The Best TV Shows on KBS1

Every KBS1 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

From 1990 through to 2023, KBS1 has accumulated a diverse collection of over 20 television shows. Highlighting KBS1’s quality programming, 서울뚝배기 and Emperor Wang Gun stand out, premiering in 1990 and 2000. Discover the best of KBS1 with our list of over 20 series, meticulously updated for June 2025.

  • Yellow Handkerchief
    Yellow Handkerchief (2003)10.0

    Sang-min wants success in life, and in pursuit of success, he abandons his ten-year relationship with Ja-yeong to marry his boss’ daughter, Min-ju. Ja-yeong finds herself pregnant and raising a child alone. When Sang-min finds out, the battle over custody of child begins. This drama became a number one hit and captured more than 30% of viewers during its broadcast while unraveling the mysteries of waiting, forgiveness and above all - the value of love.

  • Tonight Kim Je-dong
    Tonight Kim Je-dong (2018)10.0

  • Tai Chi Chasers
    Tai Chi Chasers (2007)9.0

    After a strange and devastating attack on his home, a young boy named Rai is shocked to discover he’s a secret descendent of the Tigeroids: an ancient race of peaceful beings locked in a struggle with the ruthless and cunning Dragonoids. In a parallel universe called Suhn, the Tigeroids and Dragonoids are battling furiously to recover 500 lost tai chi characters. Whoever retrieves these precious and potent symbols will possess the ultimate power to rule their realm... and destroy their enemies. As Rai hones his innate tai chi skills to fight the Dragonoids, he must find the lost tai chi and battle to become one of the champion Tai Chi Chasers!

  • Larva
    Larva (2011)7.2

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

  • Bravo, My Life
    Bravo, My Life (2022)7.2

    Even though Seo Dong Hee comes from a poor family background, she has a bright and positive personality. She dreams of becoming a designer and slowly works her way to achieve her dream. She decides to become the mother of her nephew and raise him by herself. She also gets involved with Kang Cha Yeol. Kang Cha Yeol’s father runs a big company. His father wants him to work for his company, but Kang Cha Yeol doesn't want to. He wants to go back to the U.S., but he realizes he can't do anything without his father's financial support. His father tells Kang Cha Yeol to work for 1 year at his company.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Dream of the Emperor
    Dream of the Emperor (2012)5.2

    Kim Chunchu is the grandson of King Jinji, but when his grandfather is overthrown, Chunchu is denied the chance to become a successor to the throne of Silla. He later meets Kim Yushin, and the two men begin a friendship. Chunchu later becomes King Muyeol, the 29th Korean monarch who leads the unification of three ancient kingdoms - Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, while Kim Yushin becomes one of the greatest generals in Korean history.

  • It's My Life
    It's My Life (2018)4.8

    An ordinary young man from the countryside refuses to settle for the present and tries to carve out his own way to success.

  • Age of Warriors
    Age of Warriors (2003)4.7

    This is a KBS 1TV drama that aired from February 8, 2003 to August 15, 2004.

  • 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%.

  • 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%.

  • 서울뚝배기
    서울뚝배기 (1990)N/A

  • 사랑은 이런거야
    사랑은 이런거야 (2001)N/A

    It is a drama that gets the sympathy of an unspecified number of people and satisfies their needs.

  • 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.

  • TV소설 청춘예찬
    TV소설 청춘예찬 (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!

  • 역사저널 그날
    역사저널 그날 (2013)N/A

  • 거리의 만찬
    거리의 만찬 (2018)N/A