7 K-Dramas That Show The Dark Side Of Fame

Fame is fickle, and it is never a guarantee of complete satisfaction. On the contrary, being a celebrity often means dealing with dangerous things and hardships that an average person doesn't have to worry about in their everyday life.

There's probably no better place to explore these struggles than South Korean entertainment industry, with its culture of idols and fandoms, and the following seven shows are prime examples of it.

Doona! (2023)

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

The story of Won-jun, an average college student who meets and falls in love with Doo-na, a retired K-pop idol, is deeply psychological and masterfully reflects the difficulties of being in the spotlight.

Celebrity (2023)

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

Ah-ri is an aspiring social media influencer, and on her journey to fame and fortune, she discovers a world full of fraud, scandal, betrayal, harassment, drugs, and even serious crime.

Imitation (2021)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

This K-drama revolves around the secret romantic relationship between Ma-ha, a rookie idol, and Ryok, one of the hottest stars in the industry, but it also deals with the darker side of pop stars' lives, such as abuse and suicide.

Mask Girl (2023)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Mo-mi is an average office worker who has longed for fame since childhood, but has never achieved it because she does not meet the required standards of beauty. Eventually, Mo-mi finds a solution: she wears a mask in front of the camera and becomes a popular streaming star. But stardom turns out to be far from what she dreamed of and sends her life on a downward spiral.

The Producers (2015)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Working in the entertainment industry is tedious, and that's what this K-drama reflects. The story of three producers and a K-pop star offers a glimpse into South Korean television production which is not too heavy, but shows real struggles of the young people, and proves that fame and adulation can't solve all problems.

Dream High 1&2 (2011-2012)

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

The story of six ambitious high school students on a quest to become one of the country's top K-pop idols is primarily inspirational, but along the way, viewers get a taste of the dark side of celebrity life.

Castaway Diva (2023)

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Mok-ha was a talented child singer with dreams of becoming a diva, but on her way to an important audition, the girl got into an accident and spent 15 years on an uninhabited island. Now that she is back in society, Mok-ha is determined to continue on her path to success, meeting different people and stumbling upon various struggles along the way.