K-content remained one of Netflix’s biggest growth engines in the first half of 2026, with Korean titles leading all non-English programming on the platform.
According to Netflix’s first-half engagement report released July 17, subscribers watched more than 97 billion hours worldwide, setting a new six-month record. Netflix credited its broad catalog across genres and countries rather than reliance on a handful of major franchises.
Non-English titles accounted for more than one-third of total viewing, with Korean content claiming the largest share among all non-English markets.
Leading the charge was Kim Moo Yul‘s Netflix original series Teach You a Lesson, which pulled in 48.2 million views less than a month after its release. The series ranked No. 6 overall among Netflix’s most-watched titles worldwide in the first half of the year, across both English and non-English programming.
The romance series Can This Love Be Translated?, starring Go Youn Jung and Kim Seon Ho, followed with 28.6 million views, while Shin Hae Sun’s The Art of Sarah drew 25.8 million. Global phenomenon Squid Game added another 14.4 million views during the period, proving its staying power.
K-content’s reach also extended well beyond drama. Films including The Great Flood, Husbands in Action and Pavane attracted global audiences, while unscripted hits Culinary Class Wars Season 2 and Single’s Inferno Season 5 continued to generate worldwide buzz.
Kids’ titles including Baby Shark, Bebefinn and Pinkfong Little Dino School also posted steady numbers, showing K-content’s growing appeal across age groups.
Korean broadcast titles such as SBS’ My Royal Nemesis and Agent Kim Reactivated, tvN’s Undercover Miss Hong and JTBC’s We Are All Trying Here also reached wider international audiences through Netflix.
Theatrical releases Humint and Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight similarly expanded their global reach through the platform’s international distribution network.
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In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
Source: Netflix
