The World of the Married

The World of the Married (Korean: 부부의 세계; Hanja: 夫婦의 世界; RR: Bubu-ui Segye; lit. Couple's World) is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-joon, and Han So-hee.[4] Based upon BBC One's drama series Doctor Foster that starring Suranne Jones, it tells a story of a married couple whose betrayal of one another leads to a whirlwind of revenge, grief, forgiveness and healing. It aired on JTBC on Fridays and Saturdays at 22:50 (KST) from March 27 to May 16, 2020.[5][6][7]

The World of the Married
Promotional poster
Also known asA World of Married Couple[1]
The World of a Married Couple
Hangul부부의 세계
Hanja夫婦의 世界
GenreMelodrama
Romance
Family
Thriller
Created byPlot Line[lower-alpha 1] & Kang Eun-kyung
Based onDoctor Foster
by Mike Bartlett
Developed byJTBC
Written byJoo Hyun
Directed by
Creative director(s)Kang Eun-kyung
Starring
Music byGaemi
Opening theme"Finale" by Park Mi-sun
Country of originSouth Korea
Original language(s)Korean
No. of episodes16 + 2 specials[3]
Production
Executive producer(s)Park Joon-seo[2]
Kim Ji-yeon
Kim Se-ah
Producer(s)Kim Ye-ji
Park Woo-ram
CinematographyJang Jong-kyung
Kwon Byung-soo
Editor(s)Han Ji-woo
Jeon Yoon-young
Camera setupSingle camera
Running time75–92 minutes
Production company(s)Drama House (JTBC Studios)
DistributorJTBC
Release
Original networkJTBC
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Audio formatDolby Digital
Original releaseMarch 27 (2020-03-27) –
May 16, 2020 (2020-05-16)
External links
Website

The World of the Married is the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history, overtaking SKY Castle with its final episode reaching a nationwide rating of 28.371%. It recorded the highest average rating for a drama on cable television, with an average rating of 18.829%.[8] Its content also generated huge attention and discussion. The drama received positive reviews from critics for its screenplay, direction and acting performances, with Mo Wan-il winning Best Director and Kim Hee-ae winning Best Actress at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.[9]

Synopsis

Ji Sun-woo (Kim Hee-ae) is a revered family medicine doctor and the associate director at Family Love Hospital. She is married to Lee Tae-oh (Park Hae-joon), with whom she has a teenage son, Lee Joon-young (Jeon Jin-seo). Sun-woo seems to have everything from a successful career to a happy family, but unbeknownst to her, she is betrayed by her husband and friends.

Meanwhile, Tae-oh dreams of becoming a famous movie director. He runs a small entertainment and film company with the support of his wife. Even though he loves and cares for his wife, Tae-oh sets himself up in a dangerous position with an extramarital affair.

