Is this the beginning of the end, or the start of a new world? I’ve been seeing the decrease in K-dramas being produced and the drop in ratings on terrestrial and cable networks for the last decade, but an uptick when the streaming platforms in the last few years got into producing their own K-dramas. But now even that has slowed and with it big name stars are openly speaking out about not getting work. In recent weeks five famous stars Kim Ha Neul, Lee Jang Woo, Han Ye Seul, Kim Ji Seok, and Go Hyun Jung have all given different statements in various interviews about their own lack of work and not getting any scripts or project offers. The industry apparently filmed 250 K-dramas last year in 2023 but around 100 could not get a broadcast station. This year in 2024 there are only 40 K-dramas on deck to be filmed so a drastic drop off in production amount. This has led only the biggest name stars getting offers while everyone else is suffering, including supporting actors and also rookies trying to get into the industry. This fallout could led to stars leaving actor entirely.
It’s sad because i began my journey in dramaland with them and others that disappeared already …but it ‘s the same in other countries . They already are in the field since years and producers want the big top stars or create their own popular actors as in Hollywood ‘s Golden era ( Jack Warner , Louis B Mayer, Daryl Zanuck, …) the ones who are less impacted are the veteran actors who always played parents, co workers, … . And i think that the new actors will never have the same long career as the actors named in this post .With that said some are still there and going strong Lee Min Ki, Jang Na Ra, …
…and youngers consume dramas as they consume fast fashion, the same goes with books, authors who used to reign in the top best sellers lists , sell less thanks to all the new authors who write a pleiad of sub -sub -sub genres to please everyone . The tastes are always changing ! Still remember when my mother was waiting for the new Danielle Steel or John Grisham ! And the importance of the algorythms of social medias which have great impact in young minds .
It’s disheartening for me to see Kim Ha Neul in the list. I was quite impressed by some of her dramas, e.g., Romance, On the Way to the Airport, and 18 Again. I liked her in those dramas.
Is this because lack of money invest or changing of the viewing medium?
To be fair, if there’s a backlog of 100 unaired dramas waiting to be broadcasted, why would you produce more? Just air those first instead of creating an even bigger backlog.
This is strange considering K-drama used to film as they air (real-time), unlike China. But now they also film and wait to air. Did their local channels stop airing as much drama? I thought used to be there is a drama weekdays and then weekends. If this is not the case anymore, then could be ratings have dropped. TVN has come a long way from being just a cable channel with low ratings. It’s producing more quality dramas now.
KBS2, MBC and SBS each used to air two miniseries a week (Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday-Thursday), plus two weekend dramas and two daily soap operas. Now, KBS2 only has the Monday-Tuesday drama, one weekend drama and one daily soap. MBC only has the weekend drama and the daily soap. SBS only has the weekend drama. See the picture?
Even TVN stopped airing dramas on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so its schedule is down to two dramas a week. JTBC only has the weekend drama.
So it seems to be broadcasting station attempt to survive amidst attack from online platform, by reducing expenditure on drama airing rights? I wonder what shows is used to replace these time slots
I think there are so many distractions… gone are the days when people would sit still and wait for the drama on TV. Younger generations are always out, in malls, or gaming or in TikTok. We also have YouTube, Netflix. Also it could be there are more actors now. And unless you are popular, you may be in the limelight for only 10 years or even less. Even in China, the tops stars before don’t get as much projects now. It’s a cycle.
I feel like, The ones named here have been irrelevant for while now. On the other hand, I’ve seen the younger ones have constant back to back projects with many endorsements, which never happened before. In the older days, they’ll do one project per year and then go on a break. I still think their dramas offering have been more than in the past. 6 months ago, I read that so much projects planned that they have not enough people/place to shoot (production wise) that they can’t film until certain dramas/movies are done filming. Just last week, Disney (although struggling) promised to invest more in Kdramas after the success of “Moving” and “shop for killers”.
I don’t think it’s a particular a Korean issue, many talented veteran Hollywood stars are also out of work. Drama land also have issue of their own too. It seems, the industry as a whole are still trying to figure out how to navigate through this current streaming service age.
