Korean Dramas Embrace Comedy Trend

Recent drama trends show a preference for comic fantasy that can be easily enjoyed, rather than focusing on plausibility or realism. These dramas are gaining popularity among viewers and are nicknamed '​brain-off dramas' (dramas watched without thinking).

SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Wonderful New World' is a B-movie-esque romantic comedy that tells the story of an actress possessed by the soul of a Joseon-era villainess and a chaebol heir. While it follows a time-slip premise, it offers differentiated fun through comedic developments, such as the protagonist perfectly adapting to modern times, skillfully selling out kitchen knives on home shopping, and showcasing fluent Chinese skills. The 'evil chaebol' character also displays a 'clumsy charm,' oscillating between seriousness and comedy. This drama has emerged as a highly anticipated series, surpassing 5% viewership ratings within just two episodes.

tvN's 'The Legend of the Mess Hall Soldier' is a fantasy drama set in the military, depicting the journey of protagonist Kang Sung-jae as he becomes a 'legendary mess hall soldier.' The unique premise of following an enigmatic 'status window' that appears to the protagonist to complete missions and showcase his cooking skills sparks interest. Despite the bold choice to forgo realism, the drama's strength lies in its distinctive characters and niche yet unique direction. For example, the way a superior officer expresses the taste of bean sprout soup through an imaginary battle scene after being moved by its flavor creates a unique atmosphere.

MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'The Grand Prince's Wife of the 21st Century' is set in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy Korea, telling the story of a chaebol woman and a prince's son, bridging the gap with reality through a blend of romance and comedy. This drama recently recorded high viewership ratings of 13.3% in its 10th episode. The upcoming Netflix series '​Wonderful World' is also generating anticipation, promising a '​comic adventure' genre where characters who gain superpowers confront villains.

With the increase in webtoon and web novel adaptations and the growth of OTT platforms, freedom of expression has expanded, leading viewers to embrace new forms of expression with enjoyment rather than focusing on narrative plausibility. In the case of 'The Legend of the Mess Hall Soldier,' viewers are accepting the distinctive worldview without a sense of dissonance, along with praise for the status window setting.