[icon name=”pen-nib” prefix=”fas”] Yueh-Chia Lo [icon name=”calendar” prefix=”fas”] November 2021 [icon name=”clock” prefix=”fas”] Long read
START
K-Drama : Short for ‘Korean Drama’. Television series produced in the Korean language, from South Korea.
Have you just finished watching ‘Squid Game’ and are intrigued at what other K-Drama is out there? But you don’t know where to start? Or are you someone who’s looking to level up their K-Drama game?
As someone who has been watching K-Drama for nearly nine years now, I have seen first-hand how the combination of technology and streaming services has led to improved global accessibility to K-Drama. As the ‘Hallyu’ wave creeps across the world, information for UK viewers often feels sparse in comparison to the USA or South East Asia.
So, how do you watch K-Drama in the UK?
I have compiled a comprehensive guide drawing from experience to answer just that. Whether you are a beginner, casual viewer, or a ‘connoisseur’ in the world of K-Drama, there is something for everyone.
Before we begin: As a non-Korean speaking person living in the UK, recommendations are focused on UK available solutions with a global range of subtitles. However, this does not mean it may not be available where you are! K-Drama is not usually dubbed, so options are likely to not include this. Throughout the guide, I include multiple links to shows and platforms. As a disclaimer a) not sponsored and b) don’t worry, I haven’t watched them all – even I have my limits. 😉
Shall we?
(To navigate this guide, use the contents.)
LEVEL 1 – NETFLIX
FOR THE BEGINNER/CASUAL VIEWER
Since Netflix launched in South Korea five years ago, the number of Korean titles available worldwide has grown steadily. With many worldwide subscribers, Netflix can be attributed to the growing popularity of not just Korean content, but non-English, global content (‘Money Heist’, ‘Squid Game’ etc.)
This makes Netflix the perfect place for a beginner or casual viewer to start.
During the past five years, Netflix has also released a number of ‘original’ shows. It is one of many streaming services jostling for position for a slice of K-Drama money commerciality, domestically and globally. To help differentiate the types of dramas on Netflix (and consequently on other streaming services), I put them into three categories:
The Netflix ‘originals’
Dramas that Netflix has exclusive global streaming rights for and has co-produced/collaborated or sponsored production with S.Korean TV networks. These are simulcast and are immediately available on Netflix after airing in S.Korea. Episodes are released weekly and there are usually 12, 16, or 20 episodes in total. Shows include ‘Memories of the Alhambra’, ‘Hometown Cha Cha Cha’ and ‘Its Okay to Not Be Okay’. Read More
PROS
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] Accessible
If you have never watched K-Drama before, a simple search on Netflix will bring up a large selection. There are also many guides advising ‘what to watch on Netflix’ online. Netflix is also branching into K-Variety content, including releases ‘BUSTED’, ‘TWOgether’, and the upcoming show ‘New World’ (essentially Lee Seung-gi domination, and I am all here for it!)
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] Perfect for the casual viewer
Due to university, I haven’t watched as much K-Drama as I may have liked to. But with shows simulcast on Netflix, this means that I haven’t been as out of the loop as I may have been. I can pick up a new show airing weekly easily without having to search for what is airing right now. For example, ‘Vincenzo’ earlier this year (a great weekly break during my final project) or discovering one of my all-time favorites‘ ‘Mystic Pop Up Bar’ in 2020.
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] Affordable (?)
The jury may be out on this one, but with multiple plans available there will be one for your needs. What makes Netflix a good solution is that there is a lot of other content available to watch, so you are paying for a library beyond K-Drama. If you already have a Netflix account, this is just an additional category to add to your watchlist.
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] Dubbing
A good thing? Bad thing? People have their preferences, but ultimately it is an inclusive option that Netflix does offer on select shows! Although I always prefer subtitles, they may not be accessible to everyone so this is a good option if this is what you are looking for.
CONS
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] The subtitles
The quality of Netflix subtitles has been a point of contention across a lot of their shows. This extends to K-Drama, in particular Netflix’s ‘orginals’/originals.
As with many languages, some things don’t translate directly to others. This means that important cultural or social contexts can be missed out. Most times it is a solid job done. However, as Netflix subtitles are presented in a slick way and with little turnaround time, there leaves little room for further explanation. Read More
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] The uncertainty
It isn’t always certain what is available on Netflix. Although there is a wide variety of shows, many newer releases are not available in the UK. There are some shows that I envision will never make their way onto Netflix UK, such as ‘Goblin’ from 2016! It can also be unpredictable with how long shows will stay on the platform. This can seriously dent a binge watch.
