Binge-Watching K-Dramas? Here Are the Best Streaming Platforms for You
There has been a massive surge of interest in South Korean television dramas over the last few years.
At its peak in 2022, the country produced 160 limited series – pretty amazing for a country that could easily fit into the state of Utah. Twice.
Although K-Dramas have started to crop up on every streamer, some places are better than others in terms of price, catalog size, and accessibility. Here's our list of the three best streaming platforms for that hit of South Korean entertainment. We'll list them in order of our preference, and break down the reasons below.
- Rakuten Viki
- Kocowa
- Netflix
The Hands-Down Winner: Rakuten Viki
If you want to keep your list of subscriptions small, but you have a huge list of K-dramas to get through, there's really no comparison. Rakuten Viki (or just 'Viki' for short) specializes in Asian content and has more than 1,000 K-dramas available, some of which are difficult to find elsewhere.
Are There Subtitles?
Yes, often with multiple languages to choose from.
What Is The Cost?
If you are willing to put up with ads, you can access much of Viki's content with a free pass. For unlimited access, you'll want to move up to the Standard Pass ($6 per month), or the Plus Pass ($10 per month), which allows for offline downloads and hours of additional content.
How Can I Watch?
On your mobile device, computer, or television – access is easy. Plus, Viki is available in most countries around the world.
In Second Place: Kocowa
A recent addition to streaming platforms is the US-based Kocowa, which launched in 2017. Unlike Viki, all of the content on the platform comes directly from South Korea. The catalog includes not only K-drama series and movies but also reality shows, concerts, and documentaries.
Like Netflix, Kocowa has organized its catalog into easy-to-navigate rows, making it simple to find the genre you're looking for.
Are There Subtitles?
You bet! There is sometimes a turnaround time between the shows airing and the subtitling becoming available, as Kocowa does its captioning in-house. However, there is almost never a delay of more than 12 hours for dramas and 24 hours for variety shows.
What Is The Cost?
Some of the content is available for free, as long as you are ok with ads and a limited catalog. For $7 monthly you get access to ad-free viewing of everything on the site; for $8 per month you get offline downloads.
How Can I Watch?
Users in the US, Canada, and some regions of South America are able to access Kocowa directly on its website, or through Roku, Chromecast, Android, and iOS devices. If you live in another region, you may need to access the channel through Viki – though unfortunately you won't be able to watch the entire library.
Third Place, But Coming In Hot: Netflix
There are two reasons that Netflix is ranked lower on this list. First, there are no free watching options. Second, the library is still limited – they have only a fraction of the titles available on Viki.
However, that second reason isn't likely to last long. Netflix has witnessed the popularity of K-Dramas, and their library is growing at an exponential rate. In 2023, it was announced that the platform was investing $2.3 billion into producing more South Korean content.
Are There Subtitles?
Yes, and always in multiple languages.
How Much Does It Cost?
Netflix is the most expensive option for your K-dramas, with membership ranging from $7 to $22 in US dollars.
How Can I Watch?
The best part about the world's biggest streamer is that it's pretty easy to access. Mobiles, computers, and televisions across the world will all allow you to access the k-dramas on Netflix.