If we rank kdramas based on their first episode ratings, of course, we would not forget to rank them based on how good (or bad) they performed during the final episode. Unlike in the previous list, there are almost no changes in the lineup of dramas which are included in this ranking. That’s because well-loved dramas usually end up with decent ratings.
Descendants of the Sun is on top of the list with 38.8%. I wonder if there would be a drama this year that could reach such a high rating. That’s pretty hard to beat, perhaps even next year or the year after. Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim comes second at 27.6%, a number that is more than enough to make any drama a big hit these days. If you compare this ranking to the list of the highest-rated dramas (top 10 list), you would notice changes in the top 3 to 6 positions. Moonlight Drawn By Clouds, which ranks 4th in the top 10 list, displaced Doctors to rank 3rd this time. Remember also moved two places up and eventually put Doctors on top 5.
Legend of the Blue Sea, Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho, Monster, and Jealousy Incarnate also remain in the ranking. Is anything missing from the top 10 list? Yes, W-Two Worlds is not here! Instead, we see Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo holding the top 9 spot. It may not be as successful as DOTS, but Moon Lovers managed to gain 11.3% and secure its position in this list.
- Top 10 Free-to-Air Dramas by Final Episode Ratings:
- Descendants of the Sun (38.8%)
- Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim (27.6%)
- Moonlight Drawn By Clouds (22.9%)
- Remember (20.3%)
- Doctors (20.2%)
- Legend of the Blue Sea (17.9%)
- Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho (17.3%)
- Monster (14.1%)
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (11.3%)
- Jealousy Incarnate (11.0%)
In cable category, all dramas in the cable top 10 list are also in this list and Goblin still holds the number one spot. That means Signal is still at number 2, ouch :(. Juts like in the top 10 list, Oh Hae Young Again, Cheese in the Trap, and Dear My Friends rank 3rd, 4th, and 5th, respectively.
Changes in the ranking can be observed in the remaining 5 places wherein The Good Wife and The K2 swapped positions. 38 Task Force also secured the top 9 position and push Let’s Fight Ghost to top 10.
- Top 10 Cable Dramas by Final Episode Ratings:
- Goblin (18.68%)
- Signal (12.54%)
- Oh Hae Young Again (9.99%)
- Cheese in the Trap (6.89%)
- Dear My Friends (6.87%)
- The Good Wife (6.23%)
- The K2 (5.47%)
- Drinking Solo (5.02%)
- 38 Task Force (4.56%)
- Let’s Fight Ghost (4.31%)
To see all the list of rankings on one page, go to the Korean Drama Rankings 2016.
(Dramatop 2016 is a Kdramapal post series that ranks kdramas based on their nationwide average viewership ratings from Nielsen Korea. It includes in its ranking only prime time dramas that air from Monday to Saturday. We ensure the accuracy of our ranking result by collecting data directly from Nielsen Korea’s website and other reliable sources. If you have feedback or questions regarding the rankings and this post series in general, you can send them to [email protected], message us via Facebook, or comment on the post below.)
(Source of images: KBS, MBC, SBS & TVING)
- Dramatop Introduction: 50 kdramas included in 2016 ranking
- Monster, 38 Task Force join the top 10 dramas of 2016
- Jealousy Incarnate, Let’s Fight Ghost ranks 9th among 2016 dramas
- W, Drinking Solo rank 8th among 2016 dramas
- Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho, The Good Wife occupy 7th place
- Remember, The K2 place 6th in top dramas of 2016
- Legend of the Blue Sea, Dear My Friends rank 5th among 2016 dramas
- Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, Cheese in the Trap secure status as 4th highest rated drama in 2016
- Doctors, Oh Hae Young Again rank third among 2016 kdramas
- Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim, Signal hold record as 2nd highest rated drama in 2016
- Descendants of the Sun, Goblin achieve highest TV ratings among kdramas in 2016
- 5 highest-rated KBS dramas in 2016
- 5 highest-rated MBC dramas in 2016
- 5 highest-rated SBS dramas in 2016
- 5 highest-rated Mon-Tue dramas in 2016
- 5 highest-rated Wed-Thu dramas in 2016
- 5 highest-rated Fri-Sat dramas in 2016
- Legend of the Blue Sea, Goblin top drama ranking based on first episode ratings
- Descendants of the Sun, Goblin top drama ranking based on final episode ratings
- Descendants of the Sun, Goblin still no. 1 in drama ranking based on peak ratings
- Complete ranking of Korean dramas in 2016 based on viewer ratings