'Squid Game 2' and 'Love Scout' Overtaken… '19+ Korean Drama' Claims No. 1 Spot in Just 4 Episodes!

For the first time, a new drama has taken the No. 1 spot in the fourth week of January, emerging as a rising star in Korea’s content market.

That drama is none other than tvN and TVING’s original 'The Queen Who Crowns', a gripping tale of hidden love and political rivalry between King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong. According to Kino Lights’ integrated content rankings for January 13–19, released on the 21st, 'The Queen Who Crowns' climbed to the top spot, surpassing SBS’s 'Love Scout' (starring Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk) and Netflix’s 'Squid Game 2'.

Starring Cha Joo-young and Lee Hyun-wook, 'The Queen Who Crowns' premiered on January 6 and has gained attention for its unique airing strategy. While the TV version is rated 15+, the OTT streaming version is rated 19+, offering a bolder and more intense storyline. The fifth episode, aired on January 20, achieved an average national rating of 5.0% and a peak of 6.7%, taking first place in its time slot among cable and general programming channels.

The drama focuses on Queen Wongyeong, who dreams of a new world and fights alongside her husband, King Taejong, to seize power. It intricately portrays the complex dynamics between king and queen, as well as husband and wife. Episode 5 heightened tensions with a heated conflict over the ceremonial color for a new concubine. From King Taejong threatening the life of concubine Yeongsil to his attempt to bring in a noble-born concubine, and Queen Wongyeong’s psychological battle to resist him, the episode captivated viewers.

With 'The Queen Who Crowns' dethroning previous chart-toppers, changes in the rankings have drawn attention. SBS’s 'Love Scout' slipped to second place. This romantic drama follows the sweet love story of a successful CEO of a headhunting firm and her perfect secretary. It has maintained steady popularity, surpassing a 10% rating in just three episodes and reaching 11.4% in its sixth episode. In third place is JTBC’s 'The Tale of Lady Ok', a survival drama about Ok Tae-young, a fake noblewoman with a fabricated name, status, and husband, and Chun Seung-hwi, an entertainer who risks everything to protect her. After previously holding the top spot for two consecutive weeks in December, the drama re-entered the top rankings.

Netflix’s 'Single’s Inferno 4' claimed fourth place. The dating reality show, where contestants must pair up to escape a deserted island, continues to be a hit, becoming the first Korean Netflix variety show to reach four seasons. Within just five days of its release, it entered the top content rankings.

In fifth place is the blockbuster film 'Harbin', set in 1909 Harbin. This high-stakes thriller has dominated the box office for four consecutive weeks, surpassing 4.5 million viewers with its intense storytelling and a production budget of 30 billion KRW. Other notable mentions include the film 'Hidden Face' in sixth place, Disney+ original series 'Trigger' in seventh, MBC’s 'Motel California' in eighth, Netflix’s 'Squid Game 2' in ninth, and tvN’s 'When the Stars Gossip' rounding out the top ten.

Meanwhile, 'The Queen Who Crowns' continues to attract attention with its bold 19+ version on TVING, showcasing a more daring portrayal of the secret romance between Wongyeong and Taejong. Episode 5 hinted at a potential pregnancy for Charyeong, teasing new conflicts ahead. Additionally, 'The Queen Who Crowns: Dano’s Destiny', a prequel series expanding the drama’s universe, was exclusively released on TVING on the 20th.

Kino Lights provides comprehensive OTT trend rankings, analyzing over 100,000 data points on films, dramas, and variety shows to offer insights into the domestic content market. These rankings have become a key indicator of the market’s direction.