Mental health is a major topic in the world. As society changes and the weight of the world becomes worse, many people deal with mental health issues in different ways. A common but serious mood disorder is depression. Many people experience depression and the condition can sometimes be hard to deal with. Depression takes away your enjoyment of things you once loved and is much more than simply feeling sad. The representation in media is a vast spectrum.

K-Dramas have broken the taboo of discussing depression in shows. Increasingly, more shows choose to address topics of depression and many of them have it as the main focus of their series. Each series is different in how they display their characters' coping mechanisms and symptoms of depression. These 6 K-Dramas address depression throughout the series but all have their unique ways of doing it. Here is how they differ and how K-Dramas have juggled such a difficult topic in their series.

 

1. "Daily Dose Of Sunshine" Shows Anyone Can Feel Depressed

Probably one of the most realistic depictions of depression in a series, "Daily Dose of Sunshine" talks about a kind nurse who works in a psychiatry hospital and tries to bring sunshine to her patients. Setting in a psychiatry hospital, the series dives deeply into depression and mental health issues for each episode. One that stands out the most comes from the main character herself, Jung DaEun played by Park BoYoung. Jung DaEun sees the mistreatment of mental health patients in society's eyes and has to juggle a difficult job. A tragedy from a patient she was close with sent her into a spiral of guilt and depression.

The drama depicts her depression as various forms of self-sabotage and emptiness. She goes as far as overworking herself, even though she doesn't want to work, to try and ignore her depression. "Daily Dose Of Sunshine" was impressive with their depiction of depression and reminding everyone that it does not have a certain look. People may not expect mental health workers to feel a certain way since their main job is to help others but depression is not linear and anyone can experience it.

 

2. "Our Blues" Reminds Us Depression Isn't Just "Feeling Sad"

"Our Blues" focuses on a hometown in Jeju and the daily lives of its residents. As they navigate the ups and downs of life, they must also face the problems that life randomly throws at them. Min SeonAh, played by Shin MinA, is a character in the series who suffers from depression. A single mother whose husband left her, the series shows just how much depression can affect a person's time. She has no organization and has a lack of interest in life.

It gets so severe that she even forgets to pick up her son from school because of her mental health. What makes it even more interesting is the choice of colors for her as she is often shown in a blue hue, showing her "blues" and depression. The series shows that depression can have varying effects. It isn't simply feeling sad; sometimes people can not function normally because of it.

 

3. "Doctor Slump" Shows That Depression Doesn't Have One Look

"Doctor Slump" further reminds us that depression does not have a certain look to it and even if someone seems "perfect" you never know their struggles. The main character HaNeul, played by Park ShinHye, is a perfectionist and wants to succeed in everything she does. So when she realizes she is depressed, she wants to ignore it, resulting in her feeling worse than before. Despite HaNeul's perfect demeanor, she is battling with her mental health and finds comfort in the male lead of the series.

"Doctor Slump" gave some clarity on what depression looks like. Many people may have the image of someone who is untidy, lazy, and cries all the time but that is not always the case. Depression can sometimes be the hard-working doctor who comes into work smiling or your classmate who tends to keep to themselves. The K-Drama tackled the issues and taboos of depression in a wonderful way.

 

4. "Juvenile Justice" Shows Negative Effects Of Depression

"Juvenile Justice" has a devastating but realistic depiction of depression in the series. This K-Drama follows the story of a judge who does not look kindly on juveniles in the system and various cases of juvenile delinquency cases. One plot line focuses on a group of students cheating on a major exam soon being exposed and tried. Kang ShinWoo, played by Kim JunHo, is the son of the main character, Kang WonJung. His father also happens to be the chief of the Juvenile Justice Division.

When ShinWoo is found to be involved in the cheating scandal, his father chastises him to the point he tells him if he plans to end his life, he shouldn't involve his family. This results in ShinWoo attempting to end his life, leading his father to feel an immense sense of guilt. However, this arc in the series shows that ShinWoo was severely depressed with his academics. He never seemed to do well like his brother and being the son of a prominent figure only made him feel even more inferior.

