[2025 Year in Review] Editors’ Picks
by DB Staff
We’re saying our goodbyes to 2025 in true Dramabeans style–a.k.a talking about dramas. The votes have been tallied and we’re ready to share the shows, actors, and characters who moved us and entertained us over the past year. Without further ado, we present the winners of the 2025 Editors’ Picks!
2025 Editors’ Picks
BEST DRAMA
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Dramaddictally: Every once in a while, a drama comes along that stands so far out from the crowd, it becomes an instant classic, somehow invoking nostalgia for our viewing experience even before it’s finished airing. In 2025, we were lucky enough to have one of those dramas — a sweeping saga of contemporary Korean history called When Life Gives You Tangerines. By following a single family and an enduring love story, the drama covers post-war politics, economic ups and downs, and the cultural shifts that came with the changing times — particularly surrounding the rights of women. We watched a girl born into poverty, in a community of haenyeo women heads of household, as she struggled to achieve her dream of becoming a poet — winding and turning and getting off path — as life threw her one curveball after another. With the support of a husband who was way ahead of his time, and the passing of decades that brought hard-earned lessons, she ended up very far from where she started — while staying right in the same place. Impressive in its ability to link individual lives to social circumstance and bring out big emotional responses in viewers — making us remember our own joys, triumphs, setbacks, and failures — the drama succeeds in every realm. With sensitive and intelligent writing, transportive production design, and a cast that nailed every performance, it is undoubtedly the best drama of the year, and one that will continue to resonate for generations to come.
Honorable Mentions
Our Unwritten Seoul
Moon River
BEST DIRECTING
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Unit: When Life Gives You Tangerines is an amazing body of work built on the strength of its story and writing, the cast and their acting, the cinematography and setting, among other things. But it was the directing that masterfully wove all the show’s elements into a seamless and compelling narrative that pulled us into the world of our story and its characters. The directing of this show was thoughtful and intentional. It maintained a consistent tone and style, and nothing felt rushed or out of place. It thoroughly understood and unfolded the story with a smooth pacing that built tension, yet allowed us to sit with the scenes and feel each emotional beat. The characters were given room to breathe, and we watched them grow as the seasons passed. Dividing this show into four parts/seasons was a great storytelling choice, and the back and forth of timelines at different points in the show did not feel confusing. The narrative and general vibe of each part was also distinct and true to its corresponding season, and this greatly enhanced the watching and immersive experience of the show. If When Life Gives You Tangerines was an orchestra, PD Kim Won-suk is the conductor whose direction brought it all together to create the perfect symphony.
Honorable Mentions
Our Unwritten Seoul
Karma
Moon River
BEST WRITING
Our Unwritten Seoul
solstices: Undergirded by quiet hope and innate resilience even in its bleakest moments, Our Unwritten Seoul wove together a grounded tale of facing one’s fears and taking the first step forward. Each character was complex in their own right, layered with idiosyncrasies and flaws that made them relatable and utterly human. It’s a testament to how meticulously crafted the writing was that the twins always felt like distinct people – not only because of Park Bo-young’s excellent acting, but also because of the level of detail written into each sister’s personality and behavior. Their paths diverged organically and inevitably, drawn apart by their own personal insecurities. When they converged again, offering each other a fresh start that was simultaneously an avenue of escape, their unfamiliarity and uncertainty gradually developed into compassion and connection. For each other, and for their loved ones – but most of all, for themselves. The drama may have tapped on familiar tropes at times, but it did so with a sensitivity that allowed its emotional threads to unravel naturally. A subdued exploration of grief, gratitude, and growth, Our Unwritten Seoul was a gentle reminder to recognize the love given to us, and to love ourselves in turn.
