Korean drama (Korean: 한국 드라마;RR: Hanguk deurama), also known asK-drama orKoreanovela, refers toKorean-language television shows made in South Korea. These shows began to be produced around the early 1960s, but were mostly consumed domestically until the rise of theKorean Wave in the 1990s. They have since achieved significant international popularity, with millions of viewers across the world.
Beginning around the 1970s, more and more households in South Korea owned televisions. Programs were often produced on low budgets and were mostly consumed domestically. The industry significantly developed in the 1980s, after the spread of color television. Beginning in the early 1990s, several Korean dramas began achieving significant international popularity, primarily in China and Japan. In addition, South Korean popular music ("K-pop") andfilms began seeing similar successes, which gave rise to rapid international adoption of South Korean media in a phenomenon commonly called the Korean Wave. In the following decades, viewership spread throughout the globe. Rapid growth continued into the 2010s, with the rise inonline streaming. Around this period, the American video streaming companyNetflix took interest in the phenomenon, and began releasing Korean dramas on its platform, as well as creating and funding ones. This culminated in the release of the 2021Squid Game, which was watched by more than 142 million households in its first four weeks.[1] In 2022, Netflix reported that six in ten of its 221 million subscribers had watched a Korean program in the last year,[2][3] and in April 2023, it announced that it would invest US$2.5 billion in the industry.[4]
The success of Korean dramas has had a significant economic impact on South Korea. In 2022, US$561.3 million of Korean television content was sold abroad, which was a 29.6% increase from the previous year,[5] surpassing those of South Korea's major export items such assecondary batteries andelectric vehicles.[6] The industry also employs tens of thousands of people.[7] Korean dramas have also been cited as a motivation fortourists to visit the country.
A single director usually leads Korean dramas, which are often written by a single screenwriter. This often leads to each drama having distinct directing and dialogue styles. This differs from American television series, which can rely on multiple directors and writers working together.[8]
The 19:00 to 21:00 evening time slots have usually been reserved for daily dramas, which run every night from Monday through Friday. Dramas in these slots are in thetelenovela format, rarely running over 150 episodes. Unlike Americansoap operas, these daily dramas are not broadcast during the daytime. Instead, the daytime schedule often includes reruns of the flagship dramas. The nighttime dailies can achieve very high ratings. During the late 2000s, for example, the weekend seriesFirst Wives' Club recorded 41.3%, according to TNS Korea,[9] and the evening seriesTemptation of Wife peaked at 40.6%, according to TNS Korea.[10]
K-dramas have a multitude of different genre such as action dramas, historical dramas, school dramas, medical dramas, legal dramas, or even horror comedies. While most dramas contain romantic elements and deep emotional themes, some may also contain a tragedy orslice of life theme. There are various styles and tones.[11]
The main themes of Korean television dramas are friendship, family values, and love, blending traditionalConfucian with Western materialism and individualism.[12]
However, it is an emerging trend amongst Korean dramas to showcase ongoing societal issues of Korean society, such as stigma of mental illness,[13] gender inequality, suicide, classism,bullying,spy cameras,corruption, homophobia, or racism.[14]
The termsageuk refers to any Korean television or film drama that is either based onhistorical figures, incorporates historical events, or uses a historical backdrop. Whilesageuk directly translates to "historical drama", the term is typically reserved for dramas taking place throughout the course of Korean history.[15]
Since the mid-2000s, some sageuk dramas have achieved major success outside of Korea, in places such as theAsia-Pacific,Central Asia,Greater Middle East,Central and Eastern Europe andLatin America.[16] Sageuks includingDae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace),Yi San (Lee San, Wind of the palace) andJumong enjoyed strong ratings in countries such as Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Fiji and Iran.Jumong, which aired onIRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) in 2008, had 85% viewership.[17]
Often centered on a love story, series set in contemporary times often focus on family ties and romantic relationships. Characters are mostly idealized with Korean male protagonists described as handsome, intelligent, rich, and in search of "one true love". This has also been a contributing factor to the popularity of Korean dramas among women.[8][18][19][20]
Radio broadcasting, including the broadcasting of radio dramas in Korea, began in 1927 under Japanese rule, with most programming in Japanese and around 30% in Korean.[21] After theKorean War, radio dramas such asCheongsilhongsil (1954) reflected the country's mood.[22]
Television broadcasting began in 1956 with the launch of an experimental station, HLKZ-TV, which was shut down a few years later due to a fire. The first national television channel was Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), which started up in 1961.[23] The first Korean television film was a 15-minute piece titledThe Gate of Heaven (천국의 문, Cheongugui mun), on HLKZ-TV.[24]
The first television series was aired by KBS in 1962. Their commercial competitor,Tongyang Broadcasting (TBC), had a more aggressive program policy and aired controversial dramas as well.[25] The first historical TV series aired wasGukto manri (국토만리), directed by Kim Jae-hyeong (김재형), depicting theGoryeo era.[26][27] In the 1960s,television sets were of limited availability, thus dramas could not reach a larger audience.[28]
In the 1970s, television sets started to spread among the general population, and dramas switched from portraying dramatic historical figures to introducing national heroes likeYi Sun-shin orSejong the Great.[28] Contemporary series dealt with personal sufferings, such asKim Soo-hyun's influentialStepmother (새엄마, Saeeomma), aired by MBC in 1972 and 1973.[29] As technology and funding was limited, Korean channels could not make series in resource-heavy genres likeaction andscience fiction; American and other foreign series were imported instead.[30]
The 1980s saw a change in Korean television, as color TV became available. Modern dramas tried to evoke nostalgia from urban dwellers by depicting rural life.Kim Soo-hyun's first real commercial success,Love and Ambition (사랑과 야망, Saranggwa yamang), aired on MBC[citation needed] in 1987 and is regarded as a milestone of Korean television,[31] having recorded a 78% viewership. "Streets became quiet at around the airing time of the drama as 'practically everyone in the country' was at home in front of the TV", according toThe Korea Times.[22] The most outstanding classical historical series of the era is considered to be500 Years ofJoseon (조선왕조500년, Joseonwangjo 500 nyeon), a serial that ran for eight years, consisting of 11 separate series. The serial was produced byLee Byung-hoon, who later directed one of the biggest international successes of Korean drama,Dae Jang Geum (2003–04), which was sold in 150 countries.[32][26][28][31]
The 1990s brought another important milestone for Korean television. As technology developed, new opportunities arose, and the beginning of the decade marked the launch of a new commercial channel; Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), which facilitated and re-initiated a race for catching viewers' attention.[33] The first real commercial success among Korean television series wasEyes of Dawn (여명의 눈동자, Yeomyeongui nundongja), aired in 1991 by MBC, starringChae Shi-ra andChoi Jae-sung. The series led the viewers through turbulent times from theJapanese rule to theKorean War.[33] The 1992 MBC miniseriesJealousy starringChoi Jin-sil andChoi Soo-jong is considered the first "trendy drama", marking a breakthrough in filming techniques and the beginning of the romantic comedy genre in Korean dramas.[34][unreliable source?][35] The series depicted the lifestyles of young people of the era and is one of the first dramas to air in China, along withEyes of Dawn.[35][36] New channel SBS also produced successful series, one of them beingSandglass in 1995.Sandglass was another trendy drama, which theKorean Culture and Information Service considers an important milestone, having changed the way Korean dramas are made by introducing a new format.[33] In this decade, the new miniseries format became widespread, with 12 to 24 episodes.[37] The termHallyu (Korean: 한류) which comes from Mandarin韓流, (Pinyin:hán liú) was coined in the late 1990s after the success ofStar in My Heart in China, and its popularity elevated the main cast to Hallyu stardom.[38][39] This era marked the start of export for Korean dramas, setting off theKorean Wave.[citation needed]
The beginning years of the 2000s gave birth to famous Korean dramas and also marked the period of overseas distribution. Some popular ones areFull House,Autumn in My Heart andWinter Sonata. It marks the birth of a new genre, called "fusion sageuk", essentially changing the ways to produce historical series, with successful pieces such asHur Jun,Damo andDae Jang Geum.[26]
It started to take over the popularity of conventional dramas among 10s and 20s because the shorter runtime, and often feature trendy content which teenagers find it easy to sympathize with.[40]
The late 2010s and 2020s saw newfound attention of K-dramas from international markets.[41]Netflix had begun seeking productions from South Korea and other countries since around 2018 to expand offerings for their service with a growing international audience. These efforts came to fruition whenHwang Dong-hyuk'sSquid Game drew in more than 111 million viewers within 17 days of its release in September 2021, becoming the service's most-watched program.[41]
In the 2020s, several production companies began to produce dramas even before the first season was aired, keeping in mind theseason system. The most representative series isThe Penthouse: War in Life series, which gained sensational popularity as it aired over three seasons. The biggest reason why Korean dramas introduced the season system is interpreted as changes in the industry due to the 52-hour workweek, viewers' rejection of feature-length dramas, and excessive supply of dramas.[42] At the same time, MBC and tvN's anomalous organization began to be criticized a lot. tvN extended one episode of the drama to 2 hours and 20 minutes. delaying it to the late night of another drama. In particular, the running time of the last episode ofHospital Playlist was close to three hours, but even though it was reduced after editing, it delayed the formation of the nextThe Road: The Tragedy of One to late night as it passed two hours.[43] And MBC canceled telenovelaThe Second Husband and reran the thrillerThe Veil at that time.[44][45][46][47]
Korean series were originally produced in-house by thetelevision channels themselves, but have been outsourced to independent companies since the 2000s. In 2012, as much as 75% of all K-dramas were produced this way. Competition is fierce among these companies; out of 156 registered firms, only 34 of them produced dramas that were actually aired in 2012.[48]
In the late 2010s, a typical Korean drama may cost as much as ₩700 million per episode. Historical dramas have a bigger budget; one episode of the historical romanceThe Red Sleeve cost as much as ₩950 million.[49] Recently, factors such asimproving the work environment, along with whether to sign contracts with domestic and foreign OTT companies such as Netflix have served as variables. For example,Kingdom had a budget of ₩2 billion per episode, while ₩3 billion were spent on each episode ofSweet Home.[48][50][51][52][unreliable source?]
