People from the Korean entertainment industry have voted to select the best Korean dramas of 2021.
Korean entertainment media outlet Joy News 24 held a survey from Oct. 12 to 19 to celebrate its 17 anniversary. There were 200 respondents in the survey including employees of entertainment and broadcasting companies, film and broadcast content producers, and entertainment reporters.
1. “Hospital Playlist” Season 2 (tvN) - 35 votes
“Hospital Playlist” Season 2, which aired from June to September 2021, starred Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung and Jeon Mi-do.
Korean industry people voted it as the No. 1 best drama of 2021 (excluding OTT dramas) with 35 votes. “Hospital Playlist” Season 2 brought fun, laughter, healing and emotions to viewers who were exhausted from the aftermath of COVID-19 and achieved high ratings, according to Joy News 24.
“Hospital Playlist” Director Shin Won-ho said, "It was amazing that it was greatly loved despite the challenge of having a season system and organizing it once a week with a small story but I am truly grateful to have won the title of 'Drama of the Year.’ Thank you to the viewers who gave me a lot of love for season 1 and season 2.”
The finale of “Hospital Playlist” Season 2 received a rating of 14.08 percent based on Nielsen Korea’s paid platforms nationwide to place 13th among the highest-rated Korean dramas on Korean cable TV history.
2. “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” (tvN) - 27 votes
“Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” which ran from August to October 2021, starred Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho.
The drama ranked second place as best drama in 2021 with 27 votes. It is a healing romance drama about dentist Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) and jack of all trades Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho) set in a sea village. It achieved its highest rating of 12.665 percent (Nielsen Korea) for its 16th and final episode. This was Kim Seon-ho’s follow up drama after last year’s “Start-Up.”
In another survey by Joy News 24, Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho were voted as the No. 1 best drama couple.
3. “Vincenzo” (tvN) - 22 votes
“Vincenzo” placed third in the survey with 22 votes. It starred Song Joong-ki, eon Yeo-bin, Ok Taec-yeon, Kim Yeo-jin, Kwak Dong-yeon and Jo Han-chul and aired from February to May 2021.
Song Joong-ki played the title role as Vincenzo Cassano, an Italian lawyer and adviser to a mafia organization, who was born in South Korea and adopted by an Italian family. He returns to South Korea after a conflict occurs in the organization.
The final episode of “Vincenzo” received a rating of 14.636 percent, its highest, to place 10th among highest-rated dramas in Korean cable TV history.
4. “Beyond Evil” (JTBC) - 21 votes
“Beyond Evil” (aka “Monster) received 21 votes to place fourth in the survey of the best dramas of 2021. It starred Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo. The JTBC drama ran from February to April 2021.
At the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, held last May, “Beyond Evil” won best drama and best screenplay while Shin Ha-kyun took home the best actor award.
5. “Racket Boys” (SBS) - 20 votes
“Racket Boys,” which aired from May to August 2021 on SBS, grabbed fifth place in the survey with 20 votes. It starred Kim Sang-kyung, Oh Na-ra, Tang Joon-sang, Kim Kang-hoon and Lee Jae-in.
Other dramas which received votes for best dramas of 2021 are “The Penthouse” (12 votes), “Youth in May” and “Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce)” (7 votes each), “Mine” (6 votes), “Bossam: Steal the Fate,” “The Veil” and “One the Woman” (3 votes each), “The Uncanny Counter,” “Lost,” “Taxi Driver” and “Mouse” (2 votes each).