Lack of New Korean dramas on Viki

[jadecloud88]

@adrianmorales

Hwa Jung, the Princess of Light ,

This is still available at Viki. It was under another title, Splendid Politics. But there has been a change in title to the above.

Hwa Jung, the Princess of Light | Watch with English Subtitles & More | Viki

@choitrio

I still think there are quality K-dramas being produced. It’s just that Viki is not getting a lion’s share of them as it used to.

I agree. For some reasons, Viki doesn’t seem to be getting (or failed in bidding for licensing rights) many good K-dramas lately. I don’t see Rakuten as being inferior to NFlix, or any other streaming platforms. I guess there has been a change in policy.

@angelight313_168

There are also great Chinese and Japanese dramas that are not offered here, and it’s a pity

True. That is a pity. I’m being “pushed” to watch elsewhere. Like many of you, Viki isn’t the only streaming platform for me.

@my_happy_place

but isn’t Soompi supposed to have some kind of connection to Viki?

Yes. There is a connection. Soompi is a subsidiary of Viki. Back in 2015, Viki acquired Soompi after it was itself acquired by Rakuten in 2013. Now, Viki and Soompi are subsidiaries under Rakuten, and Soompi is a subsidiary under Viki. I believe that is how the connection goes.

I’ve been wondering for a long time… When Viki removed the comments section underneath each episode of any drama, I thought they would introduce and lead/link viewers to Soompi forum for discussions because that was the main reason for the acquisition(?), and also because many are not aware of it. Moreover, discussion level over at Soompi seems to be dwindling as well. I made such a suggestion several times. But I am still left wondering… Anyway, it is also why I included such links in the C-drama thread of channels wanted. Perhaps more will know of the existence of it, and participate in it.

Global Video Service Viki Buys Soompi, A Fan Site For Korean Dramas, In...

@my_happy_place

I forgot to mention: I wonder how much the addition of the watch party function has affected the social aspect of Viki (which is what sets Viki apart from all the other streaming services)?

@angelight313_168

have noticed a lot of people has disappeared from here because they are at WATCH PARTY groups

I don’t think those WP groups adversely affect Viki, just like other streaming services’ WP (in other name forms) would affect them likewise. However, I do think Discord and other SM factions did.

Some years ago, Viki did try to introduce Viber, another SM mode which Rakuten acquired in 2013. However, it did not fare well and… I still have fond memories of using Viber.

Viki and Viber help TV viewers share their passion

@my_happy_place

Yeah, I meant that strictly from the perspective of less traffic at the discussion boards and maybe in the discussions on the show pages. It’s a separate issue from the quantity and quality of content.

Agree. the decline in traffic here at Discussions and on the show pages is a separate issue. TBH, Viki still has a sizeable content (depending on what one likes/dislikes), and quality (in titles and subtitles) is still largely intact, though on a gradual decline (and likewise for other streaming sites ). IMHO.