‘Law and the City’ proves quiet dramas can travel, too

Lee Jong-suk as Ahn Joo-hyeong in tvN's "Law and the City" / Courtesy of tvN

The new tvN series “Law and the City” is showing that Korean dramas don’t need high-stakes crime or sweeping romance to win over audiences at home or abroad.

Premiering July 5, the drama follows five young associate lawyers navigating the daily grind in Seoul’s Seocho-dong legal district. With its understated tone and slice-of-life storytelling, the show has steadily built momentum, posting national ratings in the 6 percent range and topping its time slot across cable and satellite networks.

What’s more surprising is its international appeal. On global streaming platform Rakuten Viki, the show ranked in the top five in the U.S., Brazil, France, the UAE and India.

In Japan, it placed No. 2 in the drama category and No. 6 overall on the major U-Next platform, while topping the Korean drama chart on Taiwan’s iQIYI and ranking seventh among all dramas. In Southeast Asia, tvN Asia reported No. 1 rankings for its timeslot in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Breaking out of the romance-and-thriller mold

K-content’s global rise has largely been driven by big-genre titles such as action-heavy series like “Squid Game” or emotionally charged romances like “Lovely Runner.”

While “Law and the City” does include a romantic subplot between Ahn Joo-hyung (Lee Jong-suk) and Kang Hee-ji (Moon Ga-young), its primary focus is on workplace struggles and personal growth.

Director Park Seung-woo has described the drama not as a story about noble prosecutors or underdogs fighting corruption, but one about “ordinary professionals facing realistic conflicts.” The restrained tone has proven to be part of its charm.

According to the production team, the show’s appeal lies in its strong ensemble of talented, relatable actors and visually polished yet grounded direction, such as shooting on location for scenes set in Hong Kong. They also pointed to the careful pacing of each character arc and episodic structure as a key factor in keeping global audiences engaged.

Scenes from "The Law and the City" / Courtesy of tvN

A global appetite for subtle stories

The show’s overseas success points to a growing appetite for more grounded K-dramas. Pop culture critic Jung Deok-hyun said that shows like “Law and the City” and “Good Partner,” which focus on the everyday lives of professionals, are resonating more because they reflect real-world challenges and are emotionally nuanced.

“This trend toward portraying the human side of professional life is gaining traction,” Jung said. “And international viewers are now embracing this quieter, more relatable type of storytelling, not just high romance or adrenaline-pumping genres.”

Recent hits like “Resident Playbook” and “Law and the City” show that K-dramas can find global fans even when they dial down the dramatics.

As international interest in Korean content continues to diversify, the success of “Law and the City” suggests that slice-of-life stories, when done right, can speak volumes.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.