Honorable Mentions
When Life Gives You Tangerines
The Haunted Palace
BEST ACTOR
Junho (Typhoon Family)
Dramaddictally: Watching Junho grow as an actor over the years, from side roles to center of the story, has meant seeing his stage confidence finally cross over into his movies and dramas, so that he’s able to hold the audience in the palm of his hand. In Typhoon Family, his character, Kang Tae-poong, blends seriousness and fun — a nod to the era of economic crisis coupled with the drama’s zany tone — as he goes from a frivolous party boy to the head of a flailing company. Junho takes us through the emotions of someone who’s lost his father, who’s struggling to understand his place in an inherited company and in the world, and, finally, who’s falling in love, all with an undercurrent of excitement, curiosity, and deference to those who might know more. As Tae-poong struggles and has to make hard choices that will affect the lives of his staff forever, he never succumbs to grimness or depression. This isn’t only about how the story is written or directed, but how Junho brings a light to the character that shines through even when it seems he’s hit bottom. In the drama’s most comical moments, there’s also a consistent meta-quality that tells us, okay, we’re acting here — you know I’m an idol and this is all for fun. But rather than detract from the story, it adds to the enjoyment by reminding us that even though the IMF crisis and its outcomes were real, the story being told is for us — the viewers — who might need a little light and hope shined on our current day.
Honorable Mentions
Yoo Yeon-seok (When the Phone Rings)
Lee Chae-min (Bon Appetit Your Majesty)
BEST ACTRESS
Park Bo-young (Our Unwritten Seoul)
DaebakGrits: It’s not easy for an actor or actress to convincingly play two distinct characters within the same drama, but Park Bo-young effortlessly switches between her roles as identical twins Mi-ji and Mi-rae in Our Unwritten Seoul. Both characters are multifaceted and misunderstood, but the source of their insecurities and how they choose to cope with them are varied and character defining. Mi-ji hides her low self esteem behind a jovial mask, but when faced with difficulties, she chooses to isolate herself by either closing herself physically (e.g. following her athletic career-ending injury) or emotionally from the people whose opinions she fears the most (re: her mom and sister). Mi-rae, by contrast, is the golden child who feels she has fallen short of everyone’s expectations, and she simultaneously struggles with finding her voice and purpose since losing her way. Although it would have been easy for an actress playing these characters to rely on costuming and overly defined mannerisms to distinguish the sisters apart, Bo-young’s nuanced performance not only differentiates Mi-ji from Mi-rae but also highlights how personal struggles and coping mechanisms shape identity, making each twin deeply relatable and memorable.
Honorable Mentions
Chae Soo-bin (When the Phone Rings)
IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines)
Kim Yoo-jung (Dear X)
Kim Se-jung (Moon River)
Kim Go-eun (The Price of Confession)
BEST ROMANCE
Love Scout
quirkycase: CEO + secretary romances are nothing new in dramaland, but the gender-flipped roles and mature leads made Love Scout feel fresh. Our CEO Ji-yoon is cool, efficient, and endearingly hapless, while new secretary Eun-ho is a warm single dad who is great with people. Ji-yoon’s unyielding pragmatism and Eun-ho’s idealism clash at first, but like in the best opposites attract romances, they open each other’s eyes to new perspectives. This is a quiet, slow burn romance with excellent chemistry between Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk who infuse the smallest moments with sizzling tension. Both Ji-yoon and Eun-ho are likable characters who feel equally matched: they’re smart, competent, assertive, and a touch stubborn. But Eun-ho softens Ji-yoon’s harshness, and Ji-yoon grounds Eun-ho. And they both help each other heal from the hurt and loneliness of their pasts. On top of the wonderful romance – that refreshingly never devolves into miscommunication – we get a delightful relationship between Ji-yoon and Eun-ho’s adorable young daughter Byeol. The trio’s journey to forming the sweet family unit they all needed was lovely to watch and added even more depth to this strong romance.