Often, production companies overrun their budgets and cannot pay salaries. In 2012, actors held a demonstration in front of the headquarters ofKBS, expressing their concerns. Actors are usually paid after the last episode is aired. In series made by smaller production companies, there have been cases where the companies went bankrupt and could not pay their actors and crew, while the channel denied all responsibility, claiming all liability was with the bankrupt production firm.[53] ProducerKim Jong-hak spent ₩10 billion onFaith, which was considered a commercial failure, resulting in the inability of Kim to pay crew salaries and other overheads. Kim, who had produced iconic dramas such asEyes of Dawn andSandglass, committed suicide after he was accused of embezzlement.[54][55]
The biggest stars may earn more than ₩200 million per episode, withKim Soo-hyun, the lead of hit dramasMoon Embracing the Sun (2012),My Love from the Star (2013) andIt's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) reportedly receiving ₩500 million per episode forOne Ordinary Day in 2021.[56]
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As producing a series involves high expenses, production companies seek to shoot the episodes in the shortest time possible. In contrast to practices elsewhere, the first four episodes of Korean series are usually shot in advance, but the rest are shot continuously as the series is being aired.Scripts are not finished in advance, and may change according to viewer feedback and viewership ratings, where popular characters receive increased screen time and plotlines are changed to match audience expectations.[59] These changes may occur a few hours before daily shooting, and the crew might receive only a few ready pages. The production usually works withthree camera crews, who work in a rotating manner to speed up filming. Because of unregulated script changes and tight shooting schedules, actors are almost continuously on standby, and have no time to leave the set or sleep properly. The Korean media have a separate word to describe irregular, short sleeps that actors resort to, in often uncomfortable positions, or within the set:jjok-jam (쪽잠), or "side-sleeping". Dramas usually air on two days every week, with following episodes having to be shot within the intervening five days. Some Korean actors have admitted to receivingIV therapy during filming, due to extreme schedules and exhaustion.[53][60][61][unreliable source?] Nonetheless, the live-shoot model remains widely used since the production team can react to real time audience feedback.[59]
Production teams originally sent two tapes to the channels; a primary copy and a backup copy. However, due to the tight filming schedules, a 70-minute episode might arrive at the broadcasting station on seven separate tapes in ten-minute installments. It happened that while the episode is being broadcast, the crew would be still shooting the last minutes or cutting the rest of the episode. During the airing of the nineteenth episode ofMan from the Equator, screens countrywide went black for 10 minutes. ActorKwon Sang-woo was openly complaining that he was still shootingKing of Ambition 30 minutes before the last episode began airing.[53] In South Korea, some production teams still do planning and scheduling manually, instead of using dedicated software.[62]
In 2016, dramas such asDescendants of the Sun,Uncontrollably Fond,Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo andHwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth were all pre-produced before airing. Nonetheless, some pre-produced episodes are often re-edited or even reshot the day of airing, due to audience feedback.[59]
The larger broadcasting companies have their own dedicated shooting locations for historical dramas, with extensive and elaborate sets. MBC's series are shot at theYongin Daejanggeum Park inGyeonggi Province,[63] while KBS dramas utilize the Mungyeongsaejae Studio (문경새재 KBS촬영장) inNorth Gyeongsang Province[64] and their studio inSuwon.[65]
In April 2023, it was announced Netflix would invest $2.5 billion in K-Dramas.[4]
In the 2000s, it became customary to cast popularK-pop idols in dramas. Initially, this generated mixed reactions.[citation needed] Their appearance had provoked predominantly negative reactions outside their fandom because some idols' acting was not viewed as professional. Also, some idols were criticized for poor acting.[citation needed] Nowadays, this has become much more common feature in Korean dramas, as the public has been getting more used to the concept of "idol actors" and some idols have become known for their excellent acting skills.[66] Their critical reception is still mixed, however, some of them, likeBae Suzy,IU,Yim Si-wan,Seo In-guk,Ok Taec-yeon,Park Jin-young,Doh Kyung-soo andIm Yoon-ah, became successful as actors and actresses.[67][68][69]
There were also instances of children taking up careers as child actors or actresses, usually portraying either the younger versions of some characters or the children of the adult characters from dramas.[citation needed] Subsequently, there were some child actors and actresses who continue pursuing acting careers even after reaching adulthood, and with some achieving success even after adulthood.[citation needed] Notably, such people include actors likeYoon Chan-young,Park Solomon,Yoo Seung-ho andYeo Jin-goo; and actresses likeKim So-hyun,Lee Se-young,Nam Ji-hyun,Kim Hyang-gi,Moon Geun-young,Park Shin-hye,Kim Sae-ron andKim Yoo-jung.[70]
Scriptwriters and directors of Korean dramas are often as well known as actors are. An overwhelming majority of scriptwriters (90% according to theBeijing Metro Reader) are women, who not only write love stories but action series as well.[71] Compared toKorean cinema, television is more appealing for scriptwriters as contract conditions are better, acknowledgment is greater, and the salary is higher.[citation needed]
Famous scriptwriters tend to have a say in their field.[72] The most well-known scriptwriters include theHong sisters, who wrote popular series such asMy Girl,You're Beautiful andMy Girlfriend Is a Gumiho;Kim Soon-ok, the screenwriter ofThe Penthouse: War in Life,The Last Empress,Band of Sisters,Jang Bo-ri is Here! andTemptation of Wife;Kim Eun-sook, the screenwriter ofLovers in Paris,Secret Garden,The Heirs,Descendants of the Sun,Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, andThe Glory;Lee Kyung-hee, famous forI'm Sorry, I Love You andThe Innocent Man; male writerChoi Wan-kyu ofMidas andTriangle;Noh Hee-kyung, the author ofThat Winter, the Wind Blows; andIt's Okay, That's Love; andPark Ji-eun, who wroteMy Husband Got a Family,My Love from the Star,The Producers,Legend of the Blue Sea andCrash Landing on You.[73] In particular, writer Kim Soon-ok is famous for captivating male viewers who did not watch dramas well.[74] In 2021, an article called "Kim Soon-ok, Kim Eun-sook, and Kim Eun-hee" was also published, referring to star writers.[75]
Acknowledged TV directors include Lee Byung-hoon, who directedHur Jun,Dae Jang Geum andYi San;[26]Kim Jong-hak, the director ofEyes of Dawn,Sandglass,The Legend andFaith,[76]Pyo Min-soo [ko], the director ofFull House,Worlds Within andIris II[77] andJang Tae-yoo who directedWar of Money,Painter of the Wind,Deep Rooted Tree ,My Love from the Star andHyena.[78] In recent years, directorJo Hyun-tak was also propelled to fame through his worksSky Castle, which became one of thehighest rated dramas in Korean cable television history,[79] andSnowdrop, which, despite its alleged historical distortions, was ranked first among the most-watched series onDisney+ in Asian countries like Singapore and South Korea.[80]
While scriptwriters are mostly women, directors are usually men.[81] Some female directors have risen to prominence, such as Lee Na-jeong (이나정), who directedThe Innocent Man,[82] and Lee Yun-jeong (이윤정), whose most famous works areCoffee Prince andHeart to Heart. The latter director is also the first female television producer employed by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).[83]
Music plays an important role in Korean dramas.Original soundtracks, abbreviated OST's, are explicitly made for each series, and in contrast to American series, fans have a need to buy the soundtrack album of dramas. This trend started in the 1990s, when producers swapped purely instrumental soundtracks for songs performed by popularK-pop singers. Tom Larsen, director of YA Entertainment, a distributor of Korean TV series, thinks that Korean soundtracks are polished enough musically to be considered standalone hits.[84]
During the 2000s, it became customary for lead actors to participate in original soundtracks, also partially due to the employment of K-pop stars as actors. ActorLee Min-ho, and leader of boy bandSS501,Kim Hyun-joong both recorded songs forBoys Over Flowers, while the actors ofYou're Beautiful formed a fictional band and held concerts, where they perform the soundtracks live.[85][unreliable source?][86][87]
