The Impact of Netflix's Algorithm on the Production of Local Original Content: Focusing on the Survival Narrative Trends of Korean Original Series

Netflix can be considered as an indicator of transition from industrial capitalism to cognitive capitalism, in the realm of cultural industry. This relates to the fact that Netflix produces metadata, applies sophisticated algorithms to curation, and utilizes all of this in its original program production. This study aims to extend the examination of Netflix’s use of data algorithms beyond the dimension of curation, considering it as a problem of the datafication of production and distribution methods. Although Netflix has utilized data algorithms since the early days of original content production, it does not disclose specific methods unless necessary. In particular, the use of metadata in the production of original content in local markets can affect the autonomy of the video content market in each country that has grown independently for a long time. Therefore, this study aims to examine the structure of reproduction through the patterns of survival narratives that recur in the original series released by Netflix in Korea in its early days. This could be a critical approach to the transnationality of the Netflix platform.