How Streaming Platforms Have Popularized Korean Dramas Worldwide

In the last ten years, Korean TV dramas (K-dramas) have gone from being a regional industry to a worldwide sensation, thanks in part to streaming services like Netflix. But what many people watching these shows may not realize is that the K-dramas they see on Netflix represent only a small portion of the diverse and rich Korean TV landscape.

Back in the 1990s, Korean media underwent a huge transformation, with the relaxation of censorship and the export of K-dramas and films to other parts of East Asia. This led to the Korean wave, also known as hallyu, which really took off with hits like Winter Sonata (2003) and Dae Jang Geum/Jewel in the Palace (2005).

When Netflix entered the scene in 2016, it started investing in Korean productions like Kingdom and Love Alarm. And then came the global smash hit Squid Game in 2021, watched by viewers in 190 countries.

Despite the success of K-dramas on Netflix, there’s still a lot of content that doesn’t make it to Western streaming platforms. This means that discussions about K-dramas are based on only a small subset of what’s actually out there. And since foreign viewers may interpret these shows through a Western lens, they might not fully grasp the cultural nuances and societal themes present in many K-dramas.

For example, the mix of genres in K-dramas can sometimes be misunderstood by foreign audiences who are used to clear-cut categories. And certain themes like women’s independence and systemic injustice in K-dramas didn’t come from Western influence, but rather reflect changes in Korean society over time.

Cultural specifics like Confucian values and Korean speech codes can also be challenging to translate for global audiences, leading to a loss of meaning or nuance in subtitles. This cultural flattening can sometimes shift viewers’ focus away from the distinctive aspects of Korean storytelling.

But despite these challenges, there are K-dramas that manage to resonate with global audiences on a deeper level. Series like Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) explore unique aspects of Korean culture while still being relatable and engaging to viewers around the world.

Many successful K-dramas also incorporate elements like zombies that have international appeal, helping to put Korean content on the map. So while there may be differences in how K-dramas are perceived globally, there’s still a lot to appreciate and enjoy in the diverse world of Korean TV.