The Rakuten Viki October 2023 schedule has been announced and includes binge-worthy new Korean, Chinese and Japanese dramas. A leading destination for Asian content, Rakuten Viki is debuting must-see titles filled with romance, action, and thrill this fall season.
Headlining this month will be the Rakuten Viki exclusive A Good Day to be a Dog, an engaging rom-com fantasy based on the popular Webtoon of the same name, starring Cha Eun-woo (True Beauty, My ID Is Gangnam Beauty) and Park Kyu-young (Sweet Home, Dali, Cocky Prince). The Matchmakers stars Extraordinary You’s Rowoon in a historical rom-com.
The Rakuten Viki October 2023 lineup also includes Project Wolf Hunting, a gripping film about criminals at sea, starring Seo In Guk from Doom at Your Service, and Ping Pong: The Triumph, a film inspired by actual events that takes a look into the world of table tennis.
Romantic comedies Kissing the Ring Finger and Hello, Dong Dong En are set to make their debut, while the action-packed Thai series My Lucky Star and the comedic 99.9 Criminal Lawyer will also make their way to the streaming service.
The month’s content releases don’t stop there, as Rakuten Viki has decided to give its viewers a special surprise – all treats, no tricks! This Halloween season, Rakuten Viki will introduce the “13 Days of Halloween,” where viewers can watch a top-performing series for free for one day only in the lead up to the holiday.
Starting on October 19th, one series a day will be fully available for free on Rakuten Viki. The titles that will be included in this thrilling promotion are Kokdu: Season of Deity, The Red Sleeve, Our Blooming Youth, Reborn Rich, The Eighth Sense, Not Others, The Heavenly Idol, Sh**ting Stars, Doom at Your Service, My Lovely Liar, Love In Contract, Duty After School, and Lies Hidden in My Garden.
For fans who are looking to celebrate the spooky season all month long, the Rakuten October 2023 lineup also has two curated playlists, “Happy Halloween” and “Spooky Viki,” featuring a collection of their scariest titles like The Wailing, Train to Busan, Conjuring Spirit and more.
Rakuten Viki is available to anyone to watch for free (with advertisements) or without advertisements with tiered subscriptions of Viki Pass Standard for $5.99 USD a month and VikiPass Plus for $9.99 USD. Rakuten Viki is available on several platforms, including desktop, mobile, and web.
Rakuten Viki is a premier destination for Asian entertainment, with a global audience that comes to Rakuten Viki’s over-the-top (OTT) platform for dramas, variety shows, movies, awards shows, and Viki Originals – translated into 150+ languages by a community of avid fans.
Reaching more than 65 million fans in over 250 countries via Rakuten Viki and its entertainment news community, Soompi, the company also develops and invests in Viki Originals.
RAKUTEN VIKI OCTOBER 2023 SCHEDULE
Ping Pong: The Triumph – China – October 2
In the early 1990s, table tennis coach Cai Zhenhua is tasked with assembling a fresh team of talent in hopes of gaining victory at the 1995 World Ping Pong Championship in Tianjin, China. “Ping Pong: The Triumph” is a 2023 Chinese sports film, directed by Deng Chao and Yu Bai Mei, inspired by these real-life events.
Project Wolf Hunting – Korea – October 6
Project Wolf Hunting follows “The Frontier Titan,” a massive container ship traveling between the Philippines and the South Korean port of Busan, carrying a group of dangerous criminals, including Jong Doo (Seo In Guk, Doom at Your Service). Tasked with guarding them is a group of tough police officers led by Seok Woo (Park Ho San).
The criminals act on their plans to break free and take control of the ship, turning it into a floating nightmare. Unbeknownst to them, there is something even more deadly onboard, poised to unleash a horror unlike anything ever seen before.
A Good Day to be a Dog [Viki Exclusive] – Korea – October 11
The highly anticipated title A Good Day to be a Dog features Park Kyu-Young as Han Hae Na, a high school teacher with a family curse that causes them to turn into a dog for six hours at midnight after they kiss someone. This curse continues until that person, in their dog form, kisses the same individual. To avoid this, Han Hae Na asks potential romantic partners not to kiss her, often causing them to leave.
One night, while intoxicated, she accidentally kisses Jin Seo Won (Cha Eun-woo, True Beauty, My ID Is Gangnam Beauty) a colleague at the same school. Despite not being close, she desperately seeks another kiss to reverse the transformation, unaware that Seo Won fears dogs.
Kissing the Ring Finger – Japan – October 13
Ayaka is employed in the bridal department of a hotel and although she possesses undeniable beauty, she carries a notoriously unpleasant personality and is often labeled as a “wicked woman.”
When Togo, the newly appointed executive of the hotel and the influential son of a prominent figure in town, becomes interested in her, he issues a set of commands befitting his regal demeanor. What happens when these two personalities collide?
Hello, Dong Dong En – China – October 16
o In Hello, Dong Dong En, due to a misunderstanding between the top-tier customer service representative Dong Dong En and client representative Lou Yuan, their mundane workplace life becomes a whirlwind.
After starting the job at the client’s office, not only does Dong Dong En excel in showcasing her top-tier professionalism, but she also captures Lou Yuan’s heart with her own charm in the battle of wits and courage with the client.
My Lucky Star – Thailand – October 23
As both a highly praised jewelry designer and a talented race car driver, Ratti has made quite a name for himself. After a series of unfortunate events, including having his friend Chomjan arrested in the act of selling fake jewelry, then discovering his girlfriend cheating with his stepbrother, he takes on a new life in Italy to escape it all.
But months later when his stepmother threatens to sell his late mother’s cherished necklace, Ratti returns to take back the necklace, crashing his ex’s wedding in the process. In the meantime, Chomjan is released from jail and walking around homeless when she’s caught up in Ratti’s escape, causing the security to cuff both of them together. Tied together by force, Chomjan must help Ratti run from the police this time.
South Wind Knows – China – Series finale on October 24
Botanist Fu Yun Shen (Cheng Yi) is searching for a plant with exceptional medicinal properties when he crosses paths with Zhu Jiu (Zhang Yu Xi), a doctor on a humanitarian mission. Initially, a misunderstanding creates tension between them, but gradually, they feel a mutual attraction.
However, a revelation about Fu Yun Shen’s true mission and a car accident leaves him wounded and disillusioned, making him doubt his relationship with Zhu Jiu. A year later, they encounter each other again in different circumstances, reigniting their romance.
Yet, as they rebuild their connection, Zhu Jiu uncovers unsettling truths about her parents’ death, raising questions about the future of their love.
99.9 Criminal Lawyer – Japan – October 27
Hiroto Miyama is a struggling lawyer who takes on criminal cases to pursue the truth, despite the slim chances of success in Japan’s justice system with a 99.9% conviction rate. His dedication catches the attention of Haruhiko Madarame, the head of Madarame Law Firm, one of the largest law firms among the top four.
Hiroto joins forces with Atsuhiro Sada, a lawyer specializing in civil cases who brings significant revenue to the firm. Unlike Atsuhiro, who focuses on lucrative civil cases, Hiroto remains committed to handling criminal cases and seeking justice for the marginalized.
The Matchmakers [Viki Original] – Korea – October 30th
Set in the Joseon dynasty, this romantic comedy portrays the encounter between a young widow, Jung Soon Deok (played by Cho Yi-hyun), and a young widower, Shim Jung Woo (played by Rowoon). Their story revolves around the challenges they face together in arranging marriages for four young maidens who symbolize the Joseon era.
The genre of this series encompasses both romance and comedy, offering a historical twist.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.