March is kicking off with two new shows, and it’s all about paparazzi and possessions with this week’s drama premieres.
Big Issue
Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: SBS
Genre: Suspense, caper
Episode count: 36 episodes
Reasons to watch: Joo Jin-mo and Han Ye-seul costar in a story that revolves around the secretive and cutthroat Korean tabloid industry. Joo Jin-mo plays a once-esteemed photojournalist who lost everything he held dear following a personal scandal. All seems permanently lost–but then he meets Han Ye-seul, the notorious head editor of a huge tabloid media outlet. She extends a second chance to Joo: a job offer to be a paparazzo. Han Ye-seul is powerful but reviled in some corners. She’d once dreamt of becoming a reporter who brought truth to light, but she came to believe that truth was no match for power and that the powerful could create their own truths. Will Han Ye-seul be able to retain her power and position? Will Joo Jin-mo be able to claw his way back up the ladder? Will the drama be able to make the viewers care about people who work in the tabloid industry?
Possessed
Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: OCN
Genre: Supernatural, comedy
Episode count: 16 episodes
Reasons to watch: No one can say that OCN hasn’t done its part to keep the supernatural trend in dramaland thriving. The latest OCN offering is a bit of a departure from the action-thrillers and dark supernatural tales the channel is known for. Possessed is that relatively rare thing, a supernatural comedy. Song Sae-byeok stars as a police detective who’s a bit rough around the edges but pure-hearted with a keen investigative instinct. Go Jun-hee costars as a strong-willed medium with strong psychic abilities. She’s strong-willed, but her desire to keep her abilities under wraps has meant she’s had to go through life while keeping people at a distance. When the two meet while Song is on a case, they decide to team up and use their abilities to find and exorcise the long-dead spirit of a notorious murderer.