Crash Landing on You and Record of Youth were the top 2 dramas that led the Korean wave in Japan this year.
According to a report by Naver Entertainment, Netflix released new statistics to determine the top shows on the platform amid the COVID-19 global health pandemic.
It was reported that this year, the threat of the pandemic boosted the performance of streaming platforms like Netflix as online video streaming services (OTT) became highly in demand. Health restrictions limited the operation of entertainment centers like theaters and moviehouses.
Based on data provided by Netflix, tvN's Crash Landing on You, which starred Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin, was the most-watched Korean drama in 2020. The fictional romance revolved around Yoon Se Ri, a South Korean heiress who landed in North Korean territory after a paragliding activity went awry. She encountered Ri Jyeong Hyeok, a North Korean soldier who hid her from authorities and helped her find her way home.
Park Bo Gum's final drama before enlisting in the military was also one of Japan's most-watched Korean series. Record of Youth, where he starred alongside Park So Dam, centered around Sa Hye Joon's journey, an aspiring actor, and An Jeong Ha, a talented makeup artist. The drama revolved around their struggle to rise to the top of the entertainment industry.
It's Okay Not to Be Okay, a series that centered around mental health issues like antisocial personality disorder and autism spectrum disorder, also received a lot of love from Japanese fans. The drama was top-billed by Kim Soo Hyun, So Ye Ji, and Oh Jung Se. They played the role of three individuals who found love and family in each other.
Last November, Hyun Bin and Kim Soo Hyun reached out to Japanese fans through a recorded video message. Hyun Bin said that he was happy that he could deliver oy to a lot of people through the drama. Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun expressed his sadness for people who were struggling with the challenges brought on by the pandemic. He said he wished that their drama's touching and healing story could ease the viewers' burdens a little bit.
Another Korean show that became a big hit among Japanese fans was Netflix's documentary on the Kpop phenomenon featuring BLACKPINK. The documentary, entitled BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky became the second-highest rating documentary on Netflix this year in Japan. It also topped viewership in Korea, Asia, and the Middle East.
