Korean drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines” has been named the top entry on Time magazine’s list of Best K-dramas of 2025.
Time described the series as “one of the year’s best TV shows, full stop,” commending its ability to turn ordinary moments into compelling drama without relying on fantasy or spectacle.
“Anyone can make the fantastical seem extraordinary,” the magazine wrote, “but to make the ordinary feel extraordinary without losing its complexity is a rare feat,” it said.
The Netflix series is directed by Kim Won-suk and written by Lim Sang-choon, and was co-produced by Pan Entertainment and Baram Pictures. It follows the interconnected lives of its characters navigating love, loss, and personal growth.
The drama stars Korean superstars IU and Park Bo-gum, whose performances were widely praised for their outstanding performances.
Other dramas cited by Time include “Resident Playbook,” “Study Group,” “The Tale of Lady Ok,” “Spirit Fingers,” and “Trigger.”
Ranking behind “When Life Gives You Tangerines” on Time’s list were “Way Back Love” and the third season of “Squid Game.” Rounding out the top five were “Tempest” and “Our Unwritten Seoul.”
