How did Korean dramas go from a regional format to global streaming dominance?

The answer

Korean dramas' global rise began with the 'Korean Wave' (Hallyu) in the early 2000s, initially spreading through East and Southeast Asia. Netflix's aggressive investment in Korean content - spending over $2.5 billion on K-content from 2015 to 2023 - catalyzed worldwide expansion. Squid Game (2021) became Netflix's most-watched series ever, but the pipeline was already building: Kingdom (2019), Crash Landing on You (2019–2020), and All of Us Are Dead (2022) all reached global audiences. The appeal lies in K-dramas' distinctive narrative structure: limited series of 16–20 episodes with definitive endings, high production values, and emotional storytelling that blends romance, thriller, and social commentary. By 2023, South Korea was Netflix's fourth-largest content market. The success inspired other platforms - Disney+ and Apple TV+ both launched Korean original series, cementing K-drama as a permanent fixture of global entertainment.