The way we consume entertainment has fundamentally changed. Those days are gone when one was forced to wait until some shows were on television or even go to stores and search for physical copies of DVDs. The current consumers require the ability to access their favorite content anytime and from any location. The localized popularity of Korean dramas turned into a universal cultural phenomenon that absorbs the attention of audiences in different parts of the world with their original plot and strong emotional appeal. Video streaming apps such as Viki have been able to overcome cultural barriers, to access millions of fans all over the world to Asian-based content that they love.
This is a strong source of investment for businesses. The Asian drama streaming market is enjoying massive growth, thus never before due to the international demand and changing preferences of the viewer. Creating a Korean drama streaming application puts your company in a booming business with a large following, a variety of revenue opportunities, and an expandable platform that will grow as your business expands.
Current Market Landscape: What The Numbers Say
The streaming market of Asian dramas is growing at a noteworthy rate, and the micro-drama industry of China came to a significant milestone, reaching $6.9 billion in 2024, when the industry became larger than the box office revenues for the first time in history. In 2023, short drama apps had 41, but a year later, they had 202, and in-app purchase revenue had increased almost twelvefold. Southeast Asia increased subscriptions by 1.5 million in Q2 2025, with 35% of all the viewing hours dominated by Korean dramas. By 2030, the market of micro-dramas across the world is estimated to be worth $9.5 billion.
Everything You Need To Know About The Viki App
The Viki streaming platform (Rakuten Viki) focuses on Asian dramas, movies, and variety shows, particularly those of Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, and boasts a large library, as well as its own culturally suitable subtitling in more than 200 languages, which means the users can view content with culturally relevant translations and real-time comments. It is free-to-air and has advert-free Viki Pass subscriptions, which provide exclusive content.
Turn your K-Drama app idea into reality
How Do The Korean Drama Streaming Platforms Like Viki Function?
The Viki clone app offers a service that allows one to find, watch, and subtitle world TV shows and movies, a combination of licensed programs and a community-based subtitling algorithm. The overall workflow of the app is summarized as follows:
2. Account Creation / Login
The user downloads the Viki clone application from the application store of his/her device (Google Play, Apple App Store, and others).
3. Content Discovery
One can create an account or use email, Google, Facebook, or Apple ID to log in. They can watch some of the content as a guest; still, they do not get all the benefits the app offers. They must purchase a subscription if they desire.
4. Subscription (Optional but Recommended)
Although users can watch the shows for free on the app, to view exclusive videos, or to get rid of advertisements, and watch the content in HD, one has to buy a monthly or annual subscription.
5. Video Streaming
The user chooses a show or a movie and starts playing it. The app is adaptive in terms of bitrate to give customers a non-stuttering viewing experience.
6. Subtitling and Interaction (Community Focus)
The users have a choice of the language of their preferred subtitles and are able to toggle them on or off and even change the style. The subtitles are available in 200+ languages.
Why Viki Represents A Strong Streaming Investment Opportunity
The business potential of investing in an Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming application, like Viki, has several advantages, as the business can appeal directly to a large user base of a digital entertainment market that is actively developing and expanding.
| Benefits | Description |
| Global Reach and Scalability | Appeal to viewers across geographical boundaries and expand your audience with ease, as your demand goes up. |
| Direct Consumer Engagement | Get in touch with your audience without the use of intermediaries, and create a stronger bond with them by engaging with them on a personal level. |
| Flexible Monetization Models | You can make money by subscription, advertisement, or both to meet the various preferences of the viewers. |
| Enhanced Brand Visibility and Recognition | Have your brand stay on the devices of users with an app icon that will build recognition and trust. |
| Community Building and Social Interaction | Make the viewers active fans by socializing with them, such as comments, fan clubs, and collaborative subtitling. |
| Data-Driven Insights | Understand what your audience watches and prefers in order to enhance content and make it personal. |
| Competitive Advantage | Be ahead in the streaming market with the current technology that keeps you relevant and competitive. |
Must-Have Features For A K-Drama Streaming Platform Like Viki
The K-drama streaming app, like Viki, offers a huge collection of Asian dramas, movies, and a variety of shows with the following features:
User Panel Features
1. Browse and Search Content
Find shows and movies easily by genre, language, country, or even using keywords with advanced filters so as to find the exact content that you wish to watch.
