Korean dramas are more and more shifting focus from younger romance to tales about middle-aged males navigating work, household and identification.
With actors equivalent to Ryu Seung-ryong, So Ji-sub and Ha Jung-woo returning to tv, the period of the “ajeossi narrative” — dramas centering on males of their 40s and 50s — is gaining momentum.
Somewhat than confining these actors to supporting roles as fathers, bosses or villains, these new collection painting middle-aged males as advanced protagonists whose struggles mirror the real-life pressures of maturity.
Main the development is “The Dream Lifetime of Mr. Kim,” which premiered on JTBC on Oct. 25. It follows Kim Nak-su (performed by Ryu Seung-ryong), a person who as soon as believed he had achieved every part — a secure job, a house in Seoul and a good title at a significant firm — till he instantly loses all of it and embarks on a journey to rediscover his true self past company success.
The present portrays the exhaustion, self-doubt, and quiet dignity of bizarre males caught between superiors and subordinates. At a press convention, Ryu stated, “This story isn’t nearly one particular person — it might be our future, somebody’s previous and even my very own. It’s one thing everybody can relate to.”
One other drama, “Supervisor Kim,” starring So Ji-sub and set to air on SBS subsequent yr, tells the story of a father who exposes a long-hidden secret from his previous as a North Korean defector spy to save lots of his kidnapped daughter. The present emphasizes the emotional energy of paternal love and sacrifice.
In the meantime, Ha Jung-woo will headline tvN’s “Easy methods to Change into a Constructing Proprietor in Korea,” additionally scheduled for subsequent yr.
He performs Ki Soo-jong, a person who turns into a landlord by borrowing past his means however quickly finds himself crushed by debt. Caught in legal schemes to guard his household and property, he embodies the ethical grey areas of survival in trendy society.
The tasks mark the actors’ long-awaited returns to tv: Ryu after 15 years, So after three and Ha after 19.
Critics say the shift displays altering viewers sentiment. As Ok-dramas transfer away from fandom-driven youth tales towards reasonable depictions of labor and household, middle-aged male characters are rising as a brand new emotional core.
Streaming platforms have additionally widened the goal demographic, permitting dramas with common themes to achieve older audiences. With their depth and lived expertise, middle-aged actors convey a grounded authenticity that youthful casts typically can’t.
Finally, the rise of those dramas represents not a generational turnover however a story growth — tales of males in midlife confronting change, loss and renewal, proving that Ok-dramas about second acts might be simply as compelling as these about first loves.
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Instances.
