hankyoreh

Still from the Netflix original series “Hellbound” (provided by Netflix)

The South Korean-produced Netflix original series “Hellbound” has managed to reach No. 1 on the streaming service’s global TV series ranking just 24 hours after being released — a feat that “Squid Game” took eight days to pull off.

As of Sunday, “Hellbound” — the webtoon-based drama directed by Yeon Sang-ho released on Friday — ranked first on the list of top Netflix TV shows on FlixPatrol, a website that ranks content on global streaming services. This is the first time a Korean TV series on Netflix has reached the No. 1 spot in a single day.

Still from the Netflix original series “Hellbound” (provided by Netflix)

“Hellbound” topped the charts in 24 countries, including South Korea, Belgium, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Mexico and Saudi Arabia; second in 17 countries, including Denmark, France, India and Brazil; and third in the US, Canada and Turkey. It managed to oust the reigning “Squid Game” from the top spot, bumping it to second place. “The King’s Affection,” a historical drama produced by KBS2, ranked ninth, putting three Korean programs in Netflix’s top 10 global rankings.

“I was shocked that the series reached first place on its first day. I knew that interest in Korean media had risen because of the huge success of ‘Squid Game,’ but this brought it home to me,” Yeon said in a phone call with the Hankyoreh on Sunday, adding that more foreign fans have been revisiting his 2016 film “Train to Busan” recently.

Yeon pointed to the new show’s themes and genre conventions as the secret behind it rocketing to the top of the charts. “I think the main reasons are the fact that it deals with universal themes such as life and death, crime and punishment, and how we’re supposed to live our lives. Also, that it falls into the genre of cosmic horror, which is well-known overseas but not as familiar to Koreans,” he said.

Film critic Kim Do-hun said, “Yeon offered a brutal depiction of the contradictions of Korean society and the psychological state of panic in the animations he has directed. ‘Hellbound’ offers Yeon’s unique take on the genre-based narrative of there being no hope to be found.”

Still from the Netflix original series “Hellbound” (provided by Netflix)

Based on the webtoon of the same name that Yeon collaborated on with comic artist Choi Gyu-seok, in the world of “Hellbound” infernal monsters appear, bringing with them decrees notifying people that they will be going to hell at a specified time. The monsters then show up at the appointed time to take their victims’ lives, dragging them to hell in a matter of moments.

The six-episode series tells the story of a new religious organization called the New Truth Society that has taken over the world, calling the events underway “God’s will,” and a group of people determined to uncover the truth of the matter.

Yeon is currently filming “Jung-E,” a Netflix sci-fi film about robots slated for release in the second half of next year.

By Oh Seung-hun, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]