Netflix K-Drama Trigger: Why the boycott calls and how it scored a rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes score

Netflix’s latest K-drama, Trigger, plunges viewers into a chilling alternate reality of South Korea, one where the country’s famously strict gun laws have vanished. Featuring a stellar cast including Kim Nam Gil, Kim Young Kwang, and Park Hoon, the show sparked fierce boycott calls even before its premiere.

Many linked it to the recent tragic shooting in Songdo, Incheon, though the director denied any direct connection. Despite the controversy, Trigger ignited global interest, quickly climbing the ranks to become one of Netflix’s most-watched non-English series, surpassing hits like Letters From the Past and Angela.

Released on July 25, Trigger soared to the #2 spot in Netflix’s global non-English category, maintaining a strong top 10 presence across 20 countries—including South Korea itself. It drew over 2.9 million weekly views in its second week, trailing only behind long-time leader Squid Game 3, which boasts an impressive 28.5 million hours watched. The show’s gripping premise imagines a nation overrun by illegal guns after a terminally ill man floods the streets with weapons in a deadly quest for revenge—unfolding a rarely-seen, raw portrayal of chaos on South Korean screens.

Slowly winning over critics, Trigger holds a rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, marking it as a standout thriller in the K-drama landscape.