Kdramas have become a global entertainment craze, with several Korean series breaking streaming records on Netflix. From intense survival thrillers to emotional romance dramas, these shows attracted millions of viewers worldwide and dominated global charts for weeks. Popular titles like Squid Game, The Glory, and Queen of Tears proved that Korean storytelling now has a massive international fanbase across every genre.
Here are the top 6 most-viewed Kdramas that became global hits on Netflix. The data is taken from the Netflix global chart.
1. Squid Game Season 1 (2021)
Squid Game became a global phenomenon and remains Netflix’s most-watched series with over 2.2 billion viewing hours. Its deadly survival games and intense storyline made Korean content hugely popular worldwide.
2. All Of Us Are Dead Season 1 (2022)
This zombie thriller earned around 679 million watch hours on Netflix. Its gripping school survival story, emotional scenes, and action-packed episodes made it a worldwide hit.
3. The Glory (2022)
Starring Song Hye-kyo, The Glory, which combines parts 1 and 2, gained nearly 622.8 million watch hours. The revenge drama connected with audiences globally for its powerful story about bullying and justice.
4. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
This heartwarming drama about an autistic lawyer collected around 662 million viewing hours. Viewers loved its emotional storytelling and inspiring characters, making it a surprise global success.
5. Queen of Tears (2024)
Featuring Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, Queen of Tears became a major hit with around 617 million watch hours. The romantic drama impressed fans with its emotional storyline and strong chemistry.
6. Business Proposal (2022)
Business Proposal became one of Netflix’s most-loved Korean rom-coms with around 279 million viewing hours. Its fun romance, comedy, and entertaining storyline made it popular in over 50 countries.
Which Kdramas Became First Hits In The world?
One of the first K-dramas to become a major worldwide hit was Winter Sonata in the early 2000s. It sparked the 'Hallyu' or Korean Wave across Asia, especially in Japan.
However, the K-drama widely credited for making Korean series globally mainstream on streaming platforms is Crash Landing on You. Released on Netflix in 2020 during lockdown, it gained huge international popularity during the pandemic and introduced many global viewers to K-dramas.
Later, Squid Game became the biggest worldwide breakthrough in 2021, turning into Netflix’s most-watched series ever and making K-content a global phenomenon.