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Netflix celebrates a decade in South Korea
Netflix Korea marked the 10th anniversary of its local service with “Netflix Feast,” a two-day fan event bringing together stars from some of the platform’s biggest Korean hits.
The festival opened on the 24th at the Oil Tank Culture Park in Seoul’s Mapo district and continues through the 25th. The program includes cast conversations, interactive exhibits, special live performances and “What Next?,” a first look at previously unrevealed upcoming titles.
Hosted by television personality Kim Shin-young, the opening-day retrospective featured performers from “Squid Game,” “KPop Demon Hunters,” “D.P.,” “Culinary Class Wars,” “Hellbound” and “Mask Girl.”
‘Squid Game’ cast reflects on a global phenomenon
Lee Jung-jae, who played Seong Gi-hun in “Squid Game,” said one of his most meaningful memories came from Korean and Asian fans living abroad. Some told him the series made them feel proud of their identity.
Lee said people he met during overseas promotional appearances described the show as a source of comfort while they were struggling far from home. He added that he had simply made a television series but received an emotional response beyond anything he had imagined.
Discussing the third season’s ending, Lee said he was surprised as a viewer that such a successful series did not continue into fourth and fifth seasons. Still, he described director Hwang Dong-hyuk’s decision to end the story with a clear message as an act of conviction and courage.
Lee Byung-hun, who played Front Man Hwang In-ho, recalled receiving a flood of messages after his character removed his mask in the first season. He said the show’s greatest surprise was that a story made in Korean could resonate across countries and cultures, demonstrating how streaming platforms can bring audiences worldwide together around a strong production.
Park Hae-soo, who played Cho Sang-woo, said the series offered comfort during the isolation and pain of the COVID-19 pandemic. He called it a project whose significance to him remains difficult to express with the word “gratitude” alone.
Stars revisit other Korean streaming hits
“KPop Demon Hunters,” an animated film combining K-pop with Korean folklore, was represented by Ahn Hyo-seop, the voice of Jinu, leader of the Saja Boys. Ahn called it a source of pride because of its distinctly Korean cultural elements and said its message had connected with viewers across linguistic and cultural barriers.
“D.P.” stars Jung Hae-in and Koo Kyo-hwan also looked back on the military drama. Jung joked that his character, Ahn Jun-ho, remains stuck in time after the second season and said he hoped the soldier might someday be discharged — a playful expression of interest in a third season. Koo said spending nearly a month with the cast and crew felt like traveling together and gave him colleagues he now considers lifelong friends.
Chefs Hou Deok-juk and Kwon Seong-jun, known on “Culinary Class Wars” as Napoli Matfia, represented the cooking competition. Kwon joked that he was making a living thanks to Netflix and said he would consider competing again because he missed the show’s smoky flavors and distinctive atmosphere.
Actors from “Hellbound” and “Mask Girl” also joined the celebration. Kim Hyun-joo said her multiple projects with Netflix made the anniversary especially meaningful, while Kim Sung-cheol and Kim Shin-rok reflected on going from subscribers to performers appearing on the anniversary stage.
“Mask Girl” star Yeom Hye-ran jokingly addressed praise that she had been “crazy about acting,” saying it sometimes made her sound genuinely unhinged. She described the thriller, which critiques society’s fixation on appearance, as intense but exceptionally well made. Lee Han-byeol said she had thought deeply about how to make viewers understand the humanity of Kim Mo-mi, the complex character she portrayed before cosmetic surgery.
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