Overview of Happiness
‘Happiness’ is a South Korean drama series released on 5 November 2021, and was written by Han Sang-woon and directed by Ahn Gil-ho. This romantic K-drama features Han Hyo-joo and Park Hyung-sik in the lead roles and has received recognition and applause from both domestic and international K-drama enthusiasts.
One of the biggest K-dramas of 2021, ‘Happiness’, follows the life of the residents of a high-rise building who fight for survival when a life-threatening virus breaks out and turns people into blood-lusting zombies.
The drama seamlessly portrays human nature and how they struggle and battle to survive a world pandemic whilst the greed of some takes over.
Profile
- Drama: Happiness
- Director: Ahn Gil-ho
- Writer: Han Sang-woon
- Network: tvN
- Episodes: 12
- Release Date: November 5 – December 11, 2021
- Language: Korean
- Country: South Korea
Cast
Main
- Han Hyo-joo as Yoon Sae-bom
A decisive and smart member of a Special Operation Unit police squad (KP-SOU) formerly known as KP-SWAT. She moves into a new apartment during a time when an infectious disease is haunting people’s life. - Park Hyung-sik as Jung Yi-hyun
An honest and smart detective. He has had romantic feelings for Sae-bom since graduating from the same high school. He struggles to protect Sae-bom and other people.
- Jo Woo-jin as Han Tae-seok
A lieutenant colonel of the health service command. He holds the key to the contagious disease outbreak.
Supporting
- Seo Hyun-chul as Yi-hyun’s father
- Jung Jae-eun as Yi-hyun’s mother
- Lee Jun-hyeok as Kim Jung-guk, Yi-hyun’s supervisor
- Baek Hyun-jin as Oh Joo-hyung, a dermatologist
- Kim Joo-yeon as Kang Eun-ji, Seo-yoon’s mother
- Lee Ji-ha as Jo Ji-hee
- Jung Woon-sun as Shin So-yoon
- Joo Jong-hyuk as Kim Seung-beom
- Song Ji-woo as Park Seo-yoon
Synopsis
At the height of the pandemic, a pharmaceutical company developed a drug called ‘Next’, a failed drug for pneumonia which was repurposed as a narcotic in order to promote attentiveness and strength. Even after the rejection of the first few trials, ‘Next’ somehow found its way to the market and caused severe side effects after repeated use.
The pill becomes the cause of a deadly infection in which the patients develop an unquenchable thirst sated only by human blood and the infection spreads after a person is bitten by the infected person.
Chaos ensues in South Korea, and SOU specialist Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo) meets a research facility, Han Tae-seok. The disease is not airborne but spreads through scratches and bites. Sae-bom is seemingly immune to the disease and thus makes a deal with Han Tae-seok and moves to secure an apartment along with her long-time friend Jung Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik), a detective who is now associated with the Special Operation Unit police squad.
During Jung Yi-hyun’s detective work, he encounters a diseased person affected by the drug called ‘Next’. The outbreak in the building began when a resident sold the drug to the building’s gym. Following this, Han Tae-seok orders the apartment to be sealed off from the rest of the city so as to be kept under observation in order to understand and cure the disease.
Sae-bom bonds with Seo-yoon, a little girl who happens to be her neighbour in the apartment. When the little girl’s mother Kang Eun-ji (Kim Joo-yeon) was held outside the apartment during quarantine, she asked Seo-bom to look after the little girl.
At a particular point, the residents suspect Sae-bom and even try to kick her out where Yi-hyun draws her blood to prove that she is innocent. The fear of the truly infected one in the building rises and amid the chaos, Sae-bom finally develops feelings for Yi-hyun.
Ending Explained
Yoon Sae-bom finds that Yi-hyun is affected by the deadly virus spread by being bitten or scratched. This brings a chain of activity in motion before completely becoming a blood-sucking monster.
Tae-seok gives Sae-bom the cure for this infectious disease made up of her own blood. Sae-bom chooses to save the little girl’s mother instead of saving Yi-hyun. Tae-seok finds some people in the apartment who are unaffected even after mingling with infected people and uses their blood to collect anti-bodies for the cure.
When Sae-bom visits Jung Yi-hyun, he is able to control his thirst for blood for the sake of her life. They hug and share a sweet kiss and confess their love for each other. A year later, everyone has been cured with antibodies and resumed living a happy life.
Theme
Netflix’s famous South Korean drama ‘Happiness’ is one of the latest dramas that use viruses as the springboard to highlight issues like class discrimination, bullying and harsh societal truths.
The popularity of Zombie stories has risen, especially in the Korean entertainment industry. The drama subtly exposes human nature’s hidden motives in the middle of disease combat and has plenty to say about social stratum and government control in society’s pervasive ills.
Awards
No information is available.
Interesting Facts about ‘Happiness’
- The drama marks the strong comeback of Park Hyung-sik to mini-screen after his military enlistment.
- The drama ‘Happiness’ garnered the second-highest nationwide viewership rating.
- The final episode of this apocalyptic-thriller Korean series attained the highest record of 4.1%.
- The realistic zombie makeup look in the drama got an appreciation for the efforts.
- The production setting of the drama was so realistic that everyone thought the set was real.
FAQs
- Who is the director of the drama ‘Happiness’?
The drama is directed by Jung Ji-hyun, a popular South Korean director.
- What is the genre of the drama ‘Happiness’?
The drama falls into the thriller genre.Â
- Are there English subtitles for ‘Happiness’?
Yes, English subtitles are available.
- How many episodes are out of the Korean drama ‘Happiness’?
‘Happiness’ has 12 episodes, and each episode is around 70 minutes long.
- What are the Instagram IDs of the lead actors?
hanhyojoo222 is the Instagram ID of Han Hyo-joo and phs1116 is the Instagram ID of Park Hyung-sik.