***cdrama land also has issue
A lot of factors come into play here. Broadcast platforms have to balance out their number of dramas bought against their earnings, target audience has lesser time to watch dramas due to work resulting in lower advertisement profits, oversupply of actors/actresses leading to production crews preferring to use either the big names that can draw in viewers or rookies with lower salaries etc.
the main reasons have been discussed by many of the above commenters – severely reduced limited-series drama slots (KBS2, MBC, SBS, JTBC nowadays only have one active slot, TVN has two while ENA has one to two), and a lot of drama on the shelves waiting for a slot (meaning their production company needs to recoup the cost and probably can’t film another one). meanwhile, there’s the other issue of top/ A-list/ established actors asking for crazy wages ($100,000+), meaning a lot of production goes the “weekday drama” way and go for lower less prestigious actors (you might notice that very few top actors go for weekday dramas) – look at Fantasy Sonata and Wedding Impossible with their lineup of new/ lesser known actors. the silver lining is that many supporting actors still mostly get jobs – I guess the audience like seeing the same piece of furniture regardless of the house lol.
Different audience, Different market. Streaming, Netflix, Multimedia… I do not wait for any drama to drop now. It can always be watched later.
So, like, those 100 dramas are just sitting around waiting to find a home?
Quality of dramas have dropped too. Duno is the script or the budget dropped, so they’re not getting better scriptwriters. Acting quality likewise have been dismal. Always the same few famous actors or famous idols grabbing the roles even if they can’t act. I guess the industry itself is the problem, which gives rise to more problem, and sadly, no solution. One day, there may not be any dramas to watch anymore.. sadly.. ppl may just turn to YouTube, tiktok and influencers.
True! Quality of Kdramas have dropped. I can’t even get into their romance dramas anymore without feeling cheesy or they lack good lines. And, constantly seeing the same actors/actresses since they don’t produce enough dramas.
These days actors don’t take breaks like fans once claimed. They are either employed or unemployed. Apparently CFs are also not paying as much as they used to because streaming means no ad breaks. Top stars who are still employed are working nonstop either in dramas or movies with no breaks. They say any actor or actress without an up coming project or in talks for new projects are struggling to find work. Even popular stars don’t have scripts. It’s even worse for younger actors who should be at their prime but are struggling to find work. Many actors have already disappeared and even more will fade away in some years. The 100 dramas in backlog need to be cleared out first before production can invest in new projects. Some production houses are also expected to shut down this year. Even TVing is producing far less dramas this year and has none planned for next year. Wavve has all but given up and KBS barely has 4 miniseries for this entire year. ENA killed their prime Wed-Thurs slot and JTBC is focusing more on their weekend dramas. TVN already gave up Wed-Thurs last year.
When you see the week schedule… Only TVN adn ENA are airing on Mon-Tue, nobody on Wed-Thur. No public channels have a drama on the week. It’s crazy. Everything is on the week-end.
It’s sad. Because the ones with the big ratings are not the best ones.
This is always a unstable industry… if you dont save whilst you have work and invest wisely… being out of job can happen anytime. I think they may be an increase in variety shows, reality programs. people’s habits change…not everyone enjoy following dramas.
With streaming sites like Netflix, there are lots of other international programs to watch… The younger audience likely prefer having those options. There are always pros and cons when bigger players like Netflix starts investing in Korean drama market…they will lure your viewers away from local TV to their much bigger offerings. Such are progress…
I didn’t realise that Kdrama is in such a sad state now. Undoubtedly it has lost some audience due to Cdrama, but I have assumed that the domestic viewers will still be strong.
I’m still subscribed to SBS/KBS/TVN channels, and there is barely anything interesting, and I thought that some programmes are just filtered out for international subscribers to avoid competition with Netflix etc. But to hear that this is same in Korea is just sad.
While some Kdrama audience switched to watch Cdramas, there’re more international fans starting to watch Kdrama. Otherwise, huge streaming companies like Netflix and Disney+ wouldn’t have doubled down to invest more on Kdrama just recently. Cdrama market is still mostly confined to Asian regions or Chinese expats who watch thanks to language.
