'Tonggung' Receives Global Acclaim: "The Young Chicken Scene Is Art; Cho Seung-woo and Jang Young-nam’s Acting Duel Is Outstanding"[K-EYES]

*This content was translated by AI.

Since its release, the Netflix series 'Tonggung' has garnered widespread praise from international viewers alongside strong global box office performance.

According to FlixPatrol data, 'Tonggung' ranked first in the Netflix series category across multiple countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, and Qatar from its release on the 17th through the 22nd, topping national charts a remarkable 14 times during the tracking period.

Netflix reported that within three days of its release on the 17th, the series accumulated 4.9 million (4,900,000) viewing hours—calculated by dividing total watch time by the show’s runtime—placing it second among the global top 10 non-English shows.

'Tonggung' has proven its global appeal by entering the Netflix Top 10 in over 80 countries worldwide. The average ranking across all surveyed nations has consistently climbed from within the top five immediately after release to the top four recently.

On IMDb, based on more than 1,500 user reviews, the series maintains a solid score of 7.6 out of 10 points.

Viewer reviews on IMDb are equally enthusiastic. One viewer praised, "The young chicken scenes are simply beautiful. The cinematographer deserves an Oscar," while another remarked, "This is the first time since 'Kingdom' that I’ve experienced such immersive storytelling."

Notably, one reviewer highlighted that the name 'Gucheon (Nine Springs)' refers to the underworld in Korean folklore where spirits of those who died with unresolved grievances wander. They expressed admiration for the directorial choice to depict the worlds of the living and the dead in the same space, differentiated only by color palette. Responses included, "Even without familiarity with Korean folklore, I was fully immersed," and "Nam Joo-hyuk’s presence is overwhelming as his first work after completing mandatory military service."

Praise for the actors’ chemistry also continued. One viewer wrote, "The relationship between Gucheon and Saeng-gang is more like bickering siblings than romance, which is charming," while another noted, "No Yoon-seo’s emotional performance in the final episode was surprisingly realistic." Mentioning the tense scenes between the king and his rival, one review stood out: "The acting duel between Cho Seung-woo and Jang Young-nam was particularly impressive."

Some viewers expressed reservations. A few pointed out, "While the visual effects are excellent, the plot feels somewhat scattered," and "As the series progresses toward the latter half, the increasing number of settings reduces immersion." Another comment noted, "The pacing drags for an eight-episode series." Nevertheless, most reviews concluded with anticipation: "Looking forward to season 2."

International critics also weighed in. Spain’s Espinof stated, "It masterfully leverages Korean folklore to create an ambitious and visually stunning work," while RogerEbert.com shared, "It delivers excellent entertainment as a genre-blending demon-hunting action spectacle." DECIDER similarly praised it: "From the first episode, it captivates viewers with compelling intrigue, overwhelming visual beauty, and a solidly constructed world."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.