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How to Watch Rakuten Viki from Anywhere: VPN Guide 2026
When JTBC aired the first episode of My Youth with Song Joong-ki in September 2025, fans around the world could watch it almost in step with the Korean premiere in just one place: Rakuten Viki. That near-simulcast speed, paired with community subtitles in 150-plus languages, is exactly why Viki became the home address for Asian drama lovers. Watching Rakuten Viki abroad still runs into regional licensing, though, so the catalogue shifts country by country and some titles vanish once you cross a border.
The library is open in 185 countries today, yet the moment you travel for work or holiday, your home lineup changes. The fix is Surfshark: connect to a server back in your own country, let the app read a home IP, and your half-finished dramas plus the free ad-supported tier load right back in. Picture quality stays up to 1080p and the subtitles still arrive in your language.
1,500+
Total titles
185
Countries
1080p
Max quality
4 of 7
VPNs work
2-3 min
Ready in
Quick answer
Does Rakuten Viki work abroad?
Yes, but the catalogue follows regional licensing, so part of your lineup disappears once you leave home. Install Surfshark, connect to a server in your home country, then reopen the app. You will see the same selection you had at home, including shows you started, and playback runs up to 1080p. The free ad-supported tier and Viki Pass both behave exactly as they do at home.
VPN Compatibility
Best VPN for Rakuten Viki
Tested weekly by our team. Green: works, amber: partial, red: blocked.
Tested on August 24, 2026 · 7 VPNs, 4 working · residential IP from the United States · Rakuten Viki updates detection continuously, results may change.
⚠️
Streaming service blocking your VPN? Just disconnect and hop onto a different server in the same country. Stick to the ones labeled “streaming” or “optimized” because they’re literally built for this.
How-to
How to Unblock Rakuten Viki with a VPN
Takes about 2 minutes. Works on your phone, tablet, TV, PC, or laptop.
1
Pick a reliable VPN
Go with Surfshark from $1.78 a month. Look for plenty of servers, fast connections and an app for your smart TV.
An annual plan costs less, and a 30-day money-back guarantee covers your test run.
2
Connect to your home country
Open the VPN and choose a server in your own country. That hands the app a home IP and clears the regional catalogue limits.
3
Sign in to Viki
Launch the Viki app or website and log into your account. Your started shows and free streaming load just like they do at home.
4
Start watching
Pick a drama and press play. Video goes up to 1080p and the community subtitles appear in your language.
Ready to watch Rakuten Viki without borders?
Surfshark: risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee
This overall 1-10 score combines value, reliability, and VPN compatibility into one editorial verdict. Higher = better overall experience.
9.0
Value
This 1-10 score rates the value for money: content and features vs. price. Higher = better deal. 10 = outstanding offer. 5 = market average.
8.0
Reliability
This 1-10 score rates the reliability of streams, apps, and the service overall: higher = fewer technical issues. 10 = no outages. 5 = occasional minor glitches.
7.0
Works with VPN
This 1-10 score shows how easily the platform unblocks with a VPN: higher is better. 10 = works with any service. 5 = you’ll need a premium VPN from the table above.
Availability
Which countries is Rakuten Viki available in?
Rakuten Viki is available in 185 countries, including in the United States, in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in Canada and in New Zealand. It is blocked in only 5 countries.
Rakuten Viki works without a VPN in the United States, in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in Canada, in New Zealand, in Ireland and in Germany, plus in 178 more countries.
Rakuten Viki also works in Afghanistan, in China, in Russia and in Ukraine, but with limited content compared to fully available countries. Surfshark unlocks full access.
Rakuten Viki is blocked in the British Virgin Islands, in Cuba, in Iran, in North Korea and in Syria. To access it, use a premium VPN like Surfshark.
Available
Partial
Blocked / unavailable
Last tested: July 15, 2026
⚠️
Steer clear of free VPNs. Most of them actually collect and sell your data, lack proper security audits, and can even expose you to malware. They’re also useless for streaming. Platforms block them instantly, leaving you with more headaches than solutions. Stick to paid VPNs with verified audits, like Surfshark, if you want something that actually works.
Rakuten Viki is the streaming service operated by Japanese group Rakuten, dedicated to Asian drama and pop-culture content. The catalogue leans heavily on Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai and Japanese drama, often streaming new episodes on their original broadcast day. Viki’s distinctive feature is the community-driven subtitle system that covers more than 150 languages, built by volunteer translators and particularly strong for less-common language pairs. A free ad-supported tier is available worldwide, with Viki Pass Standard at 7.99 $ removing advertising.
The first screen you see when you open Rakuten Viki.
