Brief Summary
This video presents a countdown of the top 17 most-watched Korean dramas on Netflix, highlighting their viewership statistics, plotlines, and critical reception. The list includes a variety of genres, from suspenseful thrillers and zombie outbreaks to romantic comedies and fantasy dramas, showcasing the broad appeal of K-dramas to international audiences.
- Squid Game: A global phenomenon with massive viewership and multiple successful seasons.
- All of Us Are Dead: A thrilling zombie series set in a high school, eagerly awaiting its second season.
- When Life Gives You Tangerines: A highly-rated drama set on Jeju Island, praised for its heartfelt story.
- My Demon: A recent fantasy romance drama with significant viewership and global popularity.
Top 17 Most Watched Korean Dramas on Netflix
The video introduces a countdown of the top 17 most-watched Korean dramas on Netflix, compiled from sources like IMDb, MDL, and Netflix itself. Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and share their favorite dramas in the comments.
Squid Game
Squid Game is highlighted as the most phenomenal K-drama, a suspenseful survival drama watched by an estimated 330 million people, accumulating 2.8 billion hours watched since its release. Season 2 was also successful, becoming the second most-watched TV season on Netflix with 68 million views in its first four days. The third season is anticipated to be equally successful.
All of Us Are Dead
All of Us Are Dead is a Korean thriller about students trapped in a high school during a zombie outbreak. Released in January 2022, it garnered over 474.2 million hours of streaming in its first 30 days, making it the third most-watched non-English TV program. A second season is expected in 2026.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
When Life Gives You Tangerines is recognized for its significant impact since its 2025 debut, attracting millions of viewers and praise. It holds a 9.4 rating on platforms like Asian Wiki and MDL, outperforming series like Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead on IMDb. Set on Jeju Island, the story portrays a couple's journey through love, loss, and personal growth.
Vincenzo
Vincenzo is a Korean drama blending mafia crime and comedy. It achieved a national rating of 7.7% for its first episode, rising to 14.6% for the finale, making it the 11th highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history at the time. In 2021, it ranked fourth on Forbes's list of most-watched Korean series on Netflix.
Business Proposal
Business Proposal is a romantic comedy that gained popularity with its fun storyline and romance. It ranked third on Netflix's list of most-watched shows worldwide from March 28th to April 3rd, 2022, with 32.5 million hours watched. It was the most-watched non-English show for three weeks, and its final episode had a nationwide rating of 11.4%.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a romance drama set in a seaside village, depicting the love story between a dentist from the city and a charming jack-of-all-trades. The series achieved a Neielson Korea rating of 6.8% for its premiere and reached the top 10 on Netflix in over 20 countries, ranking one in Korea and eight worldwide as of October 4th, 2021.
The Glory
The Glory is a suspenseful drama with a total of 622.8 million hours watched on Netflix. The series follows Moon Dong-eun, who seeks revenge against her bullies, captivating viewers with its narrative.
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
It's Okay to Not Be Okay is a Korean drama that premiered in 2020, blending romance with psychological themes and exploring mental health and emotional healing. The drama peaked at 7.6% in South Korea and was more successful internationally than domestically.
Hospital Playlist
Hospital Playlist is a drama about five doctors who have been friends since medical school, facing career and personal challenges in a busy hospital. The final episode of the second season attracted over 3.85 million viewers, with an average rating of 14.1% for the finale.
The King's Affection
The King's Affection is a Korean drama that aired in 2021, blending romance, historical elements, and political intrigue. Based on the webtoon "Yanmo," it is set in the Joseon dynasty. The series ranked in the top 10 most-watched programs globally on Wikipedia, with its premiere earning a nationwide average of 6.2%, peaking at 12.1%.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a drama that aired in 2022, blending romance, friendship, and the challenges of young adulthood. The series explores the dreams and struggles of its main characters. Its third episode took the top spot in its time slot.
Hellbound
Hellbound is a drama that premiered in 2021, based on the webtoon of the same name. It combines supernatural horror and psychological drama, exploring faith, morality, and society's reactions to existential threats. In its first three days, it recorded 43.48 million hours of viewing, topping the Netflix global top 10 TV non-English category.
My Name
My Name is an intense Korean thriller drama that debuted in 2021, combining action, crime, and mystery. The show has become one of Netflix's top titles, ranking as the seventh most popular show.
Start-Up
Start-Up is a romance series that premiered in 2020, blending romance, comedy, and entrepreneurship. Its final episode reached 5.2% on Neielson Korea and was popular among international viewers.
Alchemy of Souls
Alchemy of Souls is a drama that premiered in 2022, combining fantasy, romance, and adventure. Set in a fictional world, the series explores themes of destiny and love. The fantasy drama has millions of viewers for its first season and even more for its second season.
Crash Landing on You
Crash Landing on You aired from December 2019 to February 2020, combining romance, comedy, and drama. The series reached 93.8 million hours of viewing on Netflix.
My Demon
My Demon is a fantasy romance drama that premiered in 2023, combining supernatural themes with emotions. In its first week, the series recorded 4.2 million viewers and 33.6 million hours watched worldwide, making it into Netflix's top 10 list in over 85 countries.
