Netflix Reveals That the Top Korean Drama in 2020 for S’poreans Isn’t Crash Landing on You

Since the emergence of Crash Landing On You early this year, many have touted it to be the top Korean drama of 2020.

And for good reason too. Apart from a pair of extremely likeable leads, the drama also boasts heartfelt romance lines, and touches on sensitive issues such as political divide.

So little wonder why there would be screams for it to take the crown.

But here’s the thing. Although Crash Landing On You was indeed a strong contender at the start…

The appearance of other blockbuster dramas ultimately served to dull its shine, just a little.

Netflix Reveals That the Top Korean Drama in 2020 Isn’t Crash Landing on You

According to Netflix, the top Korean drama in 2020 is not Crash Landing On You.

Instead, the honour is bestowed upon The King: Eternal Monarch – the Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun vehicle which, ironically, was the title that viewers fell back on at a time when they were dealing with post-CLOY blues.

Well, just goes to show that rebounds can turn out even ‘better’ at times.

Meanwhile, the most enduring title goes to Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji’s romance drama It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, another strong contender for top K-drama of the year.

Incredibly, the romance/psychological drama managed to hover in the top 10 list in Singapore for a whopping 103 days.

Other Genres

Over in the horror genre, K-zombie flick #Alive takes top spot.

And though K-pop girl group Blackpink is not exactly a regular on Netflix, their documentary Blackpink: Light Up The Sky managed to top the documentary category.

Enola Holmes swept the No.1 title in the drama genre, while Singapore-set Hollywood rom-com Crazy Rich Asians took home the championship belt for the romance sector.

In the comedy genre, Emily In Paris reigns supreme, and Extraction – headlined by Thor himself – dominated the action genre.

Spanish series Money Heist: Part 4 was the local region’s most popular thriller.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) shot right to the top of the animated film category, while elsewhere, Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution (2019) clinched the no.1 spot in the anime genre.

Korean Drama Fever

Crash Landing On You aired from December 14, 2019, to February 16, 2020, and became the highest rated tvN drama during its run.

It’s also the third highest-rated South Korean TV drama in the history of the nation’s cable television.

The drama also collected numerous accolades and praise, and was even approved for its portrayal of North Koreans, which actual North Korean defectors have stated as reasonably accurate.

However, it did receive its fair share of criticism, with certain parties accusing the drama of “glamorising” North Koreans.

Meanwhile, The King: Eternal Monarch premiered on SBS TV and Netflix on 17 April 2020: the time that most Singaporeans are forced to stay at home.

The 16-episode series was considered one of the most anticipated series in the early half of 2020, owing to its ensemble cast, accomplished screenwriter and sheer production budget.

It also set a record during its premiere, and stayed atop the weekly Wavve drama chart for eight consecutive weeks.

However, the drama was ultimately marred by mixed reviews, and purportedly received lower-than-expected TV viewership ratings towards the latter half of its run.

It also attracted several controversies, namely for certain striking resemblances between the parallel world and the real world.

For instance, architecture in the fictional world appeared to resemble that of Japanese temples – a notion that was not taken well as Korean-Japanese relations were uneasy at the time.

Featured Image: Bogdan Glisik / Shutterstock.com