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Netflix starts video-streaming service in S. Korea

January 6, 2016
Netflix's Korean-language website (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

Netflix’s Korean-language website (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — U.S. video service provider Netflix said Thursday it has commenced its service in 130 additional countries, including South Korea, a move expected to change the landscape of the local online content industry.

With Netflix also adding Korean, Chinese and Arabic to its services, the media giant currently provides the service in 21 languages.

While China is excluded from Netflix’s service areas, the company said it has been continuously making efforts for its operation there.

The company currently boasts 70 million users around the globe, streaming 125 million hours of content on a daily basis. Following the announcement, the service is now available in more than 190 countries.

Netflix plans to roll out 31 new TV series in 2016, along with 24 movies and documentaries, which will be provided to all users around the globe.

In November, Netflix also said it will invest US$50 million in “Okja,” an upcoming film by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho. It will be filmed in the first half of next year in South Korea and New York for a release in 2017.