Cast

Main
The associate director of Family Love Hospital and has been married to Lee Tae-oh for more than a decade. Sun-woo grew up as a single child in a family in which father is a teacher and mother is a nurse. When she was 17, she lost both her parents in a car accident and had to protect herself against the challenges in life. To escape the pain and loneliness, she started to study assiduously to get into a medical school in Seoul. There, she met Lee Tae-oh. Together, they started a family and settled in the city of Go-san[lower-alpha 3], Tae-oh's hometown. She seems to have everything, including a caring husband, a son who lives up to expectations and a great reputation in the community. Everything seemed to go so smoothly, until she started to suspect that her husband is having an affair after discovering a strand of hair on her scarf. Based on her instincts, she starts to doubt all the people around her husband, and her world falls apart when she discovers what she suspected is true. The perfect life is now crushed. The husband she deeply trusted has betrayed her.
A movie director who has been married to Ji Sun-woo for more than a decade. Eight years after his graduation, Tae-oh made his feature film debut as an assistant director. However, the movie flopped at the box office. After their marriage, he was unemployed and ultimately started an entertainment company with the help of Sun-woo. As days go by, he became stressed and pressured to succeed or to stop as he has been dependent on his wife for income. One day, he met Yeo Da-kyung after a performance at a club with the staffs. He felt confident standing in front of the young beautiful woman who thinks he is a successful businessman. It was the thrill different from the sense of stability given by Sun-woo. Tae-oh and Da-kyung then secretly started an affair, unbeknownst to his wife despite that he still loves her.
The only daughter of Yeo Byung-gyu and Uhm Hyo-jung. Da-kyung grew up in luxury so she lives without worries and life goals. She majored in Contemporary Dance following to her mother's wishes even when she had no passion or talent in dancing. Ultimately, she decided to stop dancing and became a Pilates instructor. The innocent and vulnerable girl then fell in love with Lee Tae-oh, a married man, and has been having an affair with him for over two years.
The wife of Son Je-hyuk, a friend and neighbor of Ji Sun-woo and Lee Tae-oh. After marrying Je-hyuk, Ye-rim became a full-time housewife. She discovered about her husband's affairs, one-night stands and sex addiction a long time ago, yet she still could not break away from him. She didn't want to be a divorcee. Instead of getting a divorce, Ye-rim continues to live in a world full of lies. She eventually noticed that her husband developed a crush on her friend, Sun-woo. She ultimately betrayed Sun-woo by choosing to keep Tae-oh's affair a secret.
  • Kim Young-min as Son Je-hyuk
The husband of Go Ye-rim, as well as a friend of Lee Tae-oh and Ji Sun-woo. The accountant is Tae-oh's hometown friend. He loves his calm and faithful wife, but he easily gets bored. He often enjoys affairs and uses the nature of his work as an excuse to get home late. As he continuously engages in adultery, he eventually develops a crush on Ji Sun-woo.
  • Chae Gook-hee as Sul Myung-sook
A gynecologist at Family Love Hospital and a close friend of Lee Tae-oh and Ji Sun-woo. Myung-sook is a single woman who has never been in a serious relationship with a man. She is a two-faced woman that would betray anyone she claims as a 'friend' to get anything that she wants. She tries to take advantage of the tensions between Sun-woo and Tae-oh to snatch the associate director position at the hospital from Sun-woo.
The father of Yeo Da-kyung and husband of Uhm Hyo-jung. Byung-gyu is a very influential businessman, and there is no one in Go-san who dares to go against his will. Along with his wealth, he also has strong connections with local officials and politicians. He is willing to do everything in his power to make his daughter happy.
  • Kim Sun-kyung as Uhm Hyo-jung
The mother of Yeo Da-kyung and wife of Yeo Byeong-gyu. Hyo-jung is a full-time housewife and a former beauty pageant. She is also a patient of Ji Sun-woo. Because Hyo-jung wants the best for her daughter, she tries to get everything out of Da-kyung's way, including going against Sun-woo.
The only son of Ji Sun-woo and Lee Tae-oh. Joon-young is closer to Tae-oh because Sun-woo is busy at work most of the time. He was a bright and happy single child in the family. Unfortunately, problems arise right during his adolescence. As a teenager, he continuously sides with either one of his parents while he deals with his inner conflicts and psychological pain.
A bartender who suffers from physical and emotional abuse by her boyfriend, Park In-kyu. She endured every pain caused by In-kyu out of pity. She had to face her misery with In-kyu until she gets to know Ji Sun-woo as one of her patients, she befriends Sun-woo and helps her discovering the affair of Tae-oh and Da-kyung, while Sun-woo tries her best to help Hyun-seo in her medical needs as well as trying to escape from In-kyu.

Supporting

People at Family Love Hospital
  • Lee Moo-saeng as Kim Yoon-ki[11]
A doctor and specialist in the neuropsychiatry department at Family Love Hospital. Yoon-ki got married at a young age, but his marriage ended in divorce. After the divorce, he moved to Go-san and joined Family Love Hospital. He becomes fond of Sun-woo as he observes her dealing with her problems from afar.
  • Park Choong-sun as Ma Kang-seok
A doctor at Family Love Hospital who has been suffering from alcoholism since the death of a loved one.
  • Jung Jae-sung as Kong Ji-cheol
The head director of Family Love Hospital.
  • Kim Jong-tae as Ha Dong-sik
A regular patient of Ji Sun-woo. Dong-sik suffers from a neurological disorder and anxiety. He is a patient who most doctors try to avoid as he visits the hospital every day even for minor problems, and the professional spirit Sun-woo is the only doctor in Go-san who dares to treat him.
  • Kim Ha-neul as Nurse An
  • Yoon Dan-bi as Nurse Joo Hwa-ni

