Today I'm going to show you how I watch my Korean series on my cell phone, even without internet, with cell phone apps.
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Look, if there's one thing I value these days, it's being able to watch my Korean series comfortably, wherever I want and especially without depending on the internet.
Because let's face it: you can't always count on Wi-Fi, right? And 4G... only if you're going to end up paying a fortune at the end of the month.
I'm completely addicted to dramas. I've lost count of how many nights I've spent watching those one-hour episodes that we swear we'll stop at the next one, but the next one always comes with an absurd cliffhanger and that's it: there goes my sleep.
But anyway, if you also love K-dramas, you know how difficult it is to find a way to watch all of this without suffering from crashes, annoying ads, or having to depend on a good connection.
So I decided to share here the apps I use to watch dramas on my cell phone, without internet, in peace.
Everything tested by me, and I'll talk a little about my experience with each one. Let's go?
1. Viki (Rakuten Viki)
This one is almost a classic, right? I think it was the first app I started using when I entered the world of dramas.
The catalog is huge, ranging from the oldest to new releases. What I really like about Viki is the subtitles created by the community.
Sometimes there are even comments during the speeches, like a timeline of reactions. I find that super fun.
The good side: If you subscribe to the Viki Pass plan (it's not expensive, I promise!), you can download episodes and watch them offline.
I usually download it when I'm at home on Wi-Fi and save everything to watch on the bus or during lunch at work.
Negative point: the free version has a lot of ads and doesn't allow downloads. But if you're the type of person who does a lot of marathons, it's definitely worth paying for the basic plan. It's saved my life several times.
2. Netflix
It may seem obvious, but yes, Netflix has a very good catalog of Korean series.
They have invested heavily in Korean productions, including originals such as “Round 6”, “All of Us Are Dead” and “The Porcelain King”.
Apart from the classics like “Landing on Love”, which made me cry more than I would like to admit.
The difference here is that the app allows you to download episodes. And it works perfectly: you download them when you're on Wi-Fi and watch them later without using up a single MB of your plan.
It has saved me on long trips and in places with no signal at all.
Oh, and one tip: when you download an episode, it's only available for a limited time. So if you downloaded it and forgot about it, hurry up and watch it before it expires!
3. Kocowa
This app is more focused on Korean content. Like, it's made by Korean broadcasters, so you'll find a lot of exclusive stuff.
I confess that it took me a while to get to know it, but after I downloaded it, I found several dramas that I couldn't find in other apps.
The app has a download option to watch offline, but only in the paid version. It's like Viki in that sense.
What I like the most is that the episodes usually come out very quickly after they air in Korea.
So you can follow it almost in real time. And the subtitles in Portuguese are good, you know?
4. iQIYI
This name is a bit weird, but the app is great! It's a Chinese platform, but it has a lot of Korean content, with subtitles in Portuguese.
I started using it out of curiosity and was surprised by the quality of the image, subtitles and interface.
It also has a download function, and even the free plan offers some episodes with this option.
Of course there are limitations, but you can work around it if you don't want to sign up right away.
And the best part: the app is lightweight, doesn't crash, and works well even on older phones.
5. YouTube (yes, YouTube!)
I know it seems a bit improvised, but there are a lot of channels on YouTube that post episodes of dramas, especially the older or lesser-known ones.
Sometimes it's official, sometimes it's fansubs that put it with subtitles.
The trick here is to use YouTube Premium, which allows you to download videos to watch offline.
I signed up once just because of that (there was a three-month free promotion) and I really enjoyed it.
When the period ended, I cancelled, but hey... it's worth keeping an eye on these promotions, you know?
One final tip: use your phone space wisely
Seriously, only download what you're going to watch. I got excited and downloaded an entire season, and when I went to take pictures while I was out, my phone froze due to lack of space.
Nowadays I do a “rotating inventory”: I download, watch, delete and that’s it.
Oh, and one thing that helped me was buying a bigger memory card.
It wasn't even expensive and now I can save more episodes without worrying so much.
Final summaries:
If you love dramas and want to watch Korean series on your phone when you're offline, these apps are gold. My routine has changed a lot since I discovered these download functions.
Seriously, it's almost become a ritual: on the weekend I download the episodes, leave everything organized, grab a snack and that's it... marathon guaranteed.
And the best part is that you can adapt everything to your own pace. If you just want to use the free version, there's an option. If you want to pay for a basic subscription, that's also worth it.
The important thing is to be able to watch without stress.
If you also have a favorite Korean series app on your phone or a good tip, tell me later, because you know... true drama fans are always looking for more ways to watch.
And if you want a series recommendation, I'll let you know that my list is too long to put here. But we're in this together!