OST songs of popular K-dramas can also become hits on regular music charts, with good sales of both physical and digital albums. The chart performance of the OST songs usually co-relate to the popularity of the drama. Songs from the OST ofSecret Garden for example, had high digital sales and high rankings on music charts.[88][unreliable source?]My Destiny, performed byLyn forMy Love from the Star, led music charts inHong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and other Asian countries.[89] It also won the Best OST award at the 2014Baeksang Arts Awards.[90][unreliable source?] The soundtrack album ofYou're Beautiful sold 57,000 physical copies.[91] Performers of OST songs for action seriesIris held two concerts in Japan in front of an audience of 60,000 people.[92]
Although the songs in Korean dramas may be a few or repetitive, their choosing process is not considered easy since they are made to convey emotions or scenes.Rocoberry, who composed the soundtrack forGuardian: The Lonely and Great God, created 12 different compositions beforeI Will Go to You Like the First Snow was chosen, and rewrote it seven times before it got the approval of the production team.[93]
OST composers usually look for singers who have previously had success in the genre. Songs are written to reflect the mood of the series and their structure. Sometimes performers give their own songs for a series. For example,Baek Ji-young thought her songThat Man, originally written for her own album, would fitSecret Garden. There are popular OST singers who are often employed, like Baek Ji-young, Lyn, andLee Seung-cheol.[94][unreliable source?] Sometimes, foreign singers are invited to perform songs for Korean OST. For instance, Swedish artistLasse Lindh sang several songs for series likeAngel Eyes,Soul Mate,I Need Romance, andGuardian: The Lonely and Great God.[citation needed]
The television rating system is regulated by the Korea Communications Commission, and was implemented in 2000. According to the system, programs, including Korean dramas, are rated according to the following principles (ratings irrelevant to dramas are omitted):[95]
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: programs that may be inappropriate for children under 12, such as mild violence, suggestive themes or language..svg)
: programs that may be inappropriate for children under 15. Most dramas and talk shows are rated this way. These programs may include moderate or strong adult themes, language, sexual inference, and violence..svg)
: programs intended for adults only. These programs might include adult themes, sexual situations, frequent use of strong language and disturbing scenes of violence. | This articlemay containexcessive orirrelevant examples. Please helpimprove the article by adding descriptive text and removingless pertinent examples.(March 2022) |
 | This sectionmay betoo long and excessively detailed. Please consider summarizing the material.(March 2022) |
There is a tacit knowledge when it comes to the production of television series in South Korea that appeals to consumers in a unique way. "The working definition of tacit knowledge is the kind of knowledge that is difficult to transfer to another person by means of writing it down or verbalizing it." (Ingyu, 2017) K-dramas have an especially large female presence that makes up their following and representation. The female fandom is specifically targeted, and tacit knowledge is applied most effectively in this area. The Korean actors show a wide range of emotions, and many adlib without prompting, even producing genuine tears without assistance.
The acting of women in K-dramas appeals to women universally, showing the struggles that pertain only to women. Women in these television series often assume typically male-dominated professions, and they appeal to all women who want to bring down the image of traditional values and male-dominated communities. K-dramas are successful when women can break free of traditional roles and embrace freedom. The men in K-dramas have begun to present a more fluid nature of representation, which challenges the gender roles typically expected of men. Rather than focusing on being "macho" or "manly," men adopt more feminine and androgynous looks in order to cater to female fans. There is a great focus on the beauty techniques used, ranging from makeup all the way to cosmetic surgeries. The androgyny in K-drama, as well as K-pop, is a common phenomenon and draws the attention of women through global targeting.
According to a researcher at theUniversity of Vienna, popularity of Korean dramas have their foundation inConfucian values they transmit, which Asian viewers can easily identify with. Respect for elders, filial piety, family-orientedness, and the display of perceived "Asian moral values" play an important role in Korean series.[96] YA Entertainment, the American distributor of Korean dramas, believes that part of the attractiveness of these series come from the quality of camera work, scenic locations, and spectacular costumes, which make the "final product very stylish and attractive, with arguably some of the highest TV production values in the world."[97] Korean series follow their own formula, are innovative and don't conform to Western television productions.[97] Stephan Lee fromEntertainment Weekly called Korean dramas "fascinating and weirdly comforting".[98]
Exports of Korean series yieldedUS$37.5 million in 2003, which was three times higher than the amount reached in 1999.[99] According to data fromKorea Creative Content Agency, in 2013 K-dramas constituted 82% of the culture content export of South Korea, with an income of $167 million, which is four times more than a decade before.[62]
A driving force behind the rising popularity is the intense involvement of fans. Because of the live-shooting production of K-dramas, Korean-speaking fans have the opportunity to participate in their creation[100]—a unique phenomenon in the mass media world. They can influence the content of later shows in the series through complaints and suggestions, which are frequently adopted by the production teams.[101]
The global community of non-Korean-speaking fans, on the other hand, is more involved in the consumption aspects: Fans share their opinions through tweets and comments on newsgroups (for example, the Soompi discussion forum) as well as reviews and recaps on websites and blogs. However, the impact of their social media activity goes beyond the fan community. It spreads the word about the K-drama genre to social connections like acquaintances, friends and family (e.g. Facebook friends or followers on Twitter) and thereby generally raises its popularity. But it also has an effect on the creation of new dramas. It influences the popularity of certain dramas, leading to higher demand for those videos from streaming sites and additional income for broadcasters. When a substantial profit results, it raises not only the prestige of people involved in the production[102] but also provides feedback for production teams and indirectly influences future productions.
In China, South Korean programs on Chinese government TV networks accounted for more than all other foreign programs combined in 2006.[107]Hong Kong has its own channel for airing Korean dramas,TVB J2, butATV also airs Korean series in prime-time slots.[108]My Love from the Star received enthusiastic feedback from China. It was viewed 40 billion times on numerous Chinese video sites.[109] The drama also spurred interest about Korea, shown by China's increased consumption of Korean products such as Chi Maek (chicken and beer) and Korean cosmetics.[110] Due to the success of Korean dramas in China, some dramas have been compiled to create feature-length films by combining all episodes into one film. The prodigious popularity of Korean dramas in the country has, on some occasions, been caught in the crossfire overdiplomatic issues between China and South Korea. Most notable being theTHAAD deployment in South Korea which resulted in the blocking of Korean dramas on streaming services across the country in late February 2017.[111] Following the block, Chinese TV shows showcasing Chinese culture and other similar content replaced Korean content on TV networks'prime time schedules in the country.[112] In November 2017, the ban was lifted unannounced following the appearance of K-pop groups on national TV and the move to resume importation of Korean dramas by Chinese streaming services.[113] In China, apps likeIQiyi, which is currently also available in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and some other countries in multiple different subtitles, are available to stream and download Korean dramas for viewing.