 

5. "Weak Hero Class" Shows Us Outside Forces Can Cause Depression

In a similar fashion to "Daily Dose Of Sunshine", "Weak Hero Class" addresses the main character's depression and his forms of self-sabotage. Our protagonist, SiEun played by Park JiHoon, comes from a broken home with neglectful parents. They are too busy to deal with him and most times they are not even at home. Without any guidance or support from them, he chooses to isolate himself from the world. He studies despite not enjoying it anymore.

He doesn't have friends and feels a sense of emptiness in his everyday life. SiEun's reasons for his depression show that many things can trigger someone into depression. "Weak Hero Class" did an amazing portrayal of how outside factors can negatively impact an individual to the point they can fall into depression.

 

6. "Sweet Home" Shows How Depression Is Not Linear

"Sweet Home" shows the many layers of depression and how sometimes people fall into it due to various factors building up over time. "Sweet Home" is about a boy who has to deal with mysterious monsters after a strange incident in his apartment. Our main character, Cha Hyunsoo played by Song Kang, intentionally isolates himself and plans to end his life due to his depression. Bullied in school, and isolated from his classmates and family, he has many layers to his depression and what led him to his decision. The major turning point in his mental health was when he was the only survivor of a car crash that ended the lives of his family.

The drama shows how this has built up over time with all of the tragic events in his lifetime. There was not one main reason for him to feel depressed but various factors affected him mentally. What makes "Sweet Home" so interesting is the use of horror and monsters as battles of mental health issues. Confronting and battling his inner monster in this series gives the illusion of tackling his inner turmoil and depression. The series hits the nail on the coffin when HyunSoo chooses to help himself. No one forces him out of his depression and it is not magically cured, it's something he will need to improve on because he wants to.

 

As more and more K-Dramas discuss the topic of depression, many of them will choose to talk about it in their unique ways. Whats important is that these series are bringing to light a serious topic that needs to be discussed more in media.

The 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, known as one of the most prestigious award shows in the Korean entertainment industry, has announced this year's nominations and netizens are not too happy.

The Baeksang Arts Awards are highly anticipated every year, as they recognize excellence in Korean film, television, and theatre. Not just artists but fans also look forward to this night, hoping for acknowledgment for their favorite works and actors. While it is not possible for everyone's favorite artist to receive a nod or take home an award, this year, the nominations have been causing quite the controversy all over the world.

Korean netizens and global fans are unanimously discontent with the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations, especially in the TV category. So, this article and analysis focus exclusively on the controversy surrounding the TV nominations.

 

60th Baeksang Arts Awards Nominations - Sentiment Analysis

We pulled and analyzed posts from all over the internet, such as on X, Instagram, and NATE PANN, to understand this controversy and highlight fans' opinions, concerns, and protestations. What we noticed was that fans from all over the world, regardless of whether they are Korean or international, shared similar opinions on the nominations this time, particularly in regards to actors who were snubbed.

Before we get into our findings, let's take a brief look at the nominations that are causing the most contention with the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards. 

Categories under "TV" that are taking the most heat are "Best Actor" and "Best Actress".

In the "Best Actor (TV)" category, the nominations are Kim SooHyun for "Queen Of Tears", NamKoong Min for "My Dearest", Ryu SeungRyong for "Moving", Yoo YeonSeok for "A Bloody Lucky Day", and Yim SiWan for "Boyhood".

In the "Best Actress (TV)" category, we have Ra MiRan for "The Good Bad Mother", Ahn EunJin for "My Dearest", Uhm JungHwa for "Doctor Cha", Lee HaNee for "Knight Flower", and Lim JiYeon for "Lies Hidden In My Garden".

