Netflix celebrated its tenth anniversary in South Korea with "Netflix Janchi," a major two-day festival held at Seoul's Sangam Oil Tank Culture Park on October 24 and 25. The gathering brought together thousands of fans alongside prominent creative talent from across the platform's hit South Korean catalogue. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos joined high-profile actors on stage to reflect on the streamer's decade of expansion in the country while offering a preview of upcoming films and television series.
Star Appearances and Upcoming Project Teases
The event featured an array of marquee performers representing major titles. "Squid Game" was represented on stage by stars Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Park Hae-soo, while Ahn Hyo-seop appeared on behalf of "KPop Demon Hunters." Other notable talent in attendance included Koo Kyo-hwan and Jung Hae-in of "D.P.," Kim Hyun-joo of "Hellbound," Yum Hye-ran of "Mask Girl," and Lee Se-dol of "The Devil’s Plan."
Upcoming Netflix Korean Slate Announced at 10-Year Celebration
| Title | Release Date | Key Cast |
|---|---|---|
| Possible Love | Nov. 6 | Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong, Jo In-sung |
| Tantara | Dec. 11 | Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo, Kim Seol-hyun |
| Grand Galaxy Hotel | Undated | Lee Do-hyun, Shin Si-a |
| She, Wolf | Undated | Kim Min-ju, Lomon, Moon Sang-min |
| All of Us Are Dead (Season 2) | Undated | Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon |
| Solo Leveling | Undated | Byeon Woo-seok |
During the showcase, Sarandos highlighted several high-profile additions heading to the service. Lee Chang-dong’s Venice-winning feature "Possible Love"—starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong, and Jo In-sung—is scheduled to debut on November 6. That release will be followed on December 11 by "Tantara," featuring Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo, and Kim Seol-hyun. Netflix also previewed several projects currently without official premiere dates, including "Grand Galaxy Hotel" starring Lee Do-hyun and Shin Si-a; "She, Wolf" (formerly known under the working title "Beauty in the Beast") starring Kim Min-ju, Lomon, and Moon Sang-min; "Solo Leveling" featuring Byeon Woo-seok; and the second season of the survival drama "All of Us Are Dead," which features Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, and Lomon.
Decade-Long Trajectory and Viewership Milestones
Netflix first introduced its streaming service to South Korea on January 6, 2016. Its early original slate took shape with Bong Joon Ho’s international film "Okja," followed by its premiere South Korean original comedy special, "Yoo Byung Jae: Too Much Information," in March 2018. Scripted episodic programming commenced in January 2019 with the debut of "Kingdom." Global recognition accelerated when "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" became the platform's first South Korean title to enter the Global Top 10 chart upon its July 2021 launch, charting in 58 nations.
Since Netflix began tracking its Global Top 10 lists in June 2021, more than 200 South Korean titles have ranked among the most-watched content. All three seasons of "Squid Game" hold the record as the platform's three most-watched non-English series of all time, with Season 1 spending 32 consecutive weeks on the chart, including nine weeks in the top spot. The series "Teach You a Lesson" sits at No. 10 on that all-time non-English ranking, securing its spot as the second most-viewed Korean title after "Squid Game." According to the streamer, Korean productions generate more viewership than any other non-English language programming, with four out of five global subscribers watching Korean content and over 12 billion hours logged between April 2025 and March 2026.
Industry Investment and Cultural Reach
The company highlighted significant operational investments within the domestic market. From 2016 through 2025, Netflix engaged more than 80 South Korean production entities across projects that employed over 20,000 actors and crew members alongside 70,000 background and daily workers. Production locations extended beyond the Seoul capital region, with over half of filming taking place in cities including Busan, Jeonju, and Jeju. One production, "When Life Gives You Tangerines," engaged roughly 4,000 suppliers and a 600-person crew, contributing more than 90 billion won (approximately $60.4 million) to the local economy.
The streamer emphasized support for emerging talent, noting that first-time directors or writers helmed more than a third of its South Korean productions released between 2024 and 2026. This creative pipeline includes Park Yoon-seo, an assistant director on "Kingdom" Season 2 who made his directorial debut with the young adult horror series "If Wishes Could Kill," and lighting designer Baek Seung-min, who rose from second assistant on "Kingdom" to lead lighting for "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2.
Global Export and Economic Spinoffs
Beyond scripted dramas, South Korean unscripted programming has expanded worldwide. "Physical: 100" became the first non-English reality competition to reach the top spot on the Global Top 10, prompting local adaptations in Italy and Mexico, with further iterations in development for the United States, France, and Sweden. Platform distribution relies on 122 international localization vendors, including 119 dedicated dubbing studios.
Off-screen indicators also show the wider impact of Korean programming. Netflix reported that 72% of its Korean content viewers expressed interest in traveling to South Korea. Jeju welcomed roughly 2.24 million foreign tourists in 2025, a nine-year high that aligned with the release of "When Life Gives You Tangerines," while visits to Gimnyeong Beach rose about 96%. Culinary programming caused similar commercial spikes; chef Choi Hyun-seok's restaurant Choi saw sales jump 300% after Season 1 of "Culinary Class Wars," and Season 2 contestants saw reservations surge 303%. Academic and language interest also grew, as Duolingo experienced a 37% bump in U.S. Korean learners during the debut week of "Squid Game" Season 3, and TOPIK language test registrations exceeded 550,000 in September 2025.
Netflix continues to document its operational history via a dedicated Korean-language microsite detailing the personnel, filming destinations, and economic metrics of its inaugural decade, while preparing its next cycle of releases starting with "Possible Love" in November.
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Source: Variety
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