The world of K-content experienced mixed fortunes in 2024, but its global influence remained steadfast. K-movies, one of the hardest-hit sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, regained hope with two films surpassing the 10-million-viewer mark this year. 

Meanwhile, K-dramas achieved further globalization via major OTT platforms, successfully cementing their position with the unique appeal of K-romantic comedies. K-pop expanded its reach beyond Asia and North America to Europe and South America, solidifying its place as a genre in its own right.

The 2024 Korean drama scene was defined by K-romance. Unlike previous years, when dramas of diverse genres garnered widespread popularity, this year saw romantic series dominating the hearts of viewers at home and abroad.

Two standout hits were 'Queen of Tears', starring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, and 'Lovely Runner', featuring Byun Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon. These dramas captured not only high viewership ratings but also dominated cultural buzz, showcasing the undeniable power of K-romance. According to Naver's "2024 Year-End Keyword Recap," these two dramas ranked first and second, respectively.

'Queen of Tears' broke records as tvN’s highest-rated series ever, with a 24.9% viewership rating, and topped Netflix’s non-English TV series chart for seven consecutive weeks following its debut.

'Lovely Runner' also created a global sensation. Despite not featuring a star-studded cast or a celebrated writer with a history of consecutive hits, Time Magazine recently ranked 'Lovely Runner' as the best K-drama of the year (excluding ongoing series), praising its “well-crafted story despite lacking a massive budget or big-name actors.”

In contrast to the success of dramas, Korean variety shows faced significant struggles in 2024. Despite ambitious attempts by the three major terrestrial broadcasters to launch new programs, none achieved notable success.

However, OTT platforms like Netflix leveraged variety shows as a new weapon alongside their drama content. Netflix’s 'Culinary Class Wars' became a standout hit, marking the first Korean variety show to top the global non-English TV category for three consecutive weeks. 

This sparked renewed interest in “cooking shows,” leading traditional broadcasters to roll out similar programs in response.