"Baekhakbeolui Saebom" on Joseon Central TV
Shows Similar Themes to Past South Korean Dramas
Seen as a Strategy to Counter the Korean Wave Ban
The North Korean drama "Baekhakbeolui Saebom," which depicts the country's recent changes, has recently concluded its run on Joseon Central TV. In the drama, a man wearing an apron serves a meal to his wife and daughter, and the family accepts this as a natural part of daily life. The show also portrays the fresh romance of young people.
Some experts analyze that, while North Korean authorities have enacted the "Law on Rejecting Reactionary Ideology and Culture" at the end of 2020?which allows for sentences of up to 15 years in prison for viewers of South Korean media in an effort to block the spread of the Korean Wave?they have instead strengthened the depiction of romance in dramas, taking into account the younger generation that has become accustomed to various foreign media.
According to Yonhap News on July 10, the July issue of Geumsugangsan, North Korea's monthly magazine for external propaganda, reported, "The TV series 'Baekhakbeolui Saebom' (hereafter referred to as Baekhakbeol) has been airing on TV since April and has recorded high viewership ratings."
Baekhakbeol was produced by the Second Creative Group of the Television Drama Creation Division of the National Film Administration. It first aired on Joseon Central TV on April 16 and concluded on June 24 with its 22nd episode. It has been more than two years since Joseon Central TV released a new drama, with the last one being "A Prosecutor's Memoir" in January 2023.
The sentiment and dialogue in the drama are noticeably different from previous works. A man wearing an apron serves a meal to his wife and daughter, and the family naturally accepts this as a part of everyday life. North Korean society is known for its deeply rooted patriarchal views, and it is rare for men to participate in housework and childcare. The drama appears to present a model of a family-oriented father to men.
The drama also depicts the innocent romance of young people. In the story, agricultural researcher Kyungmi (played by Ri Yugyong) and prosecutor Youngdeok (played by Choi Hyun) have been dating for over four years but face difficulties due to Youngdeok's mother's opposition. The scene in which Youngdeok's mother visits Kyungmi and asks her to "be the one to end the relationship first" evokes a feeling similar to that of past South Korean dramas.
North Korean artistic works are typically focused on enlightening residents and promoting the regime, and they are often reluctant to express personal and intimate emotions. Nevertheless, this drama is considered unusual for directly addressing the emotions of young people who suffer in the face of love and separation.
The July issue of Geumsugangsan reported, "Although actor Choi Hyun is a newcomer who has recently appeared in films, this time he drew favorable attention from young women with a different and unique charm."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
