The K-Drama That Started It All: Lee Byung-hun & Song Hye-kyo’s 47.7% Mega-Hit Finally Lands on Netflix

A legendary Korean drama that dominated TV screens with an average rating of over 40% is finally streaming on Netflix. Upon its release, the series is once again drawing massive interest from viewers.

The drama in question is SBS’s ‘All In’, which premiered on January 15, 2003, and ran for 24 episodes until April 3, 2003. The series tells the gripping story of two men from vastly different backgrounds, each gambling everything they have on a final, life-changing showdown.

Starring Lee Byung-hun, Song Hye-kyo, Park Sol-mi, Ji Sung, with Han Ji-min playing their younger counterparts, All In was a high-budget production, boasting a ₩6 billion ($4.5 million) budget. The series included expensive set constructions and overseas location shoots, making it one of the biggest Korean dramas of its time.

Despite its R-rated (19+) restriction due to its gambling-centric storyline, All In still managed to achieve a record-breaking 47.7% peak viewership. It was exported to over 30 countries across Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, and Europe, helping solidify the global rise of K-dramas.

The series earned Lee Byung-hun the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2003 SBS Drama Awards, while Song Hye-kyo won Best Actress, marking their rise to top-tier stardom.

The early 2000s marked a golden era for K-dramas, and All In was one of its defining hits. The show’s intense themes of fate, ambition, and love, coupled with Lee Byung-hun’s gripping portrayal of a man caught between destiny and desire, captivated audiences not just in Korea but worldwide.

Alongside All In, Netflix has added several classic K-dramas from the 2000s, including:

‘Temptation of Wife’ (2008-2009) – The ultimate revenge drama, where a woman returns as a femme fatale to destroy the husband who betrayed her. Written by Kim Soon-ok, the drama recorded a 37.5% peak rating and remains a cultural phenomenon.

‘Rustic Period’ (2002-2003) – A historical epic chronicling Kim Du-han’s legendary life, once boasting over 50% in ratings.

‘Ladies of the Palace’ (2001-2002) – A gripping historical drama centered on Jung Nan-jung’s tumultuous life and struggles for power.

‘We Can’t Stop Them’ (2000-2002) – A beloved family sitcom, blending comedy and heartwarming moments that remain popular to this day.

Current Netflix Korea Top 10 Rankings (Feb. 25, 1 PM KST)

📌 1st – The Witch

📌 2nd – Melo Movie

📌 3rd – Driver: The Lost Screw

📌 4th – The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call

📌 5th – Doctor John

📌 6th – The Blank Menu For You

📌 7th – Overpowered Skills Led Me to Conquer Everything

📌 8th – Please Take Care of My Refrigerator

📌 9th – Sakamoto Days

📌 10th – Zero Day

With All In now streaming on Netflix, K-drama fans—both longtime and new—can relive the epic tale that set the standard for high-stakes storytelling in Korean television history.