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] The Netflix Debate
In the international K-Drama watching community, there is a debate about the US corporation Netflix VS K-Drama. Here are some of the main themes I have seen around:
[icon name=”square” prefix=”fas”] Drama themes that are darker, sexier or more dystopian
Some global viewers watch K-Drama to move away from these genres prevalent in US shows. At the core, K-Dramas at heart are usually heart-warming/tear-jerking/more conservative – which is a big plus to some viewers. Some of the latest Netflix offerings divulge from this. (To be fair, why does every Netflix K-Drama look so dark and depressing this autumn?) Read More
In the end, production for Netflix Korea is aimed at the Korean audience first, and truthfully, who knows how the deals really work. Netflix content sometimes goes beyond broadcast restrictions, tapping into another market where less conservative shows have been more popular online (e.g. ‘Nevertheless’). There has always been K-Drama on the side of dark, dystopian, sexy and horror in S.Korea (in fact why does every K-Drama look dark and depressing this autumn). Netflix happens to cast a spotlight on these domestically and abroad. Read More
SUMMARY
Netflix is a great place to start your K-Drama journey and offers enough new content for the more experienced watcher to stay interested. It is also a good solution if you are a casual viewer and don’t intend to have K-Drama make up the bulk of your viewing. However with uncertainty in titles available and its limited reach for other ‘on-air’ dramas, if you are someone who is looking for more content beyond the current library, Netflix may be slightly limiting.
RATING: [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”]
PRICE: From £5.99 a month with up to one month free trial
LEVEL 2 – VIKI (BY RAKUTEN)
FOR THE REGULAR WATCHER/SLIGHTLY OBSESSED
Now for my personal favourite. VIKI is an American streaming service that launched in 2007, specialising in providing premium licensed content from different territories in East/South East Asia to global audiences. Content comes from the likes of S.Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Mainland China, with a few VIKI ‘originals’ that are streaming exclusive to VIKI.
PROS
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] Community Subtitles
There are about 200 languages available on the website. For dramas, there are teams of volunteers translating and encoding each episode. Although this means a delay in subtitles available when episodes are uploaded, they are often completed within a day or two. As opposed to Netflix subtitles, this allows greater freedom in providing additional information with ‘translator notes’ (T/N) to explain language, wordplay and puns. With larger teams for moderation, subtitles feel more accurate and personal. Some VIKI subbed shows are also syndicated to other services, such as Netflix!
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] Watch ‘ON AIR’ dramas currently airing in S.Korea
Although Netflix exclusive dramas are unavailable on VIKI, a lot of other big network dramas airing are usually available on VIKI to watch weekly. For example, this summer’s dystopian drama ‘The Devil Judge’ or ‘on-air’ right now, ‘Dali and Gamjatang/Cocky Prince’. Between Netflix and VIKI, you are sure to cover most bases of currently airing dramas.
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] FREE SHOWS
Although with adverts, some dramas are available to watch in their entirety for free! These include popular shows ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and ‘Hotel del Luna’ – which are also available on Netflix. You can make a free account so you can pick up where you have left off.
VIKI also offers an ad-free subscription in the UK – VIKI Pass Standard. Shows designated as ‘Standard’ offer the first two episodes free but the rest are only accessible with the pass. These include ‘on-air’ shows and some of the biggest names such as ‘Goblin’. The VIKI pass offers HD content and access to the whole VIKI library – all for $4.99 a month.
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] The range!
VIKI provides over 1000 different Asian TV shows, over 500 of which are Korean. This includes drama and some variety shows, such as ‘KINGDOM: LEGENDARY WAR’. The drama content library also carries older titles as well as recent ones that may be missing from Netflix. If you are looking to explore further Asian content, this is a perfect place to start. VIKI also offers a smaller range of Asian movies.
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] License stability
VIKI is fairly reliable when it comes to what shows are available on the platform in the UK. As it is solely for the streaming of Asian shows, shows are more likely to stay (less need to cater as large a library as Netflix). This means there is a higher chance for a show you are looking for/airing right now to be in the UK.