There could be many reasons why these veteran K actors are short of projects to work on. Market concentration and monopoly due to the increasing popularity of huge international streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and even Amazon could be the major contributor to many actors being out of job. I’ve only seen increasing popularity of Kdrama and revenues/profits from Kdrama productions in the credible financial news so far, not the other way around. I gather western ent conglomerates’ increasing control of Kdrama production might have had adverse effects on the domestic production and therefore, workers in this area including actors were also affected.
That is why Kim So Hyun has no projects ad CFs other than that with PBG. It is not her choice. She is not in demand anymore. I knew it. Her star will fade soon.
Beginning of the end of course,we started to getting bored especially with the plot stories and there are lack of act for the younger player not all of them but most
Make it shorter for drama,just 6 epsiodes or 10
Then we will watch nicely
I’d say these “top” actors not getting projects is more because they aren’t top actors anymore, with all their recent prjects simply flopping, rather than because there are fewer dramas being produced—and I don’t agree with other commentors saying that quality has decreased (compare the dramas from 2024 vs 2014 and see how much the writing, directing, acting and production value has evolved). Fewer dramas means more selectiveness and these production teams aren’t going to waste the lead roles to aged actors (sorry, but that’s the true, older former leading stars always have a hard time finding roles bcs they don’t want to take supporting characters) who don’t bring any results. You aren’t going to see Jun Ji-hyun complaining about not getting roles. As long as you prove your marketability (talent doesn’t hurt either), there will always be roles.
And people have been going on about the kdrama industry being over for years now, but I have yet to see any signs of that. They’ve been producing at least one or two international hits for the past decade. Cdramas are never going to be a threat to them, firstly because they are Chinese (hello xenophobia) and secondly because of the constant censorship (these days, 99% of modern cdramas are basically the same rehashed youth or idol dramas because of that, while historical equals over-the-top xianxia or 20th century propaganda).
Go Hyunjung is super A-list though, with MEGAHITS on her resume. If she’s complaining about not getting roles, then there may come a time when Jun Jihyun finds herself in the same spot.
@Mara, I also disagree about the comments on deteriorating quality of Kdrama. Based upon reported financial data and investment scales, I don’t think Cdrama can compete with Kdrama yet. The average production value of Kdrama in 2022-2024 is definitely higher than the old time of Hallyu. Acting aside, the enhancement of filming quality appeared so evident to me when I picked up Kdrama again after a few years of hiatus. I found quite a few recent Kdramas addictive and exciting to watch.
Kim Ji Seok surprises me the most. He plays both lead and 2nd male lead; good guys and bad buys. I would think he’d be able to get some gigs. This shouldn’t be a huge shock but I was still surprised to hear of the back log. I would assume if there wasn’t a buyer, they wouldn’t produce so obviously the market is saturated, much as the k-pop market is. It’s been years since some stations reduced drama time slots and, while people like to blame streaming services, I think they staunched the bleeding. The Chinese Hallyu ban and the Japanese not licensing like they used to as well as high lead drama fees probably has all combined into a toxic stew for the industry. Oh and a lot of crap writing as well.
I do understand why actors dread the military enlistment because I see some pretty solid careers get stalled by that time away. It’s a brutal business and someone new and popular is always on the horizon.
I think Kdrama’s time in the sun is over. Same plots, same actors over and over again… and even the supporting actors have become distracting at this point.
Are you talking about Cdrama instead? LOL.
Your not watching Kdrama doesn’t mean others aren’t watching. LOL
It’s my opinion – no need to write comments like a deranged clown! And no, Cdramas hasn’t ‘taken over’
@Rina, who’s deranged? You sounded so delirious and incoherent! PPl can’t get your point and that’s why we responded? Did you get it rather than full of yourself! LOL. I know you’re more a Cdrama fan than Kdrama fan per your comment records. You understand once you drop lines in a public forum, others are entitled to respond to you with their own perspectives too, right?
Ppl can’t get your point and that’s why we responded. Stop being full of yourself. I know from the get-go and by your track records that you’re more a Cdrama fan than a Kdrama fan.