The first Korean drama to gain widespread popularity in Japan wasWinter Sonata, which was broadcast on theNHK satellite channel NHK BS2 in 2003. The program was aired twice in the same year due to high demand from viewers.[20] NHK also hosted a classical concert featuringWinter Sonata's tunes performed by Korean musicians.[20] Korean dramas boost tourism between Korea and Japan,[20] and is considered a possible way of improving strained relationships between the two countries, as series have become increasingly popular with Japanese viewers.[114][115] Conversely, the seriesIris had several pivotal scenes shot in Akita, Japan, which led to an increase of Korean tourists in that part of Japan.[116][117]
In Mongolia, Korean dramas have become popular and are broadcast at prime time.Dae Jang Geum achieved success in the country and was broadcast five times due to this.Autumn in My Heart,Winter Sonata andStairway to Heaven were other popular dramas. Popularity in Korean dramas has resulted in interest in the learning of the Korean language as well as Mongolians travelling to South Korea. It has also led to increased mutually cooperative relations between Mongolia and South Korea.[118]
Watching films or TV dramas from South Korea is a serious offence in North Korea, punishable by execution,[119] but people still manage to acquire them on CDs, VHS Tapes, streaming services and DVDs.[120]
In 2021, there was an article that young people who were watching the popular dramaThe Penthouse: War in Life were caught in Pyeongseong, Pyeongnam Province, and will have to serve more than 10 years. Later, the residents of Yanggang Province began to imitate the famous lines fromPenthouse series, and the residents were also unable to avoid punishment.[121][122]
In Taiwan, interest in Korean dramas began whenStar in My Heart aired in 1999. Since then Korean dramas have become very popular and according to the South Korean mission 120 K-dramas had been broadcast in Taiwan in the first half of 2011.[123][124]
In recent times Korean dramas have experienced growing popularity in Brunei. The growing impact of Korean culture in Brunei led to the hosting of the ninth Korea Forum in the country at Universiti Brunei Darussalam in 2010. Korean television dramas, movies, music, and clothing have had a great impact on the people of Brunei.[125]
The first Korean drama to be broadcast in Cambodia wasWinter Sonata; it was, however,Full House that launched the interest in Korean dramas and entertainment in the country. Following the success ofFull House, more Korean dramas have been dubbed into theKhmer language. Korean dramas have become popular particularly amongst youth in Cambodia.[126]
In Indonesia, Korean dramas have gained popularity and the popular Korean dramasWinter Sonata andEndless Love were aired on Surya Citra Media in 2002. Some Korean dramas have also been remade into Indonesian versions such asDemi Cinta in 2005 which was a remake of the popular dramaAutumn in My Heart andCinta Sejati, a remake ofStairway to Heaven.RCTI andIndosiar are examples of Indonesian television networks that air Korean dramas in the early times, but laterTrans TV airing some of popular Korean dramas until today.[127][128]
The popularity of Korean dramas and pop culture in Laos has led to many Laotian tourists travelling to South Korea. Korean pop culture has gained popularity in Laos through the Thai TV channels broadcasting Korean dramas and K-pop bands in the country.[129]
In Malaysia,Winter Sonata began airing onTV3 in 2003, which started an interest in Korean pop culture in the country.Dae Jang Geum andAutumn In My Heart were also aired in Malaysia. The popularity of Korean dramas have resulted in a positive reception of Korean expatriates in Malaysia.[130]
InMyanmar, the K-dramaAutumn in My Heart was broadcast in the country in 2001, which led to interest in Korean entertainment. WhenDae Jang Geum was on air, the drama sparked an interest in Korean cuisine in the country.[131] The rising popularity of Korean dramas and music in Myanmar has led to the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE) distributing Korean dramas in the country for free.[132]
In the Philippines, Korean dramas are politically popular on free-to-air television since 2003.[133] For more than two decades,GMA Network has the highest number of Korean dramas broadcast in the Philippines.[134] Filipino politician andSAGIP Partylist representativeRodante Marcoleta complimented that Korean dramas have better stories and has a lot of choices: "they may not be so good at acting, but the flow of the story, especially their society is different so it will attract your interest, you get something to learn. They are able to show their culture, we see it ourselves and we say, we should adopt that too."[135] PresidentFerdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. acknowledged the importance of Korean dramas and culture to the Filipinos: "with Korean restaurants sprouting out around the Philippines, Filipinos have shared stories and have laughed over somekimchi, somesamgyeopsal with friends and family, and of course, the countless hours we have spent binge-watching our favorite Korean dramas and listening to K-pop. This highlights how the Filipinos love Koreans."[136]
In Singapore, Prime 12 (now known asSuria) originally aired the Korean dramaSandglass on a weekly basis in 1996 and airedAsphalt Man in 1997. Since 2001, they are shown on Chinese language channelMediaCorp Channel U daily.[137] The launch ofKBS World,ONE TV ASIA,Oh!K,Channel M and streamingapp,Viu in Singapore allows viewers to watch Korean dramas with a variety of subtitles in a matter of hours after the original South Korean telecast.[138] Currently, Singaporeans also get access to Korean dramas through China-originated online platformIQIYI, which first soft-launched its app in 2019 and planned to expand its international bases in Singapore.[139][140]
WhenDae Jang Geum was on air in Thailand, Korean food started gaining wide popularity.[141] Due to the lop-sided nature of entertainment exports favoring South Korea, the Thai government requested increased introduction of popular Thai films to South Korean media outlets. This led to the signing of an Agreement of Cultural Cooperation between the two countries in August 2004.[142]
Korean dramas have also gained popularity in Vietnam, particularly among women and young people. The fashion and hairstyles presented in Korean dramas have become very popular among the youth of the country.[143]
Korean dramas have gained popularity in Bangladesh in recent years.[144] Their rising popularity in the country has led to the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE), an organisation which aims to distribute Korean dramas for free to countries, cooperating with broadcasters to distribute Korean dramas for free in the country.[145] With the growing number of K-drama fans in Bangladesh, more and moreFacebook groups are popping up, giving them a platform to share their love of the shows with fellow K-drama enthusiasts and take part in events and activities hosted by the groups. One of the largest Bangladeshi K-Drama groups, BD K-Family, arranges a yearly get together for its members. Other popular Facebook K-Drama groups include K-Drama Archive BD, Korean Lovers Bangladesh, and BD Korean Drama Fam- all of which create opportunities for both local and international fans to participate in discussions about their favourite shows.[146]
In Pakistan, Korean dramas have gained popularity after the broadcast ofMy Love from the Star,Empress Ki andThe Heirs have been broadcast in dubbed on H Now entertainment. WhereasPakistan Television Corporation airedDae Jang Geum andDescendants of the Sun being aired in Filmazia. However, during the pandemic Hallyu sparked and took Pakistan by storm, when the hit showCrash Landing on You,All of Us Are Dead andSquid Game took off. With the help of Korean Dramas and "K-pop" Pakistani youngsters are getting more familiar with them. Korean dramas are mostly watched by women and young Pakistanis. Korean dramas are unique enough to be endearing and familiar enough to be reassuring for the Pakistani viewers because of the similar storylines regarding family, romance, and comedic elements. Pak-Korea Culture Collaboration (PKCC) is a group of young Pakistanis living in Karachi who want to improve ties between both cultures. The youth have worked with the Korean embassy in Karachi on multiple occasions to host festivals and activities, and they have been incredibly successful in their aim.[147]
In theHimalayan kingdom of Bhutan, Korean dramas and entertainment have gained popularity particularly amongst youth. Prior to interest in Korean entertainment,Bollywood had largely been the most popular form of entertainment in the country. When the Bhutanese film industry launched in the mid-1990s, Bollywood was the only form of influence on the industry. However, in recent years Korean entertainment has made significant inroads in the country and influence the entertainment industry alongside Bollywood. Korean entertainment has managed to influence fashion, and many video shops now sell Korean dramas and movies alongside Bollywood films. The interest in Korean entertainment has also led to controversy with older generations voicing their concern that Korean entertainment will deteriorate Bhutanese culture and traditions.[148][149]
In India, after the late 1990s and around 2000 Korean dramas started becoming popular throughpiracy particularly innorth-eastern states such asManipur,Assam,Meghalaya,Sikkim,Arunachal Pradesh,Tripura,Mizoram andNagaland as well as parts ofeastern state likeWest Bengal and more recently insouthern states likeKerala,Telangana,Tamil Nadu.[150][151] Hindi films and TV serials were banned in Manipur in 2000, as a result local television stations began broadcasting subtitled Korean dramas instead fromArirang TV andKBS World.[152][153] Many young people in north-eastern, eastern, northern and southern parts of India mimic the hairstyles, clothes of Korean actors while Korean fashion became very popular in the region.[154][155][156] As part of cultural exchange, public broadcasterDoordarshan telecastEmperor of the Sea andDae Jang Geum.[157] Korean dramas are dubbed inTamil onPuthuyugam TV such asBoys Over Flowers,My Love from Another Star,Playful Kiss and many more.[158]Full House andHwang Jini started airing onFirangi channel in 2008.Reliance Big TV offeredKBS World to its subscribers from 2009 on satellite television. Local fan clubs got help fromConsul-General of South Korea whileKorean Cultural Centre in India (KCCI) underSouth Korean embassy started mapping popularity of K-dramas.[159] As per KCCI, the motivation to understand Korean drama properly withoutsubtitles is driving the uptake of Korean language classes among the youth with females outnumbering males.[160]DD Bharati broadcast period dramaHur Jun in 2014 that received highest viewer ratings of 34 million from January to October 2014. Online streaming platformZEE5 launchedDescendants of the Sun to test the Indian market from February 8 to March 1, 2017, and found overwhelming positive response for Korean content with viewership ran close to 56 million.[153] The telecast of Korean drama onCable TV in 2017 stopped asKorean Broadcasting System Network wanted to raise syndication charges due to accumulation of large viewer-ship base in India that included pockets ofBihar,Kerala andUttar Pradesh due to short 16 to 20 episodes format that are easier forbinge-watching.