20th June 2023, Mumbai: Since their announcement, the K-dramas King the Land and See You in My 19th Life have captured the interest of viewers. The two shows had a big premiere on June 17 and have already racked up some remarkable ratings. In reality, after a strong start, the second episodes saw an increase in viewing, with the first episode averaging 7.5% of the country’s viewers and the second recording a 5.5% average. The two shows’ Indian crowds, meanwhile, have been angry.
Due to their intriguing plotlines, unmistakable aesthetics, and cast members with exceptional visual skills, Korean culture and, in particular, K-dramas, have attracted a fair amount of interest in India. They were upset when they learned that Netflix would not be releasing King the Land and See You in My 19th Life on the same day as the rest of the world. The Hindi versions of See You in My 19th Life and King the Land will be accessible on the streaming service starting on June 29 and July 13, respectively, according to Netflix India, despite the fact that reviews have continued to flow in from around the world.
The Indian division of the platform has not provided any information regarding the cause of the airing delay or whether there is a justification for it. If the reactions of the viewers are to be believed, this appears to be a new marketing strategy even though it is not the first time that a Korean show is not broadcast globally at the same time as its premiere. As of right moment, Netflix India has not commented on the matter, and there are no plans to do so anytime soon.
It’s unclear why King the Land and See You in My 19th Life haven’t been published yet given the high demand from Indian viewers, where three of the top ten series are currently Korean (The Good Bad Mother at No. 7, Bloodhounds at No. 8, and True Beauty at No. 10).
The two programmes cover the various romantic subgenres, with the first focusing on a fantastical element involving past incarnations and a woman with a magical ability, and the latter taking a comedic approach to office romance. With a fantastic primary cast for both programmes and greater than ever expectation, it remains to be seen if Netflix India can actually meet the demand.
By Khushboo Singh