Most-Watched Series by Netflix Members Worldwide in the Second Half of 2024 (Image provided by Netflix)
SEOUL, Feb. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Korean content has maintained its position as the most-watched non-English programming on Netflix for two consecutive years, according to the company’s latest viewership report released on Thursday.
In the second half of 2024, Netflix recorded a total of approximately 94 billion viewing hours, reflecting a 5% increase from the same period in 2023. Korean productions, spanning dramas, films, and variety shows, continued to dominate global viewership rankings.
‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Tops Global Charts
Despite being released just six days before the end of 2024, Squid Game Season 2 amassed 87 million views, making it the most-watched series in the latter half of the year. View count is determined by dividing total watch time by runtime.
Other Korean productions also performed strongly. The Bequeathed garnered 40 million views, followed by Warrior (24 million), Cross (23 million), Mom’s Friend’s Son (20 million), and Black and White Chef: Culinary Class Warfare (17 million). The diversity of successful titles highlights the growing global appeal of Korean content across multiple genres.
Professor Lee Seong-min of Korea National Open University emphasized the significance of Netflix’s biannual reports, stating, “These reports provide transparent, data-driven insights into the global success of Korean content and validate continued investment in the industry.”
“Squid Game” Season 2 (Image courtesy of Netflix)
Strategic Licensing and Global Expansion
Despite the success of Korean productions, Netflix’s proprietary intellectual property (IP) among Korean content remained below 15%, the same as in the previous reporting period. The company attributes this to its flexible licensing agreements with domestic partners, allowing for a broader selection of Korean titles to be showcased worldwide.
Beyond Korea, non-English content from Japan, France, Colombia, and Brazil accounted for one-third of total Netflix viewership, underscoring the platform’s commitment to promoting local creators in global markets.
A Netflix spokesperson stated, “By continuously exploring new genres and storytelling formats, we will work closely with our partners to further enhance the competitiveness and global reach of K-content.”
As Netflix continues to prioritize non-English programming, Korea remains a crucial hub for original productions, driving global engagement with its diverse and innovative storytelling.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
