First Time Since ‘The Glory’: This Korean Drama Just Shattered Netflix Records!

Netflix has just hit its highest user count in two years—and the reason? The heartwarming, emotionally rich Korean original 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', which has captured audiences not only in Korea but around the world.

According to data platform IGAWorks via Mobile Index, Netflix’s monthly active users (MAU) in March reached 14,094,084, marking the highest since January 2023, when 'The Glory' starring Song Hye-kyo peaked at 14,012,131 users.

The daily active users (DAU) also surged, hitting 4,058,967 on March 29. This is the highest since December 26 last year, when 'Squid Game' Season 2 was released and recorded 4,128,302 DAU.

At the heart of this dramatic rise is 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', a Netflix original drama set on Jeju Island in the 1950s. The story follows Oh Ae-soon, a young girl who dreams of becoming a poet while navigating poverty, prejudice, and the passage of time over six decades. Her journey—filled with love, loss, family struggles, and ultimately, creative triumph—is told with a depth and tenderness that has struck a chord with viewers.

As Ae-soon continues to chase her dream against the harsh tides of reality, the story also unfolds the life of Kwon Sang-cheon (played by Park Bo-gum and Park Hae-joon), a man who loved her deeply but couldn’t express it well. Their intertwined lives pass through all the seasons of human experience: first love, marriage, family conflict, poverty, heartbreak, and grief. The final episode, where an elderly Ae-soon publishes her very own poetry collection, left many viewers in tears.

Following the finale, social media lit up with reactions like, “I’ve never seen a drama like this,” “It felt like my mother’s story,” and “It broke my heart in the most healing way.”

According to Netflix’s official rankings, 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' ranked No. 1 globally in the non-English TV category for viewing hours from March 17 to 23. On April 3, FlixPatrol listed it at No. 8 on Netflix’s global TV show rankings.

Despite its deeply Korean and regional roots—such as Jeju dialect and cultural elements—the drama has resonated far beyond Korea, finding strong support in regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America. Many international viewers praised the actors’ performances, the emotional weight of the dialogue, and the universal themes that transcended language and culture.

More than just a drama, 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' has become a poetic tribute to an entire generation’s life and emotions. It didn’t just move hearts—it moved numbers, playing a powerful role in Netflix’s global growth.