[161][162] With increasing interest in Korean content among younger generation from tier-1 cities,Samsung through its My Galaxy mobile application is partnering withKorean Broadcasting System (KBS) in 2019 to bring exclusive content for 20 million Indian users.[163] WithCOVID-19 pandemic,Dish TV started premium K-dramas dubbed inHindi andTamil.[164] Korean dramas are also driving highest viewer-ship onNetflix with second season of TV seriesKingdom attained the Top 10 series row as of March 2020.It's Okay to Not Be Okay is on Netflix Top 10 list in India for several weeks in August 2020 which has jumped to number 3 position. Netflix is increasing investment on Korean content to capture the Indian market.[165]Over-the-top media service (OTT)MX Player confirmed rising popularity and demand of Korean dramas among millennial population especially the women audience and is now making deals with South Korean television and radio network companySeoul Broadcasting System (SBS) to bring more content in India. Korean dramas and films became most visited category forShortsTV in India.[166] As per media experts, the relatable themes in Korean content is fast catching the imagination of general public of almost every age group that is going mainstream and driving highest viewing especially after92nd Academy Awards winning movieParasite due to the shared Asiancultural heritage and societal values.[167][168][169] As per Parrot Analytics report, K-drama seriesCrash Landing on You, is on demand 1.2 times than an average TV series that is 89.8% more than all drama titles shown in India forcing broadcasters to make extra slots as women are at the forefront of consumer demand in Korean content category.[170][171] TheCOVID-19 lockdown in India proved to be an inflection point in 2020–2021 when Korean drama moved from a niche sub-culture segment to mainstream due to services like Netflix,Rakuten Viki and YouTube. It penetrated to every age group and social background. The popularity of Korean drama forced manyover-the-top media service in India such as MX Player,Viu andZEE5 to bring the dubbed versions in local language that will help cater to large non English speaking audience.[172][173][174]
Interest for Korean dramas in the Nepal began whenWinter Sonata aired onKantipur Television Network in the mid-2000s. This led to the popularity of other K-dramas such asBoys Over Flowers,Autumn In My Heart,You Are Beautiful andFull House to name a few. Popularity of Korean media products has also led to interest of learning the Korean language and has resulted in the emergence of Korean language tutorials that air onABC Television in the country. Korean dramas have become popular among Nepali youth and markets are often frequented by teenagers looking to buy the latest dramas. The hairstyles and fashion of Korean actors have influenced the fashion sense of Nepali youth. Fascinated by the lifestyle and food of Korea, restaurants serving Korean cuisine have also been established in the country.[175][176]
In Sri Lanka, theIndependent Television Network airedFull House in 2009 and it proved popular.Dae Jang Geum aired onRupavahini in 2012 and was dubbed in Sinhala under the titleSujatha Diyani (සුජාත දියණී), meaning "The Pure, Valuable Daughter" and received a viewer rate of over 90%.[177] The Independent Television Network, Rupavahini,TV Derana,Sirasa TV,Swarnavahini andTV 1 air Korean dramas dubbed in theSinhalese language.[178][unreliable source?][179] Streaming service,Iflix also streams many Korean dramas with English and Sinhalese subtitles in the country, some as early as 24 hours after their original Korean broadcast.[180] Additionally, the popularity of Korean pop culture in the country has led to an increasingly warm reception towards Korean people.[181]
Since the mid-2000s, Israel, Iran, Morocco and Egypt have become major consumers of Korean culture.[182][183][unreliable source?] Following the success of Korean dramas in the Middle East & North Africa, theKorean Overseas Information Service madeWinter Sonata available with Arabic subtitles on several state-run Egyptian television networks. According to Youna Kim (2007), "The broadcast was part of the government's efforts to improve the image of South Korea in the Middle East, where there is little understanding and exposure towards Korean culture" (p. 31).[184]The New York Times reported that the intent behind this was to contribute towards positive relations between Arab & Berber audiences and South Korean soldiers stationed in northern Iraq.[185]
MBC4 (Middle East Broadcasting Channel) played a major role in increasing the Korean wave's popularity in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). This broadcasting channel hosted a series of Korean drama, paying for the Arabic subtitles or dubbed. starting 2012 such asBoys Over Flowers (أيام الزهور),You're Beautiful (أنت جميلة),Dream High (حلم الشباب),Coffee Prince (مقهى الأمير). Some Arab countries opposed Korean content (dramas, reality show) out of fear that their youth would abandon Islamic traditions in order to adopt Western modernity.[186] However, this did not stop the Korean industries from exporting more Korean Dramas to the Arab world in the following years such asThe Heirs (الورثة). The popularity of Korean dramas in the MENA region-and its continuous growth- originates from the content of these dramas. As the majority of the plots of Korean dramas focus on social issues (love between different social classes or family problems for instance),[187] the Arab audiences fit themselves and could relate to the Korean socio-cultural values as they seem appealing to them. So Korean dramas play the role of an equilibrium point where two, somehow, different cultures could create a new cultural space where these two different cultures could meet.
LBC SAT and Rotana Drama (Rotana Group) played a major role in increasing the Korean wave's popularity in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). This broadcasting channel hosted a series of Korean dramas, paying for the Arabic subtitles starting in 2022, such asMedal of the Republic,When I Was the Most Beautiful,Extraordinary You,Find Me in Your Memory,Love in Sadness,The Red Sleeve, andMy Secret Terrius. The Arab audiences fit themselves and could relate to the Korean socio-cultural values as they seem appealing to them. So Korean dramas play the role of an equilibrium point where two, somehow, different cultures could create a new cultural space where these two cultures could meet. Fear that the learning rituals embedded in the show would lead Kuwaiti youth to abandon their traditions wholesale in order to adopt Western morality wholesale. However, this did not stop the Korean industries from exporting more Korean dramas to the Arab world in the following years.[188][189][190]
Iran's state broadcaster,Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), aired several Korean dramas during prime time slots in recent years, with this decision attributed by some to theirConfucian values of respect for others, which are "closely aligned to Islamic culture",[191] while in contrast, Western productions often fail to satisfy the criteria set by Iran'sMinistry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.[192] In October 2012, theTehran Times reported that IRIB representatives visited South Korea to visit filming locations in an effort to strengthen "cultural affinities" between the two countries and to seek avenues for further cooperation betweenKBS and IRIB.[193][194] In 2008, the Korean dramaJumong achieved 85% viewership inIran,[17] According toReuters, until recently audiences in Iran have had little choice in broadcast material and thus programs that are aired by IRIB often attain higher viewership ratings in Iran than in South Korea; for example, the most popular episodes ofJumong attracted over 90% of Iranian audience (compared to 40% in South Korea), propelling its lead actorSong Il-gook tosuperstar status in Iran.[195][unreliable source?]
In the early 2000s, Korean dramas were aired for South Korean troops stationed in northern Iraq as part ofcoalition forces led by the United States during theIraq War. With the end of the war and the subsequent withdrawal of South Korean military personnel from the country, efforts were made to expand availability of K-dramas to the ordinary citizens of Iraq.[196] In 2012, the Korean dramaHur Jun reportedly attained a viewership of over 90% in theKurdistan region of Iraq. Its lead actorJun Kwang-ryul was invited by thefederal government of Iraq to visit the city ofSulaymaniyah inKurdistan, at the special request of the country's First Lady,Hero Ibrahim Ahmed.[196]
Autumn in My Heart, one of the earliest Korean dramas brought over to the Middle East, was made available for viewing after five months of "persistent negotiations" between the South Korean embassy and an Egyptian state-run broadcasting company. Shortly after the series ended, the embassy reported that it had received over 400 phone calls and love letters from fans from all over the country.[197] According to the secretary of the South Korean embassy inCairo Lee Ki-seok, Korea's involvement in theIraq War had significantly undermined its reputation among Egyptians, but the screening ofAutumn in My Heart proved "extremely effective" in reversing negative attitudes.[198]
The first Korean drama in Romania was aired onTVR in August 2009 withDae Jang Geum, and in the following month it became the third most popular television program in the country.[199] Since then, Korean dramas have seen high ratings and further success.[199][200]
TheAsian American-targeted cable TV channelsAZN Television andImaginAsian aired Korean dramas alongside content from China, Japan, India, Thailand and other parts of Asia. The dramas were aimed at the Asian American community before the channels dissolved in 2008 and 2011 respectively.[201][202]
In November 2008,Netflix[203] began offering several Korean dramas as part of its video selection. In August 2009,DramaFever began offering free subtitled video streaming service, with video advertisements, in the United States.[204][205]
Singapore-basedViki streams popular Korean dramas across the world including North America, with subtitles in 70 languages.[206] Companies in Asia have also designed streaming services available online and asmobile apps targeted towards overseas Asian communities. "MobiTV" created by the Sri Lankan company, Bhasha is a streaming service and mobile app aimed at the Sri Lankan community and streams Korean dramas dubbed in the Sinhalese language alongside other content aired in Sri Lanka.[207] "Roopa", created by the same company, is another service available as a mobile app also aimed at the Sri Lankan community, it too streams Korean dramas dubbed in the Sinhalese language.[208] Chinese companyPPTV is another example, a mobile app, "PPTV网络电视HD" streams Korean dramas aimed at the Chinese community alongside content that is primarily available inMandarin,Cantonese andKorean but also increasingly in English.[209][210]
Additionally, Korean dramas are available at online DVD retailers. Some Korean dramas, however, are not available forregion 1 (North America) encoding andNTSC video format.Amazon offers streaming ofWinter Sonata for a fee.[211]
KBFD-DT inHonolulu, Hawaii broadcasts a majority of Korean dramas on its daily schedule, as well as offering the programs on sale at its website and on demand through its K-Life channel onOceanic Time Warner Cable. Another Honolulu outlet,KHII-TV devotes three hours of its Sunday afternoon schedule to Korean dramas.
