North American Views x12, Revenue x8—The K-Drama & Webtoon Taking the World by Storm!

One Korean drama has taken the industry by storm, causing a fivefold surge in its original webtoon’s viewership while dominating OTT rankings for two consecutive weeks—it’s none other than 'Secret Relationships', the latest sensation on Watcha.

Kakao Entertainment announced on March 11 that its webtoon Secret Relationships has achieved remarkable success both domestically and internationally following the release of its drama adaptation. Since the drama’s premiere, revenue from the original webtoon has tripled in Korea and skyrocketed eightfold in North America, drawing widespread attention.

According to Kakao Entertainment, within just one week of the drama’s release on February 27, webtoon views on Kakao Page and Kakao Webtoon quintupled, while revenue also tripled. On North America’s webtoon platform, Tapas, views surged 12 times, and revenue spiked eightfold, highlighting its explosive global popularity.

Despite having been completed last year, the webtoon is experiencing a binge-reading phenomenon, with fans revisiting the story from start to finish. It has now surpassed 170 million cumulative views in Korea, proving its enduring appeal.

A Global Hit Across Multiple OTT Platforms

The drama Secret Relationships has been well received not just in Korea but also in international markets, including Japan. With the release of episodes 3 and 4, the series has topped Watcha’s domestic OTT rankings for two consecutive weeks and secured the No. 1 spot in the Asian drama category on Japan’s Fuji TV On Demand (FOD).

This romance drama revolves around four protagonists with distinct personalities, whose entangled relationships create a compelling love story. The cast includes Kim Jun-seo, Cha Sun-hyung, Cha Jung-woo, and Kim Ho-young.

Meet the Cast & Characters

Kim Jun-seo, who plays Jung Da-on, is an active idol from WEi, having debuted in 2020. While maintaining his music career, he takes on the role of a prestigious university graduate with a noble aura and exceptional intelligence, who outwardly seems to have a perfect life but secretly struggles with financial burdens and the responsibility of caring for his younger sibling.

Cha Jung-woo (real name Chu Jung-woo) recently gained attention for serving as a stand-in for actor Chu Young-woo in JTBC’s hit drama 'The Tale of Lady. Ok'. The revelation that the two are actually biological brothers sparked even more buzz. In Secret Relationships, he portrays Kim Soo-hyun, a chaebol heir with an intense personality—someone who always gets what he wants at any cost.

Cha Sun-hyung plays Joo Sung-hyun, a warm-hearted and sincere individual who approaches relationships without ulterior motives. His defining trait is his unwavering devotion to the person he loves. Meanwhile, Kim Ho-young takes on the role of Shin Jae-min, the youngest professor at his university. He is a charismatic yet supportive mentor to Jung Da-on, having watched over him since their school days.

A Groundbreaking BL Adaptation for Watcha

Secret Relationships is Watcha’s second exclusive BL drama, following the success of 'The New Employee' (2022). It also marks the first BL webtoon adaptation to be produced by the streaming platform.