Review‘The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' unpacks midlife crisis
Actor Ryu Seung-ryong portrays Mr. Kim, a corporate manager who faces a series of crises, such as demotion and early retirement, in JTBC’s “The Dream Life of Mr. Kim.” Courtesy of JTBC
Anchored by the powerful performance of actor Ryu Seung-ryong, the recently-ended drama "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim" left a profound message of comfort and self-reflection for the middle-aged in Korea.
The JTBC drama, which ended its 12-episode run on Sunday, followed a stereotypical middle-aged corporate manager Kim Nak-su’s (Ryu) challenging journey of losing everything and finding his true self hidden beneath corporate success, striking a deep chord with viewers.
The drama follows Kim’s fall from grace. Previously proud of his status as a corporate manager and a Seoul homeowner, he plunges into a series of crises, including demotion, early retirement and financial fraud.
A turning point occurs when Kim begins to look inward and advises his colleague Do Jin-woo (Lee Shin-ki), who fails executive promotion, with sincere advice. “Be honest with yourself. It might help you live a better life."
After losing everything he valued, Kim finally faces what he truly wants to protect: his family including himself, rather than the success he chased.
Actors Ryu Seung-ryong, left, and Yoo Seung-mok in a scene from the JTBC drama “The Dream Life of Mr. Kim” / Courtesy of JTBC
The drama’s immense popularity, stemming from an original web novel that garnered over 10 million views, lies in the stark realism felt by many middle-aged men.
Though the drama started with a low viewership rating of 2.9 percent, it witnessed a growing popularity. The final episode recorded 7.6 percent, according to data from Nielsen Korea.
Throughout its run, social media was flooded with reactions, as many viewers described the drama as painfully realistic due to its accurate portrayal of job insecurity.
In the final episode, Kim rejects a senior executive position offered by Baek Jeong-tae (Yoo Seung-mok), a senior director of his former company, and chooses to launch a car wash business instead.
By the end, Kim shows new confidence, no longer worrying about job titles or small pride. He strongly encourages his wife (Myung Se-bin) as she considers starting a real estate agency, and gives heartfelt advice to his son about pursuing work he genuinely loves.
Actor Ryu Seung-ryong in a scene from JTBC’s “The Dream Life of Mr. Kim” / Courtesy of JTBC
The series faced minor criticism for relying on the somewhat predictable storyline of a successful person losing everything only to find the true meaning of life.
Furthermore, Kim's demotion to the safety management role caused controversy, as some viewers expressed it was an unnecessary storyline only included to make his fall look more dramatic.
Nevertheless, the emotional strength of the drama clearly came from Ryu's performance. He presented a profoundly human character, easily shifting between comedy in various situations and moments of deep sadness. His skill in showing the heavy weight of his age and the complicated feelings of a middle-aged father such as shame, anger and finally, hope made him the firm center of the entire show.