South Korean shows and films have been going head to head with Hollywood and in some cases, leaving them behind. Millions of people across the world have been swept away by Hallyu or Korean Wave, which refers to the popularity of the South Korean entertainment industry.
The industry has been churning out hitmakers for years and in the last couple of years, they have had immense success in the west. Once upon a time, the popularity of these shows and movies were restricted to Asian countries like Japan, Taiwan, China, and others. However, now, their success has taken them to South Asia to the Americas and to Europe.
And, there are several viewing platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, Rakuten Viki, Amazon Prime, and others where you can watch South Korean shows and films.
If you haven’t watched South Korean shows before, here are ten of the most popular TV shows and films from South Korea worth binge-watching:
1. Parasite
Oscar winning film Parasite is the most popular South Korean film, according to JustWatch. The film made history as it was the first non-English language film to take the top prize. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
2. Squid Game
Squid Game is the second most popular South Korean content, according to JustWatch. It made history as it was the first non-English show nominated for an Emmy for best drama series. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
3. Alchemy of Souls
Lee Jae-wook starring Alchemy of Souls is the third most popular content from South Korea, according to JustWatch. The fantasy show is about a powerful sorceress who encounters a man from a prestigious family, who wants her help to change his destiny. (Photo by Christopher Jue/Getty Images)
4. Hospital Playlist
Actor Cho Jung-seok starring Hospital Playlist is the fourth most popular South Korean content. It’s a story of five friends, who are doctors, and work in Seoul. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)