Undercover High School Finishes a Perfect 6-Week Streak as the Most Talked-About Drama While When Life Gives You Tangerines Stars Grab Five of the Top Ten Spots on the Actor Popularity List

MBC’s Undercover High School has just finished an amazing six-week run as the most talked-about drama, while Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines is stealing the spotlight with its actors dominating the buzz rankings.

The buzz around these two shows is off the charts, and fans can’t stop talking about them. Undercover High School wrapped up its final week on MBC with a perfect streak at No. 1, proving it’s a fan favorite that’s hard to beat. Meanwhile, When Life Gives You Tangerines is making waves on Netflix, with its stars taking over the actor list like never before. Let’s break it all down.

Undercover High School Ends on a High Note

Undercover High School has been the drama everyone’s been raving about since it hit screens in February. For six straight weeks, it topped Good Data Corporation’s list of the most buzzworthy TV dramas. This list tracks what people are saying about shows across news, blogs, social media, and more. The MBC series didn’t just hold the top spot—it owned it.

In its last week, the show stayed at No. 1, showing it never lost steam. The story follows Jung Hae Seong, played by Seo Kang Jun, an elite spy who goes undercover as a high school student to find missing gold bars from King Gojong’s era. His homeroom teacher, Oh Soo Ah, played by Jin Ki Joo, mistakes him for her long-lost first love, adding a twist of romance to the action-packed plot.

The drama mixes spy thrills, comedy, and a touch of love, keeping viewers hooked. Seo Kang Jun didn’t just shine on the drama list—he also held strong at No. 4 on the most buzzworthy actors list. Fans loved his comeback after military service, and the chemistry between him and Jin Ki Joo kept everyone watching.

The show aired 12 episodes, with each one packed with laughs, surprises, and heart. It ended with a nationwide rating of 7.2% for its finale, a solid finish after peaking at 8.3% earlier in its run. People on X even begged for a Season 2, showing just how much they loved it.

When Life Gives You Tangerines Takes Over the Actor Buzz

While Undercover High School ruled the drama rankings, When Life Gives You Tangerines turned the actor list into its playground. This Netflix series saw its stars grab five of the top 10 spots, with IU and Park Bo Gum leading the charge at No. 1 and No. 2.

The show tells the story of Oh Ae Sun, played by IU, a spirited girl from Jeju Island with big dreams, and Yang Gwan Sik, played by Park Bo Gum, her loyal childhood friend who’s loved her since they were kids. Spanning decades, it’s a tale of love, struggles, and growing up, set against the stunning Jeju backdrop.

Released in four parts—four episodes each week from March 7 to March 28—it’s a 16-episode journey that’s got everyone talking. IU plays Ae Sun from her youth to her 70s, while Park Bo Gum brings Gwan Sik to life with quiet strength. Older versions of the characters are portrayed by Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon, adding depth to the timeline.

The cast’s buzz is unreal. Kim Seon Ho landed at No. 3, Lee Jun Young at No. 8, and Kang You Seok at No. 10—all from this one show. With a massive 60 billion KRW (about 41.3 million USD) budget, the series is a visual stunner, and its stars are getting love worldwide. It hit No. 4 on Netflix’s global non-English TV list for March 3-9, with 3.6 million viewers and 13.9 million hours watched, topping charts in South Korea, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

The Top Drama and Actor Lists

Here’s how the drama list shook out this week, all from broadcast TV:

1. MBC Undercover High School
2. SBS Buried Hearts
3. tvN My Dearest Nemesis
4. JTBC The Art of Negotiation
5. tvN The Potato Lab
6. KBS2 For Eagle Brothers
7. KBS2 Cinderella Game
8. tvN The Divorce Insurance
9. KBS2 Villains Everywhere
10. ENA Mother and Mom

SBS’s Buried Hearts climbed to No. 2, with Park Hyung Sik at No. 6 on the actor list. The revenge drama hit a high of 13.1% in ratings by late March. tvN’s My Dearest Nemesis took No. 3, with Mun Ka Young at No. 9, while JTBC’s The Art of Negotiation landed at No. 4, boosting Lee Je Hoon to No. 7.

The actor list, which now includes OTT stars, looked like this:

1. IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines)
2. Park Bo Gum (When Life Gives You Tangerines)
3. Kim Seon Ho (When Life Gives You Tangerines)
4. Seo Kang Jun (Undercover High School)
5. Park Eun Bin (Hyper Knife)
6. Park Hyung Sik (Buried Hearts)
7. Lee Je Hoon (The Art of Negotiation)
8. Lee Jun Young (When Life Gives You Tangerines)
9. Mun Ka Young (My Dearest Nemesis)
10. Kang You Seok (When Life Gives You Tangerines)

Park Eun Bin from Disney+’s Hyper Knife sneaked in at No. 5, showing OTT shows are making their mark.

What’s Next for These Hits?

Undercover High School left fans wanting more, with its mix of action and humor setting a high bar. Its consistent No. 1 run shows it’s got staying power. Meanwhile, When Life Gives You Tangerines is still fresh off its March release, and its actors’ dominance hints at a lasting impact. With a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a spot as South Korea’s most beloved show in a Gallup Korea survey, it’s a global hit.

Both shows prove K-dramas are ruling 2025. One’s a broadcast champ, the other’s an OTT giant. Will Undercover High School get that Season 2 fans are clamoring for? Can When Life Gives You Tangerines keep its stars on top? Only time will tell.

Also Read: Fans Debate Unscripted Moments and Mixed Emotions in When Life Gives You Tangerines K-Drama Finale

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