CONS
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] A bit overkill
If you’re a casual viewer, it may be a bit much to add onto other subscriptions for purely Asian content if it is not something you envision watching a lot of. However, if you subscribe to keep up with ‘on air’ K-Drama, there is usually a good number at once available to watch.
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] No multiple profiles
VIKI doesn’t offer multiple profiles on accounts like Netflix. If you have friends or family members who also want to watch, it may be a little more tricky. However, VIKI does offer ‘watch-party’ if you want to catch shows with other people.
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] Limited in other genres
Although there are a few variety shows available, it doesn’t carry many in the UK, including a lot of the popular ones. In fact, not many global services carry variety shows and some available on VIKI (like ‘Knowing Brothers/Men on a Mission’) are also available on Netflix.
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] Not quite everything
As with any streaming service, there are geo-restrictions and different availabilities across territories – I find this the most when I try to find Korean film.
SUMMARY
I finally splashed on the standard subscription this summer and it is something that lets me happily keep up with currently airing dramas every week. Rakuten VIKI also owns the news site ‘Soompi’, providing news coverage of Korean music, entertainment, and K-Drama.
If you’re looking to supplement your Netflix subscription, or you want to explore more Asian content, VIKI is a great place to go to. It is also a great place if you want to delve more into the language. With dramas available for free and a cheap subscription service, stay up to date with upcoming shows and keep up with show hype in real-time!
RATING: [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”]
PRICE: Free account with adverts or $4.99 a month with a 1-week free trial
LEVEL 3 – iQIYI
THE EXPERIMENTALIST
Feeling experimental? IQIYI might be for you. IQIYI is a Mainland Chinese-based streaming service that was established in 2010, specialising in Chinese language content. It also streams content from other East Asian and South-East Asian countries.
I mention IQIYI because this year it released its first ‘original’ K-Drama ‘My Roommate is a Gumiho’ starring Jang Ki-Yong and Hyeri. This was the reason why I briefly paid for a subscription this summer as I wanted to watch it (legally) in real-time. With more on the horizon as IQIYI moves into the K-Drama market, it could become another valuable option to UK viewers.
PROS
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] Potential for watching new ‘ON AIR K-Drama
At the time of writing, IQIYI has released images for three new upcoming IQIYI originals, with big-name actors attached (‘Bad and Crazy’ starring Lee Dong Wook, Han Ji-Eun and Wi Ha-Joon, ‘Shooting Stars’ starring Lee Sung-Kyung and Kim Young-Dae and ‘Crazy Love’ starring Krystal and Kim Jae-Wook) which is very exciting!
IQIYI has exclusive rights meaning they are available on the service immediately after airing in S.Korea. Amongst these is one of the most anticipated dramas of the year, ‘Jirisan’. IQIYI also offers a reasonable number of subtitle languages, as well as some dubs (mainly in other Asian languages).
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] Explore large Chinese content library
If you are interested in Chinese language dramas and shows, IQIYI has a huge library for this, and there are always new dramas popping up. C-Drama is a whole other game and worth a look into if you’re feeling exploratory.
[icon name=”plus” prefix=”fas”] FREE CONTENT!
Similar to VIKI, IQIYI offers some shows completely free to watch – WITHOUT adverts AND without the need for an account! You can make a free account to track what you watch – but IQIYI also offers a VIP subscription so you can watch ‘on air’ dramas and those designated ‘VIP’. Without a VIP subscription, the first three episodes are free to watch. A standard monthly subscription is £5.99 with a free one-month trial. IQIYI also offers a premium monthly and an annual subscription.
However, if you are looking at watching purely Korean shows on IQIYI in the UK, there are some downsides.
CONS
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] Limited K-Drama selection
There are ten K-Dramas (at time of writing) currently on the service available to UK viewers. Although IQIYI is moving into producing/sponsoring K-Drama this year, the fact remains that a lot of K-Drama is only available in other territories (mainly in Asia). So if you are not interested in Chinese content, IQIYI might be a bit overkill for you.
[icon name=”minus” prefix=”fas”] Some IQIYI originals are also available on VIKI
One thing I noticed is that two IQIYI originals released so far (‘My Roommate is a Gumiho’ and ‘Monthly Magazine Home’) has also appeared on VIKI – but with a one or two week delay in episodes. If you are not bothered with watching the latest content straight away, it is a possibility it might end up on VIKI in the UK! However, it is always best to check for specific dramas as one recently aired on IQIYI, (‘Lost/Human Disqualification’) is marked as ‘IQIYI only’ and has not made its way to VIKI UK.
