Link: How Netflix made us fall in love with K-dramas

Netflix's "Bloodhounds" is dominating global viewing charts, marking a continuous trend of K-drama success on the platform. This second season alone pulled in 7.4 million views last week, ranking as the top non-English TV show worldwide.

Despite the staggering popularity of "Squid Game," it represents only a fraction of the total Korean content consumption on Netflix. Viewers have streamed over 51 billion hours of Korean films and series on Netflix from 2023 to 2025.

Netflix's strategy didn’t require introducing South Korea's vibrant pop culture to global audiences; the groundwork had already been laid by niche services like DramaFever. These services capitalized on Hollywood's oversight in the global appeal of K-dramas, which kept licensing costs low.

However, while DramaFever struggled to build a subscription base and eventually closed down, Netflix excelled by using its existing audience and sophisticated recommendation algorithms. This provided a platform for a diverse range of Korean content, from action to heartfelt dramas.

Netflix has committed significant investments in Korean content, recognizing the global appeal of its storytelling richness and production quality. The company has promised to invest billions, reflecting a strong belief in the sustained popularity of Korean media.

The global success of Korean dramas is shaping production strategies, focusing more on formulaic success due to increased budgets and audience expectations. This shift might limit creative risks, potentially stifling the diversity and depth of stories told through K-dramas. #

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