After a challenging week of management changes at Netflix, co-CEO Ted Sarandos visited Seoul to highlight one of the streaming giant’s standout achievements: its strategic investment in Korean entertainment.
Sarandos participated in “Netflix Janchi,” a vibrant two-day fan event held at the Sangam Oil Tank Culture Park, a renovated oil storage facility turned cultural landmark in Seoul. This visit followed the recent introduction of new leadership, with Peter Rice stepping in as chief content officer, alongside significant layoffs affecting about 1,000 employees. However, the atmosphere in Korea was one of celebration.
The Janchi festivities drew over 10,000 fans and included themed booths, interactive games, merchandise, live performances, and appearances from actors starring in popular Korean titles. The event’s online streaming also garnered 3.58 million views.
During the celebration, Sarandos expressed gratitude for the Korean creative sector and offered a sneak peek of upcoming Netflix projects, featuring local auteur Lee Chang-dong’s Oscar hopeful “Possible Love,” the K-drama “Tantara,” and highly anticipated series like “Grand Galaxy Hotel,” “She, Wolf,” “All of Us Are Dead” Season 2, and the live-action adaptation of the hit anime “Solo Leveling.”
“Ten years ago, we had ambitious dreams, but none of us could have imagined how Korean narratives would resonate globally, placing them at the heart of international culture,” Sarandos remarked. “For Netflix, Korea represents more than just a market; it’s a source of boundless opportunities and a key partner as we chart our future together.”
To underline the event’s significance, Netflix shared impressive statistics showcasing the growing popularity of Korean content. The platform revealed that Korean programming has emerged as its most popular category of non-English content, with over 80% of Netflix users worldwide having engaged with at least one Korean production. Since Netflix began its global Top 10 rankings in June 2021, over 200 Korean titles have featured in those charts.
The series “Squid Game” has dominated the viewership metrics, holding the top three positions in Netflix’s all-time most-watched non-English television list. Additionally, the recent hit “Teach You a Lesson” has claimed the No. 10 spot. Between April 2025 and March 2026, Korean shows amassed over 12 billion viewing hours on Netflix, second only to content from the United States.
The event showcased a strong lineup of Korean stars, with favorites like Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Park Hae-soo reflecting on “Squid Game’s” unprecedented success. Other notable participants included Ahn Hyo-seop from “KPop Demon Hunters,” as well as cast members from various Netflix series such as “Hellbound,” “Mask Girl,” and “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.”
Further celebrations included the presence of actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong for the preview of “Possible Love,” which won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at Venice and will debut on Netflix on Nov. 6. Meanwhile, the period drama “Tantara” featuring Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo, and Kim Seol-hyun is set to premiere on Dec. 11.
Sarandos also highlighted upcoming shows like the supernatural fantasy “Grand Galaxy Hotel” starring Lee Do-hyun, “She, Wolf” featuring Kim Min-ju, and the second season of “All of Us Are Dead.” Rising star Byeon Woo-seok introduced the eagerly anticipated live-action adaptation of “Solo Leveling.”
As Netflix undergoes a creative transition, the celebration in Seoul reaffirmed that Korean entertainment will remain a crucial component of its global content strategy.
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