At the end of 2022, the Netflix drama 'The Glory,' which took not only Korea but the entire world by storm upon its release, is making headlines once again nearly two years after its finale. Regarded as one of screenwriter Kim Eun Sook’s signature works, the drama recently reentered Netflix’s Top 10 chart, achieving a remarkable resurgence in popularity.
As of June 25, The Glory ranked #9 on Netflix Korea’s 'Top 10 TV Shows in South Korea Today.' Even amid a lineup of new titles like 'Good Boy' (ranked No. 1), 'Our Unwritten Seoul,' and 'Mercy for None,' 'The Glory' managed to garner attention again.
Written by Kim Eun Sook and directed by Ahn Gil Ho, the Netflix original 'The Glory' tells the gripping story of Moon Dong Eun (played by Song Hye Kyo), a woman who was brutally bullied in her youth and who dedicates her entire life to seeking revenge.
Central to the show’s impact was Song Hye Kyo’s transformative performance. Completely embodying Moon Dong Eun, she conveyed a complex spectrum of emotions, repression, pain, vengeance, and compassion, with remarkable nuance. Her portrayal earned her the Best Actress award in TV at the 2023 Baeksang Arts Awards, marking a peak in her acting career. The series also swept trophies at other major ceremonies, including the Grand Prize at the Blue Dragon Series Awards, cementing the “The Glory syndrome.”
The drama’s cultural impact extended far beyond entertainment. In real life, some victims of school violence were inspired by the show to file lawsuits or speak up. Its influence spread to news programs and variety shows, which began to spotlight school bullying more frequently. The Glory became one of the rare cultural works to spark real social change.
This resurgence isn’t just nostalgic buzz. It signals a wave of new viewers discovering the series and longtime fans rewatching it to relive the emotions. Its renewed rise on the Netflix chart reflects this ongoing momentum. Viewers are still raving about the drama as they comment, “The line ‘I hope you were as burning and aching as I was’ hits hard,” “Got chills after finishing,” “Absolutely insane… so desperate and raw it gave me goosebumps,” “Can’t skip a single line of dialogue,” “Song Hye Kyo’s real talent is choosing the right project,” “Every line and narration from Dong Eun is iconic… Kim Eun Sook is a genius,” “Everyone crumbles,” “This is what you call a real drama: direction, acting, everything,” “A career-defining role for Song Hye Kyo and Kim Eun Sook,” and “Definitely the best drama of 2023,” “No doubt. K-dramas are world-class.”
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