'Agent Kim' and 'God and Law Firm' Lose! Netflix's Top 18 Korean Dramas of First Half 2026, One 'Legendary Drama' Tops with 48 Million Views

Netflix recently released its global viewing report for the first half of 2026, unveiling cumulative viewership figures for various titles. Korean dramas continue to demonstrate remarkable appeal, with new original series making strong entries on the charts and sequels or non-Netflix original dramas drawing audiences back through word-of-mouth. From热血校园, crime thrillers, romantic comedies to fantasy comedies, diverse genres successfully made it onto the rankings. Below is a list of the top 18 Korean dramas on Netflix with the highest global viewership in the first half of 2026—discover which titles captured the world's attention.

TOP 1 'Punch Education' | 48.2 million views 'Punch Education' claimed the top spot without a doubt, amassing 48.2 million views in just over a month and ranking 6th on Netflix’s global all-time list. Set in a South Korea where school violence is rampant, the government forms a special 'Educational Rights Protection Agency' team to intervene in school incidents using extreme measures to restore educational order. Starring Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Qin Ji-zhou, and Pyo Ji-woon, the series combines action, social commentary, and entertainment, sparking a global viewing frenzy.

TOP 2 'How to Translate Love?' | 28.6 million views Romantic drama 'How to Translate Love?' ranked second with 28.6 million views. Kim Seon-ho plays a multilingual translator, while Go Yoon-jung portrays an international female star. Their professional collaboration gradually blossoms into romance. Filmed on location in Japan, Italy, and Canada, the romantic atmosphere and scenic backdrops became major highlights.

TOP 3 'Sarah’s Dual Life' | 25.8 million views Crime thriller 'Sarah’s Dual Life' ranked third with 25.8 million views. Starring Shin Hye-sun and Lee Jun-hyuk, it follows a woman who uses multiple identities to orchestrate elaborate cons. As the truth unfolds, a larger conspiracy emerges. Blending fraud, psychological warfare, and suspense, it has been compared to 'Inventing Anna' and 'Anna' by many viewers.

TOP 4 'Bloodhounds 2' | 24.3 million views The sequel 'Bloodhounds 2' quickly accumulated 24.3 million views. Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi return as leads, with Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) joining as the new villain 'The Butcher,' elevating the action sequences. The story continues in the underground loan shark world, with the protagonists drawn into a larger criminal network.

TOP 5 'Super Rookie' | 20 million views 'Super Rookie' entered the top five with 20 million views. Starring Cha Eun-woo and Park Eun-bin, the story is set in 1999, where ordinary townspeople unexpectedly gain superpowers and must protect their city. Combining heroism, comedy, and action, it delivers a lighthearted take on the superhero genre.

TOP 6 'Girigo: Deadly Wishes' | 19.8 million views 'Girigo: Deadly Wishes,' without major star power, emerged as one of the year’s biggest dark horses, amassing 19.8 million views. The plot centers on a mysterious app that grants wishes—but each wish comes with a terrifying price, plunging high school students into a series of bloody, horrifying events.

TOP 7 'Subscription Boyfriend' | 16.1 million views 'Subscription Boyfriend,' starring Jisoo and Seo In-guk, accumulated 16.1 million views. It follows a comic editor who enters a virtual dating system and experiences romance with her ideal man, while sparks fly with a workplace rival in real life—navigating love between fantasy and reality.

TOP 8 'My Royal Rival' | 15.7 million views 'My Royal Rival' ranked eighth with 15.7 million views. The story follows a Joseon-era femme fatale who time-travels to the modern era and possesses an unknown actress, meeting a strong-willed chaebol heir. Their love-hate relationship unfolds amid constant conflict. The pairing of Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-joon sparked much discussion.

TOP 9 'Bloodhounds' | 15.1 million views The original 'Bloodhounds' (2023), not a new 2026 release, gained 15.1 million views in the first half due to renewed interest from the second season. It follows two young boxers who get entangled in a loan shark world and fight against a massive crime syndicate—one of the most acclaimed action K-dramas in recent years.

TOP 10 'Love at First Swipe' | 12.4 million views 'Love at First Swipe' had modest ratings in Korea but surpassed 12.4 million global views on Netflix. Ahn Hyo-seop plays a farming entrepreneur who falls into a healing romance with a shopping channel star, finding understanding and growth despite their vastly different lifestyles.

TOP 11 'Agent Kim: Return to Identity' | 10.7 million views 'Agent Kim: Return to Identity,' currently airing, has already accumulated 10.7 million views. So Ji-sub plays a bank employee with a secret spy identity who returns to a dangerous world to rescue his missing daughter, confronting his past in the process.

TOP 12 'Cash Hero' | 10.1 million views 'Cash Hero,' released at the end of last year, is included in this year’s first-half stats with 10.1 million views. Lee Jun-ho plays a civil servant whose superpowers grow stronger the more cash he holds—but he becomes penniless after every battle. Its novel premise drew attention.

TOP 13 'God and Law Firm' | 8.6 million views Fantasy legal drama 'God and Law Firm' reached 8.6 million views. Ryu Seung-ryong plays a lawyer who can see ghosts, teaming up with a cold elite lawyer to solve cases that cross the boundary between life and death. Trust and ambiguous feelings grow as they uncover the truth.

TOP 14 'Kiss Explosion' | 8.4 million views 'Kiss Explosion' ranked 14th with 8.4 million views. Ahn Eun-jin plays an office worker who lies about being married for work, only to meet her new team leader, Jang Ki-yong. A small lie spirals into chaos, sparking a hilarious romantic office comedy.

TOP 15 'Undercover Miss Hong' | 8.1 million views 'Undercover Miss Hong' accumulated 8.1 million views. Park Shin-hye plays a securities inspector who goes undercover as a young employee to investigate financial crimes, gradually uncovering corruption while facing exposure risks.

TOP 16 'Human from Today' | 7.4 million views 'Human from Today' reached 7.4 million views. Kim Hye-yoon plays a nine-tailed fox who doesn’t want to become human, meeting football star Park Solomon. Their bickering relationship slowly turns into love, wrapping a sweet romance in a fantasy premise.

TOP 17 'Still Shining' | 4.5 million views 'Still Shining' accumulated 4.5 million views. It tells of a couple separated by accident at 19, reuniting 10 years later to confront youthful regrets and unfinished feelings, seeking new answers in maturity.

TOP 18 'Trying to Overcome Inferiority' | 4.1 million views 'Trying to Overcome Inferiority' closed the list with 4.1 million views. Starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Go Yoon-jung, it focuses on film industry workers who, despite outward success, carry anxiety, inferiority, and life confusion—offering a nuanced group portrait of modern psychological struggles.

According to Netflix’s data, Korean dramas remained a top viewing choice globally in the first half of 2026. 'Punch Education' dominated with overwhelming numbers, while 'Bloodhounds 2' and 'How to Translate Love?' also showed strong appeal. With several new dramas set to launch in the second half, the annual rankings are expected to keep shifting and remain a topic of interest.