With each passing year, the world of K-dramas continues to outdo itself—and 2025 is no exception. As we hit the peak of summer, fans worldwide have been asking one burning question: Which drama has stolen everyone’s hearts this year?
Well, the answer is crystal clear—When Life Gives You Tangerines has claimed the crown as the highest-rated K-drama of July 2025.
Quick Drama Facts
Drama Title: When Life Gives You Tangerines
ToGenre: Slice of life, romance, healing
Starring: IU, Park Bo-gum
Setting: Jeju Island
Ratings: Consistently above 9.2 on major review platforms
Why It’s the Talk of the Town
When Life Gives You Tangerines isn’t just popular—it’s beloved. The storyline weaves quiet healing with emotional depth, capturing the beauty of life’s small moments. IU’s gentle strength and Park Bo-gum’s subtle emotional expressions create a pairing that feels grounded, poetic, and deeply human.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Jeju Island, the drama follows two individuals who cross paths during a moment of transition in their lives. Their story is one of rediscovery, forgiveness, and hope—and audiences everywhere are soaking it in.
Whether it’s the dreamy visuals, the perfectly timed silences, or the deeply personal dialogues, this drama touches something real. It reminds viewers of what it means to slow down and feel again.
What Makes It So Special?
Exceptional Acting: IU and Park Bo-gum bring a quiet magnetism that pulls you in without forcing emotions.
Real Emotions: The drama doesn’t rely on over-the-top twists. Instead, it wins with simplicity, tenderness, and truth.
Aesthetic Masterpiece: The visuals are breathtaking—sunrises, tangerine orchards, ocean breezes—you can almost smell the sea.
Healing Storytelling: It’s the kind of drama that leaves you thinking about life, love, and the moments we often take for granted.
Other Dramas Making Waves
Although Tangerines is clearly in the lead, 2025 has gifted us several other gems that deserve attention:
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call – a fun, heartfelt medical drama
Our Unwritten Seoul – a poetic twin-sister tale led by Park Bo-young
Study Group, Melo Movie, City of Glass, and more continue to win hearts
“Still, nothing in July has quite matched the emotional resonance and critical love that When Life Gives You Tangerines has achieved.”
Final Takeaway
If you’ve been waiting for that one K-drama to truly feel, When Life Gives You Tangerines is it. It’s a warm cup of tea on a rainy day, a slow walk under tangerine trees, and a reminder that the softest stories often leave the deepest impact.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or just dipping your toes into Korean dramas, this one’s a must-watch for 2025.
Sources @NetflixKR