To watch content rated for mature audiences on both domestic and international OTT services like Netflix, TVING, and Coupang Play, you must complete an age verification process, also known as adult authentication. This is a mandatory requirement under the "Youth Protection Act" and needs to be renewed every year after the initial verification. The process can feel cumbersome as each platform has slightly different methods. This page provides a side-by-side comparison and detailed, step-by-step instructions for the age verification process on each OTT service.
While the age verification policies of the top three OTT services are the same in terms of validity period (1 year) and cost (free), they differ in aspects like the scope of verification (per account vs. per profile) and Smart TV integration. Understanding the specifics of your platform in advance will make the process easier.
| Category | Netflix | TVING | Coupang Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verification Unit | Account-level | Profile-level | Profile-level |
| Validity Period | 12 months (1 year) | 12 months (1 year) | 12 months (1 year) |
| Primary Method | Mobile phone SMS text verification | PASS app or SMS text verification | PASS app or SMS text verification |
| Smart TV | In-app QR code / direct access guide | Automatic sync after mobile/PC verification | Automatic sync after mobile/PC verification |
| Features | Operates a dedicated verification page (verifyage) |
Re-verification required if profile is deleted | Verification not available for Kids profiles |
The requirement for periodic age verification on OTT services is based on Article 16 of the "Youth Protection Act" and Article 17 of its Enforcement Decree. These regulations stipulate that when providing media harmful to youth through information and communications networks, the provider must verify the user's age and identity.
Specifically, Article 17, Paragraph 2 of the Enforcement Decree allows that if a member's identity has been confirmed, this confirmation can substitute for identity verification for up to '1 year' from the time of confirmation. Based on this provision, most OTT platforms set a 12-month (1 year) validity period for verification and require re-verification upon expiration. This is a relaxation of the previous policy from 2014, which required verification at every login.
Netflix conducts age verification on an account-wide basis. Once verified, it applies to all profiles within that account. The verification must be done through a PC or mobile web browser.
https://www.netflix.com/verifyageStep-by-Step Guide (PC/Mobile Web)
Verifying on a Smart TV When you select age-restricted content (e.g., some September OTT thriller dramas) on the Smart TV app, a QR code will appear on the screen. Scan this QR code with your smartphone camera to be taken directly to the same web verification page, allowing you to easily complete the process. Once verification is complete, the content on your TV will be unlocked automatically.
TVING applies age verification on a 'profile' basis, not per account. This means that even on a shared family account, you only need to verify the specific profiles that will be used to watch adult content. However, if you delete a profile, its verification record is also deleted, and you will need to verify it again.
Step-by-Step Guide (Mobile App)
Step-by-Step Guide (PC Web) The process on a PC is similar. Clicking on age-restricted content will bring up a 'User Authentication' pop-up, where you can complete the mobile phone identity verification via PASS or SMS.
Like TVING, Coupang Play also manages age verification on a per-profile basis. You can set different viewing age ratings for each profile, and once you complete the initial age verification on a profile, it remains valid for one year.
Step-by-Step Guide (Mobile/PC)
Verifying on a Smart TV The Coupang Play Smart TV app does not support a built-in verification function. To watch adult content on your TV, you must first complete the age verification for the relevant profile on a mobile app or PC web browser logged into the same account. After verification, the permissions will be automatically applied to the Smart TV app.
Q. Is there a fee for age verification? No, Netflix, TVING, and Coupang Play do not charge any separate fees for the age verification process. It is free of charge.
Q. Can MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) users also complete age verification? Yes, it's possible. When selecting your mobile carrier in the identity verification window, choose the major carrier whose network your MVNO uses (e.g., SKT, KT, LGU+), and the verification should proceed normally. If there is a separate 'MVNO' option, select that.
Q. Can I verify my age if I don't have a mobile phone in my own name? No, current age verification on domestic OTT services requires a method that can confirm your identity as per the "Youth Protection Act," with mobile phone verification being the most common method. If mobile phone verification is not possible, some platforms may offer alternative methods like i-PIN, but these can be limited. For details, you should contact each service's customer center. (Coupang Play Customer Center: 1600-9800)
Q. On TVING, I get a message saying "verification under the same name is possible up to a maximum of two times." What should I do? TVING limits age verification using a single person's identity to a maximum of two profiles per account type (as of May 2024). If you have exceeded this limit, you need to contact the TVING Customer Center (via 1:1 inquiry or [email protected]) and request a reset of the verification information on another account or profile that you previously verified.
