NEW YORK — TIME Magazine on Friday named the South Korean series When Life Gives You Tangerines as the No. 1 title on its annual Top 10 Best K-Dramas of 2025 list, recognizing the Netflix-streamed drama starring IU and Park Bo-gum for its storytelling and global impact.
The magazine ranked Way Back Love second and Squid Game Season 3 third. Other series in the top 10 included Tempest at No. 4, Our Unwritten Seoul at No. 5, Resident Playbook at No. 6, Study Group at No. 7, The Tale of Lady Ok at No. 8, Spirit Fingers at No. 9, and Trigger at No. 10.
TIME described When Life Gives You Tangerines as a character-driven drama that elevates ordinary experiences into memorable television.
Director Kim Won-suk led the production, and screenwriter Lim Sang-choon wrote the series. Production companies Pan Entertainment and Baram Pictures co-produced the drama, which Netflix released for international streaming in multiple regions earlier in 2025.