2026 Netflix Taiwan Top 10 Korean Dramas Revealed! 'My Royal Rival' and 'How to Translate Love' Surpassed by 'Iron Fist Education': A Punch Against Bullies, the Year's Highest-Viewed Series

The first half of 2026 saw numerous Korean dramas ignite a viewing frenzy on Netflix, with genres ranging from school action and workplace suspense to horror and fantasy romance. Several new releases quickly climbed into the platform’s top 10 most-watched lists. This ranking focuses on Korean dramas released on Netflix Taiwan between January and June 2026 that entered the local Top 10 TV Shows chart within their first week.

'Iron Fist Education,' starring Kim Mu-yeol and Lee Sung-min, claimed the top spot. 'We Who Strive to Overcome Inferiority,' featuring Koo Kyo-hwan and Ko Youn-jung, followed closely. 'How to Translate Love?' and 'Miss Hong, Undercover' also secured high positions due to strong buzz and critical acclaim.

▼ Netflix Taiwan Top 10 Korean Drama Ranking #1: Kim Mu-yeol & Lee Sung-min, 'Iron Fist Education' | Douban Rating: 8.7

'Iron Fist Education' tackles school bullying, powerful families, and a broken education system. Kim Mu-yeol plays Na Hwa-jin, an inspector from the Education Protection Agency, who intervenes in cases too difficult for teachers or schools to handle. Lee Sung-min portrays Choi Kang-suk, the architect of the system. Once Na enters a school, he doesn’t just resolve student conflicts—he investigates the bullies’ family backgrounds, school cover-ups, and systemic flaws, using forceful methods to correct imbalances.

Through multiple cases, the drama exposes how student violence, teacher helplessness, and parental privilege are interconnected. Each of Na’s actions sparks moral and institutional debate.

The scenes where Na physically punishes bullies are the most satisfying—and controversial—parts of the series. Some viewers argue the drama gives voice to those powerless in real life, saying, 'Reality is already bad enough—can’t we at least enjoy some catharsis in dramas?' Some teachers even commented, 'After a long day of teaching, watching this is pure relief.' Others warn, 'Iron-fist justice is only a temporary fix.' When schools and systems fail victims, fists may satisfy our craving for justice, but real change requires restoring teachers’ authority over education. The show’s 'violence as solution' approach has also been criticized for oversimplifying complex educational issues into punishment and revenge.

▼ Netflix Taiwan Top 10 Korean Drama Ranking #2: Koo Kyo-hwan & Ko Youn-jung, 'We Who Strive to Overcome Inferiority' | Douban Rating: 8.6

'We Who Strive to Overcome Inferiority' follows two people long-frustrated in the entertainment industry as they confront their insecurities and dreams. Koo Kyo-hwan plays Hwang Dong-man, a director-in-waiting who, after years of rejection, begins doubting his talent and drifting from his ideal life. Ko Youn-jung plays a producer worn down by high-pressure work—competent on the surface but internally burdened with anxiety and self-doubt.

They meet through work, initially clashing, but gradually understanding each other’s failures. The drama avoids clichéd inspirational storytelling, instead laying bare how failure, jealousy, comparison, and self-loathing seep into daily life.

After airing, the Chinese title sparked the most discussion. Many viewers felt the original title, 'Everyone Is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness,' though longer, better captured the characters’ internal struggles. Hwang Dong-man is sensitive, talkative, and unskilled at pleasing others—not a typical likable protagonist, but his flaws make him feel real. Netizens asked, 'When was the last time you saw a protagonist not written to please the audience?' Others praised it as 'no鸡汤, no dramatic highs and lows, yet deeply healing and warm.' However, the first half dwells heavily on life’s hardships and inferiority, while the ending quickly resolves multiple characters’ arcs, leaving some viewers feeling the bittersweet realism was rushed.

▼ Netflix Taiwan Top 10 Korean Drama Ranking #3: Kim Seon-ho & Ko Youn-jung, 'How to Translate Love?' | Douban Rating: 8.3

'How to Translate Love?' is set against cross-border work and language barriers, following a romance between an interpreter and a top actress. Kim Seon-ho plays Joo Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter who precisely conveys others’ words but struggles to understand Ko Youn-jung’s Cha Mo-hee’s true emotions. Mo-hee appears radiant on camera but hides deep vulnerability and defensiveness off-screen.

