The Best TV Shows on KBS1

Every KBS1 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

As of October 2025, we’ve curated over 20 of KBS1’s premier shows for your viewing pleasure. From 2000 through to 2024, KBS1 has accumulated a diverse collection of over 20 television shows. Emperor Wang Gun and One Million Roses represent the pinnacle of KBS1’s programming, launching in 2000 and 2003.

  • The King of Legend
    The King of Legend (2010)7.2

    The King of Legend is a 2010 South Korean historic drama based on King Geunchogo of Baekje. Besides than the historic info obtained from Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa, it was also inspired by a novel written by Lee Munyeol, a renowned Korean writer. The drama was aired on KBS 1TV in Korea, and internationally through KBS World.

  • Larva
    Larva (2011)7.2

    Two curious worms spend their days investigating the otherworldly objects that fall through the grate into their subterranean world.

  • Be My Dream Family
    Be My Dream Family (2021)6.8

    The story of the series revolves around two families Geumgane and Hangane from different cultural backgrounds. They meet when their parents remarry in the twilight of life, and they become one family. The series follows the conflict, understanding and harmony of the extended family, showing meaning of a true family.

  • Cloud Bread
    Cloud Bread (2010)6.0

  • Brilliant Heritage
    Brilliant Heritage (2020)6.0

    A stepmother takes revenge on four spoiled brothers. The father feels betrayed by his sons who are always after his money. This twisted family shows conflict and the true meaning of being a family. The story revolves around Buruna Noodles and the owner of the restaurant. Each son and their wives have different dreams, but they all want one thing.

  • Sunny Again Tomorrow
    Sunny Again Tomorrow (2018)5.8

    After being fired from her job at a TV home shopping channel, Ha-Nee decides to start her own fashion company and soon becomes involved with Han-Kyul, a merchandiser for the shopping channel.

  • Su Ji and U Ri
    Su Ji and U Ri (2024)5.8

    A healing romance begins between fallen star doctor Jin Su Ji and stubborn newbie doctor Choi U Ri.

  • The King Dae Joyoung
    The King Dae Joyoung (2006)5.7

    This 100-episode epic drama vividly depicts the life of King Dae Jo-yeong and other heroes of the Balhae Kingdom, which dates back 1300 years ago.

  • You are My Destiny
    You are My Destiny (2008)5.5

    Jang Sae-byuk is a cheerful and grateful orphan who always tries her best. She dreams of one day becoming an interior designer, despite her lack of education and money. Because of an accident that happened before the story starts (about three years ago), she loses her sight and undergoes corneal transplant surgery. Different events unravel when she encounters the Kim family, who has lost a daughter in a horrible car crash, unbeknownst to everyone besides the father and older brother. The stories then intertwine when Sae-byuk meets the Kim's extended family and the son of a big interior design company, Lohas, in Korea.

  • Smile Again
    Smile Again (2010)5.5

    Raised in America by his mentally handicapped mother Anna, Dong Hae dreams of traveling to Korea to propose to the woman he loves.. After qualifying for a speed skating competition, he smuggles his mother to Korea with him, but his undying devotion to her soon begins causing him problems. Finally reconnecting with his lost love Saewa, Dong Hae finds his affections divided when things don’t work out as he planned in this award-winning daily drama.

  • Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin
    Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin (2004)5.0

    Admiral Yi Sun-shin, who led the Joseon Navy to a myth of invincibility during the Hideyoshi invasion, was a true soldier and leader who struggled to protect people. Drama Yi Sun-shin is not a biography of Admiral Yi Sun-shin, nor does it inetnd to reconstruct a part of the Joseon Dynasty that existed in the 16th century. This drama will merely look into many human beings, incliuding Yi Sun-shin, who underwent an extreme situation. It is not just a historical drama series. It’s rather about human nature that makes both of the war and peace. It is a Korean version of “War and Peace” in 21st century. No hero has ever been sent by heaven. He has emerged as one ultimately after undergoing a lifelong process. Drama Yi Sun-shin is designed to shed a new light upon him as a human being.

