Five Netflix original K-dramas have become a staple of the platform. One of the most recognizable is Squid Game, which elevated above all expectations when it was released in September 2021. It quickly became the most-watched non-English language TV show on the platform, with season 2 becoming the second-most popular following its December 2024 release. But the popular thriller is just one of many types of Korean stories being told on the platform.
Netflix includes a full section for K-dramas on the platform, with many of them being original series they either produce or distribute from South Korea. This includes some that release weekly episodes on the platform, a core difference from the Western TV model of dropping every episode in a TV season at the same time. Some of the most popular have been the romantic K-dramas distributed by the platform, such as 2019's Crash Landing on You, or, more recently, 2024's Queen of Tears.
Netflix Has 5 K-Dramas On Their Non-English Top 10 Charts
The Genre Is Continuing Its Ascent On The Platform
Notably, each of these shows are in a different subgenre, proving the popularity of Korean TV shows across various types of stories on the platform.
There are now five K-dramas dominating Netflix's Top 10 non-English language charts, all of them proving the major popularity the genre has on the platform. While Squid Game season 3 is undoubtedly the most highly-anticipated Korean release of 2025 for Netflix, other series they produce and have distribution rights to populate the majority of the genre's content on the platform. This includes not just action-focused thrillers, but romantic dramas, crime-focused stories, and comedies as well. It's a diverse landscape of shows with plenty of success across subgenres.
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According to Netflix, five K-dramas made their Top 10 list of most-watched non-English language TV shows for the week of April 19 to April 25, 2025. These series are reality show Kian's Bizarre B&B at Number 8, crime thriller Karma at Number 7, action thriller Weak Hero: Class 1 at Number 6, the romantic slice-of-life When Life Gives You Tangerines at Number 4, and medical drama Resident Playbook at Number 3. Notably, each of these shows are in a different subgenre, proving the popularity of Korean TV shows across various types of stories on the platform.
What K-Dramas' Popularity On Netflix Says About The Genre
South Korean Shows Appeal To A Wide Range Of Audiences
Given how large of a presence the genre has on Netflix, it's not surprising that half of its weekly Top 10 non-English TV show list is populated by K-dramas. The genre itself distinguishes TV shows from South Korea, meaning there are plenty of different types of stories being told which can draw from a variety of interests. With none of the TV shows from the country on the list being of the same subcategory, it seems like the diverse stories being told are a core factor to their popularity.
Source: Netflix
