Korean television dramas are venturing into previously unexplored territory by addressing the highly sensitive topic of physician-assisted suicide, marking a significant departure from traditional cultural taboos surrounding death and end-of-life decisions. Multiple recent series have incorporated these controversial themes into their storylines, suggesting a notable shift in how Korean entertainment media approaches difficult social issues.
Three major productions have recently tackled this subject matter in different ways. MBC's Friday-Saturday drama "Mary Kills People," starring Lee Bo-young and Lee Min-ki, presents a suspense-driven narrative about a doctor who helps terminally ill patients end their lives and the detective who pursues her. JTBC's weekend series "Beyond the Bar," featuring Lee Jin-wook and Jung Chae-yeon, includes an episode dealing with assisted suicide in Switzerland, where lawyer Yoon Seok-hun, played by Lee Jin-wook, defends a husband who accompanied his wife for the procedure. Netflix's "You and Everything Else" opens with a character asking her estranged best friend to accompany her on a journey to end her own life, a request that drives the entire narrative through to the final episode.
Assisted suicide, which refers to the practice of terminally ill adults choosing to end their lives with medical support, is currently legal in several countries and jurisdictions worldwide. These include Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Spain, France, Slovenia, and multiple U.S. states such as Oregon and Vermont. Supporters of the practice argue that it provides patients with autonomy and dignity when modern medicine cannot adequately alleviate their suffering. However, critics continue to oppose assisted suicide on religious, ethical, and moral grounds.
The emergence of these themes in Korean dramas represents a significant cultural shift, as death has traditionally been considered a frightening or taboo subject in Korean society, making it an uncommon topic for mainstream television programming. This cultural reluctance to discuss death openly contrasts sharply with Korea's troubling distinction of ranking first in suicide rates among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations for 13 consecutive years.
In stark contrast to Korea's approach, countries including the United States, Germany, and Japan have implemented death education programs since the 1960s. These programs aim to reduce the fear surrounding death and help people approach end-of-life issues with greater acceptance and understanding. This educational approach has helped normalize discussions about death as a natural part of the human experience.
The reception of these Korean productions exploring assisted suicide themes has been mixed among domestic audiences. "Mary Kills People" received a 19-plus rating due to its mature content and achieved a relatively modest 1.2 percent viewership rating. "Beyond the Bar" addressed the theme more briefly as part of a single courtroom episode within its broader legal drama format. Netflix's "You and Everything Else," which focuses primarily on female friendship while incorporating end-of-life themes, has managed to resonate more successfully with viewers.
Despite death remaining a challenging subject for Korean audiences to confront directly, the fact that multiple Korean series have engaged with assisted suicide themes within such a short timeframe suggests a meaningful cultural transformation may be underway. Industry observers and entertainment analysts are now closely monitoring how future Korean content will navigate this sensitive but increasingly relevant theme, particularly as global conversations about end-of-life care and patient autonomy continue to evolve.