  • King Sejong the Great
    King Sejong the Great (2008)4.8

    "The Great King, Sejong" is a full-scale political drama describing how King Sejong and his loyal retainers cooperate and contrive to make his dynasty a better place. While King Sejong was on the throne, the Joseon Dynasty enjoyed increasing prosperity. The drama shows the dramatic processes of how so many new cultural heritages have been devised. At that time, "Hangul", the native phonemic alphabet system for Korean language was first invented and introduced. Before it was made, Chinese characters had been used for a written communication, which makes it extremely difficult for ordinary people to learn and use. "Hangul" is easy to learn for its simple and scientific principles. Other than "Hangul" itself, there had been so many cultural heritages during his regime including a rain gauge, a sundial, an hourglass to name a few. Also, King Sejong’s pragmatic diplomacy is concentrated in the drama. Then, the Joseon Dynasty was facing a powerful Ming dynasty of China, and King Sejong demonstrates the essence of pragmatism with dignity.

  • Likeable or Not
    Likeable or Not (2007)4.6

    Likeable or Not is a South Korean television series starring Han Ji-hye, Kim Ji-seok, Jo Dong-hyuk, Yoo In-young, and Lee Young-eun. The daily drama aired on KBS1 from September 3, 2007 to May 2, 2008 on Mondays to Fridays at 20:25 for 172 episodes. It was one of the most highly rated Korean dramas since 2000, reaching a peak viewership rating of 43.9%.

  • Apple of My Eye
    Apple of My Eye (2023)4.0

    A work about the delightful and heartbreaking story of a family growing up while raising a child, centering on a single dad Geum Kang San and adopted child Ok Mi Rae who is the apple of his eye.

  • Sweet Home, Sweet Honey
    Sweet Home, Sweet Honey (2015)3.4

    Even though Oh Bom is in a difficult financial situation, she is still bright and positive. She works part-time work at a factory. Kang Ma-Roo is a kind and simple young man. He is naive about the world. An Tae-Ho is the section chief of a company. He is an ambitious man. He approaches Choi A-Ran for his own gain and marries her. Choi A-Ran is the heiress of a large company. She is smart, but has a painful past. Her younger sister went missing and her parents abandoned her.

  • Emperor Wang Gun
    Emperor Wang Gun (2000)3.2

    Taejo Wang Geon was a 200-episode Korean drama starring Choi Soo Jong in the title role. It became very successful, reaching very high ratings, around 60%.

  • One Million Roses
    One Million Roses (2003)N/A

    백만송이 장미는 매주 월,금 저녁 20시 25분에 방영되었던 KBS 일일 드라마이다. 백만송이장미는 2003년 10월 6일부터 2004년 6월 4일까지 방송을 하고 종영하였다.

  • Like Land and Sky
    Like Land and Sky (2007)N/A

    Like Land And Sky is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Park Hae-jin, Han Hyo-joo, Lee Joo-hyun, Kang Jung-hwa, and Hong Soo-ah. It aired on KBS1 from January 15 to August 31, 2007 on Mondays to Fridays at 20:25 for 165 episodes. The daily drama was a hit, maintaining an average viewership rating of 30% throughout its nine-month run. Its peak viewership rating of 36.1% made it the third highest-rated Korean drama of 2007.

  • Cheer Up, Mr. Kim!
    Cheer Up, Mr. Kim! (2012)N/A

    A family drama involving a 32-year-old unmarried man who is raising four children! Kim Tae Pyung is a domestic helper and a legal guardian for four children who are not related by blood. Mr. Kim and his children go through a range of difficulties on their way to becoming a family. Let’s find out how they learn to accept each other as family members and become a true family!

  • Mr. House Husband
    Mr. House Husband (2016)N/A

    Mr. House Husband is a South Korean television entertainment program, where six men who do housekeeping and parenting are observed by their fellow cast members. For season 2, the format changed and the cast members' recordings were observed and narrated by two hosts.