Netflix's 'Dead-End Job' dethrones 'Doctor X' in just one day

"This is absolutely horrifying." — Netflix viewer

"Turns out it's rated 18 and over." — viewer

Netflix's eight-episode series "Dead-End Job," which had been overshadowed by popular dramas including "Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia," shot to No. 1 on the platform's Top 10 series chart just one day after its release, knocking "Doctor X" off the top spot.

As of the afternoon of the 31st, "Dead-End Job" had claimed the top position on Netflix's "Today's Top 10 Series in South Korea" chart, a spot "Doctor X" had held for weeks. The drama had been riding high on Netflix as well, setting a personal ratings record with a 19.5 percent nationwide household viewership figure in its sixth episode, according to Nielsen Korea.

All eight episodes of "Dead-End Job" dropped at 5 p.m. Friday, and within a single day the new title upended the rankings. Initial expectations had been modest — many assumed the show would struggle against established hits — but it has defied those predictions and is drawing wide attention.

According to OTT platform rankings tracker FlixPatrol, "Dead-End Job" ranked third globally in the Netflix TV show category on Saturday — including English-language markets — just one day after its release. The series entered the Top 10 in 71 countries, including South Korea, France, Germany, Brazil, Switzerland and Vietnam.

"Dead-End Job" is a survival horror series set at a peculiar staffing agency that exclusively offers jobs paying 50 times the standard hourly wage, following a young person thrust into a series of nightmarish work sites. The show blends mystery and horror with the relatable, everyday experience of part-time work. It is rated 18 and over.

"Doctor X" has not only lost its Netflix No. 1 position to "Dead-End Job" but has also seen its broadcast ratings slide. Nielsen Korea data show the drama drew 16.5 percent nationwide viewership in its seventh episode, down 3.0 percentage points from the series-high 19.5 percent in episode six. Ratings fell further to 15.6 percent for the eighth episode, which aired Saturday. The show has faced controversy for incorporating references to the May 18 Gwangju Uprising — a subject absent from the original Japanese source material — and viewers have begun saying it has become less engaging than it was early in its run.

Netflix originals continue to generate stronger-than-expected responses immediately upon release, further cementing the platform's dominant position in South Korea's OTT market.

Netflix's monthly active users in September reached about 15.5 million, according to Mobile Index. Tving ranked second with about 9.99 million users, while Coupang Play came in third with about 9.19 million, ceding the runner-up spot to Tving. Wavve and Disney+ followed in that order.

Netflix has more than doubled its user base in a year. Driven by a string of original productions, the platform has set a new all-time high in monthly active users this year.