Rather than directly expressing disapproval of the nominated actors, fans are more upset with the actors and actresses who deserved nominations but were not named. You can check out our sentiment analysis chart below for more clarity.

As depicted in the chart, an overwhelming majority of netizens, constituting 78.7%, voiced dissatisfaction with the nominations. Conversely, only a marginal 5.8% displayed enthusiasm, while 15.5% remained neutral, neither impressed nor disappointed.

 

Criticism Of Selection Criteria

Netizens who showed a negative response raised questions about and criticism of the selection process, including doubts on whether the process was fair after all. The criteria used for nominations were brought into discussion alongside factors like viewership ratings and OTT ranking.

For those who might not know, the Baeksang Arts Awards nominees were chosen from K-Dramas that aired between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. A K-Drama will have to have aired at least one-third of its episodes by March 31 to qualify for a nomination. That is why the ongoing K-Drama "Queen Of Tears" was considered for the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards.

However, many fans were not too fond of the fact that a K-Drama that hasn't even finished airing was chosen for a category, whereas actors from several popular and beloved K-Dramas were not.

As many netizens disagreed with the standards of the Baeksang Arts Awards by which nominees are decided, they renounced the credibility of the same.

 

Actors Who Deserved Nominations, According To Global Fans

Six names stood out among the numerous posts we analyzed - Kim JiWon, Kim TaeRi, Ji ChangWook, Lee DongWook, Park BoYoung, and Shin HaeSun.

Among them, Kim JiWon is the actress fans are advocating for the most, even more so because Kim SooHyun has been nominated for the "Best Actor" category, but Kim JiWon did not get a "Best Actress" nomination. Fans are quite upset and disconcerted about the reasoning behind such a decision when Kim JiWon, who is playing the title role of one of the most successful K-Dramas right now, has not been nominated.

Comparisons between the ratings of "Queen Of Tears" versus those of "Lies Hidden In My Garden", intended to highlight Kim JiWon's snub, were also drawn, although the argument was quickly shut down when other comments emphasized that the Baeksang Arts Awards does not present awards based on ratings as last year, Kim JiWon's own drama "My Liberation Notes" was nominated for "Best Drama" despite its considerably lower ratings. Both Son SukKu and Kim JiWon were also nominated for "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" respectively.

Another upsetting snub this year, according to fans, was that of Kim TaeRi, who delivered a spellbinding performance in "Revenant". Netizens are mentioning that if Kim TaeRi had been nominated, she would undoubtedly have taken the award home. However, it's a pity that her performance was overlooked.

Similarly, Park BoYoung was brought up in discussion, with many pointing out that Park BoYoung has consistently been snubbed by the Baeksang Arts Awards despite her excellent performances, such as in "Daily Dose Of Sunshine".

Shin HaeSun was also mentioned by several fans, who asserted that the actress' performance in "Welcome To Samdal-ri" was deserving of a nomination.

In response, some netizens who are neutral about the nominees mentioned that while it is true that there are other deserving candidates, the actresses who have been nominated are also incredible, and none of them can be replaced.

In the "Best Actor" category, netizens expressed the most frustration over Ji ChangWook and Lee DongWook being snubbed. Ji ChangWook, who impressed with his brilliant acting skills and range in the Disney+ K-Drama "The Worst Of Evil" and Lee DongWook, who made viewers fall in love with him all over again in "A Shop For Killers", also on Disney+, definitely deserved nominations, according to netizens. International netizens were most vocal about this exclusion.

Once again, there were opinions that these actors were outstanding in their respective roles but the current nominees simply cannot be replaced.

What do you think about the Baeksang Arts Awards nominations this year? Tell us on X!

The 60th Baeksang Arts Awards will be held on May 7, 2024 (Tue) at 5:00 PM KST in COEX Hall D, Seoul.

TV Network JTBC is one of the most popular networks whose dramas have gotten global recognition for their interesting storylines, great locations, and famous actors.