To watch age-restricted content on domestic and international OTT services like Netflix, TVING, and Coupang Play, you must complete age verification. This is a mandatory requirement under the "Youth Protection Act," and it needs to be renewed every year after the initial verification. The verification methods can differ slightly between platforms, which might feel cumbersome. This page compares the age verification methods for each OTT service at a glance and provides detailed step-by-step instructions.
The age verification policies of the three major OTT services are the same in terms of validity period (1 year) and cost (free), but they differ in aspects like the scope of verification (per account vs. per profile) and Smart TV integration. Checking the specifics for your platform in advance will make the process easier to understand.
| Category | Netflix | TVING | Coupang Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verification Unit | Account-level | Profile-level | Profile-level |
| Validity Period | 12 months (1 year) | 12 months (1 year) | 12 months (1 year) |
| Primary Method | Mobile phone SMS text verification | PASS App or SMS text verification | PASS App or SMS text verification |
| Smart TV | In-app QR code / direct access guide | Automatically syncs after mobile/PC verification | Automatically syncs after mobile/PC verification |
| Features | Operates a dedicated verification page (verifyage) |
Re-verification required if profile is deleted | Verification not available for Kids profiles |
The requirement for periodic age verification on OTT services is based on Article 16 of the Youth Protection Act and Article 17 of its Enforcement Decree. These regulations stipulate that when providing media harmful to youth through information and communication networks, the user's age and identity must be verified.
Specifically, Article 17, Paragraph 2 of the Enforcement Decree allows that if a registered member's identity has been confirmed, this confirmation can substitute for identity verification for up to 'one year' from the time of confirmation. Based on this provision, most OTT platforms set a 12-month (1 year) validity period for verification and require re-verification upon expiration. This is a relaxation of the previous policy from 2014, which required verification upon every login.
Netflix conducts age verification on an account-level basis. Once verified, it applies to all profiles within that account. Verification must be done through a PC or mobile web browser.
https://www.netflix.com/verifyageStep-by-Step Guide (PC/Mobile Web)
Verifying on a Smart TV When you select age-restricted content (e.g., some titles from the September OTT Thriller Dramas) on the Smart TV app, a QR code will appear on the screen. You can scan this QR code with your smartphone camera to be taken directly to the same web verification page, allowing you to easily complete the verification. Once verified, the content on your TV screen will be unlocked automatically.
TVING applies age verification on a 'profile' basis, not per account. Therefore, even on a shared family account, you only need to verify the specific profiles that will be used to watch adult content. However, if you delete the profile, the verification record is also deleted, and you will need to verify again.
Step-by-Step Guide (Mobile App)
Step-by-Step Guide (PC Web) The process is similar on a PC. When you click on age-restricted content, a 'User Verification' pop-up will appear. You can choose mobile phone identity verification and complete the process using PASS or SMS.
Coupang Play, like TVING, also manages age verification on a per-profile basis. You can set different viewing age ratings for each profile, and a single age verification on a viewing profile will remain valid for one year.
Step-by-Step Guide (Mobile/PC)
Verifying on a Smart TV The Coupang Play Smart TV app does not support verification on its own. To watch adult content on your TV, you must first complete the age verification for that profile on a mobile app or PC web logged into the same account. Once verified, the permissions will automatically apply to the Smart TV app.
Q. Is there a fee for age verification? A. No, Netflix, TVING, and Coupang Play do not charge any separate fees for the age verification process. It is free of charge.
Q. Can MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) users also complete age verification? A. Yes, it's possible. When selecting your mobile carrier in the identity verification window, choose the main carrier (SKT, KT, LGU+) from which your MVNO leases its network, and the verification will usually proceed normally. If there is a separate 'MVNO' or 'Budget Phone' option, select that.
Q. Can I get verified if I don't have a mobile phone in my own name? A. No, current age verification for domestic OTT services requires a method that can confirm your identity according to the Youth Protection Act, with verification via a mobile phone in your name being the most common method. If mobile phone verification is not possible, some platforms may offer alternative methods like i-PIN, but this can be limited. For details, you should contact the customer service center of each service. (Coupang Play Customer Center: 1600-9800)
Q. On TVING, I see a message saying 'Verification is possible for a maximum of two times under the same name.' What should I do? A. TVING allows a single user's information to be used for age verification on a maximum of two profiles per account type (as of May 2024). If you have exceeded this limit, you must contact TVING customer service (via 1:1 inquiry or [email protected]) and request a reset of the verification information on another account or profile that was previously verified.