Company and history
Major changes
Razmig Hovaghimian, Changseong Ho and Jiwon Moon found Viki, a name fusing video and wiki. The project starts as a language-learning tool built on subtitled videos.
Viki leaves beta and opens to the general public. A community of volunteer translators builds subtitles for Asian dramas in dozens of languages at once.
Japanese group Rakuten buys Viki for a reported 200 million dollars. The acquisition gives the service financial backing and a path to a wider global audience.
Viki launches its first-ever International K-Drama Day on November 29, an event celebrating Korean pop culture with free shows, prizes and talent exclusives.
Viki begins gradually adjusting Viki Pass subscription prices in select countries. The changes roll out market by market, with the final amount depending on the user region.
Viki exclusively premieres the drama My Youth with Song Joong-ki across the US, Latin America and Europe, landing almost in step with the JTBC broadcast in Korea.
The April slate opens with the exclusive premiere of the much-anticipated Yumi’s Cells 3. Viki cements a strategy built on simulcasting fresh Korean releases.
Viki announces its own original series Dive Into You with Kim Ji-yeon and Park Seo-ham, stepping in as co-producer and investor. The premiere is slated to run globally on Viki only.
Trust signals
App Store
4.8 / 5
Google Play
4.8 / 5
Content & Catalog
What to watch on Rakuten Viki?
1,500+
Total titles
~20
New titles/month
10
Max offline downloads
Content TypesMovies · Series · Anime · Originals · Offline
SubtitlesEnglish · Czech · German · Spanish · French · Italian · Portuguese · Polish · Romanian · Greek · Arabic
Payment methodsCredit card · Debit card · PayPal · Apple Pay · Google Pay · Gift card
Offline downloadsUp to 720p offline · Download expires after 30 days
Mystic Nine follows Zhang Qishan as he joins forces with Wu Laogou, alongside Huo Xiangu and the other members of the Mystic Nine, when turmoil returns to Changsha. The mysterious disappearance of Unit 401 uncovers a century-old secret. Faced with life-and-death choices, bound by brotherhood, responsibility to their sects, and devotion to their country, they risk everything to protect their home and overcome the crisis.
Mystic Nine
★ 6.82026
#2TV
A seemingly ordinary working mother secretly lives as a legendary sniper who delivers justice where the law fails. After returning from a three-year hiatus, she must balance protecting her family with eliminating dangerous criminals, all while a determined journalist and a relentless detective close in on her hidden identity.
A Bona Fide Killer
★ 6.52026
#3TV
A successful entrepreneur with a seemingly perfect life sees everything fall apart after discovering her husband covering up a murder allegedly committed by their daughter. As the family scrambles to hide the truth, an anonymous blackmailer claims to have recorded everything, pulling them into a dangerous web of lies, secrets, and betrayal.
The Affair Was Just The Beginning
★ 8.82026
#4TV
In Republican Shanghai, Murong Qingyi, a warlord’s son swapped at birth, endures years of torment. His life changes when Ren Susu saves him, but tragedy strikes her family because of it. Years later, love sparks between them, but Ren Susu fakes her death to save another, leaving Qingyi heartbroken. Three years on, she returns as his future sister-in-law. Love, hate, betrayal, and old wounds resurface. As war looms, the two must defy fate together, but can love survive a nation’s fall?
Overdo
★ 8.52026
#5TV
Two high school classmates bond over a shared love of filmmaking, turning a deep friendship into first love before an unexpected separation tears them apart. Years later, they reunite with their lives completely transformed, she’s lost her passion, while he’s become a celebrated director. Determined to reignite her dreams, he must first confront the hurt he left behind.
Dream to You
★ 9.32026
#6TV
The sole survivor of a bloodshed, Gu Qingzhi awakens under a new identity, Shen Xihe, the Princess of the Northwest. Once a proud and spirited rose of the frontier, she has now transformed into a cold, calculating figure, determined to seize control of her destiny and dominate the game of power. Crown Prince Xiao Huayong, frail in body but razor-sharp in mind, sees through the treacherous currents of the court. As their fates intertwine, they grow closer, joining forces to command the winds of destiny.
Blossoms of Power
★ 8.52026
#7TV
In the 1990s, teenagers Chen Yi and Miao Jing met due to their parents, initially getting off to a rocky start. However, Miao Jing’s kindness eventually softens Chen Yi’s attitude towards her. Chen Yi and Miao Jing’s relationship deepens after Chen Yi’s father dies and Miao Jing’s mother disappears, leaving the two to rely only on each other. Miao Jing eventually confesses her feelings for Chen Yi, but he pushes her away after he gets tangled up as a crime witness, urging her to leave their city. Years later, Chen Yi runs a billiards hall in their hometown, while Miao Jing returns for a work assignment. But when Chen Yi suspects that Miao Jing’s boss is involved in smuggling, he vows to protect her, and stay by her side.
