'Newtopia' tops Coupong Play's viewer count rankings

'Newtopia' is causing a sensation, topping Coupang Play’s all-time viewer count rankings. Released on February 7, this newest Coupang Play drama continues to attract audiences with its gripping storyline and intense suspense.

It follows soldier Jae Yoon (portrayed by Park Jung Min) and his lover Young Joo (played by BLACKPINK's Jisoo) as they race across a zombie-infested Seoul to reunite.

The series has also achieved global success, ranking in the TOP 10 across 54 countries on the U.S. OTT platform Prime Video. Interest from international audiences continues to grow, with the number of countries in the TOP 10 increasing week by week.

Episode 3, released on February 14, marked the beginning of a full-scale battle against the zombies. Amidst the rising tension, a deeper romance between Jae Yoon and Young Joo was hinted at, further immersing viewers in the story. 

In this episode, Jae Yoon and his team, as well as Young Joo and her group, each fought against the zombies in their own ways. Jae Yoon’s group barely escaped to a rooftop military base, but the tension escalated when Chef Jung (played by Park Kwang Jae), who had been working in a hotel restaurant, turned into a zombie.

The fierce battle incorporated various survival strategies, including makeshift weapons, firearms, and jiu-jitsu techniques. As one by one, members of the group succumbed to the zombie infection, anticipation for future developments grew.

With food shortages, communication breakdowns, and even armed soldiers falling victim to the zombie crisis, the suspense kept mounting. Young Joo's group, believing a police station would be safe, was instead ambushed by a horde of zombies.

Determined to reunite with Jae Yoon, Young Joo, along with Jin Wook (portrayed by Kang Young Seok) and Alex (played by Lee Hak Joo), made their way through the zombie-infested streets of Gangnam toward the tower where Jae Yoon was located. Alex decided to accompany her, strengthening their resolve in the fight for survival.

Despite losing contact for some time, Jae Yoon and Young Joo managed to exchange messages. When Young Joo texted, “I’m coming to the tower now,” Jae Yoon, overwhelmed with emotion, couldn’t hold back his tears.

In a touching moment, Young Joo stumbled upon a cassette tape of singer Yoon Jong Shin at an LP bar, recalling memories from her college days, further amplifying her longing.

Even in a world overrun by zombies, the desperate journey of these two lovers to reunite struck a deep emotional chord with viewers.

According to Xports News on the 21st, 'Newtopia' set a record as the most-watched series on Coupang Play. Additionally, based on data from OTT ranking site FlixPatrol, the drama entered the TOP 10 in 54 countries.

Meanwhile, Coupang Play’s original series 'Newtopia' releases a new episode every Friday at 8 PM KST on Coupang Play and Prime Video.