Record User Growth for Netflix Korea Following K-Drama Success
Netflix Korea has achieved a remarkable milestone with its highest number of monthly active users in two years, thanks to the popular K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines. As reported by IGA Works, a prominent mobile data analytics firm, the platform reached an impressive 14,094,084 users in February 2025.
Financial News attributes this surge to the slice-of-life series featuring stars IU and Park Bo-gum, which has captivated audiences. This figure marks the highest user engagement for the streaming service since the release of the revenge drama The Glory in 2023, which had 14,012,131 users.
Audience Adoration for When Life Gives You Tangerines
The enchanting narrative set in 1950s Jeju has resonated beyond South Korea, garnering acclaim from viewers across Southeast Asia, South America, and Central America. Critics have praised the series for its gripping storyline and character development.
Fans took to social media to express their enthusiasm over the success of the show:
“Kdramas are paying their bills,”a fan said.
“Damn that’s incredible,”a fan stated.
“DRAMA OF THE YEAR!!!!!,”a user wrote.
Community Response to a Phenomenal Show
Despite not airing on traditional South Korean channels, the impact of When Life Gives You Tangerines has been significant. Fans reflected on its extraordinary performance:
“Hyekyo’s light passed on by jieun ALL MY GIRLS UPHOLDING THE INSTITUTION OF TELEVISION AND CINEMA UP ON THEIR SHOULDERS we love to see,”a fan wrote.
“Every time I look at the success of When Life Gives You Tangerines, it blows my mind that a slice of life drama could do that. It didn’t even air on typical broadcast channels but on OTT. Even with a semi binge format, it keeps doing well. We really witnessed a classic,”a fan commented.
“From here hopefully Netflix will understand that Korean slice-of-life enjoyers are this big and they want to invest more in this kind of genre,”a netizen mentioned.
Top Ranking and Success Metrics for When Life Gives You Tangerines
The series revolves around the love story of Ae-sun (IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) from the 1950s, portraying their enduring journey through life’s trials and triumphs. Aired in four weekly parts from March 7 to March 28, 2025, it consistently ranked in the Top 10 of Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English Shows.
Securing the No. 3 position on Netflix’s chart for most-watched non-English shows, When Life Gives You Tangerines has totaled 6 million views. It is featured in the Top 10 across 39 countries, including Brazil, Chile, and the Philippines. The series has also achieved a stellar 9.4/10 rating on IMDb, making it the highest-rated non-English show of 2025, alongside a 4.35/5 on Letterboxd and a viewer approval rate of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
All 16 episodes of When Life Gives You Tangerines are currently available for streaming on Netflix.