‘Terrorizing Romance’ and ‘Ghost Palace Mystery’ Lose! The #1 Most Popular Korean Drama Among Taiwanese Right Now Is This: Outshining ‘Iron Fist Education’ and Too Good to Miss

Interest in Korean dramas among Taiwanese audiences continues to rise, with titles across genres—action, suspense, and romance—dominating online discussions. According to an analysis by Net Temperature DailyView using the KEYPO big data engine, which measured online conversation volume from July 7 to August 5, 2026, 'Special Agent Kim: Back to Basics' emerged as the most talked-about Korean drama in Taiwan, amassing 26,131 mentions. 'Iron Fist Education' and 'Ghost Palace Mystery' ranked second and third, respectively. Below is the full list of the top 10 most popular Korean dramas recently favored by Taiwanese viewers.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #10: Namgoong Min & Lee Sun’s 'After Marriage'

'After Marriage' secured the 10th spot with 1,849 online mentions. Namgoong Min plays Kang Tae-joo, a neurosurgeon and hospital director, while Lee Sun portrays his wife, Ko Se-yoon. Their marriage has long been in a cold war, and after Tae-joo proposes divorce, Se-yoon is suddenly kidnapped by a mysterious man. Tae-joo also becomes a suspect after a video surfaces of him drunkenly discussing hiring a hitman. What initially appears to be a typical marital melodrama quickly shifts into a high-pressure crime thriller, exposing long-buried secrets between the couple.

This marks Namgoong Min and Lee Sun’s second collaboration after 'Our Movie,' with viewers joking that while their previous roles were about 'fearing they couldn’t be together,' this time it’s about 'wanting to divorce but unable to.' Kim Dae-myeong, who plays the kidnapper, delivers a striking contrast—his gentle voice paired with brutal actions intensifies the horror, with netizens commenting, 'I recognized his voice immediately—he’s terrifying.'

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #9: Kim Yoon-seok & Park Si-woo’s 'Proposal at the Prosecutor’s Office'

'Proposal at the Prosecutor’s Office' earned 2,086 online mentions, ranking 9th. A rare blend of crime investigation, revenge-driven suspense, and BL (Boys’ Love) elements, the drama stars Park Si-woo as Lee Chae-ha, a detective raised under the stigma of being a 'murderer’s son,' and Kim Yoon-seok as Jung Tae-sun, the cold and calculating son of a victim. Forced to collaborate on a long-unsolved murder case, they uncover a web of power struggles while developing a dangerous, emotionally charged relationship.

The intense chemistry and emotional tension between the leads sparked immediate discussion. Viewers exclaimed, 'My mind is just 'wow',' and 'It’s so good!' Some felt the story ended too soon, saying, 'It feels like one episode is missing,' indicating strong engagement with both the crime plot and forbidden romance.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #8: Byeon Woo-seok & Kim Hye-yoon’s 'Run, Don’t Walk with Sunja'

'Run, Don’t Walk with Sunja' ranked 8th with 2,246 mentions. Kim Hye-yoon plays Yoon Im-sul, a fan who finds hope in idol Ryu Sun-ja during her lowest moment. Byeon Woo-seok portrays Sun-ja, a popular singer who suddenly dies. Im-sul mysteriously travels back in time to their high school days and resolves to change Sun-ja’s fate. Through repeated time loops and near-misses, they uncover a long-standing mutual crush.

Audiences praised the show’s youthful energy, humor, and romantic atmosphere. Some said, 'I cried from the first episode,' while others called it 'ridiculously funny yet emotionally believable.' The on-screen chemistry between the leads was credited as a key factor in the drama’s viral success, making Sun-ja and Im-sul one of the most talked-about K-drama couples in recent years.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #7: IU & Park Bo-gum’s 'Bitter Honey, Sweet Encounter'

'Bitter Honey, Sweet Encounter' earned 2,551 mentions, ranking 7th. IU plays Oh Ae-sun, a stubborn poet at heart, while Park Bo-gum portrays Yang Gwan-jik, a quiet man who stands by her side. Set in 1950s Jeju Island, the story follows their journey from youth to old age, through marriage, poverty, and loss. It also portrays the sacrifices and regrets of women and families caught in the tides of history.

Many viewers said they 'cried through the first episode,' with dialogue described as 'quotable line by line.' The mother’s sacrifice, Gwan-jik’s silent devotion, and the family’s grief resonated deeply, leading many to see the drama as a love letter to the older generation.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #6: Lee Jung-jae & Lee Byung-hun’s 'Squid Game'

The 'Squid Game' series ranked 6th with 3,003 mentions. Lee Jung-jae reprises his role as Seong Gi-hun, the survivor of the deadly games, who, despite winning a fortune, remains haunted and returns to expose the truth. Lee Byung-hun plays The Front Man, the enigmatic mastermind. Season 3 follows Gi-hun after failed rebellion, forcing him to choose between sacrificing others or preserving his humanity.

