Critical response The series was a domestic and international hit. It received plaudits for its performances, screenplay, and direction, and has been favorably compared to the acclaimed period drama
Reply 1988 (2015–16), for eliciting nostalgia and warmth rooted in the Korean experience.
Time magazine praised the series for being "devastatingly profound", showing not only "the story of one family" but also "the story of Korea's modernization from the postwar period to today" and highlighting "a rich and distinct cultural history" of Jeju island.
India Today stated that the series "isn't just a love story, nor is it merely a historical drama. It's a meditation on time, on love, and on the quiet labor of care that stretches across lifetimes."''
Per South China Morning Post the series "masterfully bridged past and present, blurring the line between nostalgic reverie and pressing reality" calling it "one of the very best K-dramas of all time – and quite possibly the most Korean of them all." The series was also praised by the Chinese Communist Party-owned daily tabloid Global Times.''
Viewership The series was in Netflix's Top 10 Non-English Shows for nine weeks.
Impact Following its release in the first week of March, the series topped the
Good Data Corporation's Top 10 TV-OTT Drama Topicality Ranking for seven consecutive weeks. During this period, IU ranked first in the buzz-worthy drama performer category. Park Bo-gum rank second for six consecutive weeks and third the following week. In the third week of March,
Lee Jun-young was fourth, and
Kim Seon-ho was tenth. In the fourth week, Kim Seon-ho ranked third, Lee Jun-young eighth, and
Kang You-seok tenth. In addition, the series ranked first in
Gallup Korea's nationwide survey of favorite TV programs for March, April, and May 2025. It was Netflix's fifth series to rank first for three consecutive months. It was also the first drama to surpass a 10% preference rating since January 2013.
Park Bo-gum was named
Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year, with
IU in second place; he became the first artist to top the poll for an
OTT release. According to the mobile big data platform Mobile Index, Netflix reported 14 million
monthly active users (MAUs) in March 2025, reflecting an increase of over 640,000 from the previous month. This marked the first time Netflix's MAUs exceeded 14 million since January 2023, when the drama
The Glory gained significant popularity. Following the initial public release of the series,
Pan Entertainment's stock price rose by 22.12%. Ahead of the second release, the stock reached 3,930 won, surpassing its 52-week high. The show had a major influence on popular culture, resulting in the creation of the term "
Pokssak Sogatsuda Craze" () shaping trends in furniture, fashion, food, and tourism. The mother-of-pearl chest treasured by Ae-sun in the drama prompted a trend of refurbishing similar chests on social media. The fashion styles of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik in the drama led to a resurgence of retro chic, also known as
Grandmacore. Online shopping sites reported a spike in searches for these styles after the drama's release, with items like pearl hairpins, dot scarves, checkered ties, and floral shirts experiencing a notable increase in sales. A school lunch menu with dishes inspired by the series, such as
barley and
pea rice,
squid, and
croaker, gained popularity on social media. These dishes subsequently appeared in various cafeterias, including
Hybe's cafeteria, further increasing online interest. Sales of
sesame oil,
perilla oil,
soju brands, fried chicken brands, and snacks from the show have also experienced a significant boost. The
Jeju Tourism Organization observed a surge in interest in Jeju, the main setting of the series, prompting airlines to increase flights to Jeju during Golden Week. In addition, after the success of the series, Jeju's local government and Netflix Korea signed the "Business Agreement for Activation of Jeju Culture and Tourism and Content" on May 16, 2025. IU and Park Bo-gum's rendition of "Mountain Boy's Love Story" in
Gayo Stage was praised, with the song becoming popular in
streaming and
social media as well as
karaoke rooms. Park Bo-gum and
Park Hae-joon's portrayals of Gwan-sik have been well received both domestically and internationally. Their depiction of a loving husband sparked a
meme referred to as "Gwan-sik-ness," with the phrase "My Own Gwan-sik" trending on social media as users shared posts about partners and fathers exhibiting similar loving behaviors. Choi Dae-hoon's portrayal also led to the "Hak-ssi Craze," with the
catchphrase "Hak-ssi" becoming well-known and earning him the nickname "Mr. Hak-ssi." Additionally, "Kim Seon-ho's smile challenge," in which netizens mimic his wink and smile from the drama became
viral on social media globally. The series' recognition led to unauthorized use of its images. A supermarket in
Hebei, China, used images of the main characters from the drama in advertisements without permission, including scenes of Park Bo-gum as Gwan-sik selling cabbages and IU as Ae-sun holding a cup of pea rice. On June 2, 2025, shortly before the
2025 South Korean presidential election, candidate
Kim Moon-soo posted a parody of the series on his social media replacing the faces of Park Bo-gum and IU with his and his wife's. Prior to this, he wore a red tracksuit similar to Gwan-sik's costume while campaigning in Jeju. Some viewers questioned whether Netflix had authorized the use and expressed concerns about politicizing the show. On June 3, Netflix stated that it was aware of the parody but had not approved it and was monitoring for further unauthorized uses. == Accolades ==