Netflix Bolsters Slate of K-Romance Series

Netflix is introducing six new Korean romance series, including King the Land, over the upcoming five months.

Premiering June 17, King the Land sees global K-pop idols Jun-ho and Yoona team up for the first time as actors. The drama has an “enemies to lovers” premise.

Also debuting June 17, See You in My 19th Life is a spin-off from a hit webtoon. Shin Hye-sun stars as a heroine who can remember all her past lives.

Behind Your Touch sees rom-com queen Han Ji-min play a veterinarian in a small town who has a very strange gift of psychometry. When she convinces a detective of her abilities, they team up to solve neighborhood crimes.

Destined with You features Cho Boa and Rowoon (also a K-pop idol). Rowoon plays a hotshot lawyer who has it all but is haunted by a family curse. And it turns out that the woman who is key to breaking this curse is none other than the seemingly ordinary civil servant played by Cho.

Premiering in the third quarter, A Time Called You sees Ahn Hyo-seop (Business Proposal) and Jeon Yeo-been (Vincenzo) star in this remake of the classic Taiwanese romance Someday or One Day.

Q4 will see the release of Doona!, in which a college student (Yang Se-jong) navigates life and school while dealing with a unique predicament: he’s living with a former K-pop sensation, played by real-life former K-pop star Suzy.

Don Kang, VP of content for Korea at Netflix, said: “We’re genuinely humbled by how our emotive Korean shows have found a home in the hearts of global audiences through Netflix, stretching from the U.S., Europe, South America, and beyond. Our stories touch on the universal aspects of life—love, heartbreak, and tenderness, while also providing a peek into the unique facets of Korean culture. Netflix’s commitment to forging this profound global connection is something we’re truly excited about.”

“Creators have dedicated themselves to painting the delicate dynamics and evolving emotions of our characters,” added Wooyeon Yang, director of content for Korea. “The crafting of the hallmark slow-burning intensity of K-Romances, along with their wholesome appeal, shapes an undeniably “endearing genre that strikes a chord with global viewers.”

Netflix’s investment in subtitling and dubbing has been instrumental in expanding the K-Romance audience. “The impact has been more profound than we ever imagined,” said Yang. “Despite the diversity of languages, the common thread of understanding and accessing Korean content seems to be a key strength that has set Netflix as a trendsetter.” Yang underscores the value of dubbing, noting that “listening to dialogues in their own languages helps K-Romance resonate more deeply with viewers worldwide.”