine
- 49 Days
- Rooftop Prince
- Master's Sun
- Answer Me 1988
- Boys Over Flowers
- Best Love
- King of Dramas
- My Name is Kim Sam Soon

They may not be the best in terms of quality but they were the ones that left a hole in my heart after they ended.

Lists! Fun, but hard. Here's my take:

1. Six Flying Dragons - timely look at the causes and costs of revolution, plus kick-ass fight scenes and powerful payoffs - smart, haunting and engaged

2. The Devil - simultaneously dark and beautiful - an expert revenge thriller that transcends the genre to explore the nature of evil and the possibility of grace

3. Queen Seondeok - yes, the last 12 episodes are rough, but how often do you get both a strong female protagonist and a strong female antagonist? Plus, Bidam

4. Tree with Deep Roots - also falters a bit at the end, but so smart and engaged until then. Episode 19 is brilliant.

5. Jumong - Epic awesomeness - spins its wheels a bit in the last third but mostly big budget old-fashioned storytelling at its best.

6. Mixed Up Investigation Agency - the first few episodes are rough, but evolves into a quirky, moving mediation on friendship and loss. Tightly plotted and completely original.

7. Liar Game - So, so much fun. Smart and sharp, with a fantastic cast. I want season two now!

8. Giant - Best ensemble cast ever, brimming with complex characters. Get through the melodramatic initial episodes and then enjoy the ride.

9. Painter of the Wind - Gorgeous directing and the best final shot ever. Park Shin Yang overacts, but it's not his story - Moon Geun-young is fabulous.

10. Coffee Prince - I'm not usually a rom com person, but this one is a funny, touching, sexy delight

Well, I think I'll go with My 10 FAVORITE-or-FIRST-something Dramas that have special places in my heart and memories...since listing my favorite Top 10 dramas will be impossible! Hihihi :P

1) Hana Yori Dango (No, not Boys Over Flowers because I honestly detest the Korean remake...no offense to those who loved it) - MY FAVORITE DRAMA OF ALL TIME <3 and the first drama I rewatched (and rewatched, an rewatched, and rewatched...and you know the rest) because HanaDan is just My Favorite which is HanaDan
>Really-Good-Dramas-I-Also-Rewatch-But-Still-Can't-Beat-HanaDan-And-Also-Impossible-To-Rank
>Okay-Dramas-That-I-Don't-Mind-Rewatching-But-Not-Worth-Ranking-Because-The-Previous-Ranking-Is-Probably-Around-10-Dramas-Already
>Dramas-That-Are-Acceptable-But-Watchable-Only-Once-Or-Twice
>Dramas-That-Should-Not-Be-Named-And-Should-Be-Erased-From-History

2) HanaKimi (Also NOT the Korean remake because that, too, was UGH...again no offense to those who loved it) - Favorite cross-dressing drama ever. Plus so many eye candy! Not to mention the "villain" girl was so funny. I hate when 2nd female leads try to sabotage the first female lead and succeeds, but here, her tricks HAHAHAHAHAHA...ended up helping the main couple be together OH EM. Excuse me while I rewatch this now.

3) I Remember You - First drama I skipped the kiss. Honestly, if they kept the romance to a minimum - flirtations, awkward closeness, accidental skinship - this drama would be perfect and might have been a tie with HanaDan as my favorite drama...but no, they just had to kiss and all. Don't get me wrong, I love me some romance, but only when the story works better with it. I usually replay kissing scenes (hehehe), but for IRY, I skipped it after I read the recap.

4) Spring Waltz - First drama that made me download its OST. ~One love... I love you so... Love is a beautiful word...~ OH THAT SONG!!! Plus the piano piece he composed <3

5) You're Beautiful - First drama that convinced me to buy a product. Samsung Corby Pink! I wanted to collect all four colors! It was also the first drama I attempted to watch via live streaming.

6) My Girl - First drama ever! I love the setup of pretending-to-be-family-but-in-love-with-each-other. Oh the dilemma!!!

7) Tree of Heaven - First drama that made me cry. Plus, I love Japan! And those days when PSH was still so innocent...and where is Lee Wan now?

8) Moon that Embraces the Sun - Favorite sageuk drama. Probably because of the child actors and Kim Soo-hyun.

9) Cinderella Unni - Favorite OST. Oh, Ye-sung and your beautiful voice. The only Korean song I memorize.

