ENA’s New Recruit 3 has claimed the top spot as the most buzzworthy drama of the week, while IU dominates the actor rankings for her role in the OTT series When Life Gives You Tangerines. According to Good Data Corporation, which compiles data from news articles, blogs, online communities, videos, and social media for dramas currently airing or upcoming, New Recruit 3 surged to No. 1 on the weekly buzzworthy drama list. The military comedy, known for its hyper-realistic portrayal of South Korea’s military life, also saw its star Kim Min Ho enter the buzzworthy actor list at No. 10.
The drama list, exclusive to broadcast television series, saw strong competition. tvN’s Resident Playbook, a spin-off of Hospital Playlist, debuted impressively at No. 2, with its lead Go Youn Jung securing No. 6 on the actor rankings. JTBC’s The Art of Negotiation maintained its No. 3 position in its final week, bolstered by Lee Je Hoon’s rise to No. 2 on the actor list. SBS’s Buried Hearts, also in its final week, landed at No. 4, with stars Park Hyung Sik and Heo Joon Ho ranking No. 5 and No. 7, respectively.
tvN’s The Divorce Insurance held steady at No. 5 on the drama list, with Lee Dong Wook at No. 9 among actors. MBC’s Crushology 101 climbed to No. 6, while KBS2’s For Eagle Brothers and Cinderella Game took No. 7 and No. 8. Newcomers The Haunted Palace (SBS) and Heavenly Ever After (JTBC) debuted at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, rounding out the top 10 dramas generating the most buzz.
The actor rankings, which include performers from both broadcast and OTT platforms, were led by IU at No. 1 for her role in When Life Gives You Tangerines. Her co-star Park Bo Gum secured No. 3, while Hyper Knife stars Park Eun Bin and Sul Kyung Gu ranked No. 4 and No. 8, respectively. The inclusion of OTT actors highlights the growing influence of streaming platforms in generating buzz.
New Recruit 3, which premiered on April 7, 2025, on ENA, has captivated audiences with its blend of humor and emotional storytelling, outperforming competitors like tvN’s Resident Playbook in ratings. The series, based on a popular YouTube animation, follows the lives of young soldiers, with returning cast members like Kim Min Ho, Nam Tae Woo, and Kim Dong Jun, alongside new additions Oh Dae Hwan and Kim Yo Han. Its rise to No. 1 reflects its strong fanbase and social media traction.
Meanwhile, IU’s consistent dominance in the actor rankings underscores her star power, with When Life Gives You Tangerines maintaining significant buzz even weeks after its conclusion. Posts on X praised IU and Park Bo Gum for holding the top spots for multiple weeks, reflecting the drama’s lasting impact. Resident Playbook also generated excitement online, with fans noting its strong debut.
Here are the top 10 buzzworthy dramas for the week:
ENA New Recruit 3
tvN Resident Playbook
JTBC The Art of Negotiation
SBS Buried Hearts
tvN The Divorce Insurance
MBC Crushology 101
KBS2 For Eagle Brothers
KBS2 Cinderella Game
SBS The Haunted Palace
JTBC Heavenly Ever After
The top 10 buzzworthy actors include:
IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines)
Lee Je Hoon (The Art of Negotiation)
Park Bo Gum (When Life Gives You Tangerines)
Park Eun Bin (Hyper Knife)
Park Hyung Sik (Buried Hearts)
Go Youn Jung (Resident Playbook)
Heo Joon Ho (Buried Hearts)
Sul Kyung Gu (Hyper Knife)
Lee Dong Wook (The Divorce Insurance)
Kim Min Ho (New Recruit 3)
The buzzworthy rankings highlight the dynamic K-drama landscape, with established series like The Art of Negotiation and new entries like The Haunted Palace vying for attention. As New Recruit 3 continues to lead, and IU remains a fan favorite, the industry shows no signs of slowing down in capturing global audiences.
