The top Korean drama brand reputation rankings for January 2026 are out. Korean action drama “Taxi Driver 3” stole everyone’s attention and topped this month’s list. Let’s find out the top twenty dramas that grabbed the attention of viewers and made a splash. Curious about who is on the list? Read on.
January 2026 Korean Drama Brand Reputation Rankings
In January, the Korean Business Research Institute analyzed over 54.7 million pieces of brand data from 20 popular Korean dramas. This analysis covered the period from December 13, 2025, to January 13, 2026. They examined five factors: consumer participation, media coverage, communication volume, community engagement, and viewership.
TOP 5
1. “Taxi Driver 3” (모범택시3)
“Taxi Driver 3,” which won the SBS Drama award at the 2025 SBS Drama Awards, ranked first with a brand reputation index of 5,805,969. It achieved an exceptional community engagement (1,522,028—the highest among all dramas) and a strong viewership index (1,668,168).
Link analysis showed “intense,” “good chemistry,” and “retro” as the most associated terms with the drama and as the ones that dominated the discussion. Keyword analysis identified “Lee Je-hoon,” “Rainbow Transportation,” and “Taxi Driver” as the show’s most popular search keywords. The drama successfully maintained a remarkable 92.20% positive sentiment ratio, showing how the audience loved the show.
According to Nielsen Korea, the series finished on January 10 and achieved an impressive average nationwide rating of 13.3% in its final episode. Previously, the drama achieved the highest average nationwide rating of 9.5% in its first episode in 2025.
2. “Our Golden Days” (화려한 날들)
“Our Golden Days” came in second with a brand reputation index of 5,617,920. It was driven primarily by the highest viewership index (2,273,651) across the top five dramas, indicating the broadest audience reach with a 17.5%nationwide viewership rating. Although the show attracted many viewers, its participation index was low (787,970), showing a lack of community discussion to boost engagement.
3. “Surely Tomorrow” (경도를 기다리며)
“Surely Tomorrow” ranked third with a brand reputation index of 5,462,343. The drama generated the highest participation index (1,744,097), media index (1,186,478), and communication index (1,275,429). The drama marks the return of Park Seo-joon and Won Ji-an to the romantic comedy. Despite strong fan engagement and media coverage, its viewership remained low. The drama recorded the lowest viewing index (432,488), and only 4.7% nationwide (according to Nielsen Korea).
4. “Pro Bono” (프로보노)
The legal drama “Pro Bono” secured fourth place with a brand reputation index of 4,199,693. The show achieved solid participation (1,306,057) and communication (834,637) indexes.
However, it had the lowest media index (538,077), showing less press coverage and media buzz than other shows. It achieved a 10% nationwide viewership according to Nielsen Korea. Unfortunately, the drama lacked sufficient momentum to attract more media attention and boost its brand reputation score.
5. “The Judge Returns” (판사 이한영)
“The Judge Returns” rounded out the top five Korean drama list. The drama underperformed across most metrics. Even with a steady 5.8% viewership rating (according to Nielsen Korea), it had the lowest community index (490,935).
The legal drama also had a low viewing index at 531,342, showing little engagement and limited broadcast reach. The show struggled to create memorable moments, making it hard to build a community. As a result, it didn’t attract media attention, which hurt its brand reputation.
TOP 20
- “Taxi Driver 3”
- “Our Golden Days”
- “Surely Tomorrow”
- “Pro Bono”
- “The Judge Returns”
- “A Graceful Liar”
- “Dynamite Kiss”
- “Love Me”
- “Nice to Not Meet You”
- “The Price of Confession”
- “IDOL I”
- “Cashero”
- “First Man”
- “The Manipulated”
- “To My Beloved Thief”
- “Moon River”
- “Marie and Her Three Daddies”
- “No Next Life”
- “Heroes Next Door”
- “The Young Kim Dae Geon”
Final Thoughts
K-dramas have captivated global audiences with their exciting themes and stories, from justice to everyday life. January’s K-drama rankings show how these dramas spark discussions and bring fans together. These powerful K-dramas can influence our views and inspire positive change. Which K-drama has caught your attention with its story? Let us know in the comments.
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