Which Sites To Watch Korean Dramas Legally 2023

If you’re obsessed with watching K-dramas, you’re not alone! But which sites to watch Korean dramas legally?

Video streaming websites have opened up a whole new world of cinema and dramas for us to watch.

Related: Best Detective Korean Dramas

My Korean heart just loves how everyone in the west is now discovering amazing Korean dramas and movies as these shows become available on Netflix.

There’s just one bummer, not all of these awesome Korean dramas are on Netflix.

But there are several sites to watch Korean dramas legally. They are just not as well known.

Some of these sites require a subscription fee just like Netflix, others are free!

Sites To Watch Korean Drama Legally	Subscription Fee	Top Drama Available
Netflix	$8.99 per month	Squid Game, Crash Landing On You
Viki	$4.99 per month	Descendants of the Sun, Guardian: The Great and Lonely God
Viu	HK$18 per month	Hotel Del Luna, Dr. John, The Veil
OnDemandKorea	$6.99 per month	About Her, The Veil, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Hulu	$5.99 per month	Boys Over Flowers, Descendants of the Sun
Kocowa	$6.99 per month	Coffee Prince, The Veil, Penthouse

Table of Contents

I’ve listed some of the sites to watch Korean dramas legally below. Check them out!

Netflix

Is It Free? – No
Subscription Charges – $8.99 – Basic, $13.99 – Standard, $17.99 – Premium
Dramas Available – Squid Game, Crash Landing On You, Vincenzo, It’s Okay to Not be Okay

Perhaps the most obvious (and the most popular) website to watch Korean drama.

A lot of people in the USA, UK, etc. did get familiar with Korean movies and TV shows thanks to Netflix.

Even today K-dramas like Squid Game and Crash Landing on You are among the most-watched shows on the streaming platform.

You can watch these shows on HD and Premium HD quality, something that’s difficult to do on illegal and shady websites.

Yes, the subscription fee is a bit much. But Netflix has a repertoire of other stuff you can watch.

Also, you can choose a family plan and add multiple members to your inner circle.

If you still don’t want to commit to paying $8-$13 a month, you can get the 30-day free trial.

Just be sure to cancel your membership before the 30 days are up if you don’t want a deduction from your bank account.

Related: Check out the best Korean dramas on Netflix streaming right now!

Viki

Is It Free? – No
Subscription Charges – $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
Dramas Available – Descendants of the Sun, Guardian: The Great and Lonely God, My Love From The Stars

Viki or Viki Rakuten is another streaming platform that you can use to watch K-dramas legally.

This platform is a lot like Hulu when it’s come to its subscription model.

You’ll have to pay to watch the shows here by buying a Viki Pass, but there is also a free trial for 30 days you can try.

Viu

Is It Free? – Both Free and Paid Content Available
Subscription Charges – HK$18/month
Dramas Available – Hotel Del Luna, Dr John, At Eighteen

Which sites to watch korean dramas legally

Viu is a Hong–Kong-based streaming service available in multiple languages. If you’re not a fan of subtitles, you can watch your favorite Korean shows here in English.

The only drawback is that Viu is not available for USA-based audiences. It mostly operates in Singapore, the Philippines, India, and other neighboring Asian countries.

If you want to watch K-dramas on Viu, you can watch using a VPN to a Hong Kong Ip address. It’s not the most honest way to go about it, but it’s not illegal like using a torrent website.

AsianCrush

Is It Free? – Yes
Subscription Charges – None
Dramas Available – Risky Romance, Boys Over Flowers, Sweet Revenge,

Live in the United States or Canada? Want to watch Korean dramas for free?

If the answer to both of these questions is a yes, then you should definitely check out AsianCrush.

It’s one of the sites to watch Korean dramas legally that also doesn’t cost you anything.

Well, there is a paid subscription if you want to get rid of the ads, but if you’re looking for a free bingeing session AsianCrush is perfect.

It’s also got a good selection of K-dramas and movies, so no complaints there!

Kocowa

Is It Free? – No
Subscription Charges – $6.99/month or $69.99/year, or $0.99/day
Dramas Available – Coffee Prince, The Veil, Penthouse

With the Hallyu wave sweeping through the world, South Korea has recognized the potential of its own soft power.

So it’s not surprising that Korean TV networks have found a way to get Korean content to their western audience.

Kocowa is a streaming service that is based in America, but it’s the brainchild of their Korean broadcasting companies KBS, MBC, and SBS.

