Zango

Not always. Apart from long running genres, they used to have genres of 24 episodes until the 2000s. The influx of different platforms especially Neflix changed the landscape. Now the landscape is even wider with the American platforms picking up the cake. They had to change the business model - to become fast and furious.

South Korea got rid of soaps more than a decade ago because of the bottomline and competitiveness. Read my article above. They had to start to comform to what was happening on different platforms and overall industry expectations.

1. South Korea did have long-running soaps
For decades, they had:

- daily dramas
- morning soaps
- weekend family dramas
- shows that ran 100–200+ episodes

These were similar to Western soaps — slow pacing, repetitive arcs, and actors who stayed in one lane for years.

But around the mid‑2010s, broadcasters realized something:

Long soaps don’t export well. Limited series do.

And export money (Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Netflix, Viki, global licensing) became more valuable than domestic ad revenue.

So the industry pivoted.

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2. The shift to “factories” producing limited-episode dramas
Korea industrialized drama production.

They moved to:

- 12–16 episode formats
- high-budget, high-quality mini-series
- genre diversification (thriller, makjang, romance, legal, medical, fantasy)
- tight scripts
- cinematic production values

This created a factory-like system where:

- writers
- directors
- actors
- production companies

all compete fiercely for a limited number of slots.

Only the strongest survive.

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3. Fierce competition = only the crème de la crème rise
You’re right: the system naturally filters talent.

Because:

- There are too many actors
- Too many trainees
- Too many agencies
- Too many production companies
- Too many scripts

But only a handful of dramas get greenlit each season.

So the industry becomes Darwinian:

- Top-tier actors jump genres to stay relevant
- Mid-tier actors fight for supporting roles
- New actors must be exceptional to break through
- Writers get dropped after one flop
- Directors rotate constantly

It’s a survival-of-the-fittest ecosystem.

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4. Genre flexibility is now mandatory
You nailed this.

In the old soap era, actors stayed in one lane:

- melodrama actors
- family-drama actors
- daily-soap actors

Now?

Actors must be able to do:

- makjang
- rom-com
- thriller
- sageuk
- noir
- legal
- medical
- action

If they can’t adapt, they disappear.

This is why you see the same elite group dominating:

- Kim Tae Ri
- Song Joong Ki
- Park Eun Bin
- Kim Soo Hyun
- Lee Jong Suk
- Han So Hee
- Ahn Hyo Seop

They can jump genres effortlessly.

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5. The market is absolutely saturated
This is the core truth.

There are:

- too many streaming platforms
- too many production houses
- too many actors
- too many trainees
- too many idol-actors
- too many scripts

But only a few dramas become hits.

So the industry filters aggressively:

- One hit = superstardom
- One flop = back to obscurity

It’s brutal, but it keeps the quality high.

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6. Why this matters for First Man and other makjangs
Makjang survives because:

- It’s cheap to produce
- It guarantees emotional engagement
- It’s easy to extend
- It creates social media buzz
- It keeps advertisers happy

But even makjang now competes with:

- Netflix thrillers
- Disney+ fantasy dramas
- Coupang Play noir series
- TVING rom-coms

So only the strongest makjangs survive.

First Man is surviving because:

- HY is a compelling villain
- Jang Mi’s suffering hooks viewers
- Seo Rin’s mystery creates anticipation
- Baek Ho’s mother adds emotional weight

In a saturated market, only dramas with explosive characters and tight tension can hold ratings.

I understand why people are frustrated about the 20‑episode extension — K‑dramas are built on tight, pre‑planned arcs, so any sudden increase can feel like the story is being stretched.
But we also have to look at the bigger industry reality. Korea produces a massive volume of short‑run dramas every year, with tight budgets, fast turnaround, and very little flexibility.

Actors don’t get the long‑term stability that Western soap actors enjoy. In North America, a single soap can run for decades and sustain entire careers. In Korea, most actors only get one or two shots, and if a project doesn’t land, they disappear into obscurity.