Reactions were mixed: some praised the 'brutal yet dramatic hide-and-seek game' and 'shocking jump rope scene,' while others criticized underdeveloped characters, asking, 'What was this character even for?' While the ending felt bleak to some, others saw Gi-hun’s final choice as a glimmer of humanity in an otherwise cruel narrative.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #5: Park Eun-bin & Yang Se-jong’s 'Terrorizing Romance'

'Terrorizing Romance' ranked 5th with 3,375 mentions. Based on the 2011 film 'My Girlfriend Sees Ghosts,' Park Eun-bin plays Chun Yoo-ri, a chaebol heiress who sees spirits, while Yang Se-jong plays Ma Kang-wook, a talented but ghost-fearing prosecutor. They discover that physical contact triggers supernatural effects, leading them to team up on murder cases—and fall in love amid chaos.

Beyond the leads’ comedic chemistry, Yoon Seung-ah as the devoted second lead, Kang Min-hwan, unexpectedly stole the spotlight. His near-perfect looks, background, and personality, contrasted with his unrequited love, sparked viewer sympathy. Comments like 'Why did the second lead lose?' and 'Just give us the second lead!' led to a rare 'second lead stan' phenomenon.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #4: Lee Dong-wook & Kim Hye-jun’s 'The Killer’s Shopping Mall'

'The Killer’s Shopping Mall' ranked 4th with 3,979 combined mentions across Seasons 1 and 2. Lee Dong-wook plays Jung Jin-wan, a mysterious uncle who runs an online shopping site but secretly supplies weapons to assassins. Kim Hye-jun plays his niece, Jung Ji-an, who becomes a target after Jin-wan’s apparent death. Season 2 reveals Jin-wan faked his death, and the duo reunites to fight the international mercenary group 'Babylon.'

Fans eagerly awaited Jin-wan’s return and the uncle-niece team-up. The new season elevated action sequences—close combat, gunfights, and global assassin lore—earning praise as 'Hollywood-level.' The phrase 'Jin-wan is back' trended among fans after the trailer dropped.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #3: Nam Joo-hyuk & Roh Jeong-eui’s 'Ghost Palace Mystery'

'Ghost Palace Mystery' ranked 3rd with 10,596 mentions. Nam Joo-hyuk plays Goo-cheon, a shaman who slays ghosts with a sword, while Roh Jeong-eui plays Saeng-jiang, a palace maid who hears spirits and is secretly a banished princess. They investigate mysterious deaths in the East Palace, uncovering a curse tied to a royal cover-up 30 years prior.

The dark art direction, monster designs, and exorcism scenes were praised, with some calling it 'Korea’s ancient version of Constantine.' However, pacing and visual tone drew criticism—some said, 'I could only watch because of the leads’ visuals,' while others felt 'it ended up being just flashy visuals,' indicating that high production value didn’t fully resolve narrative issues.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #2: Kim Mu-yeol & Chun Ki-joo’s 'Iron Fist Education'

'Iron Fist Education' ranked 2nd with 11,927 mentions. Set in a world where school order is collapsing, the government forms the 'Educational Authority Protection Agency' with special intervention powers. Kim Mu-yeol plays Ro Hwa-jin, a former special forces officer investigating bullying, corrupt parents, drugs, and youth crime. Chun Ki-joo plays Yum Han-rim, a fellow ex-soldier who fights for justice.

The show’s extreme justice tactics delivered strong catharsis, with fans begging for 'Season 2, please!' and 'We need more Ro Hwa-jin!' However, controversial改编 choices—like overly intimate teacher-student interactions—drew backlash, with netizens calling it 'unrealistic' and original comic fans saying, 'It’s not like the source material.' The drama remains a mix of satisfaction and controversy.

Taiwan’s Most-Watched Korean Drama – Rank #1: So Ji-sub & Seo Hyun-jin’s 'Special Agent Kim: Back to Basics'

'Special Agent Kim: Back to Basics' claimed the #1 spot with 26,131 mentions. So Ji-sub plays Kim, a seemingly timid man who is actually a legendary spy forced back into action by past enemies. To save his family and nation from crisis, he reactivates his elite skills and confronts a global conspiracy. The intense spy action, combined with themes of family and patriotism, deeply resonated with audiences, making it Taiwan’s most beloved Korean drama of the moment.