Streaming giant celebrates decade of partnership with 210 original productions and promise to support emerging creators

Poster of 'The Great Flood' (Provided by Netflix)

Netflix marked its 10th anniversary in Korea by reaffirming its long-term investment commitment to Korean content and unveiling its 2026 lineup. At the "Next on Netflix 2026 Korea" event held on January 21 at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul, Kang Dong-han, Netflix's VP of Korean Content, stated, "We have faith in the potential of Korean content and promise continued long-term investment."

Since launching in Korea in January 2016, Netflix has brought structural changes to the industry. "We've established 100% pre-production and produced 210 Korean original works in just the past five years," Kang noted. Netflix is particularly focused on emerging creators, with one in three series over the past three years being debut works by new writers or directors. "Netflix will become a gateway for Korean talent and grow together with Korea's creative ecosystem," Kang emphasized.

The 2026 lineup spans diverse genres. Series include "Love Untranslatable?", "Monthly Boyfriend", "True Education", "The Wonderfuls", "The Palace", and "Scandal." Films include Lee Chang-dong's "Probable Love", "Husbands", "Cross 2", and "Pavane." Variety programs include "Culinary Class Wars" Season 3, "The Devil's Plan" Season 3, and "Yoo Jae-suk Camp."

Netflix's recent success with "The Great Flood" demonstrates Korean content's sustained global appeal. The December release recorded 11.1 million views, ranked No. 1 for three consecutive weeks in the Global Top 10 Non-English Films, entered Top 10 in 80 countries, and became the first Korean Netflix film to reach No. 7 on the all-time most popular non-English films list.

Netflix's 10th anniversary announcement signals a strategic evolution beyond chasing the next "Squid Game." "We'll find completely new stories that will surprise and delight more people on a larger scale," Kang stated. "Netflix will bear the risk, and we'll share the success with all our partners."

The commitment to debut works—one in three titles—shows Netflix evolving from content buyer to ecosystem partner building a talent pipeline. The establishment of 100% pre-production has fundamentally transformed Korean drama production, providing creators time to enhance quality for global markets.

However, challenges remain. "The Great Flood's" divergent domestic and international reception highlights how Korean content faces different expectations across markets. For independent production companies, Netflix's open doors present opportunities but also demand global-standard quality and pre-production capabilities.

As global platforms including Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video compete intensely for Korean content, Netflix's genre diversification strategy—from light romantic comedies to art cinema—aims to capture broader audiences. The next decade will determine whether Korean content can secure qualitative diversity beyond quantitative growth, and how creators balance global platform demands with their own creative identities.

Sources

• Hankook Ilbo, "Netflix Director Kim Tae-won: 'The Great Flood' Achieved Remarkable Results", 2026.01.21

• Munhwa Ilbo, "Netflix VP Kang Dong-han: 'Long-term Investment in Korea Will Continue... We Believe in Its Potential'", 2026.01.21

• Netflix Korea Official Press Release, "Next on Netflix 2026 Korea", 2026.01.21