KOREAN DELIGHTS: A Special Report on Korean Series in MENA

How K-dramas are winning hearts in MENA

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I remember watching Battle Royale and Oldboy back in the early 2000s. It was a shock: violence, blood, love, survival, family, war, etc. All mixed together in a way that made them impossible to look away from.

At the time, Korean films felt very indie. Today, that’s no longer the case.

Korean movies and TV series have gone global, fueling what’s now known as the Korean Wave. The most recent milestones? The Oscar-winning Parasite in 2019 and Netflix’s record-breaking Squid Game in 2021.

But what does the Korean content landscape actually look like on MENA streaming platforms today? And why has Korean content become one of the most-watched streaming genres in 2024?

This month, TSL+ takes a look at 172 Korean series across five MENA platforms. We analyze content by language, genre, and business model to bring you exclusive insights.

Unlock the full report by subscribing to TSL+ today. Platforms covered: Viu, STARZ ON, 1001, Shahid, OSN+, and Noor Play.

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Read on to learn about:

1. Streaming Korean content in MENA: A look at how local platforms feature and position Korean series within their catalogs.

2. Korean series by languages and release date: Insights into dubbing, and the age of available Korean content.

3. Challenges & opportunities: An analysis of the current limitations and future potential for Korean content across MENA streaming services.

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