The Impact of Streaming Platforms on the Global K-Drama Boom

The global popularity of K-dramas has skyrocketed whether spectating as a local viewer or a fan in another country. K-dramas' overall high-quality methods for producing films and how the storylines were exciting and relatable to various audiences helped them to grow in popularity over the last decade.

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How has the global K-drama boom impacted various streaming platforms? Mainstream platforms like Netflix and Disney+ or even local streaming like Viki have helped K-dramas be more accessible to fans worldwide.

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Breaking Geographic Barriers

Before streaming became more popular, it was hard for fans to spectate K-dramas legally. Now that Netflix, Rakuten Viki, and iQIYI have reduced these geographic barriers, they have increased the accessibility of K-dramas for fans across the globe. Because of this accessibility, local fans in Korea are not the only spectators of popular K-dramas. New fans have been born throughout countries like North America, Europe, and Africa.     

The Rise of Netflix and the Globalization of K-Dramas

Out of all the streaming platforms that have contributed to increased accessibility and enhanced fandom behind K-dramas, Netflix has made the most impact. K-drama titles like "Kingdom", "Squid Game", and "The Glory" have widened their audience throughout different countries, proving that South Korean-style storytelling and film production quality can rival that of Hollywood titles.

Netflix's ability to market K-dramas to viewers within different countries has helped to increase viewership in regions where they once didn't have as high of popularity. The popular sitcoms have also started appealing to non-Korean-speaking audiences.

Increased Production Quality and Budgets

Since Netflix and other streaming giants have secured rights to stream popular K-dramas, the Korean production industry has seen increases in their production budgets to keep producing shows and films that continually captivate audiences in different regions. Increasing production budgets have contributed to higher-quality cinematography, better special effects, and more relatable and appealing storylines.

For example, "Squid Game" has become one of the most popular K-dramas in America. When "Squid Game - Season 2" of the show was released in December 2024, it soared to the third most-watched season of a television show on the Netflix platform.  

The Role of Social Media and Fandom Culture

Streaming platforms have continually utilized social media to discuss with fans about upcoming shows and film releases. Posting memes, fan theories, and discussions about recent episodes keeps K-drama fans engaged.

For instance, "Squid Game" skyrocketed in viewership primarily due to posts about the show going viral on social media as fans were hyped up about the "Squid Game - Season 2" premiere. Especially since it took three years from the season 1 release for "Squid Game - Season 2" to come out, the memes, fan theories, and episode discussions about season 1 kept fans hyped.

The Expansion of Korean Cultural Influence

The global spread of Korean culture is known as the Hallyu Wave, which means that K-drama fans eventually become enamored with other aspects of Korean culture. Whether it's popular dishes, on-trend fashion, or even traveling to the country, K-drama fans experiencing the Hallyu Wave felt more connected to the films and shows as they explored more about the culture. Even going as far as learning the language has helped K-drama fans whose first language isn't Korean to learn words and phrases to watch K-dramas without subtitles if they are not dubbed in their home language.