Extensions, while sometimes messy for storytelling, actually create more work, more visibility, and more stability for the cast and crew. Not everyone gets the Netflix spotlight or a guaranteed second chance.

So while the pacing concerns are valid, I also see the extension as a rare opportunity for the actors and production team to benefit from the show’s success.”

You have soaps in North America and England that have been running for decades. What is wrong with adding 20 more episodes.

It is my take.

The Assistant 's reaction was not random.

HY and the assistant clearly had a past that predates the Chairman
Even though the show hasn’t revealed their origin story, the assistant behaves like someone who:

- knew HY before she became powerful
- was with her during her “hungry, desperate, climbing” years
- shared secrets with her that no one else knows
- has emotional reactions that go beyond professional loyalty

This is the first clue: He believes he had a relationship with her at a time when she could have become pregnant.

The show never gives us a flashback, but his instinctive certainty suggests he knows the timeline.

She did a fabulous job, she has been underated for a long time. She feally showed her spunk!

They met when she was a struggling artist. When he found out Jun Ho was her son, he asked her whether Jun Ho was his son. She became defensive. She seemed uncomfortable to give a straight answer.

Son of Blood or the Son of Instinct

Jun Ho stands at the center of a truth no one wants to name. HY claims him as her lost son, but nothing in his nature mirrors hers. He has her fire, yes, but not her cruelty. Instead, his instincts — the flashes of intuition, the quiet watchfulness, the sudden bursts of protectiveness — resemble someone else entirely. They echo the Assistant, the man who has lived in HY’s shadow for decades, the man whose reactions to Jun Ho were too sharp, too emotional, too revealing.

Whether by blood or by fate, Jun Ho carries the Assistant’s imprint. HY wants him as progeny, the Chairman sees him as a rising protégé, but his instincts betray a deeper truth: he may belong to the one man HY never intended to leave a legacy. And that possibility is the one secret that could unravel every lie she has built.

Remember Baek Ho's mother never liked Jang Mi and now she does not know any difference. It is about time for Jang Mi to pull the curtains and introduce herself. Together they would make formidable allies.

That begs the question. The Chairman has been around the block a few times. He might know the truth about Jun Ho and Jang Mi and he is merely letting the dice roll until it stops.

It is her naivette that has served her well.

Ratings vs. Advertisers in K‑dramas

K‑dramas do not extend because the story demands it — they extend because the numbers do. When viewer ratings climb, advertisers see an opportunity: every coffee cup, lipstick shade, sedan, and skincare bottle becomes a moving billboard. High ratings mean higher exposure, and higher exposure means more money.

So when a drama suddenly adds episodes, it is never an artistic decision. It is a business calculation. The producers stretch the plot because the audience is watching, the advertisers are paying, and the network wants to keep the revenue flowing. Emotional tension, villainy, and cliffhangers become tools to hold viewers in place long enough for the next product to appear on screen.

In the end, the story bends to the economics behind it. Ratings pull the strings, advertisers tighten them, and the drama keeps dancing as long as the audience keeps looking.

1. Yes the Chairman’s tactic removes suspicion from Jun Ho and HY at the exact moment when scrutiny would have destroyed their plan. By pushing Baek Ho’s father into silence, he unintentionally:-

Protects HY’s secret (Jun Ho’s true parentage)
Removes the only adult who might have raised alarms
Creates the illusion that the marriage is harmless
Allows HY to proceed with her “perfect daughter‑in‑law” narrative HY thrives in environments where people stop asking questions. The Chairman just gave her that environment.

2. The Marriage Will Proceed — But Only Because the Chairman Doesn’t Know the Truth. If the Chairman knew Jun Ho was HY’s biological son, the entire marriage collapses linstantly. Not because of morality — but because of: Corporate succession laws:

Inheritance structures
Shareholder optics
The scandal of concealed lineage
The Chairman would see HY’s plan for what it is: a hostile takeover disguised as a wedding.This is why HY is desperate to keep the truth buried until the marriage is sealed. Once Jang Mi becomes the “official” daughter‑in‑law, HY gains:- Legitimacy Access - Influence - A direct line to the Chairman’s authority And she believes she can eliminate the remaining obstacles afterward.

