New Korean shows afoot

The popularity of Korean dramas has long been present, but streaming platforms have helped bring them to the world. 

Netflix, for example, cites Korean content as its second-most watched titles — accounting for nearly 10 percent of total viewing hours. It ranks second to Hollywood productions and one position ahead of the United Kingdom and Japanese shows. 

According to global media analytics firm Ampere, 85 out of Netflix’s top 500 most-watched non-American programs and films — or 17 percent — are Korean. Some of the major Korean hits are Squid Game season two, which racked up over 619 million streaming hours in the second half of 2023, the romantic K-drama Love Next Door and the viral cooking reality show Culinary Class Wars.

When the megahit Crash Landing on You debuted on the platform, it was evident how popular K-dramas were. In 2024, the program continued to rank among the top 10 K-dramas in terms of viewership. In just the first half of the year, it accumulated 131.2 million viewing hours, which equates to more than five million unique viewers. 

When it comes to K-dramas, there are plenty of titles to choose from on Netflix. Here are some of the upcoming must-watch titles on the platform.

‘All of Us Are Dead’ season two

The dead are alive as the second season of All of Us Are Dead is officially underway. 

The Korean YA zombie series, which became a global breakout in 2022, is based on the legendary webtoon by Joo Dong Geun. After surviving the catastrophic zombie outbreak at Hyosan High, Nam On Jo (Park Ji Hu) is now a university student in Seoul, struggling to move on from the trauma and the friends she lost. But when a new wave of infection hits Seoul, she finds herself trapped in another deadly fight for survival, just this time without the people she once depended on.

Lee Cheong San (Yoon Chan Young), Choi Nam Ra (Cho Yi Hyun) and Lee Su Hyeok (Lomon) are now navigating their lives years after the outbreak as On-jo forms friendships with her university seniors Yong Ma Ru (Lee Min Jae), So Ju Ran (Kim Si Eun) and Lee Jong-a (Yoon Ga-i). Han Du Seok (Roh Jae Won) brings tension to the story as a team leader within the National Intelligence Service.

The first season was an international success, ranking among Netflix’s Top 10 most-watched non-English series of all time after charting in the Top 10 in over 90 countries.

All of Us Are Dead season two will be directed by Lee JQ (Daily Dose of Sunshine) and Kim Nam Su, with the script by returning writer Chun Sung-il (King the Land).

‘Variety’

Netflix confirmed the production of the new Korean series Variety starring Son Ye Jin and Jo Yu Ri.

Directed and written by Kim Yong Hoon (Mask Girl, Beasts Clawing at Straws), Variety is set to explore the fierce desires and ambitions of people within the glamorous world of K-pop.

Son Ye Jin (Crash Landing on You) takes on the role of Se Eun, a powerful entertainment executive in South Korea. She is ambitious, glamorous, and exceptionally skilled at her job. Determined to make tough decisions and risk everything for the revival of the idol group she personally created, she navigates overwhelming emotions in many unexpected situations.

Jo Yu Ri, fresh off her stirring performance in Squid Game seasons two and three portrays Seung Hui, an obsessive fan who will do whatever it takes to meet her favorite idol. 

With a stellar cast and a gripping storyline, Variety is set to capture more viewers worldwide.