9 Top Korean Drama Apps for Binge-Watching Your Favorite Shows in 2023
Regardless of what Korean drama trope is your favorite, there’s one sure thing: Not much will create more drama in your life than desperately wanting to binge your favorite Korean TV shows but being unable to.
Even though you can watch Korean web series as long as you’re connected to the internet, many K-drama fans will still be left wanting all the study materials while watching their favorite programs.
With these nine Korean drama apps, you can watch whenever you want—no fuss, no drama! (Just plenty of K-drama.)
Contents
- Viki
- FluentU
- OnDemandKorea
- Kocowa+
- Viu
- iFlix
- KorTV
- Netflix
- Hulu
- How to Pick the Right Korean Drama App(s)
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Viki
Viki is a big name in Korean drama. In fact, you may have already enjoyed it online or via your Roku. You might not know, however, that Viki is also available on mobile.
Subtitling options for the app are remarkable; they’re available in 200+ languages because they’re submitted by users. Note that not all languages are available for all programs, but regardless of what language you want to see subtitles in, you’re likely to find a program that offers subtitles in that language.
Another awesome feature of the Viki app is that you can actually chat with other users as you watch, which is a great way to connect with other K-drama fans and possibly other Korean language learner.
FluentU
The FluentU program turns authentic videos like K-drama clips and trailers into learning opportunities. Since these are short clips, they’re more approachable than full episodes, and easier to focus on for studying.
Each clip has built-in Korean subtitles and professional English translations so that you’ll understand everything that’s going on. You can turn either off, and you can interact with the Korean subtitles to get definitions, grammar info, example sentences and clips of other FluentU videos of the word—just by tapping or clicking on the word.
As you’re watching, you can also convert unknown Korean words to flashcards for later review through personalized quizzes and use the progress bar to know when each word is learned.
OnDemandKorea
OnDemandKorea is another popular streaming option that you might be familiar with from using it on your computer or Roku. However, OnDemandKorea also offers a popular mobile app.
The app features plenty of free content, and new programs are uploaded just hours after they air, giving you a great way to dig up a conversation topic for your next language exchange.
Kocowa+
Kocowa is a premium streaming service that you may already have checked out on your computer, but you can use it on your favorite mobile device, too.
And Kocowa’s features are pretty appealing. While some content requires a subscription, you can watch shows for free for 24 hours after they’ve aired in Korea.
Not only that, the app saves your spot between devices, so you don’t have to fast-forward to find where you left off.
Viu
If you’re in Asia, the Middle East or South Africa, then Viu is a popular streaming platform that’s worth checking out!
One standout aspect is that it features updated Korean dramas fast. Depending on your subscription, you can get them as quickly as four hours after live showing, with subtitles included in English and five other languages like Chinese and Indonesian.
Viu partners up with major Korean broadcasters, so it likely has most of the Korean shows that you’re looking for (including all of the shows of top celebrities like IU and Lee Min-ho).
iFlix
iFlix is another Asia-based platform that caters to more than 20 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. It specializes in Asian shows, with a huge collection of Korean dramas.
You won’t run out of choices here because it automatically recommends shows that you might like. It’s built for watching on the go too because you can download shows for offline viewing for up to 30 days.
KorTV
Unlike the other apps on this list, KorTV lets you watch both Korean dramas and 24/7 live broadcasts from TV channels.
To start with, they have a base library of hundreds of on-demand dramas. Aside from those, you can tune in to TV channels like TV Chosun and KBS Korea, which show dramas, documentaries, variety shows and more.
Here’s an additional perk for Korean music fans: the app includes a channel that streams K-Pop 24/7!
Netflix
Ah, Netflix. The very word brings such joy. And for Korean students, there’s no shortage of Korean dramas to watch on Netflix. Just search “Korean drama,” and you’ll have plenty of options.
You may be used to watching Netflix on your computer, smart TV or Roku, but you can also watch it on your phone.
The mobile app offers all the great features you’re familiar with: You can watch immediately, you can search, you can change subtitling options, etc. Additionally, the app will sync with your other devices so that you can easily pick up where you left off.
Hulu
Hulu is another popular streaming option with some great Korean dramas.
You can access all of Hulu’s content through the mobile app. Excitingly enough, Hulu is designed to be intuitive, so if you start watching Korean dramas, the app will likely suggest more Korean dramas for you to enjoy. The only risk is that this could create a never-ending binge loop from which you’ll be unable to emerge.
How to Pick the Right Korean Drama App(s)
Consider what Korean dramas are available (and do your research!).
Each app features a different set of dramas, so you might want to make sure that the programs you hope to watch are available on your chosen app. However, many apps don’t list what’s available or offerings may change, so you might not be able to find out what’s available on an app until you download it. Luckily, many apps are either free or low-cost, so downloading apps to see what they have often isn’t a huge deal.
For example, if you’re a fan of actress Park So-dam, you could look up her bio on Viki, which currently includes links to two dramas and one movie that are available to watch on the Viki app.
Note the quantity and variety of programs.
How many dramas are available? Are they all similar, or is there more diversity (like historical dramas in addition to modern-day ones, perhaps)? Some apps offer thorough descriptions on their download page, though for others, you may need to download the app and browse to find this information. Regardless, if you’re planning on a K-drama binge, more programs and more variety are usually better.
K-dramas are rich in drama and comedy, and they can even offer insightful commentary on modern life and society within Korea. In that way, they can be much more than entertainment: K-dramas become fruitful lessons not only on the Korean language, but also on Korean culture. With so many K-dramas to choose from, you’re bound to find one that improves your competence in Korean—and delights you along the way.
Pay attention to subtitling options.
If you’re a beginning or intermediate Korean speaker, you may benefit from learning with subtitles, whether they’re in Korean or English. However, once you’re more advanced, you may prefer options that allow you to turn subtitles off so that you can focus exclusively on spoken Korean. For this reason, it’s helpful to pay attention to the subtitling options right off the bat to ensure that your preferred subtitling choice is available.
Consider which app format you like best.
Each app has a different format and interface, and if you plan on using an app often, these things can make a huge difference in overall feel and usability. Therefore, as you try different apps, try to think about which format you’re most comfortable using. After all, when you use the app, your focus should be on the K-dramas—not the app itself.
So if you want your favorite Korean programs with you wherever you go, check out these nine Korean drama mobile apps.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
