I’ve completely fallen for actress Kang Mal-geum, who plays film company CEO Go Hye-jin in the drama “Everyone is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness.” In moments where characters clash and waver, she anchors the scene with her characteristic decisiveness and strength. As a late-blooming actress who has experienced various stages of life, her acting carries a sense of realism that is hard to imitate.
If the screen had been filled only with actors of similar ages, images, and careers, we might not have encountered the character Go Hye-jin with such depth. The different paths an actor has walked become the depth of a character, and that depth changes the entire texture of the drama.
The same goes for the “8-person group” at the center of the plot. Although they are eight friends who have been together in the film industry for a long time, the traces of their individual lives are not the same. Some successfully debuted, while others stayed at the threshold for a long time, unable to hide their envy and jealousy. Some face the frustration of box office failure, while others take on the role of the adult among those who are wavering and clashing. Because eight completely different lives exist within one group, we become more deeply immersed in the drama.
May 21 is the UN-designated “World Day for Cultural Diversity.” Around this date, “Cultural Diversity Week” events are held in Korea. This period makes us reflect on how much our society embraces diverse lives and perspectives. How many “different people” are living and breathing within the culture we see, hear, and enjoy?
Through stories, we experience the lives of others. Content gains a wider radius of empathy when it includes not only the fluttering romance of young couples but also the hardships of migrant workers, the helplessness of job seekers, and the loneliness of old age. Stories that capture diverse lives resonate with more people. The fact that Netflix has consistently released reports on inclusion and diversity shows that the power of content grows when it illuminates more lives.
The strength of recently acclaimed Korean dramas didn’t lie solely with the protagonists. Stories that are remembered for a long time are always completed when the supporting characters are just as vivid. Some bloom late, some endure quietly, and some leave a deep impression without ever standing in the lead role. When characters with their own desires and wounds fill the screen, a drama goes beyond one person’s success story to show the breadth of the world we live in.
If a story is a mirror reflecting the world, the more faces that mirror captures, the better. A mirror that repeatedly reflects only one face eventually makes the world feel narrow. Conversely, stories that reflect diverse faces allow us to discover expressions and emotions of life that we may have missed.
A content ecosystem where diverse characters and narratives coexist can embrace more people’s experiences, resonate with a wider world, and survive longer. Cultural diversity is not just a matter of good values or necessity. It is a condition for content to become deeper and for society to develop a broader capacity for empathy. Culture lasts longer and expands when it accepts unfamiliar faces and different voices.
