“Kimbu Jang” Breaks 20% Viewer Ratings, Tops Netflix’s Non-English Shows

The Evolution of K-Action That Takes Over Global Living Rooms, the Opening Act of an Overwhelming Sensation

Global OTT services and South Korea’s living-room screens are both in turmoil. At the center is ‘Kimbu Jang,’ an action blockbuster that signals the return of actor ‘So Ji-sub.’

According to figures released by Netflix’s official site Tudum on the 8th, ‘Kimbu Jang’ accumulated a total of 10.5 million views from the 29th of last month to the 5th of this month, clinching the throne as ‘No. 1 on Netflix Global Top 10 in the Non-English TV Category.’ It took just two weeks—after entering the chart at No. 3 when it was released on the 26th—making it an astonishing achievement.

The global expansion momentum is even more intense. Starting from South Korea, it topped the charts in 11 countries including Singapore, Thailand, and Peru. By raising flags in the top 10 across 79 countries worldwide, it has proven its powerful ripple effects.

Adapted into a screen version of the eponymous mega-hit webtoon, ‘Kimbu Jang’ is a thrilling action tale in which a man who has been living as an ordinary husband—while meticulously hiding his past as a special agent—faces a ruthless world to find his missing daughter. Analyses say ‘So Ji-sub’’s signature heavy and explosive action sequences and deeply rooted fatherly love that transcends borders sparked a shared sense of empathy among viewers around the world.

Even domestic performance is hard to find an equal. Scheduled as an SBS weekend and holiday drama, the series is racing ahead after just four episodes, surpassing the astonishing ‘21.6% viewer rating.’ It is the highest record among all domestic dramas aired this year and the all-time No. 3 for an SBS weekend and holiday drama, following ‘ ‘ ‘Penthouse 2’ (29.2%) and ‘Hot-Blooded Prosecutor’ (22%).

K-Content Without a Pause, Unrestrained Global Territory Expansion

The force of K-content is not limited to a single work. ‘Cham Kyo-yuk’ starring Kim Moo-yeol, which held the top spot in the non-English TV category for the past four weeks, recorded 4.7 million views and settled at No. 2, leading a double-hit box-office boom.

‘The Boy at the Very End of the Line’—which drew attention with an acting ensemble spanning generations led by Choi Min-sik and Choi Hyun-wook—also logged 2.6 million views, ranking at No. 5 after jumping up three spots from the previous week. By reinterpreting a Spanish masterpiece play through Korean sensibilities, it succeeded in entering the top 10 in 21 countries worldwide, showcasing the staying power of a well-made K-drama.

Also, ‘Gas Human,’ a Japanese Netflix original series with director Yeon Sang-ho serving as executive producer, rose to No. 7 with 2 million views, proving that the global influence of Korean creators is evolving beyond platforms and borders.

Its performance on the screen is just as dazzling. ‘Husbands’ starring Gong Myung and Jin Sun-kyu secured No. 2 in the non-English films category (1.7 million views). In particular, ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’, which proudly made its name in the English films category, set an unprecedented record of ‘Maintaining the Top 10 for 55 straight weeks,’ and kept itself firmly at No. 6 (3.5 million views).