The Next 'Squid Game' Has Arrived? Korean Drama Claims No. 1 Spot Shortly After Release!

Korean dramas are once again making waves in the global market, with Netflix’s original series 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call' claiming the top spot in Kino Lights’ integrated content ranking for the first week of February (January 27 to February 2).

The series follows Baek Kang-hyuk, a genius trauma surgeon who takes on the challenge of reviving an ineffective trauma team. Based on a popular webtoon, the show is known for its gripping pace and satisfying narrative. Directed by Lee Do-yoon (Good Friends) and written by Choi Tae-gang (Adamas), the drama is receiving praise for its high-quality production.

Actor Ju Ji-hoon plays Baek Kang-hyuk, delivering an intense performance as a relentless and uncompromising character. His role has earned him widespread acclaim, with audiences calling his portrayal another career-defining performance. With its rapid success on Netflix, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call is being closely watched as a potential global hit, with some speculating it could be “the next Squid Game.”

Top K-Content Rankings of the Week

#1: The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (Netflix)

#2: Hitman 2 (Film)

The action-comedy film, which debuted in theaters on January 22, has surpassed 1.96 million cumulative moviegoers. The story revolves around a hit comic book author who becomes entangled in a terrorist plot inspired by his latest webtoon. The film maintained its No. 1 spot at the box office for seven consecutive days.

#3: Dark Nuns (Occult Film)

Featuring a gripping plot about a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful spirit, the film hit 1 million viewers within six days of its release. In Indonesia, it broke the record for the highest opening for a Korean film and currently ranks second in overall audience numbers.

#4: The Tale of Lady Ok (JTBC Drama)

The drama tells the survival story of Ok Tae-young, a woman whose identity, status, and even her husband’s identity are fake, and Chun Seung-hwi, who risks everything to protect her. Its finale, which aired on January 26, recorded its highest ratings yet, with 14.0% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 13.6% nationwide.

#5: Love Scout (SBS Drama)

This office romance between Ji-yoon, a headhunting company CEO, and Eun-ho, a perfectionist secretary, has maintained its popularity since its debut, frequently topping content rankings throughout its run.

Variety shows also maintained a strong presence, with MBN’s K-trot King 2 ranking 6th. The top 10 also included TVING’s original drama Study Group, the film Secret: Untold Melody, the tvN x TVING drama The Queen Who Crowns, and the highly successful film Harbin.

Kino Lights analyzes integrated popularity across OTT services such as Netflix, Wave, TVING, Disney+, Watcha, and Coupang Play. The latest rankings were determined by analyzing more than 100,000 data points, including films, dramas, and variety shows, as well as current media trends.