Ahahaha, this is so funny and kinda adorbs as well, that a K-drama from TWO DECADES ago is still the favorite of one country and it’s not even the country where it’s from! This week a new K-ent poll was released conducted globally asking viewers from countries around the world their favorite Korean stuff. On the list was of course K-dramas and every single country polled had Squid Game as its favorite K-drama and by a huge margin over the second place vote getter, other than Japan. In the land of the rising sun, the OG grandfather of Hallyu dramas Winter Sonata is still the fave and considering it aired twenty years ago is quite a feat. I can’t decide if its because WS truly has that longevity or simply J-viewers have a hard time moving on from it.
Squid Game is expected but I’m more pleasantly surprised to see Love Alarm in second place for France, Brazil and Argentina. Clearly the drama has a huge fan base and popularity and is a leading face of Hallyu kdrama. Very impressive considering the entire cast except KSH were rookies. No wonder both KSH and SK have such a massive following on Instagram. Hallyu stars of the new gen.
LA may have polarizing views but its actually one of the most popular Korean dramas in history and a simple search on twitter will show you the insane number of comments it gets even today. Its the BOF of the Netflix generation viewers and when S1 came out had massive coverage in South America. I was surprised to see how popular it is in France but I remember seeing an article which mentioned that LFG had done well there too so it probably has something to do with the KSH effect. She doesn’t get enough credit because her agencies give her zero media play and she’s basically a social recluse who does bare minimum public activities but KSH is extremely popular all over the world and her projects are highly anticipated by the international Korean drama fans. She has a good track record and tends to pick varied roles which open her up to different kinds of fans. Many celebs and stylists from different countries follow her online too.
Exactly. Heck, she reached 12.7 million IG followers just yesterday… And that’s without a currently airing drama! Also, I think Love Alarm was well-liked until season 2, then everyone started bitching about how it’s “tHe WoRsT dRaMa EvEr”, as if they didn’t enjoy the first season 🙄
Please, it only became popular to bash it because the female lead didn’t end up with who they want her to end up with. I remember during the airing of the first season, everyone and their mother was raving about it on my social media feeds.
So yes, bash it all you want, but it’s undeniable that it made KSH (and SK) hella popular internationally. I also feel like people are not giving it enough credit as one of the early contributors to KDramas’ popularity in this streaming era
@Clownery To be fair LA2 was pretty badly written and directed and wasted the potential of a good complex story that they had laid out in S1 so the disappointment isn’t unwarranted but I agree the hate for choosing the “wrong guy” was excessive and stupid but only goes to show how obsessed people were with the drama and thus proves its massive popularity.
Winter Sonata is a classic but I’ve never seen it so don’t get the hype per se. Melodramas tend to be super exhausting to watch even when done well. Squid Game is no surprise since it was a literal syndrome. Surprised to see Love Alarm and Vincenzo appear more often in this list instead of CLOY. Both dramas were popular but didn’t realise it was to this extent.
“Surprised to see Love Alarm and Vincenzo appear more often in this list instead of CLOY”.
CLOY wasn’t that much of a global hit according to Netflix’s own internal data. It only did well in Asia, so the exclusion makes sense. I was surprised when I read this too. (source: New Yorker interview, Jan 2023).
Its because the tracking didn’t start under after CLOYs run ended. CLOY kind of started it all (on Netflix anyway)…
@flowerpot – The New Yorker interview referenced Netflix’s *internal data* accessible to employees, and you’re talking about available public tracking, which are proxy metrics are best. Netflix has always tracked everything on their platform.
Agree I’m surprised too see no CLOY. It felt like the biggest thing to happen in 2020 on Netflix that year. Vincenzo, LA, Secret Forest making the list for so many countries is interesting and I’m glad to see the genre mix. I’m not surprised about WS and Japan because half the time it feels like J-doramas are still in the 90s-2000s era so clearly that aesthetic appeals to them the most. SG was too violent and explicit for my taste and not what I associate K-drama with but it was definitely a breakthrough for making them more mainstream globally. SG and Parasite are kind of the representative of Korean content these days along with BTS and Blackpink.
WS has a chokehold over Japan. BYJ can give any 20 something star a run for his money in Japan even today. At least SG made it to second position which might have more to do with its viral marketing after the drama blew up in the US rather than actual popularity. The other countries are interesting because it doesn’t seem like they have a single particular type that they gravitate towards. You have romance drama like LA, family healing drama like R88, thriller SF and noir comedy Vincenzo and even some oldies like DOTS and FH.
Winter sonata has such a strong hold on Japan. Japanese definitely are sincere and loyal to YonSama and Jiwoo-hime.
Winter Sonata was a classic and deserves the praises. I’d say its my #1 too. Its like comparing a Studio Ghibli classic to current animated films.
Every industry need that one big bang event.. All tho Winter Sonata was popular in Japan exclusively it didn’t cause the great big bang of Hallyu wave but quite surprising it came from ”A Japanese Manga adaption” in Boys over flowers..
