Netflix’s global hit Korean series “Squid Game,” and Korean actor Jung Hae-in’s most talked about drama “D.P.” have been chosen as the best Korean OTT (over-the-top) show of 2021.
As part of the 17th anniversary, Korean entertainment outlet Joy News 24 conducted a survey from Oct. 12 to 19 among 200 Korean entertainment industry people including employees of entertainment and broadcasting companies, film and broadcast content producers, and entertainment reporters to select the best video streaming platform shows in Korea.
Amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, online entertainment video service expanded and the world’s interest in K-content further increased, according to Joy News 24.
1. “Squid Game” (Netflix) - 120 votes
At the center of a boom in K-content is “Squid Game,” released on Sept. 17, which Netflix said “has become our biggest TV show ever. A mind-boggling 142m member households globally have chosen to watch the title in its first four weeks.”
Netflix said last month that “Squid Game” ranked No. 1 in 94 countries including the US.
“Squid Game” stars Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, Kim Joo-ryoung and Wi Ha-joon. Gong Yoo and Lee Byung-hun made special appearances.
“Squid Game” centers on 456 debt-ridden people who join deadly games to win a prize amounting to 45.6 billion won (about $38.8 million).
According to the survey, “Squid Game” took first place as the best OTT show in 2021, garnering 120 votes, or 60 percent, out of the 200 respondents.
“When Netflix started investing in Korea in 2015, Netflix’s goal was to release world-class Korean content for Korean content fans not only in Asia but also around the world,” said Kim Min-young Kim, vice president of Netflix Asia Pacific Content (excluding India), Joy News 24 reported.
“Squid Game” popularized the game “Red Light, Green Light” and the dalgona, honeycomb sugar candy.
2. “D.P.” (Netflix) - 39 votes
Netflix’s show “D.P.” (Deserter Pursuit), starring Korean actor Jung Hae-in, was praised by viewers especially in countries with military service.
“D.P.,” released on Aug. 27, is about a team in the Korean military police which catches those who abandon their military duty and not returning to their units.
In the series, Jung Hae-in plays the role of Ahn Joon-ho, who enlists in the military, and his superior, Corporal Han Ho-yul (played by Koo Kyo-hwan). Ahn Joon-ho is selected as a member of the D.P. team and together with Han Ho-yul, they go after deserters.
3. “Transit Love” (Tving) - 15 votes
“Transit Love” of Korean OTT Tving is a reality romance show in which couples who broke up for various reasons gather to look back on their past love and find a new one.
Others selected in the survey for best Korean OTT shows of 2021 are:
- “Yumi’s Cells” (Tving) - 8 votes
- “Kingdom: “Ashin of the North” (Netflix), “New Journey To The West Special Spring Camp” (Tving), “My Name” (Netflix) and “Space Sweepers” (Netflix) - 3 votes each
-- “Move to Heaven” (Netflix), “Study King Real Genius” (Kakao TV), “Mad for Each Other,” “Idol Dictation Contest,” “Girls' High School Mystery Class” and “Shall We Chat” were also mentioned by respondents.