South Korean series ‘Kim Bu‑Jang’ tops Netflix non‑English show rankings

The SBS drama ‘Kim Bu‑Jang’, starring So Ji‑sub and adapted from a Naver webtoon, recorded 10.5 million view‑equivalent counts on Netflix and reached No. 1 in the platform’s non‑English‑show category. Within two weeks of its 26 May launch, it claimed the top spot in 11 countries—including South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Peru—and placed inside the top‑10 in a total of 79 territories.

The series also delivered a record domestic rating for SBS, achieving a 21.6 % audience share after just four episodes, the highest viewership for any Korean drama broadcast this year. The plot follows a former special‑ops officer who becomes an ordinary father to rescue his kidnapped daughter, delivering fast‑paced action that resonated with viewers worldwide.