10) Splish Splash Love - Favorite time travel drama. YDJ and KSG need to make full-length drama together!

I have other criteria, but I'm doing my best to follow the Top 10 format :P

1. The Princess’ Man
2. Evasive investigation agency
3. Chuno
4. Reply 1997
5. Let’s Eat 2
6. The Age of Youth
7. Three Musketeers
8. Hogu’s love
9. Tamna the island
10. Once upon a time in Saengchori

My Top 10

1. 이브의 모든것 - Jang Dong Geun's character is so dreamy!! Up to this date, his character is the manifestation of my ideal man (minus the smoking).

2. 뿌리 깊은 나무 - i'd probably cry in front of King Sejong's statue in May.

3. 대장금 - have to watch this show at least twice a year

4. 프라하의 연인 - one of the few Kim Eun Sook's drama that I like. Can't fathom that Heirs is from the same writer

5. 미스코리아 - the road to the crown isn't easy

6. 나인 아홉번의 시간여행 - gold standard of time travel drama

7. 1%의 어떤것 (both versions) - Kang Dong Won ♡♡♡♡♡. Good contract relationsip drama ^^

8. 가을동화 the drama that started my Kdrama frenzy

9. 환상의 커플 - loved Anna Jo ♡♡♡

10. Reserved slot for 김과장 ^^

Oh wow, lots of pretty old dramas...I could never get interested in them...well here are my favorite dramas(not in order), I'm not sure I can say all-time favorite because I can't remember some:
1. W - Two Worlds
2. Goblin
3. Descendants of the Sun
4. Queen In Hyuns Man
5. The Moon that Embraces the Sun
6. Bride of the Century
7. Oh My Ghostess
8. Fashion King (Yoo A In <3)
9. Who Are You: School 2015 (Kim So Hyun just love her!)
10. Jangbori is here
11. Another Miss Oh
12. She Was Pretty
13. My Love From Another Star
14. The Girl Who Can See Smells
15. My a Secret Hotel (Yoo In Na YASSS)
16. What Happens to My Family
17. Cunning Single Lady
18. Mayqueen
These are I believe my favorites that I can remember...so basically the dramas I liked enough that I can remember lol
I haven't seen some of these dramas mentioned yet, so you should definitely check them out :) your welcome if you found new dramas to watch XD

You guys should do a Korean Movie one!!! I know some that are my all time favorites, and zip want to know more!!!

I judge my favorite dramas of all-time based on how much I've grown attached to them and the fondness I feel when I think back. Therefore, it is not about objective assessment of drama quality that I look for. It's the connection with the drama. When a drama ends and I still end up thinking and dreaming about the story and/or the characters, then it means the drama is special to me. Re-watch value is another indication of a how much I truly love a drama. If I go back and still have that stupid smile on my face or the warm and fuzzy feels or the awe for the scenes no matter how many times I have re-watched a drama, then it's for keeps for me.

That being said, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bokjoo currently sits at the top of my favorite list. It's just utterly cute, sweet, refreshing, relatable... just absolutely wonderful story-telling of a simple story about growing up, friendship, love family, and life in general! That warm and fuzzy feeling will never go away. SUWEGGGG!!

Others in no particular order are Coffee Prince, Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, Goblin, Reply 1988, Pinocchio, and City Hunter. These are some of the dramas that easily come to mind when one is to ask me about the dramas I like.

I look forward to more dramas that will add to my list. :)

I primarily did this for myself, but it took so long I figured I’d share it for any interested souls. Reading the comments, you can definitely see a few trends for top 10 dramas. Well, I’ve been curious about DB readers’ tastes for a while, so I figured I’d go a little overboard and count up all the top players for top 10 dramas. I’m sure there will be more comments after this, but I don’t think the leads will be changing anytime soon. So here’s a list of what DB readers and writers put on their top 10 lists. I only took those in English, and if there was double for any line I didn’t count that line (only top 10 or less). I also paired them up with their DB ratings, for further analysis fun. JB in [], GF in {}