KTSF, a channel aimed at the Asian American community inSan Francisco,California airs Korean dramas as part of its schedule alongside content in Mandarin, Tagalog, Hindi, Korean,Vietnamese,Japanese,Taiwanese andCantonese.[212]
Between 2001 and 2002, South America began to absorb Korean programming. The 1997 seriesStar in My Heart began its successful broadcast in Chile, Peru and other countries in the area, but these last two were where More had repercussions, including anAhn Jae-wook fan club founded.[213] In 2002,Winter Sonata, produced byKBS 2TV, became the first series in the region to match the success ofMeteor Garden, attracting a cult following in Asia. Marketing sales, including DVD sets and novels, exceeded $3.5 million in Japan. In 2004, then-Japanese Prime MinisterJunichiro Koizumi noted that the series' male lead was "more popular than I am in Japan."[214] Other Korean dramas released in later years such asJewel in the Palace (2003) andFull House (2004) had comparable levels of success.[215]
In Chile, which was one of the first countries on a global level, the phenomenon ofKorean wave, which is also known as hallyu, began with the first drama aired that was the original 1997MBC seriesStar in My Heart in 2001 byChilevisión past midnight[216] and later years later in 2003 it was retransmitted byCanal 21 (Chillán) [es] inChillán, but it was not until 2006, when Stairway to Heaven was broadcast at 1:00 pm on the public television channelTelevisión Nacional de Chile, which achieved notoriety of this genre being compared toLa madrastra—an old very successful Chilean soap opera—due to the high audience figures in its schedule competing directly with other channels, it was also broadcast byTV Chile to other continents dubbed into Spanish.[217][218]
Viewership ratings are provided by two companies in South Korea: Nielsen Korea and TNmS.[219] Originally, Media Service Korea (MSK) was the sole company providing TV viewership ratings usingpeople meter since 1992, but was only limited toSeoul Capital Area.[219][220] In 1998, TNS Media Korea began as a rival company in partnership withTaylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) which extended the service to five major cities; it was officially launched in June 1999 with a more sophisticated viewership rating survey technique.[219] While, in August 1999,AC Nielsen acquired MSK and rebranded it as AC Nielsen Korea and expanded the audience rating survey to the whole country with the aim to increase the credibility of the ratings.[219] In 2005, AC Nielsen Korea signed a merger with AGB Group andAGB Nielsen Media Research was established.[221] AGB Nielsen Media Research merged with KADD Nielsen Media Research in January 2013, and the official name was changed to Nielsen Korea.[219][222]
In 2010, TNS Media Korea was renamed to TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics).[223][219] Since late 2018, TNmS stopped providing data to the public through their websites, and instead occasionally releases the ratings through news agencies such as BreakNews.[224]
The list was compiled from data by Nielsen Korea, based on the episode of the highest viewership since 1992.[225]
| # | Series | Network | Nationwide household rating (Nielsen) | Final episode date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | You and I | MBC | 66.9% | April 26, 1998 | [226] |
| 2 | First Love | KBS2 | 65.8% | April 20, 1997 | [227][228] |
| 3 | What Is Love [ko] | MBC | 64.9% | May 31, 1992 | [229][230] |
| 4 | Sandglass | SBS | 64.5% | February 16, 1995 | |
| 5 | Hur Jun | MBC | 63.5% | June 27, 2000 | [231] |
| 6 | A Sunny Place of the Young [ko] | KBS2 | 62.7% | November 12, 1995 | [232] |
| 7 | Sons and Daughters [ko] | MBC | 61.1% | May 9, 1993 | [227][228] |
| 8 | Taejo Wang Geon | KBS1 | 60.2% | February 24, 2002 | [233] |
| 9 | Eyes of Dawn | MBC | 58.4% | February 6, 1992 | [234][235] |
| 10 | Dae Jang Geum | 57.8% | March 23, 2004 | [233] | |
| 11 | See and See Again [ko] | 57.3% | April 2, 1999 | [236] | |
| 12 | Truth [ko] | 56.5% | February 24, 2000 | ||
| 13 | Lovers in Paris | SBS | 56.3% | August 15, 2004 | [237] |
| 14 | Jealousy | MBC | 56.1% | July 21, 1992 | [238][239] |
| 15 | Blowing of the Wind [ko] | KBS2 | 55.8% | March 29, 1996 | |
| 16 | Men of the Bath House [ko] | 53.4% | September 1, 1996 | [232] | |
| 17 | Gook Hee [ko] | MBC | 53.1% | November 16, 1999 | [240][241] |
| Trap of Youth [ko] | SBS | April 15, 1999 | [240][241] | ||
| 19 | Tomato [ko] | 52.7% | June 10, 1999 | ||
| 20 | M [ko] | MBC | 52.2% | August 30, 1994 | [242][243] |
| 21 | Season of the Storm [ko] | 52.1% | December 30, 1993 | [244][245][unreliable source?] | |
| 22 | Rustic Period | SBS | 51.8% | September 30, 2003 | |
| 23 | My Mother's Sea [ko] | MBC | 51.6% | December 26, 1993 | [246][247] |
| 24 | Legend of Ambition [ko] | KBS2 | 50.2% | October 25, 1998 | [228] |
| 25 | Ladies of the Palace [ko] | SBS | 49.9% | July 22, 2002 | [233] |
| 26 | My Son's Woman [ko] | MBC | 49.7% | April 13, 1995 | [248][unreliable source?][249][unreliable source?] |
| Jumong | March 6, 2007 | [250][233] | |||
| 28 | Tears of the Dragon | KBS1 | 49.6% | May 31, 1998 | [233] |
| 29 | My Only One | KBS2 | 49.4% | March 17, 2019 | [251] |
| 30 | Star in My Heart | MBC | 49.3% | April 29, 1997 | [252][253] |
| Bread, Love and Dreams | KBS2 | September 16, 2010 | [254] | ||
| 32 | My Lovely Sam Soon | MBC | 49.1% | July 21, 2005 | [255] |
| 33 | Ambition [ko] | 49.0% | October 13, 1994 | [256] | |
| 34 | The Moon of Seoul [ko] | 48.7% | October 16, 1994 | [257][258] | |
| 35 | The Last Match | 48.6% | February 22, 1994 | [259][260][261][262] | |
| 36 | All About Eve | 48.3% | July 6, 2000 | [263][264] | |
| Wang's Family | KBS2 | February 9, 2014 | [265] | ||
| 38 | How is Your Husband? [ko] | SBS | 48.2% | October 19, 1993 | [note 1] |
| 39 | Cinderella | MBC | 48.0% | July 13, 1997 | [267] |
| 40 | All In | SBS | 47.7% | April 3, 2003 | |
| 41 | Seoyoung, My Daughter | KBS2 | 47.6% | March 3, 2013 | [268] |
| 42 | Until We Can Love [ko] | 47.1% | February 28, 1997 | ||
| 43 | My Rosy Life | 47.0% | November 10, 2005 | [269] | |
| 44 | Pilot [ko] | MBC | 46.2% | November 2, 1993 | [270] |
| 45 | Autumn in My Heart | KBS2 | 46.1% | November 7, 2000 | |
| 46 | Daughters of a Rich Family [ko] | 45.9% | April 30, 1995 | ||
| 47 | My Husband Got a Family | 45.3% | September 9, 2012 | [271] | |
| 48 | Brilliant Legacy | SBS | 45.2% | July 26, 2009 | [272] |
| 49 | My Golden Life | KBS2 | 45.1% | March 11, 2018 | [273] |
| 50 | Dear Heaven | SBS | 44.9% | July 2, 2006 | [274] |
| # | Series | Network | Nationwide viewers number in million (Nielsen) | Final episode date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Only One | KBS2 | 9.246 | March 17, 2019 | [275] |
| 2 | My Golden Life | 8.366 | March 11, 2018 | [276] | |
| 3 | Young Lady and Gentleman | 6.956 | March 27, 2022 | [277] | |
| 4 | Once Again | 6.893 | September 13, 2020 | [278] | |
| 5 | Marry Me Now | 6.669 | September 9, 2018 | [279] | |
| 6 | Mother of Mine | 6.247 | September 22, 2019 | [280] | |
| 7 | Homemade Love Story | 6.145 | March 7, 2021 | [281] | |
| 8 | Revolutionary Sisters | 5.823 | September 18, 2021 | [282] | |
| 9 | Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life | 5.693 | March 22, 2020 | [283] | |
| 10 | The Penthouse: War in Life 2 | SBS | 5.601 | April 2, 2021 | [284] |
