MBC's '21st Century Grand Princess' continued its reign at the top of the South Korean drama charts as of May 18, 2026. This week's rankings saw fresh excitement with two new entries into the Top 10: Netflix's 'Wonderfuls' and TVING's 'The Legendary Cook Sergeant'. Notably, JTBC's 'Everyone is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness' climbed one spot, signaling dynamic shifts within the upper echelons of the chart.
TOP 10
 |
1 |
21세기 대군부인
MBC
|
 |
2 |
멋진 신세계
SBS
|
 |
3 |
모두가 자신의 무가치함과 싸우고 있다
JTBC
|
 |
4 |
은밀한 감사
tvN
|
 |
5 |
원더풀스
넷플릭스
|
 |
6 |
사랑을 처방해 드립니다
KBS2
|
 |
7 |
허수아비
ENA
|
 |
8 |
취사병 전설이 되다
TVING
|
 |
9 |
기리고
넷플릭스
|
 |
10 |
오늘도 매진했습니다
SBS
|
Stable Dominance and Shifting Ranks
In the weekly South Korean drama chart for May 18, 2026, MBC's '21st Century Grand Princess' firmly held onto its number one position from the previous week, maintaining its lead. SBS's 'Brave New World' also remained at second place, contributing to the stability of the top ranks. The sustained popularity of these two dramas highlights their central role in the current K-drama market.
However, subtle shifts were observed within the top tier. JTBC's 'Everyone is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness' moved up one spot to third place, marking a notable ascent. Conversely, tvN's 'Secret Audit' dropped one position to fourth, underscoring the intense competition among the leading dramas.
Newcomers Emerge, Platforms Compete
This week's chart saw two new titles capturing attention by entering the Top 10. Netflix's 'Wonderfuls' debuted at fifth place, and TVING's 'The Legendary Cook Sergeant' entered at eighth, immediately grabbing viewers' interest. This trend highlights the growing influence of original content from Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms amidst evolving drama consumption habits.
Analyzing the platform distribution, SBS and Netflix each secured two spots in the Top 10, demonstrating their strong presence. Various broadcasters and OTT platforms, including MBC, JTBC, tvN, KBS2, ENA, and TVING, also made appearances, confirming that the diversification of content production and distribution channels is invigorating the drama market.
Notable Drops and Departures
The shifts at the top and the emergence of new dramas inevitably led to some titles declining in rank. Notably, Netflix's 'Giligo' saw the most significant drop, falling three spots from sixth to ninth place. KBS2's 'I Prescribe Love' and SBS's 'Sold Out Again Today' each moved down one spot, reflecting the dynamic nature of the rankings.
Regrettably, two titles that were in last week's Top 10, Disney+'s 'Gold Land' and TVING's 'Yumi's Cells Season 3,' dropped out of the rankings this week. This indicates how quickly viewer interest can shift with the introduction of new shows and intensified competition among existing ones.
