The Revolutionary Fusion of Zombies and Historical Drama
The Birth of an Impossible Combination
On January 25, 2019, Netflix's 'Kingdom' set a new milestone in Korean drama history. The idea of combining zombies, a modern horror genre, with the traditional setting of the Joseon Dynasty initially raised eyebrows among many viewers. Could zombies in hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) be portrayed convincingly? Would a zombie apocalypse setting blend naturally into the strictly hierarchical society of Joseon Korea?
However, writer Kim Eun-hee and director Kim Seong-hun brilliantly dispelled these concerns. Kingdom succeeded not merely by forcing two genres together, but by maximizing the strengths of each while creating powerful synergy. With a massive production budget of 2 billion KRW per episode, this 6-episode series became Netflix's first Korean original drama and introduced a new genre to global audiences: 'K-zombie'.
Maintaining Historical Dignity Within a Zombie Narrative
Kingdom's greatest achievement was maintaining its identity as a historical drama despite being a zombie series. Many genre productions sacrifice the characteristics of their original genre when introducing new elements. But Kingdom was different. The drama meticulously researched and reproduced Joseon-era clothing, architecture, language, and etiquette. From conversations between the Crown Prince and his subjects to power struggles within the palace, from speech patterns to behavioral differences based on social status, everything was portrayed with careful attention to detail.
Particularly impressive was the historical accuracy of weapons such as bamboo bows and matchlock rifles. While most historical dramas show even regional soldiers using expensive composite bows due to budget constraints, Kingdom realistically depicted Sangju's soldiers hastily crafting bamboo bows. These detailed authentications paradoxically lent greater realism to a drama featuring the unrealistic element of zombies. Audiences could believe that "this is how Joseon would have responded in such a situation."
Furthermore, Kingdom actively utilized Joseon's social structure and political conflicts as the backdrop for its zombie narrative. Rather than focusing solely on zombie-fighting action, the drama centered its story on realistic Joseon-era issues: power struggles surrounding the dead king, the Haewon Cho clan's conspiracy to frame the Crown Prince as a traitor, and the hunger and suffering of the common people. The zombies were portrayed as the explosive result of these social contradictions, adding depth and meaning to the drama.
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| Poster of『KINGDOM』Source: Namuwiki |
Zombies Reinterpreted Through Korean Sensibilities
What distinguishes Kingdom from Western zombie narratives is its incorporation of Korean, or more precisely, Joseon sensibilities into its zombie concept. Western zombies typically originate from scientific causes like viruses or radiation. However, Kingdom's zombies are caused by 'resurrection plant,' an Eastern medicinal herb and the parasitic worms within it. This setting reflects Eastern herbology and medical traditions, offering Western audiences fresh and exotic appeal.
The zombies' behavior patterns were also reinterpreted with Korean characteristics. Their inability to move during the day and activity only at night evokes the philosophy of yin and yang, while their fear of water and fire reflects Eastern views on nature. Particularly, the setting where they become most active in cold winter and dormant in hot summer naturally aligns with Joseon's seasonal characteristics. These elements created a zombie concept that transcended mere fiction to embody cultural identity.
Most importantly, Kingdom's zombies are not simply monsters but beings with 'han' (a Korean concept of accumulated sorrow and resentment). They were common people who suffered from starvation in life and, even in death, crave human flesh due to hunger. The drama elevated the zombies beyond mere objects of horror to symbols of Joseon society's contradictions and the people's suffering. This transformed Kingdom from simple entertainment into a work carrying social messages.
The Success of an Experiment That Broke Genre Boundaries
Kingdom's most significant contribution was proving that "genre boundaries are not fixed." While many creators seek safety within established genres, Kingdom boldly pioneered new territory. Of course, such attempts required high production quality to succeed, and Kingdom achieved this admirably.
Writer Kim Eun-hee began preparing this project in 2011 and in 2015 presented a prototype through the webtoon 'The Kingdom of the Gods' with artist Yang Kyung-il. Production finally began in 2017 after meeting the Netflix platform. Through this extended preparation period, sufficient production budget, and Netflix's global platform, Kingdom achieved success beyond Korea to worldwide acclaim.
A Rotten Tomatoes critic evaluated Kingdom as "a work showing the highest level of writing, acting, direction, and some of the scariest zombies ever filmed." Unlike slow, shambling Western zombies, Kingdom's zombies move with surprising speed and agility, maximizing terror. This wasn't simply about creating fast zombies, but expressing the desperation of people who died from starvation.
A Work That Opened New Possibilities for K-Content
Kingdom's success carries significance beyond a single production's achievement for K-content as a whole. This drama demonstrated that Korean dramas could expand beyond traditional romance or family dramas into diverse genres. Moreover, it presented the possibility of reinterpreting Korean history and culture in modern, global ways.
Through Kingdom, Netflix confirmed the efficiency and potential of Korean content, subsequently investing in more Korean original content like 'Squid Game' and 'All of Us Are Dead.' Kingdom literally became the starting point for K-content's global expansion. Though the absence of Season 3 news brings disappointment, Kingdom's legacy will remain in the Korean drama industry for years to come.
The meeting of zombies and historical drama, two genres that seemed incompatible at first glance. Kingdom created a new genre through this seemingly impossible combination and showed global audiences the unlimited potential of Korean drama. This is why Kingdom is considered a monumental work in Korean drama history.