Top Ten
1. Coffee Prince: 57 (8 DB, 49 Other) [9/9] {10/10}
2. Signal: 49 (7 DB, 42 Other) [10/10]
3. Misaeng: 45 (6 DB, 39 Other) [9/9] {10/10}
4. Healer: 44 (5 DB, 39 Other [10/10] {9/9}
5. Answer Me 1997: 42 (4 DB, 38 Other) [9/9] {10/10}
6. Answer Me 1988: 36 (5 DB, 31 Other) {9/9}
7. I Hear Your Voice: 35 (6 DB, 29 Other) [7/ 8] {9/9}
8. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo: 34 (3 DB, 21 Other) [9/9]
9. My Love From Another Star: 29 (4 DB, 25 Other) [{9/9}]
10. My Name is Kim Sam Soon: 29 (3 DB, 26 Other) [9/9] {10/10}

20s Club
Master’s Sun 28 [9/8] {8/8}
School 2013: 25 [8/8] {9/8}
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho: 23 [9/8] {10/10}
The Lonely Shining Goblin 23 - -
Full House: 22 [7/6]
I Remember You 22 [{8/8}]
Queen In-Hyun’s Man: 22 [9/9] {8/8}
Pinocchio 20 {8/7}
City Hunter 20 [10/9] {10/10}**

15+ (alpha) Club
Gaksital 19 [9/9] {10/9}
Greatest Love 17 [9/9] {9/8}**
W: Two Worlds 17 [8/8]
Shut Up: Flower Boy Band 17 [10/10] {9/9}
Liar Game 17 [9/9] … and a lot of hearts from GF
Six Flying Dragons 17 - -
King 2 Hearts 15 {9/9}
Princess’ Man 15 [10/9]
Sungkyunkwan Scandal 15 [{9/8}]
Goong 15-22? [7/7] {8/8}**

It gave some interesting results--I never would’ve expected Coffee Prince to consistently break 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 before any others. Or even be first. The next 5 I could see, but I Hear Your Voice was a surprise. Weightlifting Fairy was the real Dark Horse for me in the top 10, while Goblin and Master’s Sun surprised me in the 20s club (Goblin for being there and Master’s Sun for almost making top 10). The ** are of interest because they got there by Beanie lists alone, none of the DB writers have them on one of their top 10 Lists. Goong is an interesting case because I didn’t realize there were two titles, or two dramas to refer to, until the end.

While drama watching is still a subjective art form, I do take cues and recommendations from well rated dramas, and I thought this might help me narrow down the contenders to add to my list (that, and looking for lists like mine). Thanks DB, I had fun!

I definitely only included dramas in my list that I have rewatched at least once, and...dramas I watched more times naturally edged closer to the top. Since this is hard enough as it is, I only included Korean dramas..

1. Oh Hae Young Again
2. Answer Me 1997
3. Hotelier
4. Autumn in My Heart
5. All About Eve
6. Secret Love Affair
7. Joseon X-Files
8. Signal
9. Misaeng
10. My Name Is Kim Sam Soon

Looking at my list, I see that I most enjoy watching different types of characters handle desire and yearning... Sometimes it's the wavering, indecisive leads that frustrate and keep me hooked (e.g., MNIKSS and OHYA's Do-Kyung.). But more often I get addicted to the gut-wrenching droughts of abstinence and self-restraint that some leads go through before they surrender and give their all to whatever it is that drives them. This inevitably includes (heavier) romances, but a Joseon detective's need to find answers, an office worker's struggle for acceptance, a policeman's drive to find the killer--these are the kinds of stories that are so moving to me.

I also love it to bits when a lead "just knows" what he/she wants, and gives full-out confident chase, (e.g., Hotelier, OHYA's Hae Young, AAE).

It is hard to pick 10, but if I pick the ones stayed with me
1. Heo Jun
2. Immortal YSS
3. Dae Jang Geum
4. Damo
5. Piano
6. Sand Glass
7. Reply 1988
8. Goblin
9. SKK scandal
10. Healer
11. Signal, You from another star, Desendents of sun, Unexpected you, Dear my friends, Comrades, Secret garden, Dream high, Princess' man, Shut up flower boy band, What's up, Mandate of heaven, Heartless city, I hear your voice, King of dramas, Secret love affair, Marrigage not dating, Three musketeers, Giant, Yoona's street, Miseang, Bad guys, Kill me heal me, Twenty again, PU38...

And I see there were many good ones in particulary last year.

Here's my list in alphabetical order. It's interesting to see how different most of these lists are. I imagine it's due to the variety in our ages, background and experiences.

Answer Me 1988
Answer Me 1997
Arang and the Magistrate
Goblin
Jealousy Incarnate
Lie to Me
My Love from Another Star
Protect the Boss
Queen In-Hyunh's Man
Vineyard Man