Korean romantic dramas redefine marriage as new beginning

The mystery melodrama

Couples who once hated each other fall in love again (“Queen of Tears”), while a seemingly indifferent husband turns out to deeply love his wife (“When the Phone Rings”). In contract marriages, redemption and romance blossom (“The Trunk,” “No Gain, No Love”).

The common theme among these South Korean dramas, which aired or slated for release this year, is romance based on marriage. While marriage has traditionally been the happy “ending” in romantic dramas, recent stories use it as a “starting point.” Estranged couples rekindle their connection, creating moments as thrilling as single characters falling in love.

This trend caters to women in their 30s to 50s, the core demographic for TV dramas, and reflects the rise of “married-couple fantasies.” However, Yun Suk-jin, a drama critic and professor at Chungnam National University, noted that these shows might also signal an “SOS,” urging introspection on family disintegration and communication breakdowns in marriages.

This year, “Queen of Tears” (tvN), with a peak rating of 24.9%, resonated deeply with women in their 30s and 50s by telling the story of a married couple rediscovering love. It proved that romance among married couples could be as compelling as those focused on singles. The drama surpassed the ratings of the hit series “Crash Landing on You” (2019) on the same channel and topped ratings for women aged 30-59 across all TV platforms (terrestrial, cable, and satellite) in the Seoul area from 2022 to 2024. The story of a couple shedding emotional distance and rediscovering warmth became a fantasy and hope for married viewers.

The trend continues with “When the Phone Rings” (MBC), premiering on Nov. 22. The drama follows a couple who, pretending to be indifferent, reveal their true feelings after the wife is kidnapped. Based on a popular web novel, the story of a distant husband secretly adoring his wife has resonated strongly with female readers. Reflecting the modern view of marriage as a contract, shows like “No Gain, No Love” (tvN) explore love starting in a “contract marriage.” The romance thriller “The Trunk,” premiering on Netflix on Nov. 29, also begins with a fixed-term marriage and delves into emotions like “compassion” and “loneliness” tied to marriage.

The rise in married-couple romances has practical reasons. As younger viewers shift to short-form content, the average age of TV audiences has increased, prompting changes in romantic storylines. A drama production official said, “Stories about young couples navigating married life resonate strongly with viewers in their 30s and 40s, especially married women, leading to a surge in dramas focused on such themes.” The adaptation of web novels and webtoons, which frequently explore marital dynamics, has further fueled this trend.

However, these dramas also reflect societal realities to varying degrees. Yun explained, “With rising divorce rates and worsening family disintegration, stories of couples learning to love again or reestablishing communication have become fantasies and aspirations for many.” He added, “These dramas often provide a space to reflect on unresolved issues and explore potential solutions.”