Here are the top dramas with the highest ratings on the JTBC network.

Please note that these ratings are the highest ratings ever reached, not the dramas' total average ratings.

 

1. "World Of The Married" - 28.4%

The thriller drama released in 2020 is still regarded as one of the most compelling K-Dramas to date. Starring Kim HeeAe, Park HaeJoon, and Han SoHee the K-Drama 2 years after its release still rank number 1 with the highest ratings in the network's history as it has an all-time high viewer rating of 28.4%.

 

2. "Reborn Rich" - 26.9%

When a loyal employee of a conglomerate is murdered by his employers, he has a chance to get his revenge as he is reborn as the grandson of the family. Armed with the knowledge of the future and the company, he steadily gains the influence and power he needs to become the next chairman of the company. However, even with his knowledge and smarts, his path is not a rosy one as other forces create stumbling blocks on his way toward revenge. Starring Song JoongKi, Shin HyunBin, and Lee SungMin, with its engrossing storyline, the series gripped the attention of many viewers which saw its ratings reach an impressive high of 26.9%.

 

3. "SKY Castle" - 23.8%

The drama that centers around the lives of four women and their families has been quite popular for its deep, real, and meaningful storyline that had a grip on the reality that many viewers faced. Released in 2019, the drama with a stellar cast featuring actors like Kim SeoHyung, Yoon SeAh, Yum JungAh, Kim HyeYoon, and Oh NaRa, to name a few, ranks high on this list with 23.8% viewer ratings.

 

4. "Doctor Cha" - 18.5%

"Doctor Cha" reached one of the best-ever ratings for JTBC dramas. This 2023 medical drama starring Uhm JungHwa, Kim ByungChul, Myung SeBin, and Min WooHyuk started with 4.9% and rapidly gained popularity. It reached 18.5% with its 12th and final episode.

 

5. "Itaewon Class" - 16.5%

The webtoon-based drama that gained prominent global recognition in 2020 with 16.5% ratings. Starring top actors Park SeoJun and Kim DaMi the youth-themed fast-paced K-Drama was a refreshing story that engrossed the minds of the viewers with its realistic storyline, impressive dialogues, and an OST that many refer to as one of the best.

 

6. "Agency" - 16.0%

"Agency" starring Lee BoYoung, Son NaEun, Jo SungHa, and Han JoonWoo was popular and even reached 16.0% with its last episode when it only started at 4.8%. Viewers have been captivated by Lee BoYoung's character, Go AhIn, who becomes the first female executive member of a large advertising agency.

 

7. "King The Land" - 13.8%

"King The Land" starring 2PM's JunHo and Girls' Generation's Yoona was popular not only worldwide but also in Korea. The romance between the heir of King Hotel and his hardworking employee gained more and more audience with their swoon-worthy scenes. Starting with 5.1%, the drama reached 13.8% with its final episode.

 

8. "Welcome to Samdal-ri" - 12.4%

The 2023-2024 romantic comedy "Welcome to Samdal-ri" starring the two popular and talented actors Ji ChangWook and Shin HaeSun was popular. The drama tells the story of two childhood friends with an unfinished romance who reunited after a famous photographer faces a scandal and returns to her hometown in Jeju Island. The drama started at 5.2% and reached its best-ever ratings at 12.4% with its final episode.

 

9. "The Lady Of Dignity" - 12.1%

The K-Drama series follows the life of a woman whose life turns around when her father-in-law loses all his finances and a mysterious caregiver with a heartbreaking story who moves in with the family to take care of him. With its clever storyline and impressive performances by its cast, the drama released in 2017 and starring Woh AhJin and Kim SunAh has a high rating of 12.1% on the network.