On a cool autumn night, binge-watching movies offers a special kind of relaxation. In particular, 'Asura Balbalta', which was expected to be released on Netflix, is a work that gathered much anticipation. As of 2026, it has been confirmed that this work will air as a tvN drama, not a Netflix movie, and its genre is a human comedy drama rather than a horror thriller. In this text, we will guide you through accurate information about 'Asura Balbalta' and provide Netflix horror/thriller movie recommendations to enjoy on autumn nights, along with information on snacks and drinks suitable for binge-watching.
Although many people misunderstand the Netflix movie 'Asura Balbalta' as a horror thriller genre, as of August 2026, 'Asura Balbalta' is a coming-of-age human comedy scheduled as a tvN Wednesday-Thursday drama. It is a different work from the Japanese drama 'Like Asura', which is easily mistaken for a Netflix original series. This drama tells the story of an unknown comedy trio and a woman whose life has fallen apart meeting and finding their dreams again. Filming began in the second half of 2025, and it is scheduled to air on tvN in 2026 as a 12-episode series.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Title | Asura Balbalta |
| Platform | tvN (Streaming: TVING in South Korea, Global TBD) |
| Genre | Human, Healing, Comedy, Coming-of-age |
| Original Work | Nippon TV Drama "Life's Punchline" |
| Director | Jung Ji-hyun |
| Writer | Ahn Ah-reum |
| Main Cast | Kang Hoon, Lee E-dam, Cho Hyun-chul, Yoon Ga-i, et al. |
| Broadcast Slot | Wednesday-Thursday Drama |
| Number of Episodes | 12 Episodes |
| Release Date | Scheduled to air in 2026 |
| Age Rating | TBD |
Although 'Asura Balbalta' is a tvN drama, Netflix has a variety of movies and dramas. If you are considering subscribing to Netflix for binge-watching movies on autumn nights, it is a good idea to check the currently valid pricing plan information.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Resolution | Ads | Offline Viewing | Concurrent Streams | Extra Members | Content Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard with Ads | 7,000 KRW | 1080p | Yes (4-5 mins/hr) | Not available | 2 devices | Not available | Partially limited |
| Standard | 13,500 KRW | 1080p | None | Available | 2 devices | 1 person (5,000 KRW/month) | No limitations |
| Premium | 17,000 KRW | 4K+HDR+Dolby Atmos | None | Available | 4 devices | 2 people (5,000 KRW/month) | No limitations |
Note:
For those who expected a horror thriller despite 'Asura Balbalta' being a human comedy drama, we recommend horror/thriller movies available to watch on Netflix in 2026. If you want to enjoy a chilling atmosphere on a crisp autumn night, consider the following titles.
We introduce popular snacks and drinks that will add to the joy of binge-watching movies on autumn nights. Prepare things you can easily enjoy so you can immerse yourself in the movie in a comfortable position.
'Asura Balbalta' is a drama scheduled to air on tvN in 2026 and is a different work from the Netflix original 'Like Asura'. 'Like Asura' is a Japanese drama released on January 9, 2025, which deals with the emotional outbursts of four sisters set in Tokyo in 1979. Care should be taken not to confuse the two works.
Information on 'Like Asura':
'Asura Balbalta' is a human comedy drama based on 'Life's Punchline', and actor Kang Hoon stars as Kang Tae-goo.
A1: As of August 2026, 'Asura Balbalta' is not a Netflix original movie or drama. It is a 12-episode drama to be broadcast on tvN. It is scheduled to be streamed on TVING in South Korea, and the overseas streaming platform is yet to be determined.
A2: 'Asura Balbalta' is a drama in the human, healing, comedy, and coming-of-age genres. Although often misunderstood as a horror thriller, it will tell a warm and moving story.
A3: The Netflix account sharing restriction policy was implemented on November 2, 2023, and starting in the second half of 2025, 'household verification' has been fully applied to mobile and tablet devices in addition to TVs. Therefore, account sharing with acquaintances who live in different residences is practically impossible. Sharing is possible if you register an extra member and pay the additional fee.