Mid-July is creeping up faster than you think: one of the highest-rated K-dramas ever is set to vanish from Netflix’s library in just a few days. If you haven’t experienced this fan-favourite romantic comedy, now’s your last chance.
A 9.2/10 gem bids farewell to Netflix
Backstreet Rookie, the 2020 series that turned convenience-store shenanigans into pure magic, has captured the hearts of viewers worldwide. Starring Ji Chang-wook as the harried store manager Choi Dae-hyun and Kim Yoo-jung as the effervescent part-timer Jung Saet-byul, the show blends laugh-out-loud banter with swoon-worthy moments. Based on the hit webtoon She’s Too Much for Me, every episode crackles with energy: from an awkward cigarette-run kiss at sunrise to the sweet awkwardness of midnight inventory checks, the duo’s chemistry is infectious.
According to Viki, the Asia-focused streaming community, Backstreet Rookie boasts an impressive 9.2 out of 10 rating from over 94,000 viewers. As someone who typically reserves weekend hours for documentaries, I’d never have guessed I’d be holed up in my pyjamas, alternately laughing and tearing up at a convenience-store romance. Yet, here we are, fully invested in their hilarious misadventures and tender growth arcs.
Don’t let it slip through your fingers: Netflix’s official removal list confirms that the series will depart the platform on July 15, 2025—a date now circled on every streaming spreadsheet I know. If you’re hunting for a binge-worthy escape that’s equal parts light and heartfelt, serve yourself a tall glass of nostalgia and dive in before it’s gone.
Where to find your favourite stars next
Worried about withdrawal? Fear not: both leads have plenty more to offer on Netflix. Ji Chang-wook has headlined a string of must-watch hits that showcase his versatility beyond convenience-store chaos. As GQ India notes, you can catch him in the action-thriller romance Healer, the pulse-pounding drama The K2 and the city-slicker love story Lovestruck in the City. I can’t scroll through social media without spotting a Healer meme or a Love in the Moonlight reunion clip—his fanbase is as fresh and engaged as ever.
Likewise, Kim Yoo-jung’s star power stretches back to her breakout as young Heo Yeon-woo in Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) and blossomed with the coming-of-age gem Love in the Moonlight (2016)—both streaming now. More recently, she popped up in the quirky Netflix original Chicken Nugget in 2024, proving she can flip genres as nimbly as she flips convenience-store shelves.
If you’re craving more K-drama flair, these titles will tide you over until the next wave of releases lands. And if you miss Backstreet Rookie on Netflix, remember you can still stream it on Viki with subtitles in multiple languages—so the story isn’t lost forever.