2. Personalized Recommendations
Users will receive customized recommendations to enjoy new shows that they will like based on their watching history, ratings, and preferences.
3. Multiple Language Subtitles
The app has subtitles available in more than 200 languages and is created and translated by a community of volunteers around the world.
4. Create Watchlist
The user can save the shows and films they wish to watch later in a single convenient place and arrange their favorite content so it is easily accessible.
5. Resume Watching
Users can watch the same video again, regardless of what device they are using; their viewing history is instantly updated, so that when you cross phones, tablets, and TVs, all your viewing history is automatically updated.
6. Video Quality Selection
Video buffering can be considered to be able to enjoy video playback with no buffering, which is why it is necessary to choose a playback quality (SD, HD, or Ultra HD) based on the user's internet connection speed and data consumption.
7. User Profile Management
Update your account, subscriptions, payment options, and preferences to view all these in a single dashboard.
8. Community Features
Users can discuss, leave comments on episodes, rate content, and communicate with fellow fans by enjoying your content and finding fellow fans.
9. Download for Offline Viewing
The user is also allowed to save the content so he or she can watch it offline at any time they require their favorite episode, including when driving or in a place with low connectivity.
10. Push Notifications
New episodes of the user's favorite programs, new releases, special offers, and trending content in the genres of their choice: always be updated in time.
Admin Panel Features
1. Content Management System
The admin can post, create, edit, and control all the videos, shows, and movies on the site.
2. User Management
The admin can see, update, and keep track of all registered users, subscriptions, and account activities.
3. Subscription and Payment Management
Access the revenue, subscription plans, process payment, and billing. The admin can handle all of these.
4. Analytics and Reporting Dashboard
Admin can use this feature to view real-time viewership, user-related metrics, revenue numbers, and performance on the platform.
5. Content Moderation Tools
This feature allows the admin to browse and accept user-created information such as comments, subtitles, and community postings.
6. Ad Management System
Using this feature, the admin can develop, plan, and control adverts that will be shown to free-tier subscribers on the website.
7. Subtitle Management
Supervise community subtitle contributors, approve translations, and ensure quality assurance in various languages.
8. Push Notification Center
The admin can send individual messages to users to notify them of new content, promotions, and site updates.
9. Access Control and Permissions
Team members should have different roles and permissions to manage the platform securely and in a structured manner.
10. Technical Settings and Configuration
The admin can control the application settings, the quality of the streaming, personal server settings, and the general functionality of the platform.
Get a free demo of our OTT streaming platform today.
How AI Transforms The Korean Drama Streaming Experience
Businesses and startups can integrate the following AI features in the Viki-like Korean drama streaming app to enhance its functionality:
➣ AI-Driven Personalization
The app uses computer algorithms of artificial intelligence to recommend shows and movies according to the history of viewing, rating, and desired preferences of a user. This is to guarantee that content discovery is based on the personal preferences of the user, who can find appropriate content in the vast library of Asian entertainment that Viki offers.
➣ Machine Learning for Subtitle Management
Although it is a community-based project, the app has proprietary technology and machine learning to optimize the process of translation. The system enables many volunteers to simultaneously translate content into dozens of different languages in a simplified interface, which in many cases has resulted in the publication of subtitles in dozens of languages within 24 hours after a program has aired in its original country.
➣ Learn Mode (Edutainment)
The mode takes advantage of AI/ML to allow a language-learning experience by transforming passive viewing into active viewing. The users have access to the content with dual-language subtitles, which can be hovered over to obtain the immediate definition and pronunciation, and are also able to use interactive exercises to learn vocabulary and grammar.
➣ Optimized Content Discovery
The AI will assist in enhancing the user interface with a focus on displaying trending shows and new releases, as well as reducing the amount of manual work required to explore the content.
