CNN "This Year’s Korean Dramas Are Amazing... 'Jigok' Is the New 'Squid Game'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Following the massive success of Netflix's Korean drama Squid Game, Hellbound has taken the number one spot, prompting foreign media to simultaneously introduce Hellbound's storyline and assess its future box office potential.

On the 23rd (local time), CNN praised, "Korean dramas are killing it this year," calling Hellbound "the new Squid Game."

CNN went on to say, "Netflix's latest Korean drama Hellbound is captivating viewers' hearts," introducing Hellbound as a dark fantasy genre drama.

Based on a Korean webtoon, Hellbound tells the story of a supernatural phenomenon where ordinary people receive a notice of damnation from an unknown entity.

Director Yeon Sang-ho, who has depicted his own dystopia through films like Train to Busan, co-wrote the original webtoon with writer Choi Gyu-seok and also took charge of directing and scripting this drama.

Hellbound ranked first in the non-English TV program category on Netflix's official weekly global top 10 chart from the 15th to the 21st, recording 43.48 million viewing hours.

Hollywood media outlet Deadline reported that Hellbound and the American animation Arcane jumped significantly in Netflix's new weekly rankings, noting that Hellbound surpassed Arcane's viewing hours.

According to Netflix, Arcane, which ranked first among English-language TV programs, recorded 38.42 million viewing hours.

Film-specialized media IndieWire described Hellbound as "the latest Korean blockbuster series targeting your soul," and praised it as "the most notable achievement of this work is capturing the very specific public sentiment of collective helplessness."