Love For You
★ 8.82026
#8TV
When Lin Wanxing returns to her hometown and takes a job at a local high school, she’s unexpectedly tasked with reviving its long-disbanded soccer team. With help from her mysterious tenant, former coach Wang Fa, they work to rebuild the team, guide the students toward their dreams, and face the shadows of their own pasts along the way.
Road to Success
★ 7.22026
#9TV
Ten years after Goblin, Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun, and Yoo In-na reunite for a special journey, revisiting iconic locations from the drama and sharing memories, stories, and reflections on one of Korea’s most beloved series.
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God 10th Anniversary
★ 6.92026
#10TV
A poor young man trapped in a sham marriage falls for his wife’s older brother, risking everything for forbidden love.
Bittersweet Love
★ 8.42026
#11TV
When the Sea Calamity strikes and the Divine Tree appears, whoever claims its fruit gains power over all creation, sparking a bloody war among the immortals, demons, and monsters. A century later, Lei Xiuyuan seeks out Qingqiu orphan Xiaobangchui to save his brother. Fate brings them to Chufeng Academy, where loyal friends give her warmth and love begins to bloom. As their bond deepens from friendship to something more, the truth of her origins slowly unravels, threatening everything they’ve built.
The Eternal Fragrance
★ 7.32026
#12TV
Filming a daring romance movie, an award-winning actor and an ambitious newcomer lose track of where acting ends and their real desire begins.
5 tips from our Rakuten Viki testing team · Updated July 15, 2026
1
Choose the annual Viki Pass Standard over paying $7.99 a month and you save noticeably across a full year of ad-free streaming.
2
Sample a few episodes on the free, ad-supported tier first to confirm the dramas you want aren't region-blocked where you live.
3
Travelling and hitting this content is not available in your region? Connect through Surfshark to a server in a country where your titles are licensed.
4
Only step up to Pass Plus if you need offline downloads, four simultaneous streams and the smart-TV apps; otherwise cheaper Standard already removes ads.
5
Switch on Timed Comments to watch K-dramas with fans' live reactions floating over the video, recreating a group watch-along.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before subscribing to Rakuten Viki.
Not necessarily. The free ad-supported tier works abroad too, but you hit the same regional catalogue limits as paid Viki Pass. The key is Surfshark with a server in your home country: it shows the app a home IP and restores the lineup you had at home. After that it makes no difference whether you stream for free or on a subscription.
Yes, using a VPN is legal in the vast majority of countries, and Surfshark simply encrypts your connection. At most you bend the terms of service, not the law. Viki restricts access for licensing reasons, not because VPNs are banned. To stay comfortable, read the terms of service and respect the local legal framework of the country you are currently in.
Yes, Viki is one of the services where Smart DNS usually works and slows your connection less than a full VPN. The trade-off is that Smart DNS does not encrypt traffic and breaks more easily when Viki tightens detection. Surfshark is the more versatile pick because it pairs region unblocking with privacy protection in one place.
Video on Viki goes up to 1080p, which is plenty for dramas and romance series. The higher quality is unlocked by paid Viki Pass; the free tier runs at lower quality with ads. Quality does not change through Surfshark, just pick a fast server so the picture does not stutter and the subtitles keep pace with the story.
Netflix has plenty of Korean dramas, but Viki puts them front and centre and often airs them almost in step with the Korean broadcast. It also offers community subtitles in 150-plus languages built by fans themselves. If you mainly watch Asian drama, Viki is the more specialised home. With Surfshark you can reach the home catalogue of both services.
Yes, paid Viki Pass lets you download episodes into the mobile app for offline viewing, so a flight or a dead zone will not cost you your drama. Downloaded titles carry a limited window and count. Grab them at home before you leave. If you would rather stream live, use Surfshark with a server in your country.
Regional licensing is the reason: a studio sells the rights to a drama only for certain countries, so the Viki catalogue shifts market by market. When you travel, the app reads your foreign IP and hides titles it has not licensed there. Surfshark with a home server rewrites that address and brings back your original lineup and started episodes.
Yes, but not every TV supports VPNs natively. The safest route is to install Surfshark straight on your router, or use the app on devices like Apple TV or Fire TV where Viki runs. Smart DNS is a second path. Choose a VPN with an app for your TV platform so you avoid awkward setup through a computer.
Unlock every Rakuten Viki library worldwide
Surfshark lets you switch country and stream what Rakuten Viki keeps in other regions. Risk-free 30-day money-back.