For those who are passionate about doramas, they surely enjoy tips on where to watch new releases and revisit their favorites. I brought you 5 options of websites to stay updated on your favorite dorama without paying anything extra for it – besides, of course, the internet and electricity.
Unfortunately, many fansubs had to cease their activities in 2021, mostly because they could not cover the expenses since they were sites that did not receive financial help from third parties.
However, despite several account deactivations, there are still good options for fans of doramas to have fun. So, let’s go.
The dorama, also called K-drama or South Korean soap opera, refers to television dramas from North Korea. Just as there are various categories of films, there are also styles of doramas for all tastes, such as comedies, dramas, romances, thrillers, and many other genres.
Those who are dorama fans are certainly always updated with new releases, and there are people who want to dive into this type of entertainment. With that in mind, I will talk about the 5 most popular sites to watch doramas, both paid and free platforms.
Table of Contents
1 – Netflix
Netflix is by far one of the most well-known platforms worldwide for watching everything from animations to series from various countries. Founded in 1997 in the United States, the company started as a DVD rental service by mail. Today, it is a streaming platform with over 220 million subscriptions, not counting non-subscribers who gain access by sharing an account with someone else.
And on the platform, there are even various types of doramas, many of which are among the most popular. It is impossible to know exactly how many doramas are available on the streaming service, but the certainty is that there are countless. Every month new content arrives, and the audience has shown increasing interest in South Korean culture.
To access Netflix, it is necessary to pay a monthly fee, but most people can watch for free with accounts from friends, relatives, shared accounts, and other means. It is important to mention Netflix, as it is responsible for spreading Korean doramas in the West.
Many people choose to split the cost since it is possible to have up to 4 screen divisions. And others are simply “parasites” (a common term on the internet to refer to someone who does not pay but enjoys the platform). This is a good option for those who like a more complete version.
2 – Telegram
Telegram is a social network for chatting and groups. One of the main features of this tool is cloud storage. If you join a group, you can access messages prior to your entry into the group.
The social network has over half a billion active users, according to last year’s surveys, and allows for video calls, sending messages, sharing photos, videos, and files. And you can watch your favorite series. But how?
After installing the app on your phone, go to the magnifying glass (top right corner) and search for: streaming now, click on the option, then you will enter a kind of group, but with electronic messages with the options you can choose.
Another way to watch doramas is to join specific groups that you can find on various Instagram profiles. Usually, the bio will already have the link to access the group and watch your dorama. There are groups for specific K-dramas and others with various options to watch. The app is free and available for Android and iOS.
3 – Rakuten Viki
Founded in 2007, Rakuten Viki is a streaming platform that allows user interaction for content creation. For example, users are allowed to subtitle series, movies, among others. The name Viki is the union of VIDEO with WIKI (like Wikipedia), as it uses volunteers to manage content.
Because of its collaborators, the network contains more than 200 languages, 50 of which are endangered languages, making it a differentiator compared to others that usually have the most popular dialects. Rakuten Viki has original productions such as: Dramaworld, Where Your Eyes Stay, and Light in Me.
Viki has both a free and a paid version. Even in the free option, there are doramas available, even on the app. The subscription service is called Viki Pass and has exclusive content, no ads, and HD options. The cost is US$ 0.99 per month or US$ 9.99 per year.
4 – Drama Fansubs
Drama Fansubs is a site that allows dorama fans to translate and subtitle. The site has an immense amount of doramas. The video quality is in HD, with no need for registration, and there is also the option to download.
You can find doramas in alphabetical order and keep an eye on those that release episodes weekly, which are always updated on the site, and have access to Korean dramas from 2010 to the present.
5 – Kingdom Fansubs
Kingdom Fansubs is very similar to Drama Fansubs, but the user needs to register, which is free. To watch the dorama, you must follow these steps: Enter the site; Go to ‘Register’; Accept the terms of use; Enter your details and email; in the email you will receive a password for access.
6 – Line TV
Line TV is a free streaming service, but as you watch, some ads will appear. The platform originated in Thailand, expanded throughout the Asian continent, and is now easily accessible in various countries around the world. Its headquarters is located in Japan.
The platform allows users to exchange experiences, watch shows, 24-hour television, and their favorite doramas. Line TV can be downloaded on any device.
7 – Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll serves both to watch anime and dorama. However, this platform is not 100% free. It offers content at no cost, but if you want more variety, you need to subscribe monthly. When the platform launched in 2006, the site mainly had content from East Asia.
More than 100 million users access the platform worldwide – it is not allowed in all countries. Crunchyroll has over 1000 anime series, more than 200 doramas from East Asia, and about 80 manga titles. The streaming service had over a million paid subscribers in 2017. In 2021, there were over 5 million.
8 – Movie Asian Fansub
Movie Asian Funsub has doramas and movies from South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, India, and the Philippines. Created in August 2017, the site does not have much engagement on social media, but the platform is well visited. It is quite simple to navigate, and upon entering the site, options are given for which nationality the user wants to watch programming.
Then, just go to the desired option and browse the catalog of doramas of various styles. However, it is necessary to create an account to gain access.
9 – We TV
We TV is geared towards Android and you need to download the “We TV – Dramas and shows!” app. The app is simple to use and is categorized, making it easier to find the dorama you want. The app is quite complete and allows configurations according to each user’s needs.
The app has a feature similar to Instagram, where short and fun videos appear on the screen in a vertical format. Your Instagram profile is quite engaging and brings many snippets of doramas, which makes it easier to know what will be next on the list.
10 – Dorama Sites
The online dorama sites, in addition to streaming doramas, also have anime. There is no need to download an app or register, the videos are watched online. The platform is simple; right at the beginning of the site, the dorama options are organized in alphabetical order.
When you click on the desired dorama, the technical details and the list of seasons with episodes appear. When you click to play the video, another tab will open, and then the user must click on the ad to gain access.
Yes, the downside of free options is the numerous ads we have to watch, but they help the people involved to have resources to keep them running.
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