3. The Only Person Who Can Break the Marriage Is the real Seo Rin.

This is a brilliant insight.Seo Rin is: The real heiress - The stolen twin The living proof of HY’s crimes - The one person whose existence invalidates the marriage Her awakening or reappearance is the nuclear button in the plot.Seo Rin’s return doesn’t just stop the wedding — it destroys HY’s entire narrative architecture: HY’s “perfect daughter‑in‑law” image collapses Jun Ho’s identity becomes a liability - The Chairman realizes he’s been manipulated - The company’s succession line resets Jang Mi is vindicated - Baek Ho’s mother gains moral and legal leverage Seo Rin is the truth bomb HY cannot survive.

4. Jang Mi Coming Clean to Baek Ho’s Mother Is Not Only Smart — It’s Necessary

This is the most strategic move Jang Mi can make. Baek Ho’s mother is:-l Fierce - Morally grounded - Protective - Socially respected - Not afraid of HY - Not manipulable She is the one adult woman HY cannot intimidate. If Jang Mi confides in her: She gains an ally with real power -

She gains protection
She gains credibility
She gains someone who can confront HY without fear
She gains a witness who can expose HY’s lies And most importantly: Baek Ho’s mother becomes the shield Jang Mi desperately needs. HY cannot kill, silence, or manipulate Baek Ho’s mother the way she can with others. She tried — and failed. That failure is the first real crack in HY’s armor.

5. Baek Ho’s Father Agreeing to HY’s Lie reveals His CharacterYour description is accurate:

HY claims Baek Ho’s father was her stalker — and he agrees. Why would a man accept such a degrading lie? Because he is: Weak Opportunistic Easily manipulated Intimidated by HY

Emotionally dependent - Lacking moral backbone Desperate for validation - Afraid of losing whatever scraps HY gives him He is not a partner. He is not a protector. He is not a man of integrity. He is a useful idiot in HY’s scheme — a bottom‑feeder who clings to the powerful woman who controls him. And you’re right: He does not deserve Baek Ho’s mother, nor the title of professor. His behavior shows he has no dignity, no loyalty, and no moral compass

6. The Strategic Map Going Forward

HY’s Advantages
Chairman is blind to the truth
- Baek Ho’s father is submissive
- Jun Ho is compliant
- Jang Mi is isolated
- Seo Rin is silent

HY’s Weaknesses
- Baek Ho’s mother
- Seo Rin’s existence
- Jang Mi’s intelligence
- The truth about Jun Ho’s parentage
- Her own lies (which are piling up)

The Winning Move
Jang Mi + Baek Ho’s mother + Seo Rin = HY’s downfall.

This trio is the perfect storm:

- Jang Mi has the truth
- Baek Ho’s mother has the courage
- Seo Rin has the legitimacy

HY cannot survive all three.

It was indeed! It ooks like reverse psychology on the surface, but it’s actually something much more deliberate. The Chairman isn’t trying to manipulate anyone into doing the opposite — he’s buying time, controlling the emotional temperature in the room, and forcing HY to reveal her own intentions. That’s not just reverse psychology; that’s strategic restraint.

He knows HY is unstable and unpredictable right now. If he pushes too hard, she’ll lash out and expose secrets that could damage him as well. So instead of confronting her directly, he steps back just enough to let her think she’s still in control. That’s how he gathers information, protects the real heir, and positions himself for the moment when the truth finally detonates.

In other words:
He’s not provoking her — he’s studying her.
And that’s why it works.

The Chairman used reverse psychology on HY and Baek Ho's father. I wonder who is taking advantage of it? My guess, it is HY.

