LE SSERAFIM Joins Viki's Pass It On Campaign
On October 14, streaming platform Viki launched its 'Pass It On' brand campaign with K-pop group LE SSERAFIM at the forefront. As part of the collaboration, the group shared a watchlist of K-dramas they love, as reported by Soompi on October 16. The list features more than ten titles, spanning time-bending love stories, epic supernatural worlds, feel-good rom-coms, and classic coming-of-age dramas.
The news matters beyond a simple list of recommendations. It signals a deliberate crossover between two major pillars of Korean entertainment: the global reach of K-pop and the enduring popularity of K-drama. By lending their names to the campaign, LE SSERAFIM act as cultural guides, offering fans a curated entry point into a vast and sometimes overwhelming library. For Viki, the partnership taps into a dedicated fandom already accustomed to seeking out content online.
A Watchlist That Mixes High-Concept and Heart
The picks reveal a clear taste for stories that bend reality. Lovely Runner is a time-slip romance about a devoted fan who travels back in time to save her favourite star. W plunges a surgeon into her father's unfinished webtoon world, while While You Were Sleeping follows a reporter and a prosecutor who can foresee future events. Dive Into You involves a soul swap between twins, and To My Beloved Thief adds a Joseon-era body-swap twist between a bandit and a prince.
These titles share a fascination with fate, second chances, and the blurring of boundaries between worlds. They are not merely escapist; they often explore the consequences of trying to change destiny or outrun tragedy. For viewers new to K-drama, such high-concept premises can be accessible gateways because they combine familiar genre hooks—romance, fantasy, thriller—with strong emotional stakes.
The prevalence of time travel and supernatural elements also reflects broader trends in Korean storytelling. Writers frequently use these devices to examine regret, longing, and the desire to rewrite the past. That these themes appear so often in LE SSERAFIM's watchlist suggests a group drawn to narratives with both imaginative flair and emotional weight.
Comfort Classics and Fresh Rom-Coms
The list makes generous room for enduring favourites. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, a perennial classic about a goblin seeking his human bride, sits alongside Heirs, the quintessential chaebol high-school romance. Dream to You offers a reunion rom-com between a genius film director and a reporter who has lost sight of her own dreams. Positively Yours, based on a popular webtoon, explores the unexpected consequences of a one-night stand between two people who have sworn off marriage.
This blend suggests an appreciation for both nostalgia and newer titles. Guardian, for instance, first aired in 2016 and has since become a touchstone for many international fans. Heirs, from 2013, is often remembered as a gateway drama for a generation of viewers. Pairing these with recent rom-coms like Dream to You and Positively Yours shows that the group's viewing habits are not stuck in one era.
For fans, the mix is a reminder that K-drama's appeal spans generations and formats, from traditional broadcast series to webtoon adaptations. It also demonstrates that even within the romance genre, there is considerable variety—from the supernatural and epic to the grounded and playful.
Action, Fantasy and Darker Turns
Not every pick is a love story. A Bona Fide Killer stars Kong Hyo Jin as Yu Bo Na, a seemingly ordinary office manager who is secretly a legendary sniper known as 'Kingfisher'. The Legend of Kitchen Soldier is a military fantasy-comedy about an army cook who receives a mysterious quest window and begins an unexpected journey towards becoming a legendary chef.
Dear X follows Baek Ah Jin, an A-list actress who climbs from rock bottom to the top by using others, hiding a cruel nature beneath a beautiful mask.
These additions show that the group's viewing habits are not confined to romance. They include action, fantasy, and psychological drama, reflecting the breadth of K-drama output. Including a working-mother assassin, a quest-driven military cook, and a morally complex actress suggests an interest in stories with darker edges and unconventional protagonists.
It also signals to fans that the watchlist is personal rather than purely promotional. A purely commercial selection might stick to the safest, most universally beloved romances. By including titles like A Bona Fide Killer and Dear X, LE SSERAFIM present a more textured picture of what they actually watch.
Why Idol Recommendations Matter
When a K-pop group shares what they watch, it can influence fan behaviour. Streaming platforms like Viki have long recognised the power of celebrity curation. The 'Pass It On' campaign leverages this by positioning LE SSERAFIM as tastemakers. The name itself suggests a chain of recommendation—one viewer passing a drama to the next, building community around shared stories.
For LE SSERAFIM, the collaboration offers a chance to connect with fans beyond music. It humanises them, showing that they consume the same stories as their audience. In an era when parasocial relationships drive much of K-pop's engagement, such glimpses into personal taste can feel intimate and authentic. It also reinforces the group's identity as part of a broader Korean cultural wave, not just a music act.
For Viki, the partnership taps into a dedicated fandom that is already used to seeking out content online. The campaign's success will likely be measured in engagement—how many viewers seek out the listed dramas, how many share their own recommendations, and how many discover the platform through LE SSERAFIM's endorsement. The result is a mutually beneficial arrangement that blurs the line between promotion and genuine enthusiasm.
The timing is also notable. As K-drama continues to expand its global audience, collaborations like this help sustain interest by offering familiar faces as guides. They lower the barrier for newcomers while giving existing fans a reason to revisit old favourites or try something new.
What to Take Away
LE SSERAFIM's watchlist is a diverse collection that highlights the range of K-drama: from time-slip romances and supernatural classics to action thrillers, military fantasy, and coming-of-age tales. It is a snapshot of current viewing tastes and a useful guide for anyone looking to explore the genre.
The collaboration with Viki's 'Pass It On' campaign is a reminder that K-pop and K-drama fandoms often overlap, and that stars can serve as bridges between the two. Whether you are a longtime viewer or a curious newcomer, the list offers plenty of starting points. And if you could pass one drama on to someone else, which would it be?
