[Unmarried Era] Even the Drama Protagonist Who Said "Marriage Is Not in My Dictionary" Eventually...

⑧How Do Movies and Dramas Portray Non-Marriage?
Endings That Fail to Escape the 'Normal Family' Scope
Reflecting Trends but Considering Ratings in the Conclusion

Editor's NoteIn a world where marriage is not mandatory, encountering those who choose to remain single is no longer a strange experience. Who chooses to remain single, and why? The issue is not only society's biased perspective on singlehood. There also exists a vague admiration toward it. We examine the pros and cons of the so-called 'single life.'

There is a well-known formula regarding male-female relationships in movies and dramas: "The prince and princess got married and lived happily ever after." This is the typical happy ending of many dramas. The story usually follows a couple who meet, face conflicts, and after many twists and turns, culminate in marriage. But what if the protagonist is a singlehood advocate? Would the happy ending of a singlehood advocate who does not want to marry be different?

As singlehood has become a lifestyle and a trend, media such as dramas and variety shows frequently feature singlehood themes. Generally, the protagonist is a singlehood advocate who faces pressure to marry from parents or partners, leading to conflicts. While the detailed stories of each drama may differ, the overarching narrative flow is similar.

The recently aired KBS2 weekend drama follows this trend. The male lead, Gong Tae-kyung (played by Ahn Jae-hyun), is a singlehood advocate. In episode 1, Tae-kyung flatly rejects his girlfriend's marriage proposal, saying:

"I asked before I started. I'm an unwavering singlehood advocate. Are you okay with that? Marriage is not in my dictionary."

Tae-kyung also refuses an arranged marriage set by his family with Jang Se-jin (Cha Ju-young), causing conflicts with his family. Between marriage and singlehood, what choice will Tae-kyung make? The drama raises this question for viewers.

KBS2 Weekend Drama 'The Real One Has Appeared!'

To conclude, Tae-kyung does get married (as of episode 8). Although he succumbs to family pressure and marries Se-jin without love, he ultimately chooses marriage. Prior to this, Tae-kyung even asked the female lead Oh Yeon-doo (Baek Jin-hee), with whom he has a developing romantic line, to enter a fake marriage to avoid the arranged marriage.

Tae-kyung and Se-jin's marriage is thwarted by Yeon-doo's interference. However, in later episodes, the drama shows Tae-kyung and Yeon-doo persuading those around them to agree to a fake marriage. While the future storyline is uncertain, one thing is clear: Tae-kyung's firm singlehood declaration at the beginning of the drama is no longer evident.

This development is not unique to this drama. In many dramas, characters' declarations of singlehood eventually collapse helplessly. In Disney+’s , Yoon Joon (Sung Joon) is a singlehood advocate but proposes to his girlfriend Hye-seong (Kim Ye-won) in the final episode, saying, "Shall we get married? The house is too quiet."

In last year's JTBC drama , Lee Si-hoo (Song Kang) breaks up with Jin Ha-kyung (Park Min-young) due to differing views on marriage but reunites later. The final episode ends with their parents meeting for a formal introduction and preparing for the wedding. Even when singlehood is the theme, many dramas still define the completion of love as marriage. Conversely, singlehood is portrayed as an incomplete form of love, and singlehood advocates are sometimes seen as people who have yet to find true love.

Of course, not all dramas featuring singlehood advocates end in marriage, and some seriously explore the topic. In the 2019 tvN drama , the female lead Bae Ta-mi (Im Soo-jung) faces conflicts with her partner Park Morgan (Jang Ki-yong) over differing views on marriage but overcomes the crisis by agreeing to understand each other and continue their relationship.

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From the viewers' perspective, it is fortunate when the protagonists' love is fulfilled. However, the sudden shift from a strong singlehood declaration at the beginning to choosing marriage raises questions about why the drama chose singlehood as a theme in the first place.

In the broadcasting industry, it is explained that drama endings must consider public reaction and viewership ratings.

A former broadcast writer A, who requested anonymity, said, "Ending a drama or movie with the protagonist remaining single is almost like a gamble for the creators. They wonder if it's acceptable to conclude this way, whether viewers will accept it, or if raising the issue to this extent is enough without causing controversy."

He added, "Because of this, it becomes difficult to step outside the perceived norm of a 'normal' family. We always have meetings about the drama's direction, but many involved still hold the fixed idea that without a love line, ratings won't come."

Cultural critic Jung Deok-hyun explained, "Melodramas follow trends. Showing differences in marriage views or using singlehood as a story theme is natural. Being a singlehood advocate doesn't mean they don't love, so portraying their love being fulfilled is not a problem."

However, he pointed out, "In weekend dramas, it is somewhat problematic that marriage appears as a major narrative element in dramas themed around singlehood."