When Life Gives You Tangerines Becomes the Highest Rated Drakor on IMDb, Surpassing Squid Game

The phenomenon When Life Gives You Tangerines continues to be in the spotlight across various news outlets, not only because of its strong storytelling but also its impact on the popularity of its cast.

The two main stars of this drama, IU and Park Bo Gum, have now succeeded in capturing massive public attention. Weekly reports released by Good Data Corporation show that both are ranked at the top as the most talked-about artists in South Korea.

In terms of quality, this series has achieved remarkable success on international platforms. On the IMDb site, When Life Gives You Tangerines is now crowned as the highest-rated Korean drama of all time, earning an impressive score of 9.4 out of 10.

What's even more impressive is that 12 out of 16 episodes have surpassed a rating of 9.0, beating out famous dramas like Squid Game Season 1 and The Glory Season 2. Here is more detailed information summarized on Sunday (6/4/2025).

1. Highest IMDb Rating, Beats Squid Game

When Life Gives You Tangerines Becomes a Drakor with the Highest IMDb Rating (Source: imdb)

The latest original Korean series from Netflix, When Life Gives You Tangerines, has officially become a global sensation that is shaking up the entertainment industry. This drama has achieved remarkable milestones in a short time, receiving not only outstanding acclaim from critics but also breaking records for viewer engagement across various platforms.

Its skyrocketing popularity has even surpassed the extraordinary success previously achieved by Squid Game and The Glory, two dramas that have been Netflix's global mainstays. This series now holds the top position as the highest-rated Korean drama on IMDb. With an astonishing score of 9.4 out of 10, this achievement marks a significant jump from its initial release score of 8.7.

The closing episode, which is the 16th episode, achieved an almost perfect score of 9.8. Notably, 12 out of the total 16 episodes managed to break ratings above 9.0, serving as strong evidence of the production quality and the emotional power of the story presented.

In comparison, other well-known Korean dramas still fall short of this achievement. For instance, Kingdom Season 2 and Move to Heaven each received a rating of 8.5, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call scored 8.4, while Squid Game Season 1 and The Glory Season 2 stood at 8.0 and 8.1, respectively.

2. When Life Gives You Tangerines Becomes a Topic of Conversation

When Life Gives You Tangerines Becomes a Drakor with the Highest IMDb Rating (Source: IG @annyeong_chinguya)

Not only has When Life Gives You Tangerines carved out achievements from a critical standpoint, but it has also dominated in terms of user performance. According to a report from IGAWorks Mobile Index, Netflix Korea recorded a significant spike in monthly active users (MAU), reaching a fantastic figure of 14.09 million in March 2024. This is the highest record ever achieved, even surpassing the milestones when The Glory reached its peak popularity.

Furthermore, on March 29, 2024, Netflix recorded a daily active user (DAU) count of 4.05 million — the highest since the release of Squid Game Season 2, which aired in December 2023. This spike indicates that When Life Gives You Tangerines has not only become a topic of conversation among critics but has also transformed into a cultural phenomenon touching millions of viewers directly.

3. Synopsis of When Life Gives You Tangerines

When Life Gives You Tangerines Becomes a Drakor with the Highest IMDb Rating (Source: imdb)

Set against the backdrop of Jeju Island in the 1950s, When Life Gives You Tangerines presents a warm story about love, dreams, and the struggles of life amidst limitations. The story focuses on Ae Soon (played by IU), a spirited young girl with a deep love for poetry. Despite her intelligence shining through, her family's economic condition forces her to bury her desire for formal education. However, Ae Soon's spirit does not easily fade—she continues to write and dreams of becoming a true poet, holding on to the belief that words can change destiny.

On the other hand, there is Gwang Sik (played by Park Bo-gum), a young man known for being quiet and simple, yet possesses a loyal and caring heart. Since childhood, he has harbored feelings for Ae Soon, and although not many words are spoken, his actions always speak louder. Unbeknownst to Ae Soon, Gwang Sik often sneaks food from his home to ensure the girl he loves does not go hungry, which becomes a form of silent yet sincere love.

Their story is not a smooth love story. The differences in their characters lead to a relationship filled with small quarrels, misunderstandings, and emotional distance. Ae Soon, who is outspoken and full of emotion, often clashes with Gwang Sik's reserved personality. However, behind all that, fate continues to bring them together, leading two different souls to walk the same path of life, which is a journey that teaches the meaning of sincerity, sacrifice, and dreams that remain alive amidst the harshness of reality.

(kpl/ses)