Korean dramas begin tackling physician and medically assisted suicide, breaking cultural taboos

From left, Jung Chae-yeon, Lee Jin-wook, Kim Go-eun, Park Ji-hyun, Lee Bo-young and Lee Min-ki / Xportsnews

Korean dramas are beginning to address the sensitive theme of physician and medically assisted suicide, with recent series exploring the controversial subject in ways rarely seen on television.

MBC’s recently concluded its Friday-Saturday drama “Mary Kills People,” while JTBC’s weekend drama “Beyond the Bar” and the Netflix series “You and Everything Else” all weave similar themes into their storylines.

“Mary Kills People,” starring Lee Bo-young and Lee Min-ki, is a suspense drama about a doctor who aids terminally ill patients seeking to end their lives and the detective who pursues her. “Beyond the Bar,” starring Lee Jin-wook and Jung Chae-yeon, includes an episode involving assisted suicide in Switzerland, with lawyer Yoon Seok-hun (played by Lee) defending a husband who accompanied his wife. Netflix’s “You and Everything Else” opens with a character asking her estranged best friend to join her on a journey to her own death, a request that drives the narrative through the final episode.

Assisted suicide and its context

Assisted suicide refers to a terminally ill adult choosing to end life with medical support. It is legal in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Spain, France, Slovenia and several U.S. states, including Oregon and Vermont. Advocates argue it grants patients autonomy and dignity when modern medicine cannot fully alleviate pain. Critics continue to oppose the practice, often from religious or ethical perspectives.

Posters for “You and Everything Else,” “Beyond the Bar” and “Mary Kills People” / Courtesy of Netflix, JTBC and MBC

While Korean dramas have occasionally used terminal illness as a plot device, it is unusual to see assisted suicide depicted so directly. Cultural attitudes in Korea often frame death as frightening or taboo, limiting its appeal as a subject for mainstream television. However, the irony is stark: Korea has ranked first in suicide rates among OECD nations for 13 consecutive years.

By contrast, countries such as the United States, Germany and Japan have offered “death education” programs since the 1960s, aiming to reduce fear of death and help people approach the end of life with acceptance. This has helped normalize discussions of death as part of life.

Reception in Korea

Korean productions that venture into this territory have seen mixed results. “Mary Kills People” earned a 19-plus rating and drew a 1.2 percent viewership. “Beyond the Bar” touched on the theme briefly as part of a courtroom episode, while Netflix’s “You and Everything Else,” focusing on female friendship, has resonated with viewers.

Though death remains a difficult subject to address directly, the fact that multiple Korean series have engaged with assisted suicide in such a short span suggests a cultural shift. Industry watchers are now paying close attention to how future Korean content will navigate this sensitive but increasingly relevant theme.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.