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Korean shows today are more popular than ever, not just in South Korea but around the world. Whether it's a drama series or a variety program, global viewers are hooked on Korean entertainment. But there’s a big question behind the scenes—what matters more today: how many people watch on Korean TV or how many stream it on Netflix?
You may not have realized it yet, but the way we watch shows is changing fast. The same goes for how we measure success. Some Korean dramas do really well on TV in Korea, while others become huge hits on Netflix, even if they weren’t as popular at home. So, which one is more important now? Are TV ratings still the gold standard, or are streaming numbers the new key to success? Continue reading to know what matters more to Korean producers nowadays.
Korean Shows With Low TV Ratings But Big Wins on Netflix
Of the many Korean content releases in recent years, some did not earn excellent ratings in their home country. On the bright side, they were well received overseas, thanks to streaming platforms. Let's see a few examples below.
"Our Beloved Summer" (2021–2022)
SBS drama series “Our Beloved Summer,” featuring actors Kim DaMi and Choi WooShik. Its average TV rating was between 3% and 4% during its run from December 2021 to January 2022. Although it didn't receive much attention in Korea, the show achieved widespread international popularity through Netflix. It entered the platform’s list of Top 10 TV Shows for Jan. 19, 2022. It ranked No. 9 at the time.
Most fans felt that “Our Beloved Summer” was a touching story full of real emotions, great chemistry between the leads, and a lovely soundtrack. On Reddit, one commented, “Yes, I loved watching this show!! [It has] great chemistry between the leads, stellar OSTs, and brilliant acting. [It is an] emotional, comfort drama that somehow made me feel like I was growing, too, along with the characters.”
I watched the drama myself, and I have to say, it really stuck with me. The way the characters grew and healed felt very real, and the chemistry between Kim DaMi and Choi WooShik made their story easy to believe.
Even though it moves at a gentle pace, I found it comforting and refreshing, like spending time with old friends. It might not be for everyone, especially if you like fast action, but for me, it was a nice break from the usual drama rush.
Korean Variety Show “Beat Coin” (2023)
Another notable example is KBS’s variety show “Beat Coin.” When it first aired on TV, not many people watched it. Its viewership ratings were only around 1%. But it became a big hit after a new version was released on the streaming platform Wavve. It stayed at the top of KBS’s non-drama shows for 28 weeks straight, from May to November 2023. The rebooted program also hit No. 1 on Netflix Korea’s Top 10 series list just two days after it came out.
In the Reddit community r/koreanvariety, some fans talked about “Beat Coin.” One fan wrote in the comments, “I love this show with my whole heart. Every week is absolutely hilarious. Each episode is so fresh, and the concepts are so fun. Even if there weren’t any planned games or events, I would be completely satisfied with just banter between the members.”
“Spring of Youth” (2025)
Even Korean shows this year are showing signs of low traction in their home country. That includes “Spring of Youth.”
Since it premiered on May 6, “Spring of Youth” has not gotten many viewers in its home country. According to viewership data from Nielsen Korea, the K-Drama started with a modest 1.4% rating. Its most recent episode, aired on June 4, recorded only 0.8% in viewership.
On the contrary, the drama was a big hit outside Korea. According to FlixPatrol, an OTT ranking aggregator, “Spring of Youth” ranked No. 5 in the TV Show category on the global OTT platform Rakuten Viki in the United States on May 12. It's rare for an Asian content to rank high in the U.S., so this is a big achievement for a Korean series.
“Spring of Youth” also gained strong attention from Indonesian viewers. It stayed in Netflix Indonesia’s Top 10 TV Shows from May 8 to 12. On top of that, it reached 2nd place on Vidio, the country’s top streaming platform.
After the first episode aired, international viewers responded with lots of excitement. Many took to X to give positive reviews of the series.
“Tastefully Yours” (2025)
"Tastefully Yours" is also one of the Korean shows released this year to experience strikingly different viewership numbers on television and streaming platforms.
As of May 28, the ongoing romantic comedy starring Go MinSi and Kang HaNeul has climbed to No. 2 on Netflix's global Top 10 non-English TV series. It even claimed No. 4 on the platform's Korea rankings for the top 10 most-watched series.
While it's doing well on streaming platforms, the series is struggling to attract viewers on linear television. Its highest TV rating to date is 3.4% for its May 26 broadcast. At that time, it was behind dramas like “Heavenly Ever After” and “The Haunted Palace.” These two earn 8 to 10% in ratings on average. Its latest episode, aired on June 3, gained an average nationwide viewership rating of 3%.
I’ve been watching “Tastefully Yours,” and I really enjoy it. The main couple has great chemistry, and the story feels warm and fun. It’s doing well on Netflix, and I can see why. It’s a bit surprising that the TV ratings are low, because I think a lot of people would like it if they gave it a chance. But then again, maybe the story is more relatable to streaming audiences than TV viewers.
Why Some Korean Shows Gain Popularity on Streaming Platforms But Not on TV
According to The Korea Herald, the gap between success on TV and streaming mostly comes from the different types of people watching each one.
Older people usually stick to regular TV, while younger viewers are turning to streaming more and more. That gap becomes even clearer when a show clicks with young audiences around the world. This is something Netflix is especially good at.
Pixabay
I’ve noticed this myself. Some of the Korean shows I like have low TV ratings in South Korea, but they’re really popular online. It shows that people today often prefer watching on streaming platforms instead of regular TV. It also suggests that these shows connect more with younger viewers, like me, than older ones.