| 11 | The Penthouse: War in Life | 5.354 | January 5, 2021 | [285] | |
| 12 | It's Beautiful Now | KBS2 | 5.300 | September 18, 2022 | [286] |
| 13 | Dr. Romantic 2 | SBS | 5.210 | February 25, 2020 | [287] |
| 14 | Three Bold Siblings | KBS2 | 5.144 | March 19, 2023 | [288] |
| 15 | When the Camellia Blooms | 4.491 | November 21, 2019 | [289] | |
| 16 | The Real Has Come! | 4.330 | September 10, 2023 | [290] | |
| 17 | The Fiery Priest | SBS | 4.325 | April 20, 2019 | [291] |
| 18 | Money Flower | MBC | 4.085 | February 3, 2018 | [292] |
| 19 | Taxi Driver 2 | SBS | 4.005 | April 15, 2023 | [293] |
| 20 | Unasked Family | KBS1 | 3.950 | April 17, 2020 | [294] |
| 21 | Hot Stove League | SBS | 3.921 | February 14, 2020 | [295] |
| 22 | Home for Summer | KBS1 | 3.897 | October 25, 2019 | [296] |
| 23 | Live Your Own Life | KBS2 | 3.884 | March 17, 2024 | [297] |
| 24 | Brilliant Heritage | KBS1 | 3.852 | October 9, 2020 | [298] |
| 25 | The Penthouse: War in Life 3 | SBS | 3.778 | September 10, 2021 | [299] |
| 26 | Beauty and Mr. Romantic | KBS2 | 3.771 | September 22, 2024 | [300] |
| 27 | Iron Family | 3.709 | January 26, 2025 | [301] | |
| 28 | Liver or Die | 3.692 | March 14, 2019 | [302] | |
| 29 | The Red Sleeve | MBC | 3.668 | January 1, 2022 | [303] |
| 30 | No Matter What | KBS1 | 3.599 | March 26, 2021 | [304] |
| 31 | Man in a Veil | KBS2 | 3.502 | February 10, 2021 | [305] |
| 32 | The Secret of My Love | 3.480 | February 9, 2018 | [306] | |
| 33 | Sunny Again Tomorrow | KBS1 | 3.478 | November 2, 2018 | [307] |
| 34 | Good Partner | SBS | 3.473 | September 20, 2024 | [308] |
| 35 | It's My Life | KBS1 | 3.459 | April 26, 2019 | [309] |
| 36 | Dr. Romantic 3 | SBS | 3.423 | June 17, 2023 | [310] |
| 37 | Knight Flower | MBC | 3.395 | February 17, 2024 | [311] |
| 38 | Bravo, My Life | KBS1 | 3.382 | September 30, 2022 | [312] |
| 39 | The Love in Your Eyes | 3.377 | March 24, 2023 | [313] | |
| 40 | Love Returns | 3.330 | May 4, 2018 | [314] | |
| 41 | The Last Empress | SBS | 3.282 | February 21, 2019 | [315] |
| 42 | The All-Round Wife | KBS1 | 3.245 | April 8, 2022 | [316] |
| 43 | One the Woman | SBS | 3.235 | November 6, 2021 | [317] |
| 44 | Taxi Driver | 3.117 | May 29, 2021 | [318] | |
| 45 | A Pledge to God | MBC | 3.112 | February 16, 2019 | [319] |
| 46 | Man in the Kitchen | 3.082 | March 18, 2018 | [320] | |
| 47 | Gracious Revenge | KBS2 | 3.080 | March 27, 2020 | [321] |
| 48 | Red Shoes | 3.074 | December 10, 2021 | [322] | |
| 49 | Gold Mask | 2.998 | October 7, 2022 | [323] | |
| 50 | Be My Dream Family | KBS1 | 2.951 | October 1, 2021 | [324] |
| # | Series | Network | Nationwide household rating (Nielsen) | Final episode date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The World of the Married | JTBC | 28.371% | May 16, 2020 | [325] |
| 2 | Reborn Rich | 26.948% | December 25, 2022 | [326] | |
| 3 | Queen of Tears | tvN | 24.850% | April 28, 2024 | [327] |
| 4 | Sky Castle | JTBC | 23.779% | February 1, 2019 | [328] |
| 5 | Crash Landing on You | tvN | 21.683% | February 16, 2020 | [329] |
| 6 | Reply 1988 | 18.803% | January 16, 2016 | [330][331] | |
| 7 | Guardian: The Lonely and Great God | 18.680% | January 21, 2017 | [332] | |
| 8 | Doctor Cha | JTBC | 18.546% | June 4, 2023 | [333] |
| 9 | Mr. Sunshine | tvN | 18.129% | September 30, 2018 | [334] |
| 10 | Extraordinary Attorney Woo | ENA | 17.534% | August 18, 2022 | [335] |
| 11 | Mr. Queen | tvN | 17.371% | February 14, 2021 | [336] |
| 12 | Crash Course in Romance | 17.038% | March 5, 2023 | [337] | |
| 13 | Under the Queen's Umbrella | 16.852% | December 4, 2022 | [338] | |
| 14 | Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) 2 | TV Chosun | 16.582% | August 8, 2021 | [339] |
| 15 | Itaewon Class | JTBC | 16.548% | March 21, 2020 | [340] |
| 16 | Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born | tvN | 16.458% | November 17, 2024 | [341] |
| 17 | Agency | JTBC | 16.044% | February 26, 2023 | [342] |
| 18 | Vincenzo | tvN | 14.636% | May 2, 2021 | [343] |
| 19 | Our Blues | 14.597% | June 12, 2022 | [344] | |
| 20 | 100 Days My Prince | 14.412% | October 30, 2018 | [345] | |
| 21 | Hospital Playlist | 14.142% | May 28, 2020 | [346] | |
| 22 | Hospital Playlist 2 | 14.080% | September 16, 2021 | [347] | |
| 23 | King the Land | JTBC | 13.789% | August 6, 2023 | [348] |
| 24 | The Tale of Lady Ok | 13.575% | January 26, 2025 | [349] | |
| 25 | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | tvN | 12.665% | October 17, 2021 | [350] |
| 26 | Signal | 12.544% | March 12, 2016 | [351] | |
| 27 | Welcome to Samdal-ri | JTBC | 12.399% | January 21, 2024 | [352] |
| 28 | The Lady in Dignity | 12.065% | August 19, 2017 | [353][354] | |
| 29 | The Good Bad Mother | 12.032% | June 8, 2023 | [355] | |
| 30 | Hotel del Luna | tvN | 12.001% | September 1, 2019 | [356] |
| 31 | Marry My Husband | 11.951% | February 20, 2024 | [357] | |
| 32 | Miss Night and Day | JTBC | 11.744% | August 4, 2024 | [358] |
| 33 | Red Balloon | TV Chosun | 11.566% | February 26, 2023 | [359] |
| 34 | Twenty-Five Twenty-One | tvN | 11.513% | April 3, 2022 | [360] |
| 35 | Reply 1994 | 11.509% | December 28, 2013 | [361] | |
| 36 | Prison Playbook | 11.195% | January 18, 2018 | [362] | |
| 37 | Little Women | 11.105% | October 9, 2022 | [363] | |
| 38 | The Uncanny Counter | OCN | 10.999% | January 24, 2021 | [364] |
| 39 | The Crowned Clown | tvN | 10.851% | March 4, 2019 | [365] |
| 40 | My Kids Give Me a Headache | JTBC | 10.715% | March 17, 2013 | [366][367] |
| 41 | Jirisan | tvN | 10.663% | December 12, 2021 | [368] |
| 42 | Mine | 10.512% | June 27, 2021 | [369] | |
| 43 | Strong Girl Nam-soon | JTBC | 10.420% | November 26, 2023 | [370] |
| 44 | Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) 3 | TV Chosun | 10.395% | May 1, 2022 | [371] |
| 45 | Show Window: The Queen's House | Channel A | 10.335% | January 18, 2022 | [372] |
| 46 | Encounter | tvN | 10.329% | January 24, 2019 | [373] |
| 47 | Military Prosecutor Doberman | 10.081% | April 26, 2022 | [374] | |
| 48 | Memories of the Alhambra | 10.025% | January 20, 2019 | [375] | |
| 49 | Another Miss Oh | 9.991% | June 28, 2016 | [376] | |
| 50 | Bossam: Steal the Fate | MBN | 9.759% | July 4, 2021 | [377] |
Egypt and Iran has been the center of the "hallyu" phenomena in the Middle East for a few years now. While Egypt went crazy after the dramas "Autumn in my Heart" and "Winter Sonata," Iran went gaga when its state television aired "Emperor of the Sea" and "Jewel in the Palace".
South Korea has also begun wielding the non-economic side of its new soft power. The official Korean Overseas Information Service last year gave "Winter Sonata" to Egyptian television, paying for the Arabic subtitles. The goal was to generate positive feelings in the Arab & Berber world toward the 3,200 South Korean soldiers stationed in northern Iraq.
Korean television dramas reinforce traditional values of Confucianism that Iranians find more closely aligned to Islamic culture, implying that cultural proximity contributes to the Islamic Korean wave. "Reflecting traditional family values, Korean culture is deemed 'a filter for Western values' in Iran," the article says.
'This drama proved extremely effective in enhancing Korea's international image, which has been undermined by the troop deployment in Iraq ,' added Lee.