However, I thought Kocowa was a bit pricey.

I mean yes, its standard plan is still less expensive than Netflix’s basic plan, but Netflix has a whole lot of other English language and world content you can enjoy. Kocowa is limited to South Korean shows.

Youtube

Is It Free? – Yes
Subscription Charges – None
Dramas Available – The Penthouse, Bride of the Water God, Sweet Revenge

Now here’s a neat little hack for you! If you’re scratching your head about where to watch Korean dramas for free, you should try Youtube.

Yes, you heard that right! Youtube. A simple search will tell you that there are several channels (legit ones, might I add) that have uploaded entire episodes of certain K-dramas on Youtube.

And so many people don’t know about this!

You can watch your favorite Korean dramas here without having to pay a subscription fee or risking viruses or a lawsuit from downloading illegal stuff from torrents.

OnDemandKorea

Is It Free? – Both Free and Paid Content Available
Subscription Charges – $6.99/month for VIP access
Dramas Available – About Her, The Veil, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

Here’s another site to watch K-dramas legally if you’re living in North or South America!

OnDemandKorea is website freely available in the USA and the best part is there are several K-dramas on here that you can watch for free.

It’s completely legal and not a torrent site. You may have to pay extra for VIP access if you want to watch certain shows that come under paid content.

But it’s still a cheaper than Kocowa and Netflix. And anyway they have a 14-day trial period that you can use if you just want to binge something during a vacation.

I did find that most of the K-dramas available here do not have proper subtitles, so that may be a problem.

Hulu

Is It Free? – No
Subscription Charges – $5.99/month
Dramas Available – Boys Over Flowers, Descendants of the Sun, While You Were Sleeping

Hulu TV is a bundled streaming service, which means you can watch shows from Netflix, and other TV channels in one place.

The monthly subscription for Hulu is 5.99 dollars a month, which is lesser than Netflix’s basic plan.

However, this monthly subscription is only limited to certain TV shows and movies available.

You’ll have to buy a more extensive (and more expensive) package if you want to watch the content behind the paywall.

Still, there are several Hollywood movies and South Korean stuff on Hulu, so I found the price worthwhile.

Where I Can Watch Korean Drama With English Subtitles

If you’re an avid fan of Korean dramas, you know the struggle of trying to find a reliable and legal source to watch them with English subtitles.

There’s nothing more frustrating than finding a show you’re dying to watch, only to discover it’s not available in your region or it’s only offered on illegal streaming sites. Fortunately, there are several sites where you can watch Korean dramas legally and with English subtitles.

One such site is Viki.com, which has an extensive library of Korean dramas available for free. The site is user-friendly and has a dedicated community of fans who are passionate about Korean dramas.

Another great option is Netflix, which has a growing selection of Korean dramas, including popular titles like “Crash Landing on You” and “Itaewon Class.” While you do need to pay for a subscription, the quality and convenience of the service make it worth the cost.

If you’re looking for something more niche, check out OnDemandKorea.com, which offers a range of Korean dramas and variety shows.

The site is free, but you’ll need to create an account to watch. Overall, while it may take some digging, there are plenty of legal sites out there where you can watch Korean dramas with English subtitles.

Don’t give in to the temptation of illegal streaming sites – support the industry and enjoy your favorite shows guilt-free.

What Are The Best Free Korean Streaming Sites

For fans of Korean dramas, finding the best free streaming sites to watch your favorites can be a daunting task. There are numerous illegal websites that offer free streaming, but using them can put your device at risk of malware and viruses.

For fans who prefer to watch legally and safely, here are some of the best free Korean streaming sites:

1. Viki: Viki is a popular site for Korean dramas and offers a vast library of both new and classic dramas. The site also offers subtitles in multiple languages, making it accessible for diverse audiences.

2. KOCOWA: KOCOWA is a global streaming site for Korean dramas, and offers a wealth of popular shows, including the latest episodes of current favorites. The site is free to use, but some content may require a premium subscription.

3. OnDemandKorea: OnDemandKorea gives access to Korean dramas, variety shows, and news programs. The site offers a good mix of older classics and newer hits, and is free to use.

4. Dramafever: Dramafever is another popular site for Korean dramas, offering a diverse range of popular shows. The site also includes subtitles, making it accessible for non-Korean speaking audiences.

Watching Korean dramas for free can be both exciting and fulfilling, but make sure to use only legal streaming sites to avoid the risk of viruses and other online threats. With these recommended sites, you can enjoy your favorite Korean dramas without paying a penny!

