The highest-rated television drama in South Korea right now is KBS2's weekend family flagship Love Is Coming (사랑이 온다), peaking at 14.5% on September 6, 2026. It leads SBS's Flex X Cop Season 2 (11.7%) and KBS1's daily serial Joyful Days (10.3%), while tvN's Four Hands, Two Sonatas tops cable at 7.5%.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Top-rated drama | Love Is Coming (KBS2), peak 14.5% on September 6, 2026 |
| Love Is Coming weekly ratings | Above 14% for the weeks of August 31, September 7 and September 14 |
| Flex X Cop Season 2 (SBS) | 11.7% for its series finale on September 19, after 9.7% the day before |
| Joyful Days (KBS1) | Between 8.8% and 10.3%, Monday to Friday |
| Trap of Desire (KBS2) | 6.7% peak; weekly ratings between 7.5% and 7.7% |
| Four Hands, Two Sonatas (tvN) | 7.5% peak, leading cable channels every weekend |
| The Ordinary Jackpot (tvN) | 4.8% peak, Monday to Tuesday |
| Rating type | Household figures as of Sep 27, 2026 |
The Two Worlds of K-Drama Viewership
If you spend your time browsing social media fan edits, this might come as a surprise, because the titles trending internationally on global streaming apps rarely match what millions of Korean households watch together. Taking a closer look at domestic broadcast charts reveals the powerful lineup of daily serials, weekend staples, and hits that anchor traditional television.
For international fans, popular K-dramas are often synonymous with 12-to-16-episode miniseries like Four Hands, Two Sonatas or Flex X Cop. These stylish productions feature high-concept premises, cinematic budgets, and rapid global rollouts with multi-language subtitles.
Yet inside South Korea, traditional television viewership tells a completely different story. Public network serials produced by KBS command massive audiences every single week. Domestic broadcast television maintains strong viewing numbers that rarely translate into international social media trends. When weekly ratings charts are published, the top spots are almost invariably occupied by these reliable broadcast staples that have entertained audiences for decades.
September 2026 Television Drama Leaderboard
Here's how six of September's biggest dramas compare by their best single day of the month:
| Rank | Drama Title & Network | Peak Rating | Airs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Love Is Coming (KBS2) | 14.5% | Weekend |
| 2nd | Flex X Cop Season 2 (SBS) | 11.7% | Fri-Sat |
| 3rd | Joyful Days (KBS1) | 10.3% | Mon-Fri |
| 4th | Four Hands, Two Sonatas (tvN) | 7.5% | Sat-Sun |
| 5th | Trap of Desire (KBS2) | 6.7% | Mon-Fri |
| 6th | The Ordinary Jackpot (tvN) | 4.8% | Mon-Tue |
Why Weekend Family Dramas Stay on Top
Holding the top spot on television is Love Is Coming (사랑이 온다). Airing every Saturday and Sunday on KBS2, this long-running family drama follows multiple generations dealing with relationship hurdles, family obligations, and community life.
The reason these weekend dramas achieve such commanding ratings is largely structural. Our guess? Weekend dramas are something households watch together in shared living spaces. The comforting familiarity of recurring characters and warm family dynamics makes these productions an enduring staple of Korean broadcasting that withstands competition from newer digital media platforms and video services. In its weekly ratings for the weeks of August 31, September 7 and September 14, the series stayed above 14%, showing that traditional family viewing habits remain exceptionally sturdy on broadcast television.
The Weekday Daily Serial Powerhouse
Just behind the weekend dramas are weekday daily series like Joyful Days (기쁜 우리 좋은 날) on KBS1 and Trap of Desire (욕망의 덫) on KBS2.
These dramas air every Monday through Friday. Joyful Days consistently pulls ratings between 8.8% and 10.3%, maintaining a reliable position on the daily broadcast chart. Daily dramas weave relatable stories about family businesses, intergenerational tensions, and everyday community relationships. They become habitual viewing for millions of Korean households. Meanwhile, daily melodramas like Trap of Desire deliver steady cliffhangers that keep dedicated serial fans returning episode after episode. Trap of Desire's weekly ratings sat between 7.5% and 7.7% over the same three weeks (weekly figures run higher than single-night numbers).
Miniseries: Cultural Buzz and Cable Reach
While daily and weekend family dramas win the raw volume battle, miniseries like SBS's Flex X Cop Season 2 (재벌X형사2) and tvN's Four Hands, Two Sonatas (포핸즈) generate immense cultural buzz, commercial advertising interest, and international streaming demand.
Flex X Cop Season 2 proved that a sharp crime comedy can still achieve blockbuster numbers on free-to-air television, leaping to 11.7% for its series finale on September 19 after hitting 9.7% the day before. Meanwhile, tvN's Four Hands, Two Sonatas demonstrated the strength of cable programming, leading cable channels every single weekend with a 7.5% peak. Even on Mondays and Tuesdays, tvN's workplace comedy The Ordinary Jackpot (로또 1등도 출근합니다) achieved an impressive 4.8% peak on cable, proving that clever situational comedy resonates with audiences tuning into Monday and Tuesday programming. On cable, where ratings run lower, a 4.8% or 7.5% puts tvN's shows at the top of their charts.
The Broader Picture of Korean Television Success
Understanding the Korean television market means recognizing that high ratings take different forms depending on the broadcast format. An 11.7% rating for a stylish SBS Friday-Saturday miniseries represents a major pop culture phenomenon, just as a 7.5% rating for a tvN cable romance represents top-tier commercial dominance.
Meanwhile, a 14% rating for a KBS weekend drama reflects steady generational loyalty that keeps linear television vibrant in the digital age. For any drama enthusiast looking to understand the full breadth of Korean television, keeping an eye on both international streaming favorites and domestic broadcast leaders offers the most rewarding view of the industry. Both forms of storytelling thrive side by side, serving different viewing habits while showcasing the incredible versatility and creative strength of Korean television storytellers across every network and schedule.
Ratings are household figures as of Sep 27, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is a daily drama in the Korean broadcast industry?
A daily drama or il-il drama is a television serial broadcast every Monday through Friday, designed for routine family viewing.
Why do KBS family dramas and daily serials rarely trend on international streaming platforms?
These productions are created primarily for domestic linear television broadcast, focusing on family-centric storylines rather than the fast-paced genre formats favored by international streaming buyers.
How does a 7.5% cable rating compare to high terrestrial viewership?
Cable ratings run lower than terrestrial ones, so 7.5% was enough to make Four Hands, Two Sonatas the top cable program every weekend it aired.
Which drama had the highest rating in Korea in September 2026?
KBS2's weekend family drama Love Is Coming led with a 14.5% peak on September 6, 2026. Its weekly ratings stayed above 14% for the weeks of August 31, September 7 and September 14.
What rating did Flex X Cop Season 2 get for its finale?
Flex X Cop Season 2 rose to 11.7% for its series finale on SBS on September 19, after scoring 9.7% the day before.