Studio Dragon has reaffirmed its competitiveness as Korea's leading drama producer, delivering a string of hits across both television and over-the-top (OTT) platforms in the first half of this year. With diverse genres performing well across broadcast channels and streaming services, the company is also expanding its presence in the global market, industry observers said.
Studio Dragon launched a streak of successes starting in January with tvN's "Undercover Miss Hong" and KBS 2TV's "Dear Hongrang," followed by tvN's "Spring of Youth" in April and SBS's "Brave New World" in May. "Brave New World," produced by subsidiary Gil Pictures, is being cited as an example demonstrating the strength of Studio Dragon's production ecosystem.
The momentum carried over into OTT. TVING originals "Yumi's Cells Season 3" and "Tastefully Yours" drew strong viewership, boosting the platform's competitiveness. Both titles delivered meaningful results in viewership metrics and subscriber acquisition, sustaining the run of hits.
"Undercover Miss Hong," the starting point of this year's first-half success, recorded a peak rating of 13.9% and climbed to as high as No. 4 on Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English TV chart, drawing attention from international viewers beyond Korea. "Dear Hongrang" recorded the highest buzz score among KBS 2TV dramas aired since 2024, according to Good Data Corporation's FUNdex index.
"Spring of Youth," which recently wrapped up, ended on a high note with a peak rating of 10.8% amid strong reviews. "Brave New World," currently on air, has surpassed a peak rating of 13.7% and continues its upward trajectory while maintaining a top ranking in Netflix's non-English TV category.
The growth of TVING originals has also stood out. "Yumi's Cells Season 3" once again boosted paid subscriber inflows compared with previous seasons, leading the series to a successful conclusion. "Tastefully Yours" was the TVING original drama that secured the most new paid subscribers in its opening week over the past three years. It also ranked first in paid-subscription contribution for three consecutive weeks, establishing itself as a flagship hit for the platform.
Overseas response has been equally strong. "Spring of Youth" has held the No. 1 spot in the drama category on Japan's U-Next and ranked first in viewership across more than 100 countries on global OTT platform Rakuten Viki. It also topped the Asian content category on Russian OTT platform IVI, demonstrating its global appeal.
"Tastefully Yours" has likewise climbed into the top ranks on Disney+ in Japan and continues to maintain high rankings across the Americas, Europe, Oceania and the Middle East. In addition, in the Asia-Pacific region where HBO Max operates, "Yumi's Cells Season 3," "Spring of Youth" and "Tastefully Yours" have all ranked among the most popular titles, showcasing the competitiveness of Studio Dragon's productions.
"In the first half of this year, we presented works across a wide range of genres and subjects, including historical dramas, period pieces, contemporary stories, office dramas, time-slip narratives and webtoon adaptations," a Studio Dragon official said. "In the second half, we will meet viewers with anticipated titles such as tvN's '100-Day Lie' and Netflix's 'Slow & Steady.'"