From Concept To Launch: Viki-Like App Development Process
Investing in a Korean drama streaming app like Viki is a good plan, but you also need to know the development process to launch your app in the market. We have explained the step-by-step process of developing the app here:
1. Planning and Research
Establish the objectives, target audience, and the features of your app. Competitors of the research study the market trends and design an elaborate project roadmap with schedules and an estimated budget.
2. UI/UX Design
Design a user-friendly, interactive user interface, along with wireframes, mockups, and prototypes. Develop the user experience to preview the visualization before it is built.
3. App Development
The process of app development follows the design of the app. At this point, you should select the method to design the app. The app can be developed in two ways, one being custom-based and the other being the acquisition of a white-label solution.
A custom-based solution is one in which the application is developed from scratch and requires high investment and development time. If you choose to purchase a white-label solution, you do not need to invest more time and money in it, as it is a pre-built and pre-tested solution that you can rebrand and launch quickly in the market.
4. Testing and Quality Assurance
Comprehensively debug the app and its performance, as well as security issues. Perform user acceptance testing so that all features can be tested to be compatible with various devices and operating systems.
5. Launch and Deployment
Launch the application on the App Stores, Google Play, and on the web. Observation of the first performance, getting user comments, and constant maintenance, updates, and technical support to enhance the app are continuous actions that should be sustained to make it better.
The Future Of Asian Drama Streaming: Emerging Trends To Watch
The key future trends of the Asian drama streaming app, like Viki, are explained in the table below:
| Future Trend | Description |
| AI-Powered Personalization | Hyper-personalized content suggestions will be provided to users through artificial intelligence that makes use of viewing trends, mood, and tastes. It will have intelligent algorithms that anticipate what the user wants to watch even before he or she gets down to searching. |
| Interactive and Immersive | There will also be interactive dramas where the viewers can choose storylines and endings, similar to choose-your-own-adventure formats. VR and AR experiences will contribute to the further involvement of people and make the process of viewing dramas more interesting and engaging. |
| Real-Time Co-Watching | Advanced watch party features will enable fans in different parts of the world to stream episodes together in real time with synchronized playback. Combined chat and video responses will provide a collective watching experience even across geographical borders. |
| AI-Generated Subtitles and Dubbing | The subtitles will be automatically translated and produced in various languages within seconds of the content being published. Voice cloning AI will produce a cloned voice that will sound natural, and as a result, the content will be available to the readers instantly. |
| Blockchain and NFT Integration | The fans will receive exclusive digital collectibles, limited edition scenes, and behind-the-scenes materials in the form of NFTs. With blockchain technology, direct support of creators will be possible, and the community may be rewarded with tokens or various exclusive privileges. |
| Short-Form Drama Content | One-minute drama episodes designed to be viewed on mobile phones will be a part of the business model that will attract busy viewers interested in a quick bite of entertainment. Smartphone-based vertical video content will gain more popularity and will be used by younger users. |
Ready to build your own K-Drama streaming app?
Financial And Monetization Model Of Korean Content Platforms Like Viki
Businesses can employ a revenue model that is multi-faceted, and it incorporates the following major streams:
➣ Advertising (Ad-supported Video on Demand - AVOD)
The app is free to watch a significant part of its content; however, there are video ads, including pre-roll ads, to bring in revenue.
➣ Subscription Fees (Subscription Video on Demand - SVOD)
Businesses can charge a subscription fee, which will include the advantages such as free adverts on most content, watching HD quality content, premier access to certain new releases, and original content on the app.
➣ Content Licensing and Distribution Deals
Businesses can also make money by licensing their large library of content, which features fan-created subtitles in many languages, to other streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.
➣ Partnerships and Sponsorships
The platform has been able to earn revenue through partnerships with brands to advertise and sponsor specific events or shows.
Bringing It All Together!
The development of a Korean drama streaming application, such as Viki, can trigger an opportunity in the expanding world of entertainment. The combination of the appropriate features, open tools of community, and clever monetization approaches can help to build a platform that brings fans all over the world together.
Hyperlocal Cloud stands as the best on-demand app development company. We provide professional solutions to bring your streaming app vision to life. We also offer clone app solutions at low costs starting at $8,000, and of quality that is not going to strain your finances. Contact us today and begin work on the creation of a successful streaming platform!
