What is the K-drama fascination with a ‘second life'?
From reincarnation to going back in time, there's been a fascination with the concept of starting life again in K-drama content.
Mr. Queen is a prime example of a second-life K-drama. Image: IMDb.
There’s a plethora of ‘second-life’ content in recent Korean dramas. The webtoon-adapted Korean drama See You in My 19th Life (2023) follows a girl who remembers all of her previous 19 lives. Her 18th life was cut short after she met the love of her life, and so she aims to get her soulmate back in her 19th. Lovely Runner from 2024, also adapted from a webtoon, is another second-life K-drama example that follows the story of a fangirl who goes back in time to save her idol from committing suicide in the future.
Whether reincarnation or meddling with time, there are many examples of this kind of K-drama — the commonality of all is the concept of starting anew.
What is so fascinating about the second-life concept?
K-dramas have always been a bundle of cliches — we know this, and despite that, we eat them up. The same goes for the concept of a second life.
Let's imagine this: If we asked you to raise your hands if you ever thought of going back in time to prevent a big mistake or start over your life, there's a possibility that many, if not all, of you would raise your hands.
Regret and looking at the past are sometimes a part of life, and as we all know, we cannot go back in time. That’s what makes dramas that allow those avenues, from reincarnation to going back in time to even being placed in a different body, so attractive to watch.
We love to see the main character overcome a big regret in their life and resolve it, as we also wish we could do.
The Isekai genre and how Buddhism plays a part
Originating from Japan, Isekai is the name for a genre of fantasy fiction featuring a protagonist who is transported to or reincarnated in a different world or universe.
This genre has dominated many Korean webtoons, selling itself using escapism and the desire to restart one's life. To name a few, Tricked into Becoming the Heroine's Stepmother (2021), Happily Ever Afterwards (2021), and The First Night with the Duke (the webnovel was first published in 2023 and is set to be remade into a K-drama).
Happily Ever Afterwards. Image: Naver Webtoon.
This genre, which typically starts with the main lead being run over by a passing vehicle, places them in a world that can rewrite their fate, dipping into the charm of these webtoons.
While Isekai plays a big part in influencing these second-life dramas, Buddhism may also be credited for inspiring this genre. Although Buddhism's central concept is letting go of attachment and regret, the religion believes in the Wheel of Life, which is the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Reincarnation has been the concept of many fictions, namely webtoons and K-dramas.
The concept of reincarnation is that the life we are in is not our first and also not our last — the cycle of life, death, and rebirth is a never-ending journey.
The concept of a second life, as seen in many dramas, can therefore also be related to the Buddhist idea of reincarnation.
Second life dramas to sink your teeth into:
In Mr. Queen (2020), a modern-day chef, finds his soul inside the body of a Queen in the Joseon era and tries to find a way to get back to 21st century Seoul.
Alchemy of Souls (2022) follows an assassin who transports her soul to a blind lady through dark magic and becomes a master to a noble who can't do alchemy.
Secret Garden (2010) is about a poor girl and rich man who swap bodies. The two have to work together to find a way to reverse the change, but not without learning a little from each other first.
For something a little more scandalous, try Marry My Husband (2024). In this story, our protagonist is killed after finding out about her best friend and husband's affair, but gets a chance to go back in time, stop her fate, and get revenge.
What are your thoughts on the second life concept? Are there any other dramas you’ve enjoyed that have covered the idea of starting again? Let us know in the comments below!
Edited by Gabii Rayner.