WhileK-dramashave been transferring overseas to the United States for years, they have recently been a growing trend on Netflix. In February of this year, they announced that 29 K-dramas andKorean-language filmswould be released on the platform in 2025. This represented a major strategy change for the streamer, leaning into non-English-language content after several titles (both Korean and non-Korean) had taken off over the past few years. As such,Netflix has become one of the major distributors of K-drama content.
Some K-dramas have been extremely successful for Netflix. Most notably, this includesSquid Game, which has set multiple records on the platform throughout its two-season run.Squid Gameseason 3is one of the K-dramas being released this year. The platform has also seen success with recent titles such asWhen Life Gives You Tangerines. Now,another one of Netflix’s newer K-dramas has found success on the platform.
Friendly Rivalry Is A Global Hit
The Series Was Recently Released On Netflix
Friendly Rivalryhas now become a Netflix streaming hit. The teen drama series is a mystery thriller that focuses on how a group of teenage girls bond when they have to navigate the intense pressure and competition at their elite school. The series isbased on the webtoonby Song Chae-yoon and Shim Jae-young, and was written for the screen by Min Ye-ji.Friendly Rivalryfeatures a leading cast including Lee Hyeri, Chung Su-Bin, Kang Hye-won, Oh Woo-ri, Kim Tae-hoon, and Chae Seo-Eun.
Now,Friendly Rivalryhas become aNetflixglobal hit. The series was in the Netflixglobal top 10 for non-English-language TV shows last week, taking the no. 9 spot. This milestone comes afterFriendly Rivalrywas added to the platform on April 7, just a few days before this data collection period ended. In that time,the show amassed 1.1 million views. It was in the top 10 in 7 countries, including Nigeria, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
What This Means For Netflix
Netflix’s K-Dramas Are Doing Well
Looking at the top 10 non-Enlish-language TV shows overall, there are multiple Korean-language titles in the mix. In addition toFriendly Rivalry, this includesKarma,When Life Gives You Tangerines(making the top 10 for a sixth week),Kian’s Bizarre B&Bseason 1,Weak Hero Class 1, andResident Playbook. This trend is great news for Netflix’s 2025 plans, as the streamer is leaning in on theirK-dramatitles. IfFriendly Rivalryand other K-drama shows continue to succeed,Netflix will likely lean into producing Korean content even more.
