Age Gap in Casting: A Growing Concern in Korean Dramas

'You Know What?' - Reporter Lee So-jung from TenAsia captures intriguing issues in the broadcasting world to stimulate the public's dopamine.

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A noticeable trend in Korean dramas is the significant age gap between actors and the characters they portray. Park Seo-joon plays a young man in his 20s in JTBC's 'Waiting for Gyeongdo,' while Gong Myung takes on the role of a high school student in the film 'History of Confession.' Heo Nam-joon is set to appear as a 1980s youth in a school uniform in JTBC's 'A Hundred Memories.' All these actors are in their 30s, leading to criticism that such age differences can disrupt viewer immersion.

In 'Waiting for Gyeongdo,' Park Seo-joon plays Lee Gyeong-do, experiencing love at ages 20 and 28. His co-star Won Ji-an plays Seo Ji-woo, and while their characters are the same age, there's an 11-year real-life age gap. Born in 1988, Park is 36, while Won, born in 1999, is 26. Critics argue that it's unconvincing to portray them as peers in their 20s. Some have reacted negatively, suggesting that casting a nearly 40-year-old actor in such a role is a stretch.

Similarly, 'History of Confession' has been mentioned. Gong Myung, born in 1994, plays a high school student. While his acting is praised, many feel his school uniform doesn't suit him. His co-star Shin Eun-soo, born in 2002, adds to the perception that they don't look like peers. One viewer noted, "Shin Eun-soo looks youthful, but Gong Myung appears mature, weakening the romantic chemistry."

'A Hundred Memories,' premiering on the 13th, also faces criticism for Heo Nam-joon's school uniform role. Born in 1993, Heo is 32, yet he plays a high school student from the 1980s. The age gap with his co-star Lee Won-jung, born in 2001, raises concerns about their believability as peers.

Industry insiders express regret that talented actors face criticism due to school uniform roles. They note that from a production standpoint, having one actor portray a character throughout is easier. However, viewers argue that casting younger actors for youthful roles is more natural.

Recently, JTBC's 'My Youth' featured Song Joong-ki and Chun Woo-hee's youthful days portrayed by Nam Da-reum and Jeon So-young. In tvN's 'Unknown Seoul,' which ended earlier this year, Lee Jae-in and Park Yoon-ho played the younger versions of Park Bo-young and Park Jin-young. Despite differences in appearance, the fresh discovery of new actors and the absence of forced settings were praised for enhancing immersion.

While casting younger actors can risk lower acting quality, recent viewer feedback suggests it's preferable to forcing 30-something actors into teenage roles. Especially in romance genres, the visual chemistry of leads is crucial for immersion, making realistic casting more important.

Whether production companies will continue to assign entire character arcs to one actor for stability or opt for realistic casting to enhance viewer engagement remains a key point of interest in the broadcasting industry.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr