On September 19, 2024, Netflix unveiled its Global Engagement Report for the first half of 2024, showcasing the growing international popularity of Korean series, particularly Queen of Tears, which ranked highly among the most-watched non-English programs.
Leading Netflix’s Korean success, Queen of Tears amassed an impressive 29 million viewers during this period, placing it at the 14th spot in the streaming giant’s overall Most Viewed Content ranking.
Fans of Queen of Tears and K-dramas celebrated this achievement online. One enthusiastic user on X expressed:
“AS IT SHOULD BEEE”
This romantic comedy, infused with heartwarming dramatic elements and featuring stars Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, has become a cultural phenomenon. Its narrative, rich in love, humor, and emotional depth, has resonated with a diverse international audience, securing its spot among the top 10 non-English series worldwide.
Fans took to X to voice their support and admiration for Queen of Tears.
“That’s amazing for ‘Queen of Tears’! It’s wonderful to see K-Dramas achieving such immense popularity on Netflix. The storytelling and production quality truly stand out,”one individual remarked.
“THIS DIVA!! y’all don’t understand how incredible this is; QOT is not a Netflix original. The episodes aired on Netflix just 2 hours after they were broadcast on TV, with breathtaking ratings. 70% of those viewers didn’t even watch on Netflix; this is a whole separate audience. Drama of the year, in my opinion,”another user stated.
“Deserved 🔥🔥,”wrote yet another fan.
Other fans shared how Queen of Tears rekindled their interest in K-dramas.
“QOT is really THAT drama. It got K-drama lovers out of their slump and had people of all ages tuning in every week with tissues in hand,”another fan noted.
“Some might say, ‘In 2024, people don’t watch TV,’ yet QOT shattered TV ratings by 24.85% and dominates the OTT platform. So, I proudly declare #QueenofTears the best K-drama of the year! 🫶,”another user shared.
“Deserved! QOT is THAT drama 😚,”voiced a fan.
“Living up to its name, QUEEN,”another X user commented.
Netflix’s First Half 2024 Report: Korean Content Dominates Global Viewership Amid Diverse Offerings
In its report released on September 19, Netflix detailed its Global Engagement Report for the first half of 2024, spotlighting the platform’s most-watched content. This comprehensive report analyzes viewing patterns over six months, emphasizing shows with a minimum of 50,000 hours of watch time. During this timeframe, Netflix viewers consumed approximately 94 billion hours of content.
Korean content has emerged as a significant component of the global streaming platform’s non-English offerings, accounting for about 30% of total viewership. The report underscores the impressive performance of Korean dramas, thrillers, and romantic comedies, with Queen of Tears leading the pack.
Additional top performers included Parasite: The Gray (25 million viewers), My Demon (18 million), and Doctor Slump (14 million), all of which ranked among the top 10 non-English titles. Despite Netflix fully owning only 15% of Korean content, the platform is committed to expanding its offerings through collaborations with local studios and enhancing localization efforts.
Meanwhile, four British series—Secret of the Secret, Baby Reindeer, Gentlemen: The Series, and One Day—also featured in the top 10 English-language shows. Popular reality series like Love is Blind and beloved animated features like Super Mario Bros. further captivated audiences. Documentaries such as American Nightmare and The Greatest Night in Pop Music also enjoyed steady viewership.
Non-English content from Spain, India, France, Italy, and Japan represented one-third of total viewership, reinforcing Netflix’s belief that exceptional stories transcend cultural boundaries.
About the Plot and Cast of Queen of Tears
Queen of Tears is a South Korean romance drama created by Park Ji-eun, acclaimed for successful series like My Love from the Star (2013–2014), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), and Crash Landing on You (2019-2020). Co-directed by Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won, the series stars Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, delving into the intricacies of a married couple confronting a critical crisis.
The synopsis of Queen of Tears reads:
“The queen of department stores and the prince of supermarkets navigate a marital crisis, until love miraculously begins to bloom again.”
The narrative centers on Hong Hae-in, a third-generation chaebol heiress and CEO of Queen’s Department Store, played by Kim Ji-won. Her husband, Baek Hyun-woo, portrayed by Kim Soo-hyun, serves as the legal director of Queen’s Group and is the youngest son of farmers from Yongdu-ri.
Supporting performances include Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-sung, a former Wall Street analyst and acquaintance of Hae-in from college. The talented ensemble also features Lee Dong-yeon, Lee Joo-bin, Yoon Bo-mi, Kim Kap-soo, Lee Mi-sook, Kim Jung-nan, Jeon Bae-soo, and Hwang Young-hee.
Netflix’s report highlights a significant trend: Korean content has transitioned from a niche market to a driving force behind Netflix’s global success, delivering compelling stories that resonate across diverse languages and cultures.
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