Others
The abusive boyfriend of Min Hyun-seo. After falling into gambling and failing the public exam multiple times, In-kyu's parents cut off their financial support and as a result, In-kyu became increasingly angry in his daily life. Violence began as an excuse for Hyun-seo to not have another man every time she returns from work late. He mistakes dependence and attachment for love.
  • Jo Ah-ra as Jang Mi-yun
The secretary of Lee Tae-oh, and the single mom of Yoon No-eul. She maintains a good relationship with Sun-woo even after she no longer works for Tae-oh as their children are close friends.
The daughter of Jang Mi-yun and a classmate of Lee Joon-young who later develops a crush on him.
A friend of Lee Joon-young and Yoon No-eul, and the son of Cha Do-cheol. Hae-kang has a crush on No-eul.
  • Kim Tae-hyang as Cha Do-cheol
A councilor in the city of Go-san.
  • Yoon In-jo as Cha Do-cheol's wife
Cha Hae-kang's mom and a member of Go-san Women's Association who likes to bad-mouth others, especially Ji Sun-woo.
  • Choi Beom-ho as Chairman Choi
A real estate guru in Go-san and a friend of Yeo Byung-gyu.
  • Seo Yi-sook as Chairman Choi's wife
A former patient of Ji Sun-woo, who discovers her husband's affair through Ji Sun-woo's medical checkup. In return, she starts to support Sun-woo in joining the Go-san Women's Association and counter-attacks people who bad-mouth Sun-woo.
  • Park Mi-hyun as Kong Ji-cheol's wife.
  • Lee Dong-ha as Lee Min-ki
The assistant of Yeo Byung-gyu
  • Song Hoon as Sang-hyun
  • Kwon Hyuk as Sun-woo's attorney
  • Oh So-hyun as Zoe
  • Yoo Yong as Woo Ho-sang
  • Jeong Jae-sun as Bae Jung-sim

Special appearance

Production

Development and filming
Scenes at Gosan Station were filmed at Gangneung Station in Gangneung, Gangwon Province

In 2018, JTBC Studios (Drama House) acquired the rights to remake the scripted format of Drama Republic's drama series Doctor Foster from BBC Studios for The World of the Married.[13] Kang Eun-kyung, who wrote popular TV series such as King of Baking, Kim Takgu (2010) and Dr. Romantic (2016–2020), served as the creator. Gaemi (Kang Dong-yoon), who previously worked on the soundtracks of popular dramas such as Descendants of the Sun (2016) and When the Camellia Blooms (2019), took charge of the music production.[14]

The drama was directed by Mo Wan-il PD of the 2018 romance-thriller series Misty. In response to questions about the difference between the drama and the British original, Mo said, "While the original is focused more on the main character, in adapting the story for the Korean drama, we wanted to portray a whirlwind of emotions to rage around the main character and the people around her". Mo then emphasized that unlike the original series, The World of the Married does not just focus on one person but also focuses on the relationships in which the main female character, Ji Sun-woo, is involved with.[15]

The first script-reading was held on September 30, 2019.[16] The primary filming location was in Gangwon Province at Chuncheon City,[17] which is the fictional city of Go-san in the drama, and Gangneung City. The Gosan Station featured in the drama was shot at Gangneung Station.[18] Much of the filming also took place at an American village called Humphreys Landing, which is Gosan Premium Townhouse Complex in the drama, in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.[19] The crew wrapped up the last shoot on May 12, 2020.[20]

Casting

Kim Hee-ae and Park Hae-joon were confirmed to star in the drama series on September 30, 2019.[4] Park Hae-joon initially said no to the drama saying that, "I wanted to do it, but I was worried about whether I could do it well".[21] Speaking to GQ Korea, he revealed that he was hesitant due the strong extreme traits of the male lead character who cheats on his wife. He also stated that he did not feel confident to give justice to the role of a cheating husband with the needed intensity as he did not have much time to prepare. However, he eventually accepted the offer after talking to a friend.[22][23]

Subsequently, Han So-hee and Lee Moo-saeng were confirmed to join the cast on October 7 and on December 4, 2019, respectively.[24][25]

Content rating

The first to the sixth episodes were fixed at late-night hours so that only those aged 19 or older can watch them under the Juvenile Protection Act. The drama's portrayal (of married life) was deemed as too realistic to be shown to those who are under 19. For the seventh and eighth episodes, they were lowered to allow those aged 15 or older to watch them.[26] However, after facing criticisms from a portion of viewers for including some aggressive scenes in Episode 7 and Episode 8, the rating was altered back to 19 or older starting from the ninth episode in order for the production team to be able to capture the complex emotions that the characters will face in future episodes.[27]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Episode 1"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun27 March 2020 (2020-03-27)

Ji Sun-woo, a doctor at Family Love Hospital, is happily married to aspired film director Lee Tae-oh, with whom they have a teenage son, Lee Joon-young. One day, she notices a different strand of hair on Tae-oh's scarf and suspects him of infidelity. Paranoid about the situation, Sun-woo tries investigating Tae-oh, whom he has an abnormal attitude: he lied about his work hours, and has acted weirdly.

