South Korean content material is second solely to the US’ exhibits and movies on Netflix for complete viewing hours, based on a report by Ampere Evaluation.
Netflix’s South Korean content material accounted for about 85 of the highest 500 hottest non-US exhibits and movies on the platform. In 2023, Netflix unveiled its four-year $2.5B dedication to South Korean content material.
One of the best-performing title from Korea was Squid Recreation: Season 2, which topped Netflix’s world charts within the second half of 2024, with 619.9 million hours streamed globally.
Different top-performing Korean titles embrace romance drama Love Subsequent Door: Season 1 and cooking actuality present Culinary Class Wars: Season 1, with older Korean exhibits Squid Recreation: Season 1, Queen of Tears: Season 1, and Crash Touchdown on You additionally receiving vital viewership on the streaming platform.
Since 2023, South Korean content material has been second solely to US content material for complete viewing hours recorded, based on Netflix’s self-reported viewing knowledge.
Within the second half of 2024, South Korean content material was streamed for 7.7 billion hours, round 8% of all viewing on Netflix. This outpaces content material from different main Netflix markets, together with the UK, Japan, and Spain.
South Korean content material constantly represents 8% to 9% of viewing hours on Netflix, forward of UK content material at 7% to eight%, and Japanese content material at 4% to five% of viewing time.
Ampere’s evaluation highlighted that Netflix’s success with South Korean exhibits and movies mirrored the streamer’s “mature content material manufacturing and licensing technique.” Throughout H2 2024, over half of the highest 100 South Korean titles on Netflix have been its originals, and 31% have been Netflix exclusives. The vast majority of these titles have been produced by native leisure conglomerate CJ ENM.
In Korea, Netflix additionally has licensing and distribution offers with native broadcasters JTBC, KBS, SBS, and MBC.
“Ampere’s evaluation of Netflix viewing knowledge confirms that South Korean content material is now constantly among the many most generally exported and consumed content material globally,” stated Orina Zhao, analysis supervisor at Ampere Evaluation. “It performs a pivotal position within the streamer’s worldwide success, driving each breakout hit titles (akin to Squid Recreation and Kingdom) and sustained viewing time. Netflix will proceed to spend money on and launch high-quality Korean titles, together with each unique productions and licensed content material, supported by unique distribution partnerships with main native gamers.”
“South Korean content material house owners are well-positioned to capitalize on the worldwide Hallyu phenomenon, maximising worldwide viewers attain and boosting worldwide reputation via strategic distribution and collaborations,” added Zhao.