The Director of Boys over flowers who recently passed way (RIP) did a great job but he himself couldn’t have imagined how big this thing would explode. It happened unexpectingly even from the production team of Boys over flowers they couldn’t have imagined that kind of reception in a million years and I believe most of them to this day will ask themselves but how and what happened.. Lets be frank BOF is not gonna win the awards of awards but it was basically a Soap-opera designed for a specific young group of people in that specific generation 2005-2010 but it outdid itself and went viral globally which was the first K-content that has gone viral and at a revolutionary rate.
This actully lead to Dramafever opening their doors because they saw how much BOF was being pirated followed by Viki and Hulu who jump into the BOF fever and after Dramafever K-content and Hallyu grew from day to day to an exceptional rate where they occupy mostly no.1 on Netflix on regular basis.
It also helps that South Korea truly has amazing producers, filming crews, edittors and directors. SK takes serious the educational side of things which is why they are masters of creating an entertainment piece in motion pictures at such elite level. Alot of people credit actors but that is not the case but South Korea’s powers lays solely with the group of people behind the camera as they are exceptionally gifted.
But all in all look back 14 years now from Boys over flowers day and who would have thought that the sky is the limit but again all credit lays with the production teams
It might also be that the Hallyu wave is not as strong in Japan anymore so recent dramas are just not capturing a lot of the public. Japan is not unlike France in terms of their preference for local cultural projects.
I’m french and when i began to watch Kdramas more than 15 years ago , they were unknown in my country . I was like an alien . With Netflix and Squid Game they begin to anknowledge South Korean’s dramas . But in terms of popularity it’s not all that . National networks don’t buy korean dramas for example . The national network’s productions are really popular and get ratings that MBC, KBS,… don’t even dream anymore . HPI with Audrey Fleurot achieves ratings of 40% , Capitaine Marleau (Corinne Masiero) 25 / 30 % , Bathazar ( Tomer sisley) 23 % and the leads are actresses in their Late 40’s and 50’s . The same goes for music , kpop is not dominant at all, youngers listen french urban rap ( Orelsan) or pop as Julien Doré,Clara Luciani, …and the olders stick with legendaries singers as Mylène Farmer,… they aren’t found of powerful voices as in Korea .
Here we go again with this proud and delusional KSH fans. She is no longer relevant, in demand and influential (thanks to her floppy agency). She is stucked in romance-theme projects. PDs and writers do not see her as bankable female lead anymore.
If she’s no longer relevant then why does she have two dramas lined up for her and THE Studio Dragon financing her projects. Also Useless Lies is a mystery thriller just as much as it is romance. People try too hard to pull down KSH but this list itself shows that even after 4 years since it first aired Love Alarm has more influence than any drama or movie of her peers. JJH hasn’t had a drama in 2 years, doesn’t appear in magazines nor does fan sign events or show up at a single award ceremony and has lost at least a dozen CFs to younger stars does that mean JJH is irrelevant? No because classics never go out of fashion and both KSH and JJH prefer to stay out of the public eye. SYJ and KTH, you never see them at public events and KTH hasn’t been in a magazine for over 6 years and they both have bare minimum CFs. KTH in her entire filmography barely has 7-8 drama in over 20 years. Does that mean she’s not in demand or bankable? PSH hasn’t had a drama in 2 years, has only done romance dramas her whole career and is 90% of the time second billed to her male leads does that mean she isn’t relevant or a hallyu star? Taking career breaks is normal and long breaks don’t make people less in demand. KWB even after recovering from Cancer barely has any projects to his name and is basically invisible on public and social platforms. Does it mean he is irrelevant?
Just trying to decipher all the acronyms lol
KSH = Kim So Hyun?
JJH = Jun Ji Hyun?
PSH = Park Shin Hye?
KTH = Kim Tae Hee?
No clue who SYJ and KWB are
@feedwee
Yup, you got them all right.
SYJ = Son Ye Jin
KWB = Kim Woo Bin
How are the fans being delusional? At least we bring numbers and data unlike haters like you who just spout “hurr durr dElUsiOnAl FaNs 😤” with no real arguments.
Also, her next project Useless Lies is literally a mystery drama. If anything, she has the most varied filmography out of her peers. She has done a family drama, fantasy drama, fantasy-horror-comedy drama, historical drama, etc. You make it sound like her filmography is only Love Alarm and Radio Romance lmao.
She’s a young actress, and like it or not, the dramas that young actresses get offered have romance elements to it. Even critically acclaimed actresses Kim Tae Ri and Park Eun Bin can’t escape dramas with romance elements. That’s the reality for young actresses (and actors) lol.
You all read KSH’s name in the most harmless comments and it never fails to trigger something in you all. I will never understand it lol. Let her fans discuss her in peace FFS, they’re not even dragging other actresses unlike you haters who like dragging her name in unrelated articles 🙄
How are the fans being delusional? At least we bring numbers and data unlike haters like you who just spout “hurr durr dElUsiOnAl FaNs 😤” with no real arguments.
Also, her next project Useless Lies is literally a mystery drama. If anything, she has the most varied filmography out of her peers. She has done a family drama, fantasy drama, fantasy-horror-comedy drama, historical drama, etc. She also started in female-centric dramas like River Where The Moon Rises and carried them in her delicate shoulders.