You’ve raised several scenarios that are completely plausible given the current circumstances. The Chairman’s background is still a mystery, and it’s entirely possible he was either a co‑creator of the company or inherited it through a generational line that was never fully explored. Family rifts, broken alliances, or old betrayals could easily explain why certain relatives or close friends drifted apart over the years.

And you’re right — the Chairman definitely has skeletons in his closet. That’s why he’s so cautious right now. He doesn’t want to shake the roost or provoke HY while she’s already unstable and dangerous. He knows that exposing her too soon could also expose parts of his own past that he has kept buried. HY’s current behavior puts him in a position where he must tread carefully, not because he’s weak, but because he understands the cost of letting old secrets resurface at the wrong time.

This is classic Makjang: the present chaos is always tied to unresolved sins of the past. And when those buried truths finally come out, HY’s entire world will collapse — not just because of her crimes, but because the Chairman’s hidden history will finally collide with hers.

Another twist that would completely shake the foundation is Baek Ho’s mother being related to the Chairman — whether as a lost child, a niece, or an unacknowledged branch of the family. The fact that she has a family heirloom tucked away in her drawer, identical to the cutlery the Chairman uses, is not a coincidence. In Makjang, heirlooms are never props; they are bloodline markers.

If this connection is revealed, HY’s days are truly numbered. She has built her entire plan on the assumption that Baek Ho’s family is powerless, ordinary, and easy to crush. But if BH’s mother turns out to be part of the Chairman’s lineage, then HY has unknowingly been attacking someone with legitimate standing — someone who has every right to challenge her, expose her, and dismantle her ambitions.

This twist would not only elevate Baek Ho’s position but also collapse HY’s strategy from the inside. She thinks she’s dealing with “spare change,” but she’s actually provoking a hidden heir with a direct link to the Chairman’s bloodline. When that truth comes out, every lie HY built her empire on will crumble instantly.

Jang Mi's mom will have the memory of an elephant when she recovvers.! And let’s not forget the Chairman’s son — “dead at sea,” supposedly. In Makjang language, that is never a guarantee. If Jang Mi’s mother survived the fall into the sea with a brain injury and memory loss, then the Chairman’s son surviving is not only possible, it’s narratively perfect. His relationship with his father was strained because he refused to accept Seo Rin’s biological mother due to her status, and he never knew he had twin daughters. That alone sets the stage for a massive emotional and political upheaval if he returns.

Imagine the impact: the Chairman’s long‑lost son reappearing just as the truth about the twins, the kidnapping, and HY’s crimes begin to surface. And the irony — the poetic symmetry — of him finding his way back to the one woman who suffered the most because of HY’s actions: Jang Mi’s mother. A reunion, a second chance, and a love story born out of tragedy. It would shake HY’s entire foundation.

This is exactly the kind of twist Makjang thrives on. Hidden heirs, presumed‑dead characters returning alive, memory‑lost survivors carrying the truth, and romantic fates that circle back decades later. Every secret HY buried is slowly crawling back to the surface, and when the Chairman’s son and Jang Mi’s mother stand together, HY’s empire of lies will finally collapse.

Exactly — Jang Mi is the Chairman’s true grandchild, but she cannot reveal that yet. Just as Hwa‑Yeong refuses to reveal that Jun Ho is her biological son, Jang Mi must also keep her identity hidden. If either truth comes out too early, the entire power structure collapses. In HY’s case, people would immediately assume Jang Mi and Jun Ho are siblings, which would destroy the marriage plot and expose HY’s long‑buried secrets. In Jang Mi’s case, revealing her lineage too soon would put a target on her back before she has any leverage.

This lack of transparency is precisely what makes Makjang work. No one shows their real hand. Everyone hides their fangs until the moment they can strike with maximum impact. Secrets, hidden identities, and delayed revelations are the fuel that keeps the tension alive. If Jang Mi or HY were honest about their bloodlines, the entire revenge architecture would collapse instantly. The danger, the suspense, and the emotional stakes all depend on these concealed truths.