 

10. "The Good Bad Mother" - 12.0%

The 2023 drama "The Good Bad Mother" starring Ra MiRan, Lee DoHyun, Ahn EunJin, and Yoo InSoo was popular. From the start of the drama at 3.6% to the final episode at 12.0% the drama had a constant rise in ratings and interest. Lee DoHyun acts as a cold prosecutor and one day an accident made him become like a child and he went to live back with his mom acted by Ra MiRan.

 

11. "Strong Girl NamSoon" - 10.4%

"Strong Girl NamSoon" is the spinoff of the popular drama "Strong Girl BongSoon" starring Lee YouMi, Kim JungEun, Kim HaeSook , Ong SeongWu, and Byeon WooSeok. The rom-com follows three strong women born with supernatural powers and how they fight a drug cartel. The comedy earned a lot of interest like "Strong Girl BongSoon" which reached 10.4% with its final episode.

 

12. "Dazzling" - 9.7%

The mystery melodrama centers around a woman who mysteriously ages while trying to tamper with time in order to save her father. Now 70 years old, she embarks on a journey towards reverting the changes while also dealing with how to approach her family and friends who cannot recognize her and a young lover whose affection she holds dearly. Starring Han JiMin, Kim HeeJa, and Nam JooHyuk, the 2019 drama was well loved.

 

12. "Strong Girl BongSoon" - 9.7%

The rom-com follows a woman born with supernatural powers and a tech CEO who seeks her protection as he is a target by an unknown individual. Starring Park BoYoung and Park HyungSik, the funny and interesting series reached 9.7% viewership ratings.

 

13. "Divorce Attorney Shin" - 9.5%

"Divorce Attorney Shin" aired in 2023. The drama started at 7.3% and ended at the high ratings of 9.5%. Cho SeungWoo acts as Shin SungHan a professor who turns into a lawyer specializing in divorce. In 12 episodes, this refreshing law drama stole the hearts of viewers.

 

14. "My Kids Give Me A Headache" - 9.2%

The family drama follows the storyline of three-generational families who live in one house. Filled with so much love, and warmth, and depicting the inter-family relationship as seen today, the series released in 2013 portrays a storyline that also showcases the way societies view families and the different forms the word takes. Each episode saw high ratings as viewers were extensively engrossed by the storyline. The drama reached 9.2% ratings.

 

15. "Misty"- 8.5%

The story is about a popular anchorwoman who becomes a prime suspect in a murder case and her ex-husband who was once a prosecutor but is now a public defender and takes up her case. A story about the complicated thread of love and reconciliation, the series was released in 2018, stars Kim NamJoo and Jin JiHee whose brilliant portrayal of their characters led to the success of the series which got a high viewership rating of 8.5% on the network.

 

16. "Doctor Slump" - 8.2%

Park HyungSik and Park ShinHye take on the role of doctors who ended up in a slump in "Doctor Slump". The casting and story grabbed the interest of many reaching 8.2% with its 10th episode.

 

17. "Thirty-Nine" - 8.1%

This melodrama revolves around the deep story of friendship, love and life of three friends who are about to turn 40. The drama stars prominent actresses Son YeJin, Jeon MiDo and Kim JiHyun. With the chemistry of the said actresses and the touching element of the tearjerker, the high rating of 8.1% achieved by the drama was no longer a surprise.

 

18. "Forecasting Love and Weather" - 7.8%

The office romance drama that stars prominent K-Drama stars Park MinYoung, Song Kang, Yoon Bak, and Girl's Day YuRa portrays the story of the staff of the National Weather Service, the complications of love in the workplace, the dynamics of family, and the societal demands and expectations on youths today.

 

19. "The Good Detective" - 7.6%

The riveting crime drama filled with so much suspense, twist, and turns ranks number 10 on this list with 7.6% ratings. Starring Lee Elijah, Jang SeungJo, and Son HyunJoo the series capture the journey of a veteran detective, a young genius, and a reporter on the quest to uncover the truth of a mysterious murder that happened 5 years ago.

Which of these dramas have you watched? Let us know in the comments section below.