Honorable Mentions
Our Unwritten Seoul
Moon River
Bon Appetit Your Majesty
BEST COMEDY
Study Group
mistyisles: Study Group’s premise — high school students quite literally fighting for the chance to study — was zany enough, but the real comedic value of this show is all in the execution. Never has a story of extreme school violence felt so wholesome. That juxtaposition, brilliantly combined with comic book action sequences, Ga-min’s deadpan delivery, overall frenetic energy, and a knack for pairing up characters who complement each other in really fun ways, makes for a rollicking good time. And while Study Group featured a LOT of fight scenes, it got creative with the choreography and settings so that the repeated fighting never felt too repetitive. My favorite was probably the one where an aspiring bully tried to pick a fight, only for our unsuspecting hero to accidentally dodge every single attack until his opponent literally knocked himself out, but there were plenty of great ones to choose from — almost as many, in fact, as there were Forbidden Techniques in Ga-min’s bag of tricks!
Honorable Mentions
Heroes Next Door
Undercover High School
BEST ACTION/THRILLER
The Price of Confession
solstices: Unsettlingly riveting and unflinchingly raw, this show wound the suspense of uncertainty tight like a metaphorical noose around its protagonist’s neck. The contrast between our two leads was a deliberate demarcation – as if to separate the grieving civilian pressured into a deal she barely has the nerve to fulfil, from the supposed witch who kills without remorse. But is a monster born, or made? And what does psychopathy truly entail, beyond society’s prejudice and hasty labeling? With women at the forefront, the narrative delved deep into the human psyche, exploring the influence of trauma and examining the scars inflicted by grief. The captivatingly nuanced interpretations by the veteran cast further elevated the script, especially with Kim Go-eun’s phenomenal portrayal of the enigmatic murderer. Beyond the occasional plot contrivances, the story constantly kept its viewers on tenterhooks with tight pacing and startling twists, delivering no shortage of thrills all the way till its final act. Deeply compelling and hauntingly visceral, The Price of Confession was a thriller that drew back the curtains inch by inch to reveal just how horrific – and how empathetic – human nature can be.
Honorable Mentions
Study Group
The Trauma Code – Heroes on Call
Karma
BEST FANTASY/SCI-FI
The Witch
DaebakGrits: Although The Witch is not the most fantastical sci-fi/fantasy K-drama to grace our screens in 2025, a large part of its success can be attributed to its subtlety. The story hinges on the premise that leading lady Mi-jung is a witch, but like the leading man, Dong-jin, who sets out to prove (or disprove) this theory, the viewer does not initially know if Mi-jung’s tragic history with the opposite sex is the culmination of a series of unfortunate coincidences or the effects of a bona fide curse. The not knowing is a mystery that hooks viewers until they become equally invested in Dong-jin research and — once it becomes apparent something supernature is afoot — the success of his seemingly doomed romance with Mi-jung. Throw in an added twist in the final two hours of the drama, and — bam! — The Witch becomes the sleeper hit of the year.
Honorable Mentions
The Haunted Palace
Oh My Ghost Clients
Head Over Heels
Bon Appetit Your Majesty
BEST ENSEMBLE
Resident Playbook
quirkycase: After the incredible ensemble from parent show Hospital Playlist, it was hard not to be skeptical about how a new cast of characters would work within this world. But somehow, they did it again and created another engaging ensemble full of heart, wit, and memorable moments. Our four OBGYN residents were unique and interesting with their own group dynamic that didn’t rely on trying to recreate the magic of the original cast and instead let them create something special of their own. Yi-young, Sa-bi, Jae-il, and Nam-kyung all had strong yet very different personalities and foibles that led to distinct challenges as they navigated being new doctors. Whether it was Yi-young’s more mercenary mindset, Sa-bi’s perfectionism, Jae-il’s tendency to go overboard, or Nam-kyung’s self-centeredness, each had personal quirks to overcome during their journeys toward becoming better doctors and people. Each character had time to shine, but it was the way these seemingly incompatible residents came to lean on and learn from each other that made the group special. Watching this flawed yet endearing group of young people navigate both career and life, while creating lasting friendships along the way, was at turns heartwarming, funny, frustrating, and poignant. The best ensembles are made up of memorable characters with strong chemistry who elevate each other, and that’s certainly what Resident Playbook delivered.
