2023 Kdramas on the Netflix Top 10 List

Last week, I presented the kdramas that have made it to Netflix's Top 10 for Non-English tv shows as of the end of February. In it, I mentioned some 2023 data in respect to some of those 2024 dramas. I thought it might be funsies to take a look at the 2023 kdramas that made the Netflix Top 10 Non-English tv show list and see what we see.

Without further ado, as the medieval kids like to say, here is said list. The Netflix dramas are highlighted in an orangey color; the Korean airing network dramas in a yellow shade. The remaining dramas are completed dramas that aired in South Korea and are now in Netflix's catalog with all their episodes.

Some points of interest:

• As pointed out last week, "airing a finite amount of episodes at a given time would obviously ensure more time in the Top 10, as it encouraged return viewing," regardless if it's a network or Netflix show. 
• The Glory aired its first half on December 30, which means the viewing results made the 1/1/2023 Top 10 list. The second half did not air until 2.5 months later. This thriller landed on the Netflix Top 10 list for 13 weeks, staying there for all of January, then returning in March and continuing its placement when Part 2 dropped. (Unfortunately, Netflix labeled the drama as "Season 1," so it's unclear which parts of the drama placed it there once Part 2 debuted.)  According to Netflix's Engagement Report for the time period January-June 2023, the drama ended up being the third highest Netflix show of ALL Netflix shows, English or Non-English, for that specific time period. 
• The next eight dramas usually started in the Top 10, then either ended when the show ended, or continued to be placed on the list. Notable dramas include Alchemy of Souls, which is essentially a 2022 drama, save a week into 2023. In 2022, Part 1 had 17 weeks on the chart, Part 2 had 2 (those were during the last two weeks of Part 1's stay.) In 2023, Part 1 was there for 4 weeks, Part 2 for 6.  The other notable exception of interest is Crash Course in Romance, which took about a month to get on the list, but once it did, it stayed there and then some, tacking on 6 more weeks after the show finished airing in Korea. Notice all these dramas promoted some romantic element to them. Remaining network dramas did not have the desired romantic element (iykyk). Welcome to Samdalri only started airing and continued its streak into the next year.) 
• If the question, "why did Bloodhounds get a second season?" ever crossed your mind, this list offers a hint. It had the most weeks of any Netflix series except for The Glory, and the hours amassed during this time was significant as well. 
• The remaining Netflix dramas on the list were more binge format, with all episodes dropping at once. Gyeongseong Creature aired in two parts, with Part 1 represented here. 
• D.P. and Sweet Home represented season 2s of their respective dramas. Interesting enough, D.P.'s first season only spent two weeks on the Top 10 chart, while Sweet Home spent one.
• As far as completed dramas go, it was noted in last week's post that True Beauty earned spots on the list due to its arrival to Latin America's Netflix catalog. Mr. Queen didn't seem to possess anything notable such as that.

Some clear trends emerge, and it will be neat to see if what we see here will carry through into 2024. Until then...