‘Squid Game 2’ Leads Korean Content Dominance on Netflix Global Charts, Ampere Report Reveals

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Korean content on Netflix is doing exceptionally well, trailing behind only American shows in terms of viewing time, and making up about 8% of all worldwide Netflix viewings.

According to a recent Ampere Analysis report, Korean dramas and films make up about one-seventh of the platform’s top 500 non-US titles, with “Squid Game: Season 2” being the most popular title, racking up almost 620 million streaming hours towards the end of 2024.

By mid-2024, it’s been reported that Korean content was watched for approximately 7.7 billion hours in total. Interestingly, Korean content consistently occupies between 8% and 9% of the overall viewing time on Netflix, surpassing U.K. content at around 7%-8%, and Japanese content at roughly 4%-5%. This is quite remarkable given the successes of British shows like “Black Doves” Season 1 and “The Gentlemen” Season 1, as well as the increasing popularity of anime, which significantly boosts Japanese content‘s viewership on Netflix.

In the second half of 2024, “Squid Game” Season 2 dominated Netflix’s worldwide rankings with a staggering 619.9 million hours viewed. The show’s popularity has further boosted interest in other Korean productions. The romantic drama “Love Next Door” Season 1 and the cooking competition series “Culinary Class Wars: Season 1” have both garnered positive responses. Notably, classic hits like “Squid Game” Season 1, “Queen of Tears” Season 1, and “Crash Landing on You” continue to captivate audiences around the globe.

Netflix’s popularity with Korean series and movies showcases their effective approach to producing and licensing mature content. By the second half of 2024, more than half of the top 100 Korean titles on Netflix will be their original productions, with about a third being exclusive to Netflix. The bulk of these titles were provided by the local powerhouse in content creation, CJ ENM.

Netflix’s $2.5 billion investment in Korean content from 2024 to 2028 will continue the surge of such content. The streaming platform has formed numerous licensing and distribution partnerships with local TV stations and media companies, like CJ ENM, JTBC, KBS, SBS, and MBC. Additionally, its own production capabilities are expanding, with domestic studios like Studio 139 and Samsung Studio now in operation.

Content producers from South Korea are benefiting from the worldwide Hallyu wave. CJ ENM, the nation’s biggest media and entertainment group, has announced a content investment plan worth approximately $818 million by 2025. To grow internationally, they aim to utilize Netflix’s broad reach, collaborate with international studios such as Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Fifth Season, and potentially launch their streaming platform, Tving, globally.

According to Orina Zhao, research manager at Ampere Analysis, Ampere’s examination of Netflix viewing data shows that South Korean content has become a consistently popular and exported choice around the world. This content is crucial for Netflix’s international success, fueling both hit series like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Kingdom’, as well as extended viewer engagement. Netflix plans to keep investing in top-tier Korean productions, both originals and licensed content, with the help of exclusive distribution agreements with key local partners. South Korean content creators are ideally situated to take advantage of the global Hallyu trend, expanding their reach globally and increasing international popularity through smart distribution decisions and collaborations.

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2025-04-14 11:46