You make it sound like her filmography is only Love Alarm and Radio Romance lmao.
She’s a young actress, and like it or not, the dramas that young actresses get offered have romance elements to it. Even critically acclaimed actresses Kim Tae Ri and Park Eun Bin can’t escape dramas with romance elements. That’s the reality for young actresses (and actors) lol.
You all read KSH’s name in the most harmless comments and it never fails to trigger something in you all. I will never understand it lol. Let her fans discuss her in peace FFS, they’re not even dragging other actresses unlike you haters who like dragging her name in unrelated articles 🙄
First fix your English Ms illiterate. There is no such thing as stucked. It’s not even a word. Embarrassing for your bias to have an uneducated fan like you. The fact that you even tried to write gibberish in what you think is English shows your levels of jealousy since your bias didn’t make this list.
@parita if you are educate, first respect the people who are from others countries and don’t know how to write perfectly english . I’m one of them and i write comments since years in this blog . My words don’t always convey what i feel but as a great fan of kdramas i’d like to thank Ms Koala who let illiterates like me express themselves . Not defending the comment as i don’t care about this list !
@andreas wait what? am i missing something? what makes you say ksh fans are being delusional? everything they said is true. this article is literally about the most popular dramas in different countries and love alarm is clearly very popular as you can see from the ranking. it’s not like they’re just pulling data out of their asses, there’s even a screenshot of the ranking in this article! it’s also true that she has millions of instagram followers that keep on increasing despite not having a drama airing right now. it’s also true other celebs from other countries are following her on instagram. even some actors from my country follow her. that indonesian sports player just recently followed her and even mentioned her on his instagram story. also true that she’s a hallyu star, same with song kang.
so i’m confused, what part of their comments are delusional and not true?
as far as i know ksh has dabbled in a wide variety of genres too, so it’s totally not true that she’s stuck in romance dramas. usually, people who say this only know her for love alarm or school 2015. or maybe you’re just saying this because you’re a fan of certain someone…
@Andreas You’re just mad your fave can’t carry a drama on her own. Lmao and true enough, your fave’s next drama is co-starring a super buzzy actor… We all know why she’s paired with him. Like the useless parasite she is, she’ll benefit from his popularity again 😂
Meanwhile KSH can be paired with the most unknown actor and the drama will generate buzz because of her name alone 😎
You’re salty because your fave’s drama didn’t enter any of the list above 😂 Cry more 😘
Stay delusional. My fave is in the top 10 of Forbes Korea 30 under 30 despite having lower IG following that your fave. Meanwhile, your fave cannot even break the top 20.
@andreas Yes stay delusional because that list was fan voted and has ZERO legitimacy while KSH is legitimately the youngest Baeksang nominated Best Actress in history. You’ll never be able to beat that because your bus can’t act to save her life.
Make your research girl. It was not fan voted. There are criteria that they follow. And it is Forbes. How dare you say that it has no credibility?
@andreas You do your research. An official Forbes list is released on their website not Twitter and gets proper articles. You are reaching at straws here since you know your bias is worthless without inflated fan voted data. Stay pressed as an unemployed key board warrior that people pity your whole life. You amount to nothing. Delusional freak.
well, that makes sense since the other countries surveyed are mostly out “West” where K-drama consumption probably began during the Netflix era, whereas Japan has had K-drama since…. Winter Sonata. If they added survey from other Asian countries (China, HK, Taiwan, SEA), pretty sure Squid Game will not be top – it would probably be Vincenzo, Itaewon Class or CLOY
As someone who’s already watched Kdrama for more than 20 years, I’d say it’s because it just becomes popular in recent years that’s all. Anyone who’s like me will think this list is hilarious. I’d put Dae Jang-geum, Jumong, or even All About Eve as all time favourite. Because those are the one that I watched first and liked. If I have to compare it to Cdramas, that’s like people who just liking what’s popular and trendy like The Untamed, but never bother to dig deeper to watch old classics like Ming Dynasty 1566, Zhenhuan Zhuan, or Langya Bang. Such a shame actually because for me Kdramas in recent years have lost their former charms to appeal to more wider audience.
Why is this list hilarious? It’s not a “best korean dramas” list, it’s “favorite dramas list”. And if you didn’t know yet, this sort of list is subjective because people have different taste. Stop feeling like you’re superior just because you have a different taste. Liking older dramas doesn’t make you superior lmao
I tried to get my friends who got into Kdrama during the pandemic era to watch the older classics which I personally love but they hated it. Couldn’t watch past the first episode for anything pre 2015. I think the aesthetic of Kdrama in recent years is the reason for its increase popularity and the older melodramas and non woke dramas in general don’t appeal to people anymore. Trendy dramas work because they stick to the new age sentimentality which older dramas for obvious reasons no longer have. I think this list is a good representation of what the current social attitudes are.
Some of the dramas listed by Jessica are historical which does not have to stick to super shiny aesthetics and wokeness but you’re right nowadays people don’t have the patience to watch those.
I thought they would be dae jang geum on the list
I am one of those rare people who hated Squid G. I dropped it like a hot potato. I applaud Japan on their good taste.