End of an era: Unofficial streaming site Dramacool bids goodbye

Screencap from Dramacool

For years, avid K-drama fans around the globe have turned to unofficial streaming sites like Dramacool for their daily dose of Korean and Asian dramas.

Before the rise of global over-the-top (OTT) platforms offering licensed content, these sites were a lifeline for viewers outside South Korea. 

However, this chapter in the world of drama streaming has come to an end this 2024.

In a recent announcement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Dramacool officially bid farewell to its loyal user base.

The post read: “Hi all. We are sorry to announce that we will be closing all 5 websites: Asianc, Dramanice, Watchasia, Runasian, Asianwiki. Due to the copyright, we cannot run the sites anymore.”

Hi all💛
We are sorry to announce that we will be closing all 5 websites: Asianc, Dramanice, Watchasia, Runasian, Asianwiki. Due to the copyright, we cannot run the sites anymore.
We apologize to every fan that always supported and loved DRAMACOOL.
Thank you and Best Regards. pic.twitter.com/4ft5KIWBLv

— Dramacool (@dramacoolcom) November 27, 2024

“We apologize to every fan that always supported and loved DRAMACOOL,” they added. “Thank you and Best Regards.”

The closure marks the end of an era, particularly for fans who relied on these sites before the likes of Netflix, Disney+, Viki, Viu and iQIYI became accessible to international audiences.

A post on a K-drama fan page on Facebook echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude to Dramacool for nearly two decades of service.

They said, “Thank you for almost 2 decades of giving K-dramas & C-dramas throughout the years even before the OTT platforms introduced (them to) international viewers.”

For the uninitiated, Dramacool became a community hub for fans, offering subtitles and access to a wide array of content from Korea, China and Japan.

However, as copyright enforcement tightened and official platforms expanded their reach, the fate of sites like Dramacool seemed inevitable.

While this may feel like the end for nostalgic viewers, it also signals a shift toward more sustainable and ethical ways of enjoying content.

However, this shift doesn’t come cheap. Subscription fees for official platforms are often pricey, especially for fans seeking access to multiple streaming services.

Still, these platforms offer better-quality streaming and directly support creators and the industry.