On Tae-oh's birthday, Sun-woo tries searching for his car. Hidden in it is a phone, in which the lock screen is of a woman, Da-kyung, with the same hair of the suspicious hair. The gallery is filled with photos of Tae-oh, Da-kyung, and Sun-woo's friend. Uncontrollably betrayed and bellitled, she grabs a scissor and head towards Tae-oh.
2"Episode 2"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun28 March 2020 (2020-03-28)
Stressed, Sun-woo imagines Tae-oh having sex with Da-kyung and stabs Tae-oh, although it was just imagination. She gets home early, shoving all of Tae-oh's to his luggage and readies it for leaving, only for Tae-oh to go home drunk. Tae-oh and his friend Je-hyuk gets into a fight talking about Sun-woo. On the other hand, Da-kyung visits Family Love Hospital and is treated by Sun-woo against her will. During the session, Sun-woo tries to find composure, but is shaken by Da-kyung's provocation and a shocking revealing.
3"Episode 3"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun3 April 2020 (2020-04-03)
Sun-woo tries to find out who Tae-oh's heart is leaned towards, but Tae-oh, who finds both Sun-woo and Da-kyung appealing, struggles to organize his feelings. Sun-woo goes to a lawyer for divorce consultation, but finds his unfiltered advice unpleasant and disgusting. Da-kyung sneakily confesses to Sun-woo that she has had an affair with a married man for two years. Meanwhile, Je-hyuk and his wife Ye-rim began to sense the tensions between Sun-woo and Tae-oh.
4"Episode 4"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun4 April 2020 (2020-04-04)
Sun-woo moves with her plans to divorce Tae-oh, while Je-hyuk becomes more blatant about his crush on Sun-woo and reveals his desires to her more explicitly. After seeing Tae-oh constantly struggles to choose between her and Sun-woo, Da-kyung tells Tae-oh that she will get an abortion and breaks up with him. Through Hyun-seo, Sun-woo continues to keep up with Tae-oh's affair and encounters an unexpected situation.
5"Episode 5"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun10 April 2020 (2020-04-10)
As Sun-woo becomes overwhelmed with doubt and anxiety, Tae-oh notices the changes in his wife's behaviors. In the meanwhile, Ye-rim senses the tensions between Sun-woo and Je-hyuk, while Sun-woo tries to distance herself from Je-hyuk after taking advantage of him. However, it was not easy and the men around Sun-woo makes her more uneasy. Tae-oh tries to get back with Da-kyung. Sun-woo embarrasses both Da-kyung and Tae-oh at a dinner with Da-kyung's family by making metaphorical havoc and starting a cold fight. Sun-woo then expresses her will to divorce and comes clean about an affair with Je-hyuk.
6"Episode 6"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun11 April 2020 (2020-04-11)
Sun-woo and Tae-oh continuously blames each another for the cause of their broken family, while Joon-young feels anxious about the problems between his parents. Tae-oh and Da-kyung discovers through In-kyu that Sun-woo and Hyun-seo have been following them around. The battle for Joon-young's custody between Sun-woo and Tae-oh begins. After getting back together, Da-kyung is frustrated that Tae-oh cannot give up on his son's custody. Sun-woo comes up with a plan to settle the divorce in her terms.
7"Episode 7"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun17 April 2020 (2020-04-17)
"When I'm indebted to someone, I have to pay back what I owe." Two years after the restraining order, Tae-oh, who has made his name known as a film director after his movie's massive success, and Da-kyung comes back to Go-san with their daughter Jenny. They host a grand comeback party celebrating their marriage and invite everyone they know in Go-san to the party. Tae-oh appears in front of Joon-young and Sun-woo in a relaxed manner, and Sun-woo grows more suspicious and anxious of what Tae-oh is scheming due to his seemingly strange actions.
8"Episode 8"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun18 April 2020 (2020-04-18)
"Did you think I'd get scared and run away?" After the night when her house was attacked by an unknown person, Sun-woo becomes nervous about all the little trivial things, but Joon-young seems to enjoy having his dad around while Da-kyung tries her best to be nice to him. Ye-rim is suspicious of what has happened to Sun-woo after Tae-oh returns back to Go-san. The conflicted interests around the women in Go-san Women's Association creates a tense atmosphere. Joon-young starts to avoid Sun-woo, who is facing threats in her daily life.
9"Episode 9"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun24 April 2020 (2020-04-24)
