According to the data analytics released by Comscore in 2016, the websites which stream Korean movies receive over 24 million unique visitors each month. And this number is increasing exponentially.
One of the websites that people use to watch Korean movies is a very popular website we found on google. Although one cannot exactly place it at the same level of popularity with other sites like YouTune or Netflix, you can’t remove it from the list of popular Korean movie download websites either.
Before continuing with this article, you should know that some type of sites usually offer illegal content and are considered pirate sites which we do NOT recommend using.
Like many other sites online aims to offer Korean movies to people who want to consume it. The only problem is that most likely when you watch such movie on this site or similar to it, you are actually breaking the law. So keep that in mind.
These sites usually make a lot of money by placing banner ads on their sites across the video player or even charge a monthly subscription fee from their users to use the site. While you take part in pirated content, they make a killing.
Of course, the website has ads. I mean, how else will they be generating revenue? Having said that, the issue is not with their business model. Most sites on the internet make their money by showing ads ( YES, even this one ). It is rather the content they offer that is a problem.
They way these sites can attract users is done by creating well thought out websites that are so easy to use, most people don’t even notice any issues, most sites don’t even require a sign up or anything, which makes it all that easier to start using.
Obviously, the fact that these sites are usually free, is also helping their case for being very popular.
What are Korean streaming websites?
As you should already know it, Korean streaming websites are websites that hosts thousands of Asian drama series, TV shows, and variety shows, etc. Interestingly, as we have said this site does not have only Korean dramas but also has other Asian dramas as well as Chinese and Japanese, etc.
Like many other sites of this nature, the content and Korean movies found on this site are most likely stolen or pirate like torrent files and similar, so you should know that before hand if you decide to browse to it or not, keep reading below for more info on this topic.
While these sites happen to be very popular, you should know that there are many other legal alternatives online where you can watch your favorite Korean movies and dramas without worrying about legal issues.
Can You Legally Download Shows From Korean streaming sites?
One of the most frequently asked questions we get from our readers is that if it is legal to download shows from Korean streaming websites. Unfortunately, the answer to that question is that it is not legal to download or watch shows on these sites, alternatively, you could use any legal streaming services like Netflix or YouTube.
We strongly recommend you to NOT use these illegal sites. There are many valid reasons behind our claim.
First of all, as these are usually free websites, you will be bombarded with lots of ads while you are watching or downloading the K-dramas. So, this is not a good experience while watching your favorite shows. Another problem is the legal issues.
For instance, if your country’s law prohibits streaming or downloading shows illegally, you should follow the rules and regulations of your region.
Added to that, when you are watching the shows for free from an illegal source, the show makers and your favorite shows will not make any money. That way, you are not supporting your most favorite K-dramas or movies in any way. This is not good, isn’t it?
So, what can you do instead? Let’s see…
Best Free & Legal Alternatives to Watch Korean TV shows and movies online
If you want to support your favorite Korean dramas and movies, there are legal and better ways to do so. And, interestingly, some of them are free of cost as well.
There are many websites or streaming services that offer full-length Korean dramas legally. And, those streaming services can be a good alternative to the sites you don’t want to you. Here are a few of them…
#1 Rakuten Viki
Primarily, this website was known as Viki. Matter of fact, you might already know this website as Viki. However, because of the sky-high success of this site, it was acquired by Rakuten. And, now, it is called Rakuten Viki.
But with the acquisition, the quality of this website has improved a lot. There are thousands of Korean dramas and movies available in Viki. You can create your own account to organize everything you watch there. You can sort everything by genre, types of shows, country-specific, and more.
Along with Korean TV shows, Rakuten Viki also has many shows from Japan, China, Taiwan, etc. They also have special original shows that are produced by Rakuten.
And, most of their shows are free to watch. But, if you want the best experience, you can subscribe to their subscription system for a few bucks per month.
You can watch the shows from Viki using your smart TV, computer, smartphone, Apple TV, Roku TV, etc. Yes, Viki has its mobile applications available in iOS and Android as well. All in all, Rakuten Viki will be worth it, if you are a fan of Asian movies and dramas.
#2 Kocowa
Within a few years, Kocowa has become one of the most popular streaming services for Korean dramas. Kocowa is almost like Netflix. However, Kocowa offers mainly content for the asian and north america market. Of course, you might have to see a few ads here and there.
And, the best thing about Kocowa is that it is totally legal. On top of that, they have a huge collection of various shows and movies from various countries including the USA, UK, China, South Korea, Japan, the Philippine, Taiwan, Thailand, etc.
Furthermore, they also offer country-specific content. So, if you are in South Africa, you will also get free shows and content from your country. Kocowa also hosts animes, documentaries, sports highlights, and more. You can sort the shows by genres, language, country, types of content, and more.
But the only problem with Kocowa is that it is not available worldwide. According to the Kocowa team, they are hoping to roll out their service in more and more new countries. To tackle this issue, you can use a VPN service to access Kocowa from a country that is not on Kocowa list.
They also have their own original series that are not available anywhere. You will also be able to watch the shows on your mobile device using their app that is available in Android and iOS.
Interestingly, their mobile app also allows downloading full shows on your mobile devices, so that you can watch them offline. And, it is totally free. Altogether, you can say that Kocowa could be a great option to enjoy shows and movies of various countries.
#3 Netflix
Right now, Netflix is the world’s largest and most popular web streaming service. You should already be familiar with Netflix by now. And, you know that it has the largest collection of movies, TV shows, documentaries, original shows, animes, cartoons, and so on in the world.
So, yes, for watching and downloading full Korean dramas, Netflix is also a better option. Because it is totally a legitimate streaming service. And, there are no ads on Netflix.
But the only problem with Netflix is that it is not a free service. Rather, you will have to subscribe to their service for a few bucks.
However, if you don’t like that, you can enjoy their trial period to download your favorite shows for free. And, to be honest, paying for downloading your favorite shows is not a bad idea. Rather, you will support your favorite content creators in this way. Netflix also has its own mobile app.
#4 OnDemandKorea
If you are in North or South America, then OnDemandKorea could be a great way to enjoy Korean full-length dramas. Yes, at the moment of writing this post, OnDemandKorea is not available outside of the locations mentioned above. They are trying to offer their service in many additional locations in the future.
But for the moment, you can use a VPN service to access those sites from outside of the supported locations. OnDemandKorea has a whole lot of shows, pay-per-view shows, K-pop, K-drama, variety shows, documentaries, sports, education, kid shows, and more.
Remember, OnDemandKorea has both free and premium shows. So, if you want to enjoy the premium shows, you will need to subscribe to their paid membership account. However, the free account is enough as they have thousands of free shows.
At the same time, with a free membership account, you can also watch some premium content. But you have to wait 24 hours after the upload of premium content. That means you cannot see it the moment it is released. If that is not an issue for you, you can definitely check OnDemandKorea. They also have both Android and iOS apps.
In Conclusion
Korean movies are addictive and popular because of the rich storytelling techniques. With the sites we mentioned above, you can watch all of their movies and have a good time. But these alternative sites we have provided above would be the best option instead of illegal sites to stream or download full Korean dramas or movies legally.
