Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos marks 10 years in Korea at Seoul fan festival
Ted Sarandos joined a two-day Netflix fan festival in Seoul on 24–25 October marking a decade in Korea. It came days after Netflix announced layoffs and a content-chief change in the US.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos took the stage in Seoul on Saturday at an event marking the streamer's tenth anniversary in Korea. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Sarandos took the stage Saturday to share his appreciation for the Korean creative community” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN “The Netflix co-CEO took to the stage at an event in Seoul marking the streamer’s tenth anniversary in Korea” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2The Korea Fan Festival, called "Netflix Janchi", ran on 24 and 25 October at Sangam Oil Tank Culture Park, a former petroleum depot converted into a cultural complex in western Seoul. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Dubbed “Netflix Janchi,” the festivities attracted more than 10,000 local fans” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN “The event ran October 24 and 25.” Read at Deadline ↗ Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter says it drew more than 10,000 fans in person and 3.58 million cumulative views of its online broadcasts. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The event’s online broadcasts drew an additional 3.58 million cumulative views.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Mixed · 2Sarandos said: "Ten years ago, we dreamed big, but none of us could have imagined that Korean stories would move hearts around the world, and land right at the center of global culture." He called Korea "more than a market" and "one of our most treasured partners for the future we are building together." The Hollywood ReporterLC ““For Netflix, Korea is more than a market. It is where we discovered new possibilities, and where we learned how far a story can travel.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN ““Ten years ago, we dreamed big, but none of us could have imagined that Korean stories would move hearts around the world, and land right at the center of global culture,” said Sarandos.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Stars from Squid Game (Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Park Hae-soo), KPop Demon Hunters (Ahn Hyo-seop), D.P., Hellbound, Mask Girl and Culinary Class Wars appeared on stage, alongside casts of upcoming titles. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Squid Game favorites Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun and Park Hae-soo took the stage to reminisce” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN “Ahn Hyo-seop from Kpop Demon Hunters and stars from D.P., Physical 100, Hellbound, Mask Girl, Culinary Class Wars” Read at Deadline ↗ Left · 1Netflix previewed upcoming titles including Lee Chang-dong's Possible Love, due globally on 6 November, and the period drama Tantara, premiering 11 December. Also shown were Grand Galaxy Hotel, She, Wolf, All of Us Are Dead Season 2 and the live-action Solo Leveling, whose release dates have not been announced. The Hollywood ReporterLC “set to debut globally on Netflix on Nov. 6”“which premieres Dec. 11.”“release dates for those four titles have yet to be announced” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Mixed · 2Netflix said Korean content is its most-watched non-English category and that over 80% of its members or subscribers worldwide watch it. More than 200 Korean titles have reached its Global Top 10. The Hollywood ReporterLC “with more than 80 percent of Netflix members worldwide having watched at least one Korean title” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN “Netflix said Korean content was the most-watched non-English language content on the app and that over 80% of subscribers watch it.” Read at Deadline ↗ Left · 1All three seasons of Squid Game are in the top three of the all-time non-English TV list, and Teach You a Lesson is at No. 10, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Korean productions generated more than 12 billion viewing hours between April 2025 and March 2026, second only to US content. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The three seasons of Squid Game occupy the top three spots on Netflix’s all-time most-watched non-English television list”“more than 12 billion viewing hours on Netflix between April 2025 and March 2026” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1Deadline adds that Squid Game Season 1 stayed in the Global Top 10 for 32 consecutive weeks. It also reports that Netflix has worked with more than 80 Korean production companies, filmed in more than 100 towns and cities, and had a third of its originals led by first-time writers or directors. Netflix launched in Korea on 6 January 2016. DeadlineN “Squid Game Season 1 unsurprisingly staying there the longest (32 consecutive weeks)”“working with more than 80 Korean production companies, filming taking place in more than 100 towns and cities”“The streamer launched in the country on January 6, 2016.” Read at Deadline ↗
Left · 1The visit followed a turbulent week at Netflix: The Hollywood Reporter says the company replaced chief content officer Bela Bajaria with Peter Rice and announced layoffs affecting roughly 1,000 employees. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The visit came days after Netflix replaced chief content officer Bela Bajaria with Peter Rice and announced layoffs affecting roughly 1,000 employees” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1Deadline says Netflix's shares fell despite decent third-quarter results and have dropped sharply in 2026, and that Wall Street is spooked by mass layoffs. It says Netflix responded to criticism by pointing to international hits such as Plastic Beauty, The Secret Woman and The Perfect Lie, which are on track to be the most-watched titles ever in Japan, Denmark and the Netherlands. DeadlineN “its shares tumbled despite decent third quarter results”“Netflix countered criticism of its performance in the U.S. by pointing to international titles such as Plastic Beauty, The Secret Woman and The Perfect Lie” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- The Hollywood Reporter presents the visit as a celebration of Netflix's Korean bet, contrasting it with a week of corporate shake-ups.
- Emphasis
- Event detail, the upcoming Korean slate, viewing data, and the point that Korean content stays central to Netflix's strategy.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not discuss share-price falls or Wall Street concern.
- Charged language
- “Swoops Into”“tumultuous week”“purely celebratory”
- For example
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“After a tumultuous week of corporate shake-ups at Netflix, Ted Sarandos traveled to Seoul” — The Hollywood Reporter
“but the mood in Korea was purely celebratory” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline frames the trip as Sarandos shrugging off trouble at home, putting the Korea event alongside Netflix's falling share price and layoffs.
- Emphasis
- Netflix's US troubles, the stock decline, and the company's counter-argument from international hits, plus Korea statistics.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the replacement of Bela Bajaria with Peter Rice or the 3.58 million online views.
- Charged language
- “Shrugs Off”“under fire”“spooked”“further tonic”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Sarandos spoke at a Netflix event in Seoul marking ten years in Korea.
- The event ran 24–25 October with stars of Squid Game, KPop Demon Hunters and other Korean titles.
- Netflix says Korean content is its most-watched non-English category, watched by over 80% of members.
- The visit followed a difficult period for Netflix in the US including layoffs.
Ted Sarandos person
Sarandos thanks Korean creators and fans and calls Korea a treasured partner for Netflix's future.
“To every creator, every actor, every crew member, and every fan in Korea: thank you, from the bottom of my heart.” — Deadline
Netflix organisation
Netflix uses the anniversary to show the scale of its Korean success and, per Deadline, points to international hits to counter criticism of its US performance.
“Netflix countered criticism of its performance in the U.S. by pointing to international titles” — Deadline
“Korean programming is now its most-watched non-English-language content category” — The Hollywood Reporter
Left2 articles
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Ted Sarandos Swoops Into Seoul as Netflix Celebrates 10 Years in Korea
Celebratory Upbeat account of the Seoul festival set against a week of corporate upheaval, concluding Korean content remains central.
Centre1 article
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Ted Sarandos Shrugs Off U.S. Troubles To Mark Netflix’s 10 Years In Korea
Mixed Treats the Korea celebration as a bright spot amid Netflix's share-price and layoff troubles.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 25 Oct 03:21 First VarietyLC ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Squid Game’ Stars Fete Netflix’s Korea Decade as Ted Sarandos Teases ‘Tantara,’ ‘All of Us Are Dead’ Season 2
- 26 Oct 06:05 +26h 45m The Hollywood ReporterLC Ted Sarandos Swoops Into Seoul as Netflix Celebrates 10 Years in Korea
- 26 Oct 08:21 +29h 1m DeadlineN Ted Sarandos Shrugs Off U.S. Troubles To Mark Netflix’s 10 Years In Korea
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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