"Don't drag Da-kyung into our problem!" Da-kyung is suspicious of Sun-woo's motives when Sun-woo wants to join the Go-san Women's Association. Yoon-ki and Da-kyung notices the tensions between Sun-woo and Tae-oh, who both seem to have not gotten over each other after their divorce. Sun-woo makes secret plans to secure her associate director position at Family Love Hospital, but things unexpectedly go in a different direction instead. On the other hand, contrary to Tae-oh's expectations, In-kyu becomes a greater threat.
10"Episode 10"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun25 April 2020 (2020-04-25)
"Please, just disappear from my sight..." Tae-oh barges in Sun-woo's house late at night feeling mixed with anger and contempt. For the associate director position, Sun-woo visits Byung-gyu but it ends up with an unpleasant conversation. She also notices some strange behaviors from Yoon-ki. Ye-rim and Je-hyuk goes to the hospital for fertility testing as Je-hyuk agrees to build a family with Ye-rim. However, Ye-rim disappears after that she received messages from an unknown source about Je-hyuk's affair. Meanwhile, Sun-woo tries to help Hyun-seo escape In-kyu.
11"Episode 11"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun1 May 2020 (2020-05-01)
"Do you think I did that?" The accident at Go-san Station causes a big uproar in the Go-san community, particularly Sun-woo, Tae-oh and those around them. Da-kyung, who waited for her husband until late at night, is overwhelmed with uncertainty due to Tae-oh's unpredictable actions. Ye-rim tries to get over Je-hyuk. The mystery surrounding the accident continues with the CCTV footage at the station missing. Meanwhile, Yoon-ki reveals to Sun-woo what he witnessed regarding the accident and Hyun-seo reveals that she feels guilty.
12"Episode 12"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun2 May 2020 (2020-05-02)
"If I tell you I regret getting remarried, will you also tell me the truth?" Tae-oh is helped by Sun-woo during a police investigation. Joon-young faces negativity in school as his classmates bad-mouths about his mother over the Go-san Station accident. Da-kyung tries to have a better relationship with Joon-young, and attempts to convince him to live with her and Tae-oh. Meanwhile, Tae-oh arrives late at night to meet Sun-woo, whose mind has been filled with complicated thoughts after a series of unexpected situations that happened in her life.
13"Episode 13"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun8 May 2020 (2020-05-08)
"Are you sure I would be able to raise him well without me?" Joon-young, knowing that things can never go back to the way they were, begins to distance himself from his mom, while Da-kyung notices something strange about Joon-young's behavior. Joon-young is later caught up in a fight at school. To protect her world, Da-kyung helps Joon-young from being expelled and make sure everyone knows that she is Joon-young's guardian and not Sun-woo. Although Sun-woo tries to reach out to Joon-young, he refuses to contact or meet her. Despite being hurt, but for her son, Sun-woo starts planning to leave Go-san.
14"Episode 14"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun9 May 2020 (2020-05-09)
"Where is Sun-woo right now?" Sun-woo decides that it's best for her son if she leaves Go-san and suddenly quits her job at the hospital. Tae-oh tries to respect Da-kyung's way of disciplining Joon-young, but the situation unfortunately moves in a different direction. Can they become a real family? Can Da-kyung and Joon-young get along? Meanwhile, Ye-rim reconciles with Je-hyuk. Sun-woo goes missing as no one could contact her, leaving everyone wondering about her whereabouts.
15"Episode 15"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun15 May 2020 (2020-05-15)
"She wasn't the one who was delusional, it was me." Sun-woo and Joon-young prepares to leave Go-san for good. Tae-oh's actions cause everyone to feel uneasy around him, while Sun-woo promises Joon-young that she would protect him. When Da-kyung visits Sun-woo's empty house, she tells herself to think carefully as it could be her last chance to leave behind all the mess she has been facing in her life. Da-kyung starts to ask questions about find out about Tae-oh's true self.
16"Episode 16"Mo Wan-il & Kim Sung-jinJoo-hyun16 May 2020 (2020-05-16)
"Sun-woo, will you come to see me?" Cutting off your spouse with whom you shared half of your life with is like cutting away a part of your soul. A meal full of laughter, a family who are always there for you. Will those in despair return to the way things were? Will the word "forgiveness" be ever said between them?

