Korean broadcaster ENA premiered its thriller drama Your Honour on August 12, starring veteran actors Son Hyun-joo, 59, and Kim Myung-min, 51. The show delves into the contrasting paternal love of two characters—one a murderer’s father and the other the father of the victim. Similarly, JTBC launched Romance in the House on August 10, featuring Kim Ji-soo, 51, and Ji Jin-hee, 53, in leading roles. This drama centers on the complicated relationship between a divorced couple. Meanwhile, KBS’s Perfect Family, which began airing on August 14, stars Kim Byung-chul, 50, and Yoon Se-ah, 46, in a gripping tale about a family embroiled in a murder case.
These recent dramas highlight a growing trend in South Korea, where TV shows are increasingly focusing on characters in their 40s and 50s, reflecting the country’s aging population. Statistics Korea reports that the median age of the population has risen to 45.7 years, more than double the median age in 1980. As a result, dramas are beginning to mirror this demographic shift by featuring stories that resonate with older adults.
Yoon Suk-jin, a professor of Korean literature at Chungnam National University, notes that the perception of being in one’s 50s as “old” has diminished, influencing drama productions to continue casting actors who began their careers decades ago. This trend is also evident in recent online streaming dramas, where lead roles are often given to well-established actors in their 40s and 50s, such as Yum Jung-ah and Cho Jin-woong in No Way Out: The Roulette and Kim Hee-ae and Sul Kyung-gu in The Whirlwind.
The focus on older characters has led to a decline in youth-centric dramas, with recent hits like Queen of Tears and Marry My Husband exploring themes relevant to older audiences. While youth-oriented shows like Twinkling Watermelon and Twenty-Five Twenty-One still exist, they are increasingly outnumbered by dramas catering to an older demographic.
Pop culture critic Kim Heon-sik points out that younger viewers prefer consuming content outside traditional TV, which has further accelerated this trend. Production companies are opting for “safe choices” by casting experienced actors, making it difficult for new talent to break into the industry. Kim suggests that to expand the pool of actors and viewership, there is a need for dramas that appeal to a broader audience, bridging the gap between generations.
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