Honorable Mentions
Bon Appetit Your Majesty
The Murky Stream
Typhoon Family
Heroes Next Door
BEST ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN
Squid Game 2 and Squid Game 3
DaebakGrits: Whether you love or hate the Squid Game franchise, it’s undeniable that the sets are iconic and as recognizable — even to the uninitiated — as Monica Geller’s purple-walled apartment. But the brightly colored M.C. Esher-inspired staircase and other whimsical spaces featured in this drama are carefully curated to emphasize the story’s themes. The juxtaposition of playground innocence with the violence of the games, for instance, mirrors the idea that adults often corrupt what was once safe and innocent. Additionally, the economic gap between the wealthy elite and working class is represented by the scale of the sets and CGI crafted spaces. At times, the rooms are gigantic and accentuated by oversized props — like the playground equipment and the multistory Young-hee doll — that make the players appear diminutive, like literal board game pieces being moved around for the VIPs’ entertainment. But even in closer quarters, like the labyrinth of hallways during the game of hide and seek in Season 3, the players still feel as though they are the tiny inhabitants of an ant farm scurrying to avoid being burned by a magnifying glass. Together, these meticulously designed environments do more than stage the action — they visually reinforce Squid Game’s central critique, reducing its characters to powerless players trapped inside systems far larger, richer, and more indifferent than they are.
Honorable Mentions
When Life Gives You Tangerines
The Haunted Palace
Dear X
Moon River
BEST VILLAIN
Kim Han-cheol (Jin Gu in Moon River)
mistyisles: Evil left state ministers are a dime a dozen in dramaland, so it was nice of Moon River to confirm this one as our villain right from the start. But Minister Kim wasn’t just your run-of-the-mill, power-hungry official. He was a master puppeteer, ruling the kingdom through the figurehead royals while barely even hiding that he was the one pulling the strings. And, more importantly, he was very human, driven by more than just greed or lust for power. While his backstory didn’t justify his cruelty, it did explain it, driving home the point of how easy it can be for a once-decent person to cast their decency aside. The best villains show us something about our own capacity for wrongdoing, and Minister Kim serves as a reminder that trying to give your enemies a taste of their own medicine might just poison all the good out of you instead.
Honorable Mentions
Na Baek-jin (Bae Nara) in Weak Hero Class 2
Baek Ah-jin (Kim Yoo-jung) in Dear X
BEST CHARACTER
Baek Kang-hyuk (Joo Ji-hoon in The Trauma Code – Heroes on Call)
Unit: I have loved the unconventional Baek Kang-hyuk since I first saw him in the “Trauma Code” webtoon, and it was a treat to see the character come alive on the small screen — and wonderfully portrayed by Joo Ji-hoon. The Trauma Code – Heroes on Call is a fast-paced medical drama, and Kang-hyuk’s presence further heightened the thrill factor of the show. Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk had one mission: to save his patients via any means possible. Whether through cussing out the higher-ups who put profits over patients, or barking medical orders at his amusingly-nicknamed team members. Kang-hyuk had a magnetic screen presence. He operated (in the medical and non-medical sense) at a superhuman frequency, and there was almost nothing he couldn’t do — from cycling through a war zone, to performing risky surgeries in risky places. While I’m usually put off by overpowered characters, I never got tired of watching Kang-hyuk flex his various skills, because everything boiled down to saving a life. Kang-hyuk was also a great mentor who led by example, and it’s no surprise that his strong work ethics — and eccentricity! — rubbed off on his team. He lived and breathed in boisterous moments. But he also shone in the quiet moments like in his trust in his mentee to lead his own surgery, and that gentle speech he gave to his past inspiration turned present-day antagonist while advocating for a helicopter for the hospital. Baek Kang-hyuk in one word is “iconic,” and I will not be forgetting him — and his many shibals — any time soon.
Honorable Mentions
Yoo Mi-ji (Park Bo-young) in Our Unwritten Seoul
Seo Moon-joo (Jeon Ji-hyun) in Tempest
Kang Tae-poong (Junho) in Typhoon Family
Baek Ah-jin (Kim Yoo-jung) in Dear X
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