Original soundtrack
The World of the Married OST Special
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedMay 25, 2020
GenreSoundtrack
Language
Label
ProducerGaemi

The World of the Married OST Special

The drama's soundtrack is compiled in a two-part special album released on May 25, 2020.[28] The album contains 6 original soundtracks and 28 musical scores. The following lists are the track listings for the online streaming of the album.[29][30]

CD 1
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Lonely Sailing" (고독한 항해)GaemiGaemiKim Yoon-ah (Jaurim)4:41
2."Nothing On You"Josh DanielGaemiJosh Daniel3:07
3."Sad"Hana
  • Jeong Sung-min (POPKID)
  • Shin Ji-hoo (Postmen)
Son Seung-yeon3:36
4."Just Leave Me" (그냥 나를 버려요)
  • Ra.L
  • Naomi
  • Gaemi
  • Ra.L
Ha Dong-kyun4:20
5."Farewell In Tears" (눈물로 너를 떠나보낸다)
  • Gaemi
  • Ra.L
  • Naomi
GaemiHuh Gak4:16
6."The Days We Loved" (사랑했던 날들)
  • Gaemi
  • Midnight
  • Gaemi
  • Midnight
Baek Ji-young4:01
7."Endless Story" 
  • Gaemi
  • Lee Gun-young
 2:53
8."Finale" Park Mi-sun 2:34
9."The World Where Everything Is Perfect" Park Jung-hwan 2:45
10."Be Realized" Lee Sung-gu 2:45
11."Infatuation" Lee Gun-young 2:11
12."Sunwoo’s Provocation" Jo Yoon-jung 2:30
13."Splendid" 
  • Gaemi
  • Lee Gun-young
 3:28
14."Vengeance" Park Mi-sun 2:39
15."Distrust" Park Yoon-seo 2:59
16."Passion" Lee Gun-young 3:15
17."The Beginning of Doubt" Jo Yoon-jung 2:48
18."I Hope Not" Lee Sung-gu 2:15
Total length:57:03
CD 2
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Tears of Solitude"Gaemi5:21
2."Doubt"Lee Gun-young2:33
3."Collapsing"Park Mi-sun3:13
4."Seemingly"Park Yoon-seo3:12
5."Rumor"Park Mi-sun2:46
6."The Silent Whisper"Park Jung-hwan2:32
7."A Dark Room"Lee Sung-gu2:52
8."What a Delightful Thought"Park Jung-hwan3:10
9."Grief"Lee Gun-young3:16
10."Perfect Day"James Kang2:06
11."Reasonable Suspicion"Park Yoon-seo2:49
12."One Fine Day"Gaemi3:48
13."Perplexing"Lee Sung-gu3:33
14."Chaotic"Gaemi4:43
15."Unjustified"Park Yoon-seo2:26
16."The Woman Amongst True Friends"
  • Jo Yoon-jung
  • Park Jung-hwan
2:51
Total length:51:11
The World of the Married Original Soundtrack Parts 1–6

Part 1

Released on March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28)[31]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Lonely Sailing" (고독한 항해)GaemiGaemiKim Yoon-ah (Jaurim)4:45
2."Lonely Sailing" (Inst.) Gaemi 4:45
Total length:9:30

Part 2

Released on April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04)[31]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Nothing On You"Josh DanielGaemiJosh Daniel3:09
2."Nothing On You" (Inst.) Gaemi 3:09
Total length:6:18

Part 3

Released on April 11, 2020 (2020-04-11)[31]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Sad"Hana
  • Jeong Sung-min (POPKID)
  • Shin Ji-hoo (Postmen)
Son Seung-yeon3:37
2."Sad" (Inst.) 
  • Jeong Sung-min (POPKID)
  • Shin Ji-hoo (Postmen)
 3:37
Total length:7:14

Part 4

Released on April 17, 2020 (2020-04-17)[31]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Just Leave Me" (그냥 나를 버려요)
  • Ra.L
  • Naomi
  • Gaemi
  • Ra.L
Ha Dong-kyun4:20
2."Just Leave Me" (Inst.) 
  • Gaemi
  • Ra.L
 4:20
Total length:8:40

Part 5

Released on April 25, 2020 (2020-04-25)[32]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Farewell In Tears" (눈물로 너를 떠나보낸다)
  • Gaemi
  • Ra.L
  • Naomi
GaemiHuh Gak4:17
2."Farewell In Tears" (Inst.) Gaemi 4:17
Total length:8:34

Part 6

Released on May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01)[33]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."The Days We Loved" (사랑했던 날들)
  • Gaemi
  • Midnight
  • Gaemi
  • Midnight
Baek Ji-young4:01
2."The Days We Loved" (Inst.) 
  • Gaemi
  • Midnight
 4:01
Total length:8:02

Reception

Critical response

The World of the Married was met with praises from critics for steering away from the typical revenge storyline and instead focuses on the complex aspects of marriage life. Drama critic Gong Hee-jung said that it is different from other dramas about conflicts between couples in that it "closely depicted the psychology of the characters in each situation".[34] Edmund Lee of South China Morning Post gave the drama series 4.5 out of 5 stars and called it "one of the best Korean dramas in years" due to its "masterfully scripted story of infidelity and revenge" and "vividly caustic dialogue, melancholic plot twists and some wonderfully convincing performances".[35]

