SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Korean titles filled several top spots on Netflix's global charts last week, led by action drama "Mr. Kim," which climbed to No. 1 on the platform's non-English TV chart in its second week of release.
"Agent Kim Reactivated" logged 10.5 million views for the week of June 29 to July 5, according to Netflix's official Top 10 data. Netflix calculates views by dividing total viewing hours by a title's running time.
The series, which premiered June 26, debuted at No. 3 before moving to the top spot the following week. It ranked No. 1 in 11 countries, including South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Peru, and reached the Top 10 in 79 countries.
Starring So Ji-sub and based on a webtoon of the same name, "Agent Kim Reactivated (Manajer Kim)" follows a former special agent who has spent years hiding his past, only to reveal his skills after his daughter disappears.
The show airs first on SBS before streaming on Netflix. Its domestic ratings have climbed as well, reaching 21.6 percent by its fourth episode. That is the highest rating for any Korean drama aired this year and the third-highest rating for an SBS Friday-Saturday drama, after "The Penthouse 2" and "The Fiery Priest."
"Agent Kim Reactivated" rise pushed "Teach You a Lesson," the previous four-week No. 1 title on the non-English TV chart, down to No. 2. The Kim Moo-yul-led series still drew 4.7 million views and entered the Top 10 in 54 countries.
Two other titles also placed high on the same chart.
"Notes from the Last Row," starring Choi Min-sik and Choi Hyun-wook, climbed from No. 8 to No. 5 with 2.6 million views. The series entered the Top 10 in 21 countries.
Adapted from a Spanish play, the drama follows a failed writer turned literature professor who becomes fixated on a student's writing talent after discovering it in the back row of his classroom.
"Human Vapor," a Japanese Netflix original written and executive-produced by "Train to Busan" director Yeon Sang-ho, ranked No. 7 with 2 million views.
The series expands Ishiro Honda's 1960 tokusatsu film "The Human Vapor" into a story about a man who can turn his body into gas to commit crimes and the people chasing him.
Korean films also had a strong week.
"Husbands in Action," starring Gong Myoung and Jin Sun-kyu, ranked No. 2 on the non-English film chart with 1.7 million views and reached the Top 10 in 10 countries.
Meanwhile, "K-Pop Demon Hunters" remained in the Top 10 on the English-language film chart for a 55th week, ranking No. 6 with 3.5 million views.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.