Fans of Chinese, Japanese and Korean TV shows have all come across this problem before: something catches your eye, but you can only watch it through unofficial streaming sites, torrents or livestreams.
If you’re new to digging around for these user-uploaded content and “fansubs”, this is the guide. With a decade of experience under my belt, I’ll share with you where to find those shows that legitimate service providers don’t offer.
For well-known shows, everything is a lot simpler. I guarantee that they will exist on every video-hosting site and torrent community I’m introducing.
For the older and more obscure titles, check out the supplementary resource page I put together. It contains everything you need to know, including how to find alternative titles of a show.
Streaming sites
Do you have the patience to find and torrent large files? If not, you will like the video-hosting sites I’ve listed below. Just make sure to install ad-block!
-
-
- Dramas + Variety
- Variety only
- Anime
-
These sites (and their clones under different names) do all the dirty work for you. They find, download and upload the shows for you to stream, even adding English subtitles whenever available. Although the video quality can sometimes be terrible and the subtitle syncing can be off, I have used all of the listed sites without any major issues.
Blue labels on DramaCool indicate that an episode has English subtitles. (Screenshot captured via DramaCool)
I highly recommend *DramaCool for its large collection and tolerable user interface. You can usually find everything that has aired in the last 5 years, even if the site primarily uploads Korean content. The only downside? DramaCool constantly changes its web address, so make sure to follow its social media accounts!
On a similar note, I prefer *KShowOnline and *9Anime for their show selections and clean website designs.
Youtube can be a treasure trove of unofficially-subtitled goodies, especially for K-pop fans. (Screenshot captured via Youtube)
If you’re looking for something that a popular entertainer (i.e. a K-pop group or an actor) has appeared in: try Youtube or Dailymotion! Individuals fans or fansub groups often upload subtitled episodes or clips on those streaming platforms.
Try searching the entertainer’s name, the show name and “ENG” (e.g. “Apink weekly idol eng”).
Sometimes, you may also have to add the broadcast date (YYMMDD). Warning: some shows can get taken down by copyright holders!
Torrent
Still can’t find what you were looking? Or do you just prefer downloading videos instead of streaming? If the show has already aired, your only option left is to torrent (a.k.a. peer-to-peer file-sharing).
Illustration depicting P2P file-sharing by Scott Martin via Wikimedia Commons
Torrents always scare away the beginners. I too avoided them once upon a time. Getting letters from your internet service provider is always a possibility, but you cannot receive any real penalties in Canada for now.
Once you get the hang of it, torrenting actually feels safer than most streaming sites. Google can direct you to great resources that can help you get started with torrenting. Below are some of my favourite public communities for torrents:
-
-
- Nyaa.is (anime)
- JDramaCity (Japanese dramas)
- ToMovie (Korean site with everything; filenames are in Korean)
-
If you’ll torrent files regularly, you should consider joining a private torrent community. Avistaz.to is by far my favourite English-speaking torrent community. The organization system is perfect and the rules are strict. Best of all, it contains the most comprehensive torrent collection for East Asian entertainment. Check the site often, because Avistaz randomly offers open-registration (as opposed to invite-only) from time to time.
Livestream
Not interested in streaming or downloading? Want to watch shows in real-time? Livestreaming requires you to overcome language barriers and time zone differences.
For this, you have two options: IPTV or regular livestream channels.
I highly doubt you want to pay big bucks for illegal IPTV services—although if you’re still interested, I know a few.
The best option for most of us? AQStream – it complies livestreams of most major Korean and Japanese channels.
Want to watch 7AM Japanese news after dinner? (Screenshot captured via AQStream)
One-time streams (Facebook or Ustream) by various individuals can also meet your needs. Are you trying to watch a special event such as an award ceremony or a popular show’s finale? Anything with high demand, despite lack of subtitles, usually have numerous livestream links popping up in the hour before they start. Google will usually point you in the right direction, but also keep an eye on social media.
Found what you’re looking for?
While I hope this post directed you to the shows you wanted to find, sometimes you may not find everything. Some shows just never make it onto the internet in the first place. In that case, I hope something else catches your interest!
What are your favourite ways to watch unofficial releases of shows? Which shows would you like to see licensed? Let me know in the comment section below 😃
Other Recommended Resources
D-Addicts – a forum with a long history and good reputation for all things East Asian entertainment that many active uploaders, fansubbers and fans call home despite the removal of the torrent section years ago
MyDramaList – keep track of your drama-watching and find detailed information (alternative titles, cast, etc.) and trailers on this large database of Asian dramas
r/KoreanVariety – a well-maintained community for links to streams, torrents and subtitles, along with active discussion posts
r/JapaneseGameShows – for bite-sized clips or full-length episodes of old and new Japanese variety shows
#Assignment 2e
East Asian TV 
