The Best TV Shows on KBS1

Every KBS1 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

With its programming history stretching from 2000 to 2025, KBS1 offers an impressive lineup of over 20 shows. Peruse our comprehensive roster of KBS1’s top shows, encompassing over 20 distinct series as of August 2026. Leading the pack on KBS1 are Emperor Wang Gun and Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin, with their initial broadcasts in 2000 and 2004.

  • Journalism Talk Show J
    Journalism Talk Show J (2018)9.5

  • Documentary Three Days
    Documentary Three Days (2007)9.0

    This new style documentary observes and documents events at a certain venue for 72 hours straight. It gives a glimpse into the ever-changing, versatile and dynamic Korean society by closely capturing from a heartwarming perspective the natural occurrences in people's lives at a certain local during a three-day period of time. - KBS

  • Larva
    Larva (2011)7.0

    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.

  • Unpredictable Family
    Unpredictable Family (2023)6.7

    A romantic family drama about a divorced couple who broke up 30 years ago out of hate, reuniting as in-laws through their children and overcoming long overdue conflicts and enmity.

  • My Merry Marriage
    My Merry Marriage (2024)6.4

    A delightful family drama that asks the true meaning of 'happiness' by showing various aspects of marriage such as divorce, remarriage, and single life, and brings about empathy and laughter from all generations. Maeng Gong Hee is a contract designer at Jayce Fashion. Having inherited her strong mother's spirit and her former detective father's athletic ability, she is a rare wild woman these days who has the guts to survive even if she were to be stranded on a deserted island. Gu Dan Soo is the grandson of Jayce Fashion Chairman Hwang Ik Seon and born to a wealthy father and a poor mother. Dan Soo, who was living as a free spirit in a foreign country, comes to Korea according to his grandmother's plan to make a successor to the chairman out of him and he reunites with childhood friend Maeng Gong Hee once again.

  • Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin
    Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin (2004)6.0

    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.

  • 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.

  • Bread Barbershop
    Bread Barbershop (2019)5.2

    Meet Bread! He's a brilliant cake decorator who gives amazing makeovers to customers in a town inhabited by quirky little food characters.

  • 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)4.5

    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.

  • 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%.

  • Hometown Over the Hill
    Hometown Over the Hill (2007)N/A

    By depicting the dreams of people living in farming villages, this drama also reveals problems that today’s residents of rural areas face, such as a growing number of biracial children from international marriages and the cutthroat competition to survive.

  • Splendor Of Youth
    Splendor Of Youth (2009)N/A

  • 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!

  • Hello Carbot
    Hello Carbot (2014)N/A

    An unexpected package is delivered to a school boy, Chatan. Chatan opens the box, but there is only an ordinary toy cube inside. However, as soon as Chatan touches the cube, a car-transformation robot appears.

  • 시사기획 창
    시사기획 창 (2015)N/A

  • Marie and Her Three Daddies
    Marie and Her Three Daddies (2025)N/A

    Kang Ma Ri has always longed for her father, but her search takes an unexpected turn when three men suddenly step into her life. This leads to the birth of an eccentric new family, one that proves stronger than blood and more persistent than DNA.