If you have a Netflix account, chances are Korean shows have quietly taken over your watchlist. What once felt like a happy discovery has now become a full-blown obsession for audiences across the world.
Since 2023, Netflix has invested an impressive $2.5 billion into Korean content, riding the wave created by hits such as Kingdom, All of Us Are Dead, The Glory and the global juggernaut Squid Game.
By 2025, Korean entertainment had firmly cemented itself as one of the streamer’s biggest strengths. Shows like When Life Gives You Tangerines, Bon Appetit, Your Majesty, Better Late Than Single and Physical: Asia didn’t just perform well in Korea — they found fans everywhere. The success made one thing clear: strong storytelling travels, regardless of language.
As Netflix steps into 2026, it is doubling down on that belief. Dozens of original K-dramas and reality shows are lined up, along with content from major Korean broadcasters like tvN and SBS, ensuring that the pipeline of new favourites keeps flowing.
The year begins on an adventurous note with a Physical: Asia travel spin-off releasing on 1 January. Familiar faces from Team Korea and Team Mongolia swap intense challenges for exploration, as they travel through Ulaanbaatar, offering fans a lighter, more personal side of the franchise.
Romance quickly takes centre stage too. On 16 January, a new drama from the Hong Sisters arrives, starring Go Youn-jung and Kim Seon-ho.
Their story of an unexpected connection between a translator and a global celebrity promises warmth, charm and emotional depth. Fantasy lovers can look forward to a fresh take on the gumiho legend, while Park Shin-hye returns in Undercover Miss Hong, blending comedy with undercover intrigue.
Reality television remains a major draw. Single’s Inferno returns for its fifth season on 20 January, with producers teasing even sharper dynamics and higher emotional stakes.
Later in the year, fan favourites like The Devil’s Plan and Better Late Than Single will be back, alongside new formats focused on travel, hospitality and human connection.
Perhaps the most eagerly awaited returns are All of Us Are Dead season two and Bloodhounds season two, both expected to raise the bar after their hugely successful first outings.
New scripted projects such as Boyfriend on Demand, East Palace, Scandals and Show Business bring together some of Korea’s biggest stars, including Jisoo, Nam Joo-hyuk, Son Ye-jin, Gong Yoo and Song Hye-kyo.
What makes Netflix’s Korean slate feel special is its range — from quiet romance to brutal thrillers, from playful reality shows to historical dramas.
Heading into 2026, it is clear that Korean storytelling isn’t just a trend. It has become a global comfort, a shared language of emotion, suspense and joy that audiences keep coming back to.
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