Dr Foster remake becomes South Korea’s biggest ever TV drama: Story of adultery – illegal in the country five years ago – grips the nation
- Remake of BBC One’s Dr Foster has become South Korea’s biggest TV drama
- Viewers have been drawn to the TV show’s fast-paced & scandalous story line
- Drama subverts typical gender roles and explores theme of gender inequality
A remake of the BBC’s Dr Foster has become South Korea’s biggest ever TV drama.
The story of adultery has gripped a nation where cheating on a spouse was illegal just five years ago.
The remake, named in Korean as ‘The World of the Married’, last weekend overtook ‘Sky Castle’ to become the highest-rated cable TV drama in the country’s history.
Hee-ae Kim and Hae-Joon Park in The World of the Married. The story of adultery has gripped a nation where cheating on a spouse was illegal just five years ago
BBC One’s Doctor Foster with Suranne Jones as Dr. Gemma Foster and Bertie Carvel as Simon Foster first aired on 9 September 2015
The drama received critical acclaim for its screenplay, direction and performances.
The scandalous show tells the story of a doctor who catches her husband cheating on her with another woman.
Viewers in South Korea have been drawn to the TV show’s fast-paced story line which explores themes of gender inequality.
Adultery was punishable by up to two years in prison in South Korea, until the 60-year-old statute was struck down in February 2015.
South Korea’s The World of the Married. The scandalous show tells the story of a doctor who catches her husband cheating on her with another woman
The drama subverts typical gender roles as it portrays lead character Dr Ji Sun-woo as successful in her profession, something her husband, played by Park Hae-jun, is unable to match.
The World of the Married, which is currently still airing in South Korea, has attracted a viewer rating of 24 per cent.
For Choi Young-hoon, a 28-year-old bar owner in Seoul, the show has become essential Friday-night viewing.
‘I used to catch up on sleep during the little free time I had,’ he told the Guardian.
‘But I find myself arranging my schedule around this drama. I even discuss the plot in an online group chat with male friends.’
Jodie Comer as Kate Parks in Doctor Foster. The five-part series, written by Mike Bartlett, tells the story of Dr Gemma Foster, who suspects that her husband is having an affair
The British series Doctor Foster is a BBC One drama that first aired on 9 September 2015.
The five-part series, written by Mike Bartlett, tells the story of Dr Gemma Foster, who suspects that her husband is having an affair.
It stars Suranne Jones as the lead character Gemma, as well as Bertie Carvel and Jodie Comer.