General response

The drama became the talk of the town due to its fast-paced, unpredictable plot and cliffhanger endings. It emerged as the hottest and most-talked-about drama in South Korea in the first half of 2020.[36] It consistently topped the buzz rankings and television viewership ratings throughout its run. After only 12 episodes, the drama series became the most-watched drama ever in Korean cable television history according to Nielsen Korea, surpassing the previous record of 23.8 percent set by another JTBC smash-hit SKY Castle. This marked the highest viewership by a drama episode aired on a local cable channel and the second-highest for all programs aired on cable networks.[37] According to big data analytics firm Good Data Corporation, the series ranked first place in the drama category with an overwhelming score, achieving an "all-kill" record for its huge online presence in terms of news articles and comments, video views, and blog and community posts and comments. Additionally, various parodies were made about the drama by other entertainment programs, Korean celebrities and the online community.[38][39] As a result, the keyword 'adultery', which was considered to be a serious and rarely-discussed topic on Korean broadcasting channels, went beyond the drama and became a widely discussed topic on social media.[40]

Although the drama is restricted to only viewers above 19, it became massively popular among the general public for its realistic and stimulating content. Jung Deok-hyun, a pop culture critic, called the drama "a great significance", as there have been no Korean television show restricted to viewers over 19 that achieved the same success as The World of the Married and said that the drama opened the door for other dramas to contain more mature content.[36] The drama increased the level of immersion with stories closely attached to domestic viewers without missing the depth and essence of the original. According to The Guardian, the drama won praises for its realism with its portrayal of life after divorce and how it broke the way how men are usually portrayed in Korean dramas, as well as featuring plot lines implying issues that were not featured in the original series such as dating violence and the widening social inequality and gender inequality in the Korean society.[41] Storylines about gender discrimination in the workplace were shared broadly on the internet and further prompted many women to share about their negative experiences with male colleagues.[42]

The production team also received positive reviews for their willingness to push the boundaries not only with the story but with their unique filming approach.[43] The drama's success was led by director Mo Wan-il, whose detailed and sensuous directing that focused on the emotions and psychology of the characters differentiated the drama from other dramas about adultery.[44] Additionally, the success of the drama was attributed to the solid performances from the cast, particularly Kim Hee-ae who received rave reviews for her intense and explosive portrayal of Ji Sun-woo throughout the series.[45] Kim's unique fashion and styling in the drama also received great attention from the public by consistently rising to be the top real-time search term after an episode was aired. The fashion, dubbed as "Kim Hee-ae Fashion" and "Ji Sun-woo Style", boosted a style that mixes inner outfit, outer outfit and shoes of similar colors.[46] In addition, premium golf brand St Andrews experienced an unexpected huge burst in sales by about 4,000% YOY in the first two weeks of May after Han So-hee wore its golf apparel in the drama. The clothes and hats that Han wore were all sold out in stores across the country for two days after the episode was aired.[47] Emons Furniture also saw its sales volume almost doubled after its products appeared in the drama.[48]

Controversies

Violence and sex

The drama series sparked viewer criticisms for a violent scene featured in Episode 8, which was edited from the perpetrator's view similar to what it is in virtual reality.[49] The unprecedented "detailed first-person perspective" of the scene was said to be too aggressive for television and could possibly be a trauma trigger for some viewers. Nevertheless, there were viewers who found the "first-person perspective" camerawork to be refreshing and experimental in the Korean drama scene as it added to the overall tension of the moment.[43]

There was also a controversial scene that was deemed to be a "commercialization of sex" in the drama when a female character asked for a luxury bag in return for sexual flavor. It was criticized for the manner in which it depicts the theme. After the controversies, the Korea Communications Standards Commission suggested that new measures have to taken to curb inappropriate content on South Korean television, as such plot points promote violence and deliver negative messages about women. Committee member Park Sang-soo claimed that "the scene of the assault is cruel" and that "the scene of the female character demanding the luxury bag shows a disgusting view of women". However, there were differing opinions saying that television should be more bold with more mature content as such situations are realistic.[49] In a meeting held on 27 May 2020, the broadcasting review subcommittee of the Korea Communications Standards Commission decided on the administrative guidance "recommendation" for the drama due to its controversial scenes and the re-broadcasting of the same content during the youth viewing protection hours. As a result, the series received a warning from the broadcasting committee, although no penalty was given to JTBC.[50]