최고의 인기 드라마, 시청률 1위 질주
1st (MBC) 특별기획(주몽) 49.7%
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(하나뿐인내편) 49.4%
1st (KBS2) 수목드라마(제빵왕김탁구) 49.3%
1st (KBS2) 주말연속극(왕가네식구들) 48.3%
1st (KBS2) 주말연속극(내딸서영이) 47.6%
1st (KBS2) 주말연속극(넝쿨째굴러온당신) 45.3%
1st (SBS) 특별기획(찬란한유산) 45.2%
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(황금빛내인생) 45.1%
1st (SBS) 주말극장(하늘이시여) 44.9%
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(하나뿐인내편) 9,246
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(황금빛내인생) 8,366
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(신사와아가씨) 6,956
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(한번다녀왔습니다) 6,893
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(같이살래요) 6,669
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(세상에서제일예쁜내딸) 6,247
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(오삼광빌라) 6,145
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(오케이광자매) 5,823
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(사랑은뷰티풀인생은원더풀) 5,693
1st (SBS) 금토드라마(WARINLIFE펜트하우스2) 5,601
1st (SBS) 월화드라마(WARINLIFE펜트하우스) 5,354
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(현재는아름다워) 5,300
1st (SBS) 월화드라마(낭만닥터김사부2) 5,210
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(삼남매가용감하게) 5,144
1st (KBS2) 수목드라마(동백꽃필무렵) 4,491
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(진짜가나타났다) 4,330
1st (SBS) 금토드라마(열혈사제) 4,325
2nd (MBC) 주말특별기획(돈꽃) 4,085
1st (SBS) 금토드라마(복수대행써비스모범택시2) 4,005
1st (KBS1) 일일연속극(꽃길만걸어요) 3,950
1st (SBS) 금토드라마(스토브리그) 3,921
1st (KBS1) 일일연속극(여름아부탁해) 3,897
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(효심이네각자도생) 3,884
1st (KBS1) 일일드라마(기막힌유산) 3,852
1st (SBS) 금요드라마(WARINLIFE펜트하우스3) 3,778
1st (KBS2) 주말드라마(미녀와순정남) 3,771
1st (KBS2) 특별기획주말드라마(다리미패밀리) 3,709
1st (KBS2) 수목드라마(왜그래풍상씨) 3,692
2nd (MBC) 금토드라마(옷소매붉은끝동) 3,668
1st (KBS1) 일일드라마(누가뭐래도) 3,599
1st (KBS2) 일일드라마(비밀의남자) 3,502
1st (KBS2) 일일드라마(내남자의비밀) 3,480
1st (KBS1) 일일연속극(내일도맑음) 3,478
1st (SBS) 금토드라마(굿파트너) 3,473
1st (KBS1) 일일연속극(비켜라운명아) 3,459
1st (SBS) 금토드라마(낭만닥터김사부3) 3,423
1st (MBC) 금토드라마(밤에피는꽃) 3,395
1st (KBS1) 일일드라마(으라차차내인생) 3,382
1st (KBS1) 일일드라마(내눈에콩깍지) 3,377
1st (KBS1) 일일연속극(미워도사랑해) 3,330
1st (SBS) 드라마스페셜(황후의품격THELASTEMPRESS) 3,282
1st (KBS1) 저녁일일극(국가대표와이프) 3,245
2nd (SBS) 금토드라마(원더우먼) 3,235
1st (SBS) 금토드라마(복수대행써비스모범택시) 3,117
3rd (MBC) 주말특별기획(신과의약속) 3,112
3rd (MBC) 주말드라마(밥상차리는남자) 3,082
2nd (KBS2) 일일드라마(우아한모녀) 3,080
1st (KBS2) 일일드라마(빨강구두) 3,074
1st (KBS2) 일일드라마(황금가면) 2,998
1st (KBS1) 일일드라마(속아도꿈결) 2,951
1st (JTBC) 금토드라마(부부의세계) 28.371%
1st (JTBC) 금토일드라마(재벌집막내아들) 26.948%
1st (tvN) 눈물의여왕<본> 24.850%
1st (JTBC) 금토드라마(SKY캐슬) 23.779%
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(사랑의불시착<본>) 21.683%
1st (tvN) 응답하라1988<본> 18.803%
1st (tvN) 쓸쓸하고찬란하신도깨비<본> 18.680%
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(닥터차정숙) 18.546%
1st (tvN) 미스터션샤인<본> 18.129%
1st (ENA) 이상한변호사우영우<본> 17.534%
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(철인왕후조선중전영혼가출스캔들<본>) 17.371%
1st (tvN) 일타스캔들<본> 17.038%
1st (tvN) 슈룹<본> 16.852%
1st (TV CHOSUN) 주말미니시리즈(결혼작사이혼작곡2) 16.582%
1st (JTBC) 금토드라마(이태원클라쓰) 16.548%
1st (tvN) 정년이<본> 16.458%
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(대행사) 16.044%
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(빈센조<본>) 14.636%
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(우리들의블루스<본>) 14.597%
1st (tvN) 월화드라마(백일의낭군님<본>) 14.412%
1st (tvN) 슬기로운의사생활<본> 14.142%
1st (tvN) 슬기로운의사생활2<본> 14.080%
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(킹더랜드) 13.789%
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(옥씨부인전) 13.575%
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(갯마을차차차<본>) 12.665%
1st (tvN) 시그널<본> 12.544%
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(웰컴투삼달리) 12.399%
1st (JTBC) 금토드라마(품위있는그녀) 12.065%
1st (JTBC) 수목드라마(나쁜엄마) 12.032%
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(호텔델루나<본>) 12.001%
1st (tvN) 내남편과결혼해줘<본> 11.951%
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(낮과밤이다른그녀) 11.744%
2nd (TV CHOSUN) 주말미니시리즈(빨간풍선) 11.566%
1st (tvN) 스물다섯스물하나<본> 11.513%
1st (tvN) 응답하라1994 11.509%
1st (tvN) 수목드라마(슬기로운감빵생활<본>) 11.195%
1st (tvN) 작은아씨들<본> 11.105%
2nd (OCN) 경이로운소문<본> 10.999%
1st (tvN) 월화드라마(왕이된남자<본>) 10.851%
1st (JTBC) JTBC특별기획드라마(무자식상팔자) 10.715%
1st (tvN) 특별기획지리산<본> 10.663%
1st (tvN) 마인<본> 10.512%
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(힘쎈여자강남순) 10.420%
1st (TV CHOSUN) 주말미니시리즈(결혼작사이혼작곡3) 10.395%
1st (채널A) 채널A특별기획월화드라마(쇼윈도여왕의집) 10.335%
1st (tvN) 수목드라마(남자친구<본>) 10.329%
1st (tvN) 군검사도베르만<본> 10.081%
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(알함브라궁전의추억<본>) 10.025%
1st (tvN) 월화드라마(또오해영<본>) 9.991%
1st (MBN) 종편특별기획드라마(보쌈운명을훔치다) 9.759%
1st (JTBC) 금토드라마(SKY캐슬) 6,508
1st (tvN) 눈물의여왕<본> 6,399
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(사랑의불시착<본>) 6,337
1st (JTBC) 금토일드라마(재벌집막내아들) 6,277
1st (JTBC) 금토드라마(부부의세계) 6,248
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(철인왕후조선중전영혼가출스캔들<본>) 4,749
1st (tvN) 미스터션샤인<본> 4,631
1st (ENA) 이상한변호사우영우<본> 4,449
1st (JTBC) 금토드라마(이태원클라쓰) 4,425
1st (tvN) 일타스캔들<본> 4,329
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(닥터차정숙) 4,088
1st (tvN) 슈룹<본> 4,049
1st (tvN) 슬기로운의사생활2<본> 3,853
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(빈센조<본>) 3,841
1st (tvN) 정년이<본> 3,840
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(대행사) 3,685
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(호텔델루나<본>) 3,674
1st (tvN) 슬기로운 의사생활<본> 3,579
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(우리들의블루스<본>) 3,419
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(킹더랜드) 3,404
1st (TV CHOSUN) 주말미니시리즈(결혼작사이혼작곡2) 3,344
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(옥씨부인전) 3,292
1st (tvN) 월화드라마(백일의낭군님<본>) 3,264
2nd (OCN) 경이로운소문<본> 3,257
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(갯마을차차차<본>) 3,237
1st (tvN) 수목드라마(슬기로운감빵생활<본>) 3,063
1st (tvN) 스물다섯스물하나<본> 3,047
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(웰컴투삼달리) 2,965
1st (tvN) 내남편과결혼해줘<본> 2,938
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(알함브라궁전의추억<본>) 2,853
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(낮과밤이다른그녀) 2,815
1st (JTBC) 수목드라마(나쁜엄마) 2,669
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(힘쎈여자강남순) 2,652
1st (tvN) 작은아씨들<본> 2,618
1st (tvN) 특별기획지리산<본> 2,586
1st (tvN) 수목드라마(남자친구<본>) 2,473
2nd (TV CHOSUN) 주말미니시리즈(빨간풍선) 2,457
1st (tvN) 월화드라마(왕이된남자<본>) 2,447
1st (tvN) 마인<본> 2,429
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(환혼<본>) 2,410
1st (tvN) 수목드라마(김비서가왜그럴까<본>) 2,383
1st (JTBC) 토일드라마(힙하게) 2,328
1st (tvN) 군검사도베르만<본> 2,279
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(환혼빛과그림자<본>) 2,267
1st (JTBC) 월화드라마(눈이부시게) 2,223
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(구미호뎐1938<본>) 2,216
1st (채널A) 채널A특별기획월화드라마(쇼윈도여왕의집) 2,195
1st (tvN) 토일드라마(비밀의숲2<본>) 2,186
1st (tvN) 감사합니다<본> 2,143
1st (tvN) 아스달연대기<본> 2,120
| Africa | |
|---|---|
| Asia | |
| Europe | |
| North America | |
| Oceania | |
| South America | |
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