SUMMARY
If you’re wanting to experiment with even more content, specifically Chinese language content, IQIYI has hundreds of free-to-watch shows. With more originals in production, IQIYI is posed to be an exciting service to UK viewers. Although I have canceled my subscription, with exciting dramas coming this way, I may reconsider in the future.
RATING: [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] [icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”]
PRICE: Free account with adverts or from £5.99 a month with a 1-month free trial
BONUS LEVELS – THE EXTRAS
Want some more information? Here are some things to look out for.
[icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] Other streaming services: Disney+ and Apple TV+
Sometimes we almost forget that beyond the rosy haze of more streaming options, lies the profit-orientated businesses that by default, leaves consumers out of exclusive circles.
In the UK, this has been the landscape for years and has been grudgingly accepted. However, as more US streaming services launch in S.Korea this autumn, it has allowed me to step back and view how this model has evolved globally.
Disney+ will be launched in S.Korea on November 12th this year. With this comes the news of exclusive Korean content arriving on the platform. This includes snapping up the rights for JTBC’s long-awaited ‘Snowdrop’ and the first Disney original ‘Rookies’. Read More
[icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] EVEN MORE streaming services: VIU and TVING
As mentioned, this guide is purely for content available in the UK. But I will briefly mention these two as there may be plans for further expansion.
VIU launched in 2015 and is a Hong Kong-based streaming service for Asian content. Programming includes VIU ‘originals’ (such as this summer’s ‘Doom at Your Service’) as well as very recent K-Drama releases and big-name Korean Variety shows. As the service is predominantly available in SE Asia and the Middle East, it also carries programming from these regions. Read More
[icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] Cat and mouse
FACT: there are many streaming services at the moment. Unfortunately, it makes it hard to track which shows are available in the UK. VIU? KakaoTV? Netflix? Disney+? As American and Asian streaming services snap up productions and streaming rights, even I am finding it difficult to stay on top of what’s available where.
One tip is to do a quick search and check things on sites like ‘AsianWiki’ or even search on streaming sites for upcoming shows. Some news websites such as Soompi or dedicated accounts on Twitter also provide fairly good updates.
[icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] What about Korean Entertainment or Variety shows?
Unfortunately, in the UK there are limited options to watch popular variety shows such as ‘Running Man’ or ‘Sixth Sense’ – and if there are, they’re usually without full rights, leaving large edits in the shows. Although all the above platforms carry them, it just isn’t available here. This leads me to my next bonus tip.
[icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] The sneaky solutions
Streaming services can get expensive and some shows just aren’t anywhere in the UK! Well, there are other (more sneaky) ways to watch content. A simple search for subbed content will bring up some websites including Dramacool or KSHOW123. AD/popup blockers are recommended, but these are options….
[icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] Good Ol’fashioned YouTube
There are some variety shows available subbed on YouTube. Shows like ‘Weekly Idol’ (featuring the biggest K-Pop idols) are commonly found English subbed on YouTube. KBS, a free broadcasting service in Korea, has a dedicated YouTube channel (‘KBS World TV’) to provide some of their content free to international audiences. This includes full shows such as ‘Battle Trip’. There is not much in terms of dramas on YouTube, but a good YouTube search will yield variety show results.
[icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] (More) YouTube
If you want to check out ‘behind the scenes’ and extra content from the dramas you are watching, all of the mentioned streaming platforms have dedicated YouTube channels. This includes ‘The Swoon’ for Netflix which is solely for their Korean content.
[icon name=”star” prefix=”fas”] Want to read reviews or drama recaps?
My go-to is ‘Dramabeans’. For some of the bigger dramas, recaps are posted weekly. This is a great way to a) track what’s airing now and b) get a refresh if you have forgotten details or are looking for some insight/analysis into cultural plot points you may have missed.
FINISH
That’s all for my comprehensive guide to watching K-Drama in the UK – thank you for reading! Whether you are a newbie or an old hand looking to level up watching K-Drama, I hope that this has been helpful. As a big fan of K-Drama I have enjoyed putting this together to share what I love. I may consider putting up more content about K-Drama and what I am watching in the future. Let me know if there are any other guides or things you would like to see!
Happy K-Drama watching!
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