KOCOWA Turns 4!

On July 17, 2017, KOCOWA made its official launch. Spearheaded by the Korean Content Platform — a joint venture between South Korea’s Big 3 networks (KBS, MBC, SBS) — the subscription streaming service boasts the most popular K-dramas, variety series, and reality shows on-demand to North and South American viewers. Though the competition was tough, KOCOWA had something that not all platforms offered: professionally subtitled episodes in three languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese). More importantly, the content was uploaded shortly after they aired in Korea.

New business ventures often fail, but KOCOWA has flourished for one primary reason: all of the incredibly loyal and enthusiastic viewers! Seriously, it’s thanks to all of you who talk about KOCOWA and share the shows with your friends, family and even strangers online. Every fan out there has made this anniversary so special.

Without further ado, I want to share the most popular K-dramas and K-variety shows that viewers have watched on KOCOWA over the past four years (July 2017 – June 2017).

TOP 4 KOCOWA K-DRAMAS: 

1⃣ “Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok Joo”

Inspired by the real-life story of Korean Olympic gold-medalist Jang Mi Ran, this K-drama features Lee Sung Kyung, who had to gain muscle and additional weight to portray the college weightlifting champion. Nam Joo Hyuk plays her childhood friend, who initially just thinks of her as his overweight friend and treats her callously,  until he gains maturity and perspective on what qualities are really important in a person.

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2⃣ “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth”

Beautifully-filmed, “Hwarang” is an uneven drama when it comes to the forced romance between a couple with little chemistry. However, it’s worth watching because of the camaraderie between Park Seo Joon and an A-list of idol actors, including BTS’ V, SHINee’s Choi Min Ho and ZE:A’s Park Hyung Sik. 

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3⃣ “The Penthouse”

It’s no wonder “The Penthouse” made this list. The makjang favorite is over-the-top in everything. Flowers — which are a traditional fourth anniversary gift — are prevalent throughout the three seasons, where they are used to depict love and celebrations. But they appear in some of the most ugly scenes, as if the flowers are a visible counterpoint to the evil behavior many of the characters display.

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4⃣ “I Am Not a Robot”

Those of us with allergies know it can be rough not having pets, avoiding certain foods, or refraining from decorating our homes with flowers. But can you imagine being allergic to other human beings? That’s a primary premise for this K-drama, which stars former child actor Yoo Seung Ho (“The Way Home”). The storyline of isolation hits home these days during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many of us were forced to eschew human contact.

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TOP 4 KOCOWA K-VARIETY SHOWS: 

1⃣ “Running Man”

Did you know that fruit is also an acceptable (and practical!) fourth anniversary gift? Peeled and sliced fruit, served with a small fork, is a common dessert and after-school snack. You’ll see various kinds of fruit on Korean shows, but apples have special significance. 사과 — pronounced sa-gwa — is not only the word for apple, but also for apology. On an episode of “Running Man,” the cast members devoted considerable time apologizing to Park Seo Joon because they felt they hadn’t treated him well during an earlier appearance. After they made sure he had a good meal, the cast members allowed him to slap their foreheads (haha). They also gifted him a basket full of apples.

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2⃣ “Home Alone“

It’s not weird for single adults to live at home with their parents in South Korea, but one of the most popular variety shows highlights celebrities who choose to live alone. For actors like Ahn Bo Hyun (“Kairos,” “Descendants of the Sun”), it was necessary for his career to be based out of Seoul, where most of the casting calls are. His episodes showcased his thrifty nature, working out at a boxing ring, taking his mother out for an outing and camping with EXO’s Sehun.

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3⃣ “Master in the House”

To be honest, I’m still not over the departure of two cast members: Astro’s Cha Eun Woo and “Kairos” star Shin Sung Rok, who were both so good (and funny!) on this series. The premise of the show involves giving the regular members the opportunity to learn from experts (masters), and then tackling the projects themselves, whether it’s working at a news station, cooking, or helping communities by volunteering.

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4⃣ “My Little Old Boy“

There’s nothing like a group of moms to keep their celebrity sons in place, especially when they want the “boys” to get married and give them grandchildren. ㅋㅋ It’s really fun watching stars like Kim Jong Kook and Super Junior’s Kim Hee Chul listen to their mothers. And it’s super cute to see how the moms react to handsome guests like Seo In Guk, who shared a hilarious story from his past about getting rejected by an older girl he liked. When he confessed his feelings for her at the top of a Ferris wheel, she immediately rejected him. He said enduring the rest of what seemed like a never-ending ride was incredibly embarrassing for him.

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As a Korean American who loves Korean entertainment, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for loving and supporting Korean shows and for making it possible for KOCOWA to celebrate its fourth anniversary. 감사합니다! Gracias! Obrigada! Thank you very much!