After Queen of Tears & Lovely Runner: How tvN and Netflix Ushered in a New Era of Record-Breaking K-Drama Ratings
Analyzing the historic 24.9% Nielsen Korea finale milestone, global Netflix Non-English TV chart dominance, and upcoming flagship premieres.
K-Dramazing Live News Desk · Seoul & Global ·
South Korean television recently witnessed a seismic shift as traditional broadcast ratings (Nielsen Korea) converged with explosive global streaming buzz. Led by Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, "Queen of Tears" achieved a historic 24.914% nationwide finale rating, officially surpassing "Crash Landing on You" (21.68%) to become the highest-rated drama in tvN history.
Simultaneously, the time-slip romance "Lovely Runner" starring Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon redefined digital fandom impact. Its flagship OST track "Sudden Shower" by fictional band Eclipse climbed to the top tier of Korea’s Melon Top 100 and entered the Billboard Global 200 chart.
Looking ahead at the current broadcast slate, Netflix, Disney+, and Studio Dragon are rolling out flagship weekend tentpoles with simultaneous global release dates, driving immediate double-digit ratings and record social engagement.
- Queen of Tears set an all-time tvN record at 24.9% nationwide ratings.
- Lovely Runner OST "Sudden Shower" charted on Billboard Global 200.
- New weekend tentpole dramas launch simultaneously across global streaming platforms.