Netflix’s latest Korean original series, The East Palace, has made an impressive start on the streaming platform. The TV-MA-rated supernatural fantasy attracted 4.9 million views worldwide in just its first two days, quickly becoming one of the streamer’s strongest-performing non-English releases of the week.
According to Netflix’s official Top 10 rankings, The East Palace debuted at No. 2 on the Global Top 10 Non-English TV chart for the week of July 13–19. When English and non-English television rankings are combined, the series placed No. 4 worldwide, outperforming several high-profile new releases, including The Hawk, starring Will Ferrell.
The East Palace delivers a strong global debut
Premiering on July 17, The East Palace blends historical drama, horror, and fantasy against the backdrop of Korea’s Joseon era. The story follows three unlikely allies as they investigate a mysterious royal curse that has haunted the palace for three decades, uncovering secrets tied to greed, betrayal, and the supernatural.
The series stars Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo, whose performances have drawn praise alongside the show’s atmospheric world-building rooted in Korean folklore. Written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, known for The Guest and Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, the drama is directed by Choi Jung-kyu.
Critics have responded positively to the series, with Rotten Tomatoes currently listing a 100% critics’ score alongside a 90% audience score, reflecting its strong reception among both reviewers and viewers.
The success of The East Palace reinforces Netflix’s ongoing commitment to Korean productions, which have become a major driver of global viewership following hits such as Squid Game. In 2023, Netflix announced a $2.5 billion investment in South Korean content over four years, a strategy that continues to produce internationally successful originals.
While Korean dramas are often developed as single-season stories, The East Palace has already established itself as one of Netflix’s standout fantasy releases of 2026. With all eight episodes now available to stream, the series is well-positioned to remain on Netflix’s global charts in the coming weeks.
