After Squid Game took Netflix by a storm for more than a month, taking the top spot on the popularity charts worldwide, another recent Netflix K-release, Hellbound has dethroned them — an unlikely title is taking over the first place with its unimaginable viewer ratings.
Ever since its premiere in September of this year, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Squid Game has been the highest-grossing series and has overwhelmed the world with the Korean wave.
With this growing interest in Korean films and TV shows, a recent release on November 19, 2021, by the streamer has proved to be extremely successful.
Directed by the acclaimed Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho- in his second collaboration with Netflix following Psychokinesis– the horror series is based on a popular Korean webtoon called Songgot by Choi Gyu-Seok.
The series is a commentary on sin, morality, salvation and redemption against the greater landscape of the lack of shame and remorse that lead to various supernatural occurrences. It also records the paranoia and anxiety of a nation in the wake of unprecedented events, mirroring our condition during the pandemic.
Starring Yoo Ah-In, Park Jung-min and Won Jin-Ah among others, director Yeon said that he had written the lead character’s role with #Alive star Yoo in mind. “I’ve waited so badly for Yoo to accept the role and it finally came true when he took it,” he said.
According to recent data, this new K-drama horror series has topped the charts and pushed Squid Game to the second position after the latter’s undefeated 46-day reign at the top.
The show has become the most-watched show in regions like South Korea, Belgium and Mexico while it remains in the top three in Canada, Germany, the United States and other regions.
In general, a flurry of Korean series have been performing well on the streamer, following the success of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and My Name. If this rush of the Korean wave helps people understand the culture and landscape of Korea as well as gain an interest in East Asian culture and cinema, then Netflix is on the right track!
Squid Game has been renewed for a second season while nothing has yet been confirmed for Hellbound.