I don’t believe that the Korean wave is over, but it is a trend that can change. The industry changes due to various factors, including online services, COVID-19, and the Korean wave. Korean content was cherished for its fresh, unique, and different genres, and non-repeatable casting. I remember the year 2016 having a significant Korean wave, and every Korean drama and movie of 2016 had a different cast that was an international hit.
However, the Korean industry is exhausting its audience in every possible way, leading to the collapsing of the entire system. The change in viewing platforms, creating more content than required, making low-quality content, causing many flops, and choosing the cast with more popularity than talent for the interest of making more money is causing competition among actors. This competition is leading to a loss of their Korean quality, which was the root cause of the audience watching their content.
Currently, the production houses are more interested in earning money than producing quality content. Every second actor is establishing a production company to make a living because they know that acting in the Korean industry might not be a source of income for their entire life. Those who don’t have any other source of income except acting or music are struggling.
It’s not only the actors, but also many big and small actors who are struggling in this industry. However, some have found ways to make a stable living.
@qwerty
That was the gist of my comment – KDramas aren’t ‘fresh’ anymore, just repetitive – but I guess this was inevitable.
I have different perspectives about the SK filming industry though. I don’t see Kdrama production focus more on making more money than delivering quality products. For a a free market (including the entertainment sector in the business world dictated by free market theory and capitals), revenues/profits come side by side with quality. Drama production teams can’t reap profits without handing out good scripts/directing/cast/production in a whole package to sell to the market.
I don’t see Kdrama quality deteriorating but to the opposite from western filming standards, quality is being greatly enhanced in average than before. But I see Kdrama has changed the focus of production contents. In the past of early Hallyu, it’s romcom and melodrama dominating Kdrama production. Many international fans (mostly Asian female viewers) were swooned over those types of Hallyu, younger me included. But Kdrama has since switched focus to other genres including thrillers and mysteries in the recent years. While these different genres in the production landscape has attracted a way larger crowd from international fans, some fans of old-style genres are also becoming detached. Per a survey, mysteries and suspension dramas are the most popular genres among all globally. Since big streaming conglomerates like Netflix and Disney+ saw increasing popularity with large profits of Kdrama and got involved in the Kdrama production, it’s not surprising more and more Kdramas have plots focused on the genres such as thrillers, mysteries, and fantasies but less old-fashion melo or romcom.
While a lot of site visitors of Koala’s blogs have been used to watch Kdrama for a long time and perhaps fall in the category that I described above to be the ones more for melodrama and romcom, the number of new Kdrama fans is actually increasing who appreciate other genres more, e.g., Squid Game and Moving etc. They just don’t visit this blog or hang around here. LOL. Why do I think so? The reported profits that Netflix had garnered from Kdrama streaming on the platform and the ensuing investment increase by Netflix in Kdrama proved my point. Netflix management saw how Kdrama had profited in the past few years and decided to double down the investment on Kdrama production in 2023.
Perhaps foreign investment and involvement in Kdrama production might have undermined the domestic staffing and casting market of drama production. I did not dig in. But I have an inkling that Netflix and Disney+ the like with huge capitals are perhaps getting monopoly in the Kdrama production now. Dramas produced or invested by these big streaming sites take up larger share of the Kdrama market. Market concentration and monopoly oftentimes also put pressure on the workforce, which is actors and filming professionals. This is just my guess since I don’t have enough information.
Just think about Microsoft monopoly of PC operating systems and Google Android monopoly of smart phones.
But these actors are all aging!!!!!! What kinds of roles did they expect to get but ended up not getting? I’m curious.
I’ve been noticing that dramas would be filmed 3-9 months ago and are just airing now. I’ve been watching kdramas since the early 2000s so it’s been weird to see dramas so out of season. And there are dramas airing at the same time with the same secondary role actors because maybe one was filmed 3 months ago and one was filmed 6 months ago.
Even if all those dramaslots that we used to get 10 years ago were still around, it still wouldn’t be enough to air all the backlog. Guessing a lot of production companies were expecting a more massive kdrama boom after the pandemic. I like how the increase in platforms have allowed some lesser-known and older actors to find work these last few years, but it looks like that work is going to dry up.
I’m guessing a bunch of the backlog will have to be sold for cheap for a “drop all the episodes at once” release just to recoup some money.