Media | Streaming Platforms in Check – How to Find Your K-Crush Again

We’ve all been there: You’ve just binged your way through a globally praised K-Drama and find yourself thinking: Who is this charismatic actor or this powerful actress – and where can I watch more of them? Wikipedia might help, but the German entries are often brief – the English or Korean ones tend to be far more detailed. Thanks to reliable translation tools, diving into the original sources isn’t as intimidating as it used to be. But then comes the letdown: the drama or film you’re searching for doesn’t show up on Netflix, Prime, or Disney+. Maybe one of those shady streaming sites? Please don’t! Not only does illegal streaming harm the industry – in Germany, it can also have serious legal consequences. No stare from your 도깨비 is worth that. (Stay strong!) To help you navigate this jungle legally (and drama-filled), here’s a breakdown of the platforms where you can continue your K-Drama love story – including a few you might not have heard of yet.

Netflix

Netflix offers a broad range of K-Dramas – from romantic to dark, from heartwarming to intense. Many titles are Netflix Originals or co-productions, often developed with Studio Dragon, one of Korea’s biggest drama studios. AStory, Siren Pictures (Squid Game), and Climax Studio (D.P.) have also worked closely with the platform. Prices start at €4.99/month (with ads). To access everything, you’ll need a Standard or Premium plan.

Netflix has positioned itself as an active co-producer, deliberately collaborating with both major players and indie studios – with great success.

Website: netflix.com

Disney+

Disney+ has significantly expanded its K-Drama library in recent years, focusing on prestige dramas, thrillers, and fantasy series. Many of these titles are produced in collaboration with SLL (formerly JTBC Studios), as well as KeyEast and Arc Media. Plans start at €5.99/month (with ads). Keep in mind: older devices may have trouble running the newest app versions.

Website: disneyplus.com

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video only offers a handful of K-Dramas – mostly older licensed titles or individual films. Many are not included in the standard Prime membership and require separate payment, either through rental/purchase or via paid add-on channels like AsianCrush or Kocowa+ (if available). There’s no structured collaboration with Korean studios yet, making Prime more of a side-stop than a true K-Drama destination. Prime currently costs €8.99/month in Germany.

Webseite: amazon.com

Rakuten Viki

Viki is arguably the most fan-friendly platform for international K-Drama lovers. Many shows are available for free (with ads), while exclusive or newer content requires a Viki Pass (starting at €5.99/month). The platform offers a wide selection of romantic, historical, and modern series – often subtitled in many languages and accompanied by a lively community.

Content is sourced from a wide variety of production companies such as Pan Entertainment, Zium Content, Hwa&Dam Pictures, and AStory. Heads up: If you’re searching for specific stars, regional restrictions may apply – and yes, speaking from personal experience, this can be particularly frustrating for Gong Yoo fans.

Website: viki.com

Kocowa+

In North America, Kocowa operates as an independent platform offering content from Korea’s three major broadcasters: KBS, SBS, and MBC. In Europe, access isn’t widely promoted but still works – for example, through a regular Kocowa+ subscription starting at €4.89/month.

The platform features family dramas, daily shows, and classic content – including some older, hard-to-find titles not available elsewhere.

Content is mostly produced by in-house teams or partner studios like Victory Contents, Raemongraein, and Hunus Entertainment. If you frequently watch KBS/SBS/MBC series or want guaranteed access to uncensored, ready-to-watch content, Kocowa+ can be a great complement to Viki.

Website: kocowa.com

TVING & Wavve (VPN needed, use at your own risk)

TVING, like Studio Dragon, is owned by CJ ENM and features a wide array of in-house productions and titles from CJ’s portfolio – including content by smaller studios like Bon Factory or Film Monster.

Webseite: tving.com

Wavve is a joint venture between KBS, SBS, and MBC. Many shows overlap with the Kocowa catalog, alongside exclusive content under the Wavve Studios label.

Website: wavve.com

Both platforms are officially unavailable in Germany. To access them, users typically need a VPN and a Korean payment method.

Note: Using a VPN for streaming lies in a legal gray area. While not explicitly illegal, it may violate the platform’s terms of service – which could, in theory, result in account suspension.

Conclusion: If you're hunting for specific K-Dramas or actors, chances are you'll need to juggle multiple streaming platforms. While services like Viki or Kocowa+ do offer free versions, they are often flooded with ads which makes watching the shows quite uncomfortable. A subscription is often the only way to go – but the costs are still manageable, especially compared to the major platforms. Want to save money? Consider streaming bundling – combining multiple services under one umbrella. In Germany, MagentaTV (Website: magentatv.de) currently offers one of the best deals, with bundled access to Netflix, Disney+, RTL+ and more.