Where are the young people in K-dramas? South Korea's television reflects its ageing population

Last month, the number of people over 65 in South Korea exceeded 10 million and the average age of the population rose to 45.7 years, according to the Korea Statistics Office, more than double the average age of 21 in 1980.

Korean dramas are increasingly reflecting the aging of society and focusing on people in their forties and fifties.

Yoon Suk-jin, a professor of Korean literature at Chungnam National University, said: “As people get older, the perception of being 'old' in their 50s becomes weaker. This trend has an impact on theater production, and actors who started their careers 20 to 30 years ago continue to play leading roles.”

It's becoming increasingly difficult to find dramas aimed at teens, and the most popular and discussed dramas of the first half of this year largely focused on the conflicts and relationships of older adults rather than the experiences of younger people.

Pop culture critic Kim Heon-sik said, “Teens and twenty-somethings prefer to consume content outside of traditional television.”

The shrinking drama market is accelerating these trends. Production companies are increasingly opting for “safe choices” and casting established actors who have proven their talent and marketability rather than taking risks with newcomers.

As a result, the traditional path to advancement through theater roles is deteriorating for new actors, and K-pop idols who venture into acting find that their success rate remains low.

“Continuing to cast actors who have been active for decades makes it difficult for a new generation of actors to enter the industry,” Kim said. “To expand both the actor pool and viewership, we need dramas that appeal to a wider audience and bridge the generation gap.”

This article from Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated using generative AI and edited by The Korea Times staff.