ktown konnection #40 | "Culinary Class Wars" dominates Non-English TV with 4M global views

IN THIS ISSUE:

• “Culinary Class Wars” enjoys 3-week streak atop Netflix’s Global Non-English TV - and its food creations are sold out

• North Korea is cutting off ties - roads, railways, and at the border

• South Korean woman sues government for daughter’s wrongful adoption

• A group of octogenarian rappers are going viral

PREMIERES

• October 9 “Family By Choice” (JTBC) (Viki)

• October 10 “Dong-jae, The Good or The Bastard” (TVING)(tbc)

• October 11

  • “Doubt” (MBC)(Viki)

  • “Uprising” (feature)(Netflix)

  • “Last of the Sea Women” (feature)(Apple TV+)

• October 12

  • A Virtuous Business” (JTBC)(Netflix)

  • “The Star Is Born” (tvN)(tbc)

This week’s premieres 5 series + 2 features, and your queue has plenty to curl up to.

I’m watching the historical but graphic-looking feature “Uprising” (Park Jung-min has been on my watch list since indie “Bleak Night”), which opened this year’s BIFF.

Crime drama “Doubt” may be just the thing for Han Suk-kyu fans, and that sycophantic prosecutor from the brilliant “Stranger” is back in spinoff “Dong-jae, The Good or The Bastard.” (Sheesh, some of these English titles need a solid copywriter).

“The Star Is Born” features Kim Tae-ri and Ra Mi-ran as part of a theater company in 1950s Korea (US platform tbc). “Family By Choice” gives heartwarming family vibes.

“A Virtuous Business” sees an empowered homemaker (Kim So-yeon) turn to selling adult toys - in a countryside town in the early 90s.

The gist

The dark stuff: “Doubt,” “Dong-jae,” “Uprising.”

Lighter fare: “Family By Choice,” “A Virtuous Business” (likely with PG-13 fare), “The Star Is Born.”

Slice-of-life: Feature doc “Last of the Sea Women” looks at the disappearing league of haenyeo (female free divers) on Jeju Island.

US distrib update “Black Out” is on Hulu.

Now bingeable “Love Next Door" (16 eps), “DNA Lover”(16 eps), “Black Out” (14 eps).

Wednesday-Thursday October 9-10
“Perfect Family” (KBS) (Viki)
“Seoul Busters” (Disney+)
“Dog Knows Everything” (KBS)(Viki)
“Family By Choice” (JTBC)(Viki)

Friday-Saturday October 11-12
“Pachinko 2” (Apple TV+)
“What Comes After Love” (Coupang Play) (Viki)
“The Judge From Hell” (SBS) (Hulu)

Saturday-Sunday October 12-13
“Iron Family” (KBS) (Viki)
“A Virtuous Business” (JTBC)(Netflix)

Monday-Tuesday October 14-15
“Dear Hyeri” (ENA/Genie TV)(Viki)

(*Streaming platforms shown are for U.S. only; distributors vary by country.)

KDRAMA/FILM/TV/ETC.

Among Top 10 Global Titles Today (10/10/24) 🌎 “No Gain No Love,“ “Pachinko 2,” “Love Next Door,” “Culinary Class Wars,” FlixPatrol.

As for Netflix’s Top 10 Non-English TV (Sep 30-Oct 6): “Culinary Class Wars” enjoys a 3-week streak at #1; “Gyeongseong Creature 2,” and “Love Next Door” round out the top 3, while season one of “Gyeongseong Creature” popped back at #9.

Korea’s watching 📺 “Iron Family,” “No Gain No Love,” “Black Out” (Sep 30-Oct 6). dramabeans