"KPop Demon Hunters" is the most watched title in Netflix history. (Facebook page of Sony Animation Pictures)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

Korean content saw a bonanza of success in 2025 by K-dramas, cinema and K-pop as the popularity of Hallyu (Korean Wave) boomed to new heights worldwide. Now a major axis of global pop culture, Hallyu was unsurprisingly hailed as a "new genre."

Netflix provided a prime stage for such content as K-dramas consistently dominated the top charts in major regions. All three seasons of the blockbuster series "Squid Game" firmly maintained its top position among shows not in English.

Season two on Feb. 7 won Best Foreign Language Series from the U.S. Critics Choice Awards and claimed six honors including Best Drama Series on Aug. 19 at the Golden Derby TV Awards.

The hit K-drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" from March 17-23 and March 31 to April 6 topped Netflix's chart for series not in English. (Netflix)

"The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," "When Life Gives You Tangerines," "Weak Hero," "Mercy for None," "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty," "Genie, Make a Wish," "As You Stood By" and "Dynamite Kiss" also topped Netflix's weekly rankings of content not in English, punctuating the emotional depth and narrative appeal of K-dramas.

"KPop Demon Hunters," however, blew away all competitors in taking the world by storm. In September, the animation eclipsed the first season of "Squid Game" as the most watched title in Netflix history for a series or film, an unprecedented feat.

The film's soundtrack also made history on global music charts, being named Spotify's No. 2 pop album of the year. The title track "Golden" was seventh on Spotify's 2025 Year-End Global Top 10 Songs and 15th on Apple Music's Top Songs of 2025: Global as well as fourth each on the Top 100: Most-Read Lyrics and Top 100: Sing.

Since its release in June, the soundtrack topped Billboard's main singles chart Hot 100 with "Golden" and the main albums chart Billboard 200, opening a new chapter in Korean animation.

Rosé of the girl group BLACKPINK on Sept. 7 holds the award for Song of the Year earned for "APT.," her duet with Bruno Mars, at the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. (Awards' official Facebook page)

In an equally impressive year for K-pop, Rosé of the girl group BLACKPINK on Sept. 7 became the first Korean to win Song of the Year, earning the honor for "APT.," her duet with Bruno Mars. The song ranked third on Spotify's top 10 of 2025 and was No. 1 on four year-end charts of Apple Music.

BLACKPINK's "Jump" also reached the summit of the Spotify's Global Weekly Chart, making it the only K-pop group to top it twice.

Boy band Stray Kids set a Billboard 200 mark by topping the main albums chart for the eighth straight time with "Do It."

RM, leader of K-pop sensation BTS, on May 26 won Favorite K-Pop Artist at the American Music Awards. The music video for his song "Lost" earned three honors including Best Music Video at this year's Shark Music Video Awards of the U.K.

His activities both as a BTS member and solo artist showed the breadth and strength of the K-pop spectrum.

This scene is from the musical "Maybe Happy Ending" on Broadway in New York. (Musical's official Instagram page)

Performing arts and cinema also had a great 2025. The original musical "Maybe Happy Ending" on June 8 clinched six major Tony Awards including Best Direction of a Musical, Best Musical and Best Scenic Design of a Musical.

The critically acclaimed "No Other Choice" by director Park Chan-wook won the International People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 4-14), impressing with an honor that reflects the viewer's perspective.

"The King of Kings," an animated take on the story of Jesus, earned USD 54.51 million in the U.S. 16 days after its April 11 release, beating director Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" to become the highest-grossing Korean film in America.

aisylu@korea.kr