Is Dramacool Legal In The Usa

As a self-proclaimed K-drama addict, I understand the struggles of finding a legit platform to stream our favorite Korean dramas. Unfortunately, many websites, both domestic and international, do not have the appropriate licenses to air these dramas legally.

Hence, as lovers of Korean dramas, it is our responsibility to use legal streaming sites and not encourage or support piracy. Now, the question arises – is Dramacool legal in the USA? The answer is a bit complicated.

Even though Dramacool provides high-quality content and has a massive database of Korean dramas and movies, it is not entirely legal. Though the website is not restricted, it operates in a grey area as it streams content without purchasing the proper licensing.

Moreover, the site frequently changes its domain to avoid copyright infringement issues. This also highlights the site’s illegal nature, as it is continuously moving to evade copyright laws.

Therefore, as much as we’d like to watch our favorite K-dramas on Dramacool, it is not advised to use it.

Instead, we should opt for legal streaming platforms such as Viki, Netflix, Kocowa, and OnDemandKorea, which have licensed the content and provide English subtitles too. In conclusion, as K-drama enthusiasts, it is our duty to watch shows legally and discourage the use of illegal streaming sites.

So, if you want to continue enjoying Korean dramas, please choose any of the above-mentioned legal streaming platforms. Happy streaming!

Is Kocowa Free In The Usa

If you are a fan of Korean dramas, then you must be familiar with streaming sites like Kocowa. But the question on everyone’s mind is: Is Kocowa free in the USA?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Kocowa is a subscription-based streaming service that requires a monthly fee to access its content. This is because Kocowa is a joint venture between three of the biggest broadcasting stations in Korea – KBS, MBC, and SBS – and offers exclusive access to their content.

However, the good news is that subscribing to Kocowa is not too expensive. It costs $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year, making it a reasonably priced option for avid K-drama fans.

And with Kocowa’s library constantly updating with the latest Korean dramas, variety shows, and K-pop content, it’s a great investment for fans wanting to stay up-to-date with their favorite shows.

Furthermore, subscribing to Kocowa ensures your support for the industry and provides legal access. Piracy not only hurts the industry, but it also feeds your curiosity without paying for the hard work of the people behind it.

By subscribing to Kocowa, you are not only supporting the creators but also assured with high-quality subtitles and playback, avoiding the stress of finding safe and quality content from unreliable sources.

Overall, if you’re a passionate fan of Korean entertainment, then subscribing to Kocowa might be a small price to pay for the convenience and exclusivity of legal content access.

FAQs – Sites To Watch Korean Drama Legally

Is Dramacool a legal site?

The opinion on this is divided. While in some countries Dramacool might be technically legal, it’s mostly an illegal website in others.
However, this doesn’t matter anymore as the original Dramacool website doesn’t work any longer.
There are several variants that have popped up, but I’m not very sure how safe or legal those websites are.

Is VIU legal?

Yes, absolutely! Viu is a Hong-Kong based company and is one of the best sites to watch Koreean dramas legally.
This Over-the-top or OTT video content platform contains some of the top K-dramas of recent times.
But you’ll need a paid subscription to access some of the content.

Is VIU or Viki better?

I feel Viki is a much better option for K-drama enthusiasts for two reasons. One, it offers a lot more variety in terms of content.
You’ll find a lot of K-dramas in Viki that might not be available on Viu.
Another thing is that Viki has a lot better video quality compared to Viu.
On the other hand this might be considered a drawback on its own as Viki will consume more data because of this reason.
Also Viki is a bit more expensive than Viu. The latter also gives you free content if you don’t want to pay for a subscription, it’s just some shows won’t be available to you.
So it all boils down to if you prefer quality and content or prefer a service that is affordable.

Does Viki Rakuten consume more data?

Any streaming service consumes more data. I’d say it consumes a moderate amount of date by default, unlike Netflix which plays a higher video quality by default.
If you still want to restrict the data usage by your Viki app or the Viki website, you can change the streaming quality in the settings.
By selecting the video quality to be “Low” or “Moderate”, you can save up on your data.

If you’re looking for legal websites to watch Kdrama for free, you’ve come to the right place!

I hope this article helped you find some awesome streaming services and websites to watch your favorite Korean show.

Unlike a lot of shady websites out there, these sites are totally legal and make sure your laptops are not affected by viruses or malware.

Happy watching!

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