Netflix continues to solidify its position as a dominant player in the streaming industry with the emergence of a new K-drama that has quickly garnered attention on its charts. While the platform is well-regarded for its extensive library of licensed films and series, it has increasingly earned acclaim for its original content. Some standout titles include the nostalgic fantasy sci-fi series Stranger Things, the gripping anthology Monster, the romantic drama Bridgerton, and the acclaimed heist series Money Heist. Recently, the action-thriller The Night Agent also made waves, illustrating the platform’s diverse offerings.
K-dramas have especially thrived on Netflix, captivating audiences with unique storytelling and cultural depth. Notable successes include Sweet Home, Hellbound, and All of Us Are Dead, but none have reached the popularity of Squid Game. This survival thriller remains the most-watched Netflix original series, with its first season holding the top spot in global viewership among non-English series.
Karma Is Making Waves on Netflix
Debuting with a Strong Start
A new entry in the K-drama lineup, Karma, has taken the platform by storm shortly after its release. Featuring Squid Game actor Park Hae-soo in the lead role as Kim Beom-jun, the series dives into the life of a man entangled in chaos after witnessing a violent accident. Alongside Park, the cast includes familiar faces such as Kim Sung-kyun, Shin Min-a, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Kwang-soo, and Gong Seung-yeon, promising a gripping narrative filled with interconnected lives.
Park Hae-soo, renowned for his portrayal of Player 218 in Squid Game, brings significant star power to Karma. According to Netflix, during the week of March 31 to April 6, Karma recorded an impressive 3.6 million viewers, accumulating 19.3 million viewing hours—enough to secure the fifth spot on the global Top 10 chart for non-English shows, despite having just debuted on April 4. This remarkable achievement is reflective of its appeal across 37 countries, including South Korea, Japan, and several nations in South America and Africa.
Implications for Netflix’s Future Content Strategy
The success of Karma coincides with a broader trend of flourishing K-drama content on Netflix. Remarkably, the current chart features three other popular South Korean series: The Potato Lab at No. 8, Weak Hero: Class 1 at No. 4, and When Life Gives You Tangerines leading the chart at No. 1. If Karma maintains its strong traction, it could not only prompt a renewal for a second season but also encourage Netflix to invest further in K-drama productions, potentially reshaping its content landscape in the coming years.
For more information, visit Netflix’s Top 10.