Here’s a list of Korean titles that made it to the top list of most popular or most watched TV shows on Netflix in the world during New Year’s Day in 2022:
1. The Silent Sea (2021)
Points: 390
No. of countries: 73
Synopsis: During a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, space explorers try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.
Based on: “The Sea of Tranquility” film in 2014 created by Choi Hang-yong
Genre: Sci-fi, thriller, mystery
No. of episodes: 8
Starring: Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, Lee Joon, Kim Sun-young, and Lee Sung-wook
Written by: Park Eun-kyo
Directed by: Choi Hang-yong
Date released: December 24, 2021
2. Squid Game (2021)
Points: 144
No. of countries: 35
Synopsis: Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.
Genre: Survival Drama, Thriller, Fiction
No of episodes: 9
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, and Kim Joo-ryoung
Written and directed by: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Date: September 17, 2021
Network: Netflix
3. Our Beloved Summer (2021-2022)
Points: 64
No. of countries: 11
Synopsis: Years after filming a viral documentary in high school, two former lovers get pulled back in front of the camera and into each other’s lives.
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Choi Woo-shik, Kim Da-mi, Kim Sung-cheol, Roh Jeong-eui
Written by: Lee Na-eun
Directed by: Kim Yoon-jin
Date: December 6, 2021 – present
Network: SBS, Netflix
4. The Devil Judge (2021)
Points: 32
No. of countries: 7
Synopsis: In a dystopian version of South Korea, the government plans out a trial judge live show where all citizens are eligible to participate and judge. A heartless head trial judge, Kang Yo-han, is appointed to a chief judge.
Genre: Mystery, Legal drama
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Ji Sung, Kim Min-jung, Park Jin-young, Park Gyu-young
Written by: Moon Yoo-seok
Directed by: Choi Jung-gyu
Date: July 3 to August 22, 2021
Network: TVN, iQIY
5. The King’s Affection (2021)
Points: 26
No. of countries: 8
Synopsis: During the Joseon Dynasty, the Crown Princess Consort gives birth to twins but sends the girl away to spare her life. Years later, the twin son dies in an accident and his sister must assume his identity and throne, all while hiding her true self.
Based on: Yeonmo by Lee So-young
Genre: Romantic-comedy, Fiction, Sageuk
No. of episodes: 20
Starring: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyung, and Jung Chae-yeon
Written by: Han Hee-jung
Directed by: Song Hyun-wook
Date: October 11 – December 14, 2021
Network: KBS2 and Netflix
6. Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (2021-2022)
Points: 14
No. of countries: 4
Synopsis: The story of a woman who repeats death and reincarnation as a person for 600 years and remembers her past lives, and a man who cannot die because he has been an immortal for 600 years.
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Thriller, Supernatural
No. of episodes: 16
Starring: Lee Jin-wook, Kwon Nara, Lee Joon, Gong Seung-yeon, Jung Jin-young, Park Myung-shin, Kim Woo-seok
Written by: Kwon So-ra, Seo Jae-won
Directed by: Jang Young-woo
Date: December 18, 2021 – present
7. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Points: 12
No. of countries: 3
Synopsis: At a crossroads, a dentist moves to a seaside village where she meets a handyman intent on helping his neighbours.
Based on: 2014 Mr. Hong film by Kang Seok-beom and Shin Jung-goo
Genre: Romantic comedy, Slice of life
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho and Lee Sang-yi
Written by: Shin Ha-eun
Directed by: Yu Je-won
Date: August 28 – October 17, 2021
Network: TVN and Netflix
8. Crash Landing On You (2019-2020)
Points: 6
No. of countries: 1
Synopsis: A paragliding mishap drops a South Korean heiress in North Korea – and into the life of an army officer, who decides he will help her hide.
Genre: Romantic comedy
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Kim Jung-hyun, Seo Ji-hye
Written by: Park Ji-eun
Directed by: Lee Jung-hyo
Date: December 14, 2019 – February 16, 2020
Network: TVN and Netflix
9. The Penthouse (2020-2021)
Points: 4
No. of countries: 2
Synopsis: A woman attempts to enter high society by becoming the “queen” of a luxury 100th floor penthouse apartment in Gangnam.
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Revenge, Suspense, Mystery, Crime film
No of episodes: 14
Starring: Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, Eugene, Um Ki-joon, Yoon Jong-hoon, and Park Eun-seok
Written by: Kim Soon-ok
Directed by: Joo Dong-min
Date: June 4 – September 10, 2021
Network: SBS and iQIYI
10. Reply 1988 (2015-2016)
Points: 3
No. of countries: 1
Synopsis: Follows the lives of 5 families living on the same street in a neighbourhood called Ssangmundong in Seoul. A nostalgic look back at the year 1988.
Genre: Romantic comedy, Family
No of episodes: 20
Starring: Lee Hye-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Go Kyung-pyo, Park Bo-gum, Lee Dong-hwi
Written by: Lee Woo-jung
Directed by: Shin Won-ho
Date: November 6, 2015 – January 16, 2016
Network: TVN
11. Goblin (2016)
Points: 3
No. of countries: 1
Synopsis: Kim Shin, an immortal goblin, goes to find a human bride to remove an invisible sword from his chest and end his life. One day, school student Ji Eun-Tak confesses to him that she is the chosen one.
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama, Comedy
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae
Written by: Kim Eun-sook
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok, Kwon Hyuk-chan, Yoon Jong-ho
Date: December 2, 2016 – January 21, 2017
Network: TVN
12. Itaewon Class (2020)
Points: 2
No. of countries: 1
Synopsis: An ex-con and his friends fight to make their ambitious dreams for their street bar a reality.
Based on: Itaewon Class by Gwang Jin
Genre: Drama
No of episodes: 16
Starring: Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung, Kwon Nara
Written by: Gwang Jin
Directed by: Kim Sung-yoon
Date: January 31 – March 21, 2020
Network: JTBC, Netflix
13. Vincenzo (2021)
Points: 1
No. of countries: 1
Synopsis: During a visit to his motherland, a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer gives a conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice.
Genre: Dark comedy, Crime, Drama
No of episodes: 20
Starring: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Taec-yeon, Kim Yeo-jin and Kwak Dong-yeon
Written by: Park Jae-bum
Directed by: Kim Hee-won
Date: February 20 – May 2, 2021
Network: TVN and Netflix
Source: Flix Patrol
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