The Most Viewed Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese Netflix Series in the Second Half of 2023!
Netflix improved their transparency last year by releasing more viewership data. Two weeks ago, they released their second What We Watched report, which discloses viewership data for the second half of 2023. Among all titles, non-English titles accounted for one-third of the total number of views, while Korean, Spanish and Japanese movies and series took the lead with 9%, 7% and 5% respectively. This article will list out the 5 most popular Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese series. However, the list below only includes Netflix originals, and excludes simulcasts such as King the Land, My Demon and My Happy Marriage.
Korean Series
Mask Girl Season 1, Overall Ranking: 48th, 18.5 Million Views
Kim Mo-mi, an ordinary office worker by day who is insecure about her appearance and a live-streamer by night who covers up her face with a mask, as she becomes embroiled in an unforeseen incident and undergoes a dramatic turn of events.
Celebrity Season 1, Overall Ranking: 49th, 18.3 Million Views
This series depicts the true reality of the glamorous and competitive life of celebrities encountered by Seo A-ri, who jumps into their world where fame will bring riches.
Squid Game Season 1, Overall Ranking: 79th, 14.1 Million Views
A mysterious invitation to join the game is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. 456 participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games in order to win 45.6 billion won. Every game is a Korean traditional children's game such as Red Light, Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. Who will be the winner, and what is the purpose behind this game?
This series premiered in 2021 and became the most viewed Netflix series of all time. After almost three years, it is still one of the most viewed series in the second half of 2023. None of us would be suprised to see Season 2 to premiere with record-breaking viewership this December.
Doona! Season 1, Overall Ranking: 99th, 12.7 Million Views
This series is a coming-of-age romance between an ordinary college freshman and a former K-pop idol who meets at a sharehouse.
Bloodhounds Season 1, Overall Ranking: 112th, 12 Million Views
Two youngsters mired in a ruthlessly cutthroat money lending business risk their lives to bring down an evil loan shark.
Japanese Series
YuYu Hakusho Season 1, Overall Ranking: 60th, 16.5 Million Views
Yusuke Urameshi, who spends his days getting into fights, dies in an accident while trying to protect a young child. As he grapples with the fact that he is looking down on his dead body, a woman named Botan who calls herself a guide to the spirit world relays to him the shocking truth: no one expected a delinquent like Yusuke to die performing an act of goodness, and there was no place for him in either heaven or hell. Thus, Yusuke is given a chance to be revived, and after passing his trial, he becomes an Underworld Detective. From there, Yusuke becomes entwined in a mystery that envelopes the human, demon and spirit worlds.
The five most viewed Japanese series in the second half of last year were all manga-related, two of which were live-action adaptations and three of which were anime. Netflix's most viewed series in the second half of last year was also an adaptation of a Japanese manga, One Piece.
Baki Hanma Season 2, Overall Ranking: 80th, 14 Million Views
The story begins when the caveman Pickle, who has slumbered deep inside the Earth since the age of the dinosaurs, is suddenly revived in modern times. Because he killed dinosaurs many times larger than his own size with his bare bands and used them as food, Pickle is a fighter who possesses out-of-the-world combat abilities. Can Baki win against Pickle and finally reach the conclusive battle against his father, Yujiro Hanma?!
Burn the House Down Season 1, Overall Ranking: 108th, 12.2 Million Views
Anzu Murata, her mother and younger sister left their home 13 years ago when her mother was suspected of burning it down. Convinced that her ailing mother was wrongly accused, Anzu goes undercover to work as the housekeeper in her childhood home to gather evidence of her stepmother’s wrongdoing.
Record of Ragnarok Season 2, Overall Ranking: 194th, 8 Million Views
Humanity may be down, but their fight for survival is far from over. For the pivotal next round, a truly evil human emerges to face the next mighty god.
Kengan Ashura Season 2, Overall Ranking: 226th, 7.3 Million Views
The second round of the Kengan Life-or-Death Tournament continues — without Ohma. As the mighty gladiators clash, a shadowy figure plots a violent coup.
Taiwanese Series
At the Moment Season 1, Overall Ranking: 1784th, 1.2 Million Views
This anthology series set during the pandemic follows 10 unique love stories of passion and heartache.
In comparison, the number of views of Taiwanese series is much lower than that of Korean and Japanese series. It is hoped that a hit will be produced in the future, so that more audiences will recognize Taiwanese works.
Copycat Killer Season 1, Overall Ranking: 2338th, 0.8 Million Views
When a spate of grisly murders throws a city into chaos, a tenacious prosecutor must brace for a cat-and-mouse game against a dangerous manipulator.
Triad Princess Season 1, Overall Ranking: 3593th, 0.4 Million Views
Growing up in the shadow of her Triad father, Angie craves an independent life of her own. Defying her father's wishes, she takes on a gig as an undercover bodyguard for a famous actress at an agency, where she must navigate the unfamiliar world of glitz, glamour and even love.
Light the Night Season 1, Overall Ranking: 4630th, 0.2 million views
Set in the Red-Light District of Taipei during the ‘80s, Light the Night delves into the lives, love and struggles of the mama-san Rose and the hostess ladies of a popular night club.
The Ghost Bride Season 1, Overall Ranking: 4643th, 0.2 million views
In 1890s Colonial Malacca, Li Lan has been offered a marriage proposal from the wealthy Lim Family to become the “ghost bride” to their recently deceased son. Her family will be saved from a lifetime of debt, but she’ll spend the rest of her life being haunted by the Lim family’s son. Desperate to get out of this ghastly arrangement, she soon finds herself wrapped up in a murder mystery and embroiled in other-worldly affairs much bigger than she could have ever imagined.
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Source: Netflix