Through overseas shoots and close collaboration, they grow closer, navigating cultural differences, expression gaps, and accumulated misunderstandings. They gradually realize the hardest thing to translate in love isn’t language—but unspoken expectations.

Many viewers praised the nuanced portrayal of two people who care deeply but repeatedly pull back when getting close. Depictions of avoidance, anxiety, and insecurity resonated widely. One netizen wrote, 'Everyone is a language. The world has as many languages as people.' Others lauded it for 'perfectly capturing avoidant attachment in relationships.' Even with the same language, saying one thing while meaning another can lead to missed connections.

Kim and Ko’s chemistry, overseas filming, and visual quality were praised. However, the prolonged ambiguity in the second half frustrated some viewers, with criticism like 'the last two episodes were written with feet.' Subplots diluted focus, and the emotional tension built early didn’t sustain to the end, resulting in a front-loaded evaluation.

▼ Netflix Taiwan Top 10 Korean Drama Ranking #4: Park Shin-hye & Go Kyung-pyo, 'Miss Hong, Undercover' | Douban Rating: 7.8

'Miss Hong, Undercover' sets a spy plot in a 1990s financial workplace. Park Shin-hye plays Hong Geum-bo, an investigator who hides her age and identity to infiltrate a securities firm and uncover illegal transactions. The mission is already dangerous, but complications arise when her ex-lover, played by Go Kyung-pyo, becomes a senior executive—forcing her to evade not only colleagues and suspects but also the person who knows her best.

The drama weaves financial crime investigation with the struggles of women in a conservative workplace and the re-emergence of past romance amid lies and duty.

Park, playing a 35-year-old elite as a 20-year-old rookie, faced debate over believability. However, many viewers noted that looking older was part of the show’s humor, with other characters repeatedly teasing her 'old face,' and argued that content should not be dismissed over appearance. Praise centered on the blend of suspense, workplace drama, female ensemble, and social critique. One viewer said, 'It has suspense, workplace drama, comedy, and social criticism—all in one.' Others appreciated the natural camaraderie among female dorm residents, each with their own struggles and agency. Geum-bo’s focus on the case, not romance, was hailed as 'true female-led drama—every key moment is driven by the women.'

The 16-episode run was criticized for a slow start, underwhelming villains, and plot holes in the undercover operation. However, the final resolution recovered much of its reputation.

▼ Netflix Taiwan Top 10 Korean Drama Ranking #5: Jeon So-yeon & Kang Mi-na, 'Girigo: The Deadly Wish' | Douban Rating: 7.7

'Girigo: The Deadly Wish' begins with a smartphone app that grants users’ wishes. Jeon So-yeon and Kang Mi-na play young people who believe entering a wish will bring love, grades, money, or revenge—only to see a death countdown appear on their screens once the wish is fulfilled. As accidents pile up, they realize every satisfied desire comes at a price. To survive, they must find the app’s creator, the rules of the wishes, and how to stop the countdown—while confronting their hidden greed and secrets.

The mix of smartphone apps, school friendships, and folk curses, combined with a tight runtime and fast pace, earned praise from horror fans. Sound design, jump scares, and seamless shifts between reality and illusion were frequently highlighted. One viewer said, 'Fast-paced, zero dull moments—perfect for binge-watching.' Puzzle-solving, escape, and chase scenes were densely packed.

However, character relationship shifts were too abrupt, with friendship breakdowns and character turns lacking sufficient buildup. Some conflicts felt melodramatic. Still, for viewers not overly concerned with logic, it remains a solid binge-worthy school horror series.

▼ Netflix Taiwan Top 10 Korean Drama Ranking #6: Shin Hye-sun & Lee Jun-hyuk, 'Sarah’s True and False Life' | Douban Rating: 7.6

'Sarah’s True and False Life' centers on a mysterious woman and a murder case. Shin Hye-sun plays Sarah, a socialite in fashion and high society who skillfully crafts her image and offers conflicting stories about her education and background. As events unfold around her, the line between truth and fiction begins to blur. The story unravels how her past and present actions are connected.