Korea’s Netflix blockbuster Space Sweepers receives global viewership

Described as "South Korea's first space-set blockbuster," Netflix's film Space Sweepers is receiving considerable viewership globally, joining a growing body of Korean movies connected with worldwide audiences.

According to Netflix Inc. on Apr. 21, the science fiction film, directed by Cho Sung-hee, has captured more than 26 million Netflix users during the four weeks since its release on Feb. 5.

In more than 80 countries, Space Sweepers, Korea’s first de facto space opera film, has been on Netflix's “Today’s Top 10” movies list for weeks, signaling the growing popularity of Korean content among global movie watchers, it said.

The film had often ranked Netflix’s most-watched film in the world during last month.

Starring actor Song Joong-ki and actress Kim Tae-ri, Space Sweepers depicts the epic adventure of space cleaners that collect and sell debris from a wounded Earth's orbit. The movie follows one such ship, the Victory, and its crew of misfits, including the former child soldier Kim Tae-ho (Song Joong-ki).

The global streaming giant has said it will strengthen its focus on the Korean market, committing about 550 billion won ($493 million) this year to produce original Korean content.

Netflix has some 3.8 million paid subscribers in Korea as of end-2020.

GROWING CLOUT IN KOREA

The US-based over-the-top (OTT) platform saw its revenue from Korea more than double to 415.5 billion won in 2020 while operating profit almost quadrupled to 8.8 billion won.

On Wednesday, Netflix also announced its global results for the first quarter of this year.

The company said its revenue in the January-March quarter rose 24% to $7.16 billion from the year-earlier period while operating profit increased 27.4% to $1.96 billion.

Netflix finished the first quarter with 208 million global paid membership. In the Asia-Pacific region, its paid membership stood at 26.85 million at the end of March.

Write to Hee-Kyung Kim at hkkim@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.