This year has given us many new reasons to love kdramas. The best of this year's dramas made us cry, laugh and fall in love.
And this year's dramas also introduced several new actors and actresses to viewers that had perhaps been overlooked in the past.
Altogether, kdrama fans have a lot to celebrate this year.
But which dramas were the best?
There are several ways to judge which dramas achieve that distinction. Ratings are one indicator. But the most important indicator is the way the dramas affected the viewers.
This was a year in which viewers held their breath as Jo In Sung kissed the sleeping Song Hye Kyo in "That Winter The Wind Blows." Viewers laughed at So Ji Sub as he used his distinctive hand gestures to motion Gong Hyo Jin to leave him alone in "The Master's Sun."
There were plenty of romantic moments to savor with some truly great kdrama couples.
And there were plenty of tears to be cried over melodramas such as "Secrets," "Missing You" and "Shark."
It was also a great year for kdrama characters and relationships. Viewers cheered on the efforts of the disabled savant doctor played by Joo Won in "Good Doctor" and the half gumiho played by Lee Seung Gi in "Gu Family Book." And they cheered on the unlikely relationship between Lee Bo Young and Lee Jong Suk in "I Hear Your Voice."
Both the fantasy courtroom story "I Hear Your Voice" and the melodrama "Secrets" were dramas no one could predict would be so popular.
"The Heirs" was a juggernaut of a drama that started out slow, because it competed with "Secrets" but ended with a huge following and dedicated fan base.
There were several standout stars this year, notably Lee Jong Suk, Lee Bo Young, Joo Won, Jo In Sung and Ji Sung, just to make a short list.
And there were a few breakout stars that suddenly deserved their own spotlight, notably, Jung Woo in "Reply 1994," Choi Jin Hyuk in "Gu Family Book" and "The Heirs," Kim Woo Bin in "School 2013" and "The Heirs" and Lee Da hee in "I Hear Your Voice" and "Secrets."
Kdramastars is running a poll through Dec. 21. When you vote in the poll, you can let us know which dramas and which actors were your favorites.
Because in the end, it's the reaction of the fans that matters more than anything else. To vote, please visit https://vote.kdramastars.com/best-k-drama-2013
