The Birth of K-Dramas: Iconic Korean Drama with 57.6% Viewership That Conquered the Living Room, Now on Netflix

A legendary Korean drama that caused a massive sensation when it aired is now available on Netflix.

The drama in question is 'Lovers in Paris', an SBS weekend special series that aired from June 12 to August 15, 2004, with a total of 20 episodes. The drama centers around the love story between a chilly heir to a conglomerate and an ordinary woman, blending romantic comedy with deep emotional moments. Recently, Netflix Korea has included 'Lovers in Paris' in its upcoming releases, with the show set to be available for streaming starting on the 26th.

The iconic SBS drama Lovers in Paris, which originally aired from June 12 to August 15, 2004, has been released in full on the streaming platform, drawing renewed attention. The drama made waves at the time with a 57.6% peak rating for its first episode and an average rating of 41.1% (based on Nielsen Media Research for the Seoul metropolitan area), securing its place in Korean television history. It even ranked as the 11th highest-rated drama of all time in South Korea.

Notably, the drama featured iconic lines such as "Baby, let’s go" and "That man is my man, why can’t I say that?" which became deeply ingrained in Korean pop culture. The leading actors, Park Shin-yang (Han Ki-ju), Kim Jung-eun (Kang Tae-young), and Lee Dong-gun (Yoon Soo-hyuk), became stars almost overnight due to their performances in this show.

In a 2023 appearance on tvN’s You Quiz on the Block, Park Shin-yang reflected on the overwhelming popularity of Lovers in Paris. Host Yoo Jae-suk remarked, "The highest rating for Lovers in Paris was 57.6%. The entire country was in chaos. The 'baby, let’s go' craze was everywhere. Didn’t people ask for it everywhere you went?" Park Shin-yang responded, "That’s right. It’s still like that today."

Yoo Jae-suk also mimicked famous lines from the drama and commented, "It was so popular, it was a true syndrome. Everything about Park Shin-yang's character became iconic. People bought neckties because of him. His hairstyle, even the piggy bank," reflecting on the immense cultural impact of the show.

However, the ending of Lovers in Paris left some fans with a sense of emptiness. The love story between Han Ki-ju and Kang Tae-young was implied to be part of Tae-young’s novel, leading to a bitter disappointment among viewers. This open-ended conclusion caused significant controversy at the time, and in 2017, Kim Eun-sook, the writer, expressed regret over the ending in an interview. Even after more than 20 years, the drama continues to be discussed.

Recently, viewers have commented, "The best drama of its time… my heart races and flutters every time I watch it again," and "One of Korea’s masterpieces," while others marvel at how "It's hard to believe this is a 20-year-old series. Truly amazing." Some fans even reflected on Kang Tae-young, saying, "She must have been such a happy woman." The drama is still regarded by many as a timeless classic.

As of December 13, Netflix Korea's Top 10 Series includes recent releases like 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', 'Heart Pairing', 'Do You Like Brahms?', and 'K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie'.

Netflix Korea's Top 10 Series Ranking (as of 2:00 PM, December 13):

When Life Gives You Tangerines

The Witch

Heart Pairing

K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie

Screwballs

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call

The Story of Pearl Girl

Melo Movie

Sakamoto Days

The Potato Lab