Actresses in 40s, 50s see careers rebound

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Actress Kim Hee-ae / Courtesy of JTBC

Actresses in their 40s and 50s are seeing their careers rebound on the small screen as their performances captivated viewers for their realism and engaging stories, marking a shift in themes of popular TV series from male character-oriented stories to strong female character-centered content.

Compared with the past, when a lot more opportunities were given to men, female-led stories have found a large audience thanks to bold storytelling and the delicate depiction of characters. The fact that drama series have diversified in terms of genres, themes and execution has also led such a change.

JTBC drama “The World of the Married,” starring Kim Hee-ae, has become the most talked about drama in Korea. SBS drama “Good Casting,” featuring Choi Kang-hee, and tvN “When My Love Blooms,” led by Lee Bo-young, have also successfully appealed to the mainstream audience here.

In “The World of the Married,” actress Kim, 53, plays Ji Sun-woo, a dedicated wife and doctor who finds out about her husband's affair and sets out to take revenge against him. It has caught viewers' attention with its fast-paced, suspense-filled plot, in which characters experience a whirlwind of emotions.

In contrast to her previous roles appearing as the adulteress in the SBS drama “My Husband's Lover” (2007), JTBC hit “How Long I've Kissed” (2012) and “Secret Affair” (2014), Kim taps into a different mode in “The World of the Married.”

The veteran actress gives strong, yet delicate psychological depictions that impart a sense of reality to the story. “One of the reasons why this drama became a great success was the casting of its lead actress,” BBC Studios producer Charles Harrison was quoted as saying, praising Kim's acting skills.

Based on the BBC One series “Doctor Foster,” the 16-episode drama set a new ratings record for a cable drama. It reached a viewership of 24.3 percent for its 12th episode, Saturday, breaking the previous record of 23.8 percent set by the final episode of JTBC hit drama “Sky Castle” in 2019.

Actress Choi Kang-hee / Courtesy of SBS

“Good Casting,” starring Choi, 43, got off to a great start by hitting double digit ratings with its premiere last week.

The story centers on Chan-mi (Choi), a national intelligence agent who sets out to save the country. She plays a hot-tempered undercover agent who excels in martial arts and speaks multiple languages.

In “When My Love Blooms,” actress Lee, 41, plays Yoon Ji-soo who reunites with her first love after two decades. It features a more mature portrayal of romance.

Lee's acting career spans across not only multiple decades but multiple genres, from playing a woman who dreams of revenge after betrayal to the role of a teacher who becomes a mother to an abused child.

“The diversified genres, abundance of women-centered dramas and playing roles of professionals have brought new opportunities to older women actresses,” culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said.