Earlier this year it was announced that the global streaming platform has invested $2.5 Billion in Korean content. The year-end data of Netflix K-drama viewers showcase that it was one of the best decisions of the platform.
Global audiences have enthusiastically indulged in Korean series depicting social issues, romance, fantasy, and comedy. Read ahead to find out more about the most streamed dramas and what makes them so popular globally.
Top 5 Most-Watched Netflix K-dramas 2023
K-dramas have once again managed to mark their space in the hearts of global audiences by taking multiple places on the 50 most streamed shows of 2023. Unfortunately, the majority of the series that remained most popular weren’t from this year.
Nevertheless, they gathered enough audiences that the top 5 series alone managed to accumulate 1,359,100,000 watching hours (56,629,166.7 days) on the platform. Read ahead to find out which series takes the crown and why.
5. Mr Queen
Global Ranking: 45 | Hours watched: 151,500,000
I Can’t believe it’s #MrQueen 3rd Year Anniversary already. Forever will have a special place in my heart, it was a masterpiece with an amazing casts🥰#ShinHaeSun#KimJungHyun #3YearsWithMrQueen pic.twitter.com/97vsLLyUAA
— LoveJungHye0408 (@LSun0831) December 12, 2023
Mr. Queen is a hilarious historical fantasy starring Shin Hye-sun and Kim Jung-hyun. The series follows a free-spirited chef who wakes up in the body of Queen Cheorin (Shin Hye-sun) in the Joseon era. It is one of the best Korean comedy series ever made and that’s one of the reasons why it was one of the most-watched series of 2023 despite having limited availability.
The drama was originally released in 2020 with 20 episodes and soon became a box-office success. Major credit for this goes to Shin for her comic timing and hilarious depiction of having a masculine soul. However, the highlight of the show is its uncompromising court politics which remains engaging despite the show’s comedy genre.
4. Alchemy of Souls (season 1)
Global Ranking: 41 | Hours Watched: 155,300,000
when i say this is me ever since alchemy of souls ended i'm not jokingpic.twitter.com/QqAMgAZNjW
— azra 🦋 (@kdramaswithugs) December 10, 2023
Many people will agree that Korean creators have a special excellence in fantasy series. One of its evidence is Alchemy of Souls, which has managed to garner a massive audience for two consecutive years. The drama follows young mages on their journey of love and growth as they overcome tragic fates, curses, and twisted magic.
This 20-episode series was particularly celebrated for its cinematography, and suspenseful plot. It also went viral on social networking platforms for its romantic sequences and the depth of the actors’ performances. The series’ second season also ranked in Netflix‘s top 50 K-dramas list at #47 spot with 150,200,000 watching hours.
3. Dr. Cha
Global Ranking: 25 | Hours Watched: 194,700,000
official article from jtbc:
2024 JTBC drama, new lineup revealed!"JTBC has recorded high ratings for almost of their dramas this year such as Dr Cha, King the Land, etc. JTBC will continue to attract the public in 2024 and plan to provide a variety of entertainment to viewers… pic.twitter.com/0mFsFsio4o
— kiyongie ◡̈ (@into_jky) December 7, 2023
Uhm Jung Hwa (Our Blues) and Kim Byung Chul (Sky Castle) starrer Dr. Cha is one of the 2023 releases that has managed to secure a space in the top 50 of Netflix’s most streamed shows. The series follows Cha Jung-sook, who restarts her medical career after dedicating 20 years of her life to her family.
Its 16 episodes cover women’s struggles to maintain their identity along with being a mother, wife, or daughter-in-law. It also dives into the intricacies of relationships and the modern-conservative society. Thanks to its relatable subject and down-to-earth acting the series has garnered strong fan falling.
2. Crash Course in Romance
Global Ranking: 16 | Hours Watched: 234,800,000
does anyone watch crash course in romance bc i started watching as a joke and now im SO HOOKED
— jenni (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) (@jennniiival) December 8, 2023
Crash Course in Romance starring veteran actress Jeon Do-yeon (Kill Boksoon) and Jung Kyung-ho (Hospital Playlist) is an unexpected series in the list as it did not garner as much attention upon its release. However, seeing its appearance in the top 20 most-watched series we can conclude that the show managed to create a loyal fanbase over time.
One of the major reasons for this is the heartwarming plot of a single mother navigating through the cutthroat world of education and juggling with an unexpected romance. The series includes social commentary and a mature relationship that isn’t often seen in mainstream K-dramas.
1. The Glory (season 1)
Global Ranking: 3 | Hours Watched: 622,800,000
"I believe it will be a series that many people will love for sure." –#SongHyeKyo
And she was so right! Congrats The Glory on being the 3rd most watched show globally on Netflix in the first half of the year 🤍 pic.twitter.com/YInahUuxMO
— ᴋʏᴏ ᡣ𐭩 (@hyekyots) December 13, 2023
Song Hye Kyo starrer The Glory has once again topped the charts since its release in 2022. Its timeless performances, the strong portrayal of school violence, and its long-term effects on emotions have attained critics and audience acclaim. The major credit for this success goes to Song Hye Kyo (Descendants of The Sun) and Lim Ji-yeon (The Treacherous) for their powerful performances.
For the unversed, the series divided into two seasons follows the revenge story of Moon Dong-eun who was immensely bullied in school. After carrying the scars of the torture her whole life she wants to avenge her pain by ruining the picture-perfect lives of her bullies. This harsh and bitter commentary of a realistic nature has made the series a global success and we believe it will continue to garner interest for a long time.
