Netflix has made it official by canceling four K-drama series off their 2025 lineup, stating that these shows will not get a second season.
It's disheartening news for fans, particularly as several of these dramas had become major hits (and critical darlings) during their initial broadcasts.
As it has faced increasing pushback in recent months over the number of cancellations it has already announced, the streaming giant rebranded several K-dramas as "limited series" in its bi-annual hits reports.
As per Koreaboo, this marks what is known as a final season and generally denotes a finite number of episodes with no potential for being picked up for subsequent seasons, thus all but shutting the door on additional seasons.
Netflix's so-called engagement reports, released twice per year, give a glimpse into what people are watching and how its shows are performing, which can make decisions on renewals and cancellations easier.
Among the scrapped titles is the slice-of-life drama When Life Gives You Tangerines, which has the popular stars IU and Park Bo Gum as its leads.
Set on a tangerine farm, it charted the trials of a young couple facing life's highs and lows; it had developed a good following and had earned effusive praise.
Though the show was a success, Netflix called it a limited series, a sign that its run was over.
Other notable cancellations include the science fiction romance When the Stars Gossip, which featured Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin.
Read more: Korean Top Stars Who Will Make Comeback This 2023: Gong Hyo Jin, Lee Min Ho, More
The show, which was set in outer space, tried to marry sci-fi and romance, but it suffered uneven pacing and earned mixed reviews.
The odds were against The Potato Lab, a brisk enemies-to-lovers small-town romance that held an editing bay full of pep and uplift, but was also never safe.
two episodes a week is not enough, i need the potato lab to air everyday. lee sunbin and kang taeoh have the best chemistry on tv, currently. pic.twitter.com/M7fQfvwmiw
— imane (@pcyshoodie) March 18, 2025
Finally, When the Phone Rings with Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin was lauded for how daring and thrilling its plot was despite it not getting renewed for a second season.
The move follows Netflix's record-setting year in 2024, during which it canceled 22 series, up from 16 cancelations in 2023, which had been its previous high.
This wave of cancellations has led to debates among both viewers and industry experts over Netflix's changing strategy when it comes to content.
Read more: 'When The Phone Rings' Controversy: Fans Demand MBC to Apologize and Delete Problematic Episode