Child actors

Actor Jung Joon-won who plays Cha Hae-kang, Lee Joon-young's classmate, was reported to have recently engaged in underage drinking and smoking. Joon-won was born in 2004, making him 16 in international age and 17 in Korean age. Photos began circulating online that were purportedly from Jung Joon-won's Facebook account. Although Jung Joon-won is currently a minor, the photos appeared to show him engaging in drinking and smoking with his friends. On May 10, an official from JTBC clarified that the actor would not appear in the last two episodes as Episode 14 was his last.[51]

On May 10, 2020, a controversy arose over posts that Jeon Jin-seo, who plays Lee Joon-young, had made on Facebook. The controversial posts included an illustration of a male manhwa character giving the middle finger with both hands. A speech bubble above the character reads, "All women, get lost" in rude language. Conversations with his friends on Facebook were also shared in which the actor used many swear words. On May 11, 2020, Jeon Jin-seo's agency released a statement expressing their apology and citing that he is a young actor who is still maturing and developing his values, and they recognize that they have not done enough to give him guidance. The agency assured that along with his guardian, they will work hard and guide him so that he can develop upright standards regarding his words and actions as well as his attitude.[52]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2020 56th Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Kim Hee-ae Nominated
[53]
Best DirectorMo Wan-ilWon
[54]
[55]
Best ActressKim Hee-aeWon
Best Supporting ActorKim Young-minNominated
Best New ActressHan So-heeNominated

Ratings

In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(AGB Nielsen)[56]
NationwideSeoul
1 March 27, 2020 6.260% 6.786%
2 March 28, 2020 9.979% 11.023%
3 April 3, 2020 11.882% 14.016%
4 April 4, 2020 13.979% 15.794%
5 April 10, 2020 14.676% 16.118%
6 April 11, 2020 18.816% 21.390%
7 April 17, 2020 18.501% 21.406%
8 April 18, 2020 20.061% 22.276%
9 April 24, 2020 20.539% 23.175%
10 April 25, 2020 22.913% 25.878%
11 May 1, 2020 21.122% 23.986%
12 May 2, 2020 24.332% 26.747%
13 May 8, 2020 21.087% 23.920%
14 May 9, 2020 24.307% 26.841%
15 May 15, 2020 24.442% 27.975%
16 May 16, 2020 28.371% 31.669%
Average 18.829% 21.188%
Special May 22, 2020 3.904% 4.777%
May 23, 2020 4.288% 4.534%
  • This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).
  • The special episodes include behind-the-scenes videos and interviews with the actors.[3]

International broadcast
  • The World of the Married is available for streaming online via Viu in Hong Kong , Singapore , Malaysia , Philippines , Thailand , Indonesia and Myanmar . The series became the most-watched drama on the streaming platform, being watched by more than 55% of Viu's audience in Asia since the beginning of its screening.[1][57] It is also available to stream on Iflix in Southeast Asia with subtitles in Indonesian, English, Malay and Vietnamese.[58]
  •  Japan - The series will be aired on cable channel KNTV from July 10, 2020 as a work that was said by Stream Media Corporation, KNTV's owner, to have "rewrite the history of Korean dramas".[59]
  •  Indonesia - The series was one of the hottest topic in chat groups and on social media in the country as well as a rich source for memes. Due to its high popularity, it was aired on Trans TV starting from May 11, 2020.[60] This is the first Korean series in 10 months after The Secret Life of My Secretary in evening timeslot.
  •  Singapore - The series started airing on Hub VV Drama beginning May 9, every Saturday at 9:45 p.m. in Korean with Chinese and English subtitles.
  •  Vietnam - The series started airing on K+ NS on May 16, 2020.[61]
  •  Philippines - The series aired under the title The World of a Married Couple at a primetime slot of 8:45 p.m. from June 15 to August 14, 2020 on the Kapamilya Channel, a cable and satellite channel. The series was originally planned to air on ABS-CBN but due to the cease and desist order issued to ABS-CBN, the series will air first on Kapamilya Channel. The series is also available to stream online on IWant.[62]
  •  India - The series will be aired on &TV dubbing in Hindi at a weekend primetime slot of 7:00 p.m., and coming soon dubbing in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi on Zee Tamil, Zee Keralam, Zee Telugu, Zee Bangla and Zee Marathi due its popularity in South Korea after its run.

Notes
  1. Plot Line (글Line) is a drama creative group founded by Kang Eun-kyung in 2015.
  2. Kim Sung-jin is an assistant director. All directing credits would still go to Mo Wan-il.[2]
  3. Go-san is a fictional city. The location was mostly based on and filmed in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.

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