Most of the world is on lockdown. More people than ever working from home or in quarantine. In a time of social distancing, streaming platforms are stocking up their content supplies to keep people entertained while riding out the pandemic. With the latest Netflix Party hack, friends can even stream shows and movies at the same time with a digital chatroom on the side.
Korean drama series including Crash Landing on You, Itaewon Class, and Kingdom have been topping the charts on Netflix since February. The second season of Kingdom, a zombie thriller set during 16th century Korea, gained international attention for its timely release during the coronavirus pandemic. Critics have described the show as “Game of Thrones meets The Walking Dead.” With season two focused on infection prevention and government failures, Kingdom is the latest binge obsession among streamers.
Each season of Kingdom only features six episodes, which may not be enough to tide everyone over the long quarantine period. To satisfy viewers’ appetite, Netflix will be rolling out three new Korean series and one Korean film in the coming weeks.
Rugal (3/28)
Directed by Kang Cheol Woo, Rugal is an adaption of a webtoon about a police officer turning into a human weapon after losing his beloved wife. Kang Ki-Beom (played by Choi Jin-Hyuk) becomes a member of a special organization called Rugal. Initiation into the group brings Kang artificial eyes with special abilities. He and the Rugal team then set out on a mission to take down a criminal organization.
The King: Eternal Monarch (April 2020)
Lee Min-ho, the lead actor of Inheritors, returns to screen after being discharged from military service. He plays a new role as a king in The King: Eternal Monarch, a romantic fantasy drama revolving around two characters from parallel universes. This new drama series is highly anticipated not only due to its cast, but also due to the popularity of Korean screenwriter Kim Eun-suk, who has written hits such as Goblin and Descendants of the Sun.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (June 2020)
Starring Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay portrays an unusual relationship between a psychiatric hospital attendant who shoulders a heavy mental burden from his patients and a children’s book author who knows nothing about romance.
Bonus Film: Time to Hunt (4/10)
Time to Hunt is a crime thriller about four friends who try to escape a dystopian city with a bold plan, but end up falling prey to a mysterious hunter who wants them dead.
Directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, Time to Hunt is the first Korean film to receive a special gala screening at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival. The film’s theatrical release was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it will soon be available on Netflix worldwide.
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TNL Editor: Nicholas Haggerty (@thenewslensintl)
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