Full list of analyzed Starflix dramas; interview protocol; comparative budget tables.
[Your Name/Institution] Date: April 14, 2026
Since the early 2020s, the Korean Wave (Hallyu) has entered a mature phase of global streaming dominance. Netflix’s investment of over $2.5 billion in Korean content (2023–2026) has produced global hits such as Squid Game and The Glory . However, scholars have noted a trend toward “formulaic globalization”: longer seasons, increased violence, and Western-style cliffhangers that sometimes dilute traditional K-drama conventions such as the 16-episode arc, the “dramatic irony of fate,” and the emphasis on family/community ties (Jin, 2025).
Since the early 2020s, the Korean Wave (Hallyu) has entered a mature phase of global streaming dominance. Netflix’s investment of over $2.5 billion in Korean content (2023–2026) has produced global hits such as Squid Game and The Glory . However, scholars have noted a trend toward “formulaic globalization”: longer seasons, increased violence, and Western-style cliffhangers that sometimes dilute traditional K-drama conventions such as the 16-episode arc, the “dramatic irony of fate,” and the emphasis on family/community ties (Jin, 2025). Full list of analyzed Starflix dramas; interview protocol;