A quiet revolution is reshaping screens across Asia: Korean dramas, or K-dramas, are boldly reclaiming mental health narratives, breaking longstanding stigmas and fostering new conversations. Once shadowed by shame and silence, topics such as depression, anxiety, autism, and workplace stress are now portrayed with empathy and nuance in prime-time Korean series—offering hope, healing, and representation to millions of viewers across the region, including Thailand.
For decades, mental health themes were largely absent or misrepresented in Asian popular culture. K-dramas, long a staple among Thai audiences for their romance and family conflicts, were no exception. Societal attitudes in South Korea placed mental health on the far side of taboos, rarely discussed openly, let alone explored on television. But as understanding of mental wellness expanded globally, content creators in Korea began to tackle these sensitive topics head-on, blending storytelling with therapeutic insight.
The 2025 article “How K-Dramas are reclaiming Mental Health Narratives” from Allkpop provides a window into this changing landscape. It spotlights dramas like “Our Blues,” which brought the rarely discussed topic of perinatal depression into focus, chronicling a new mother’s emotional struggles and her difficulty in seeking support even from loved ones. “My Liberation Notes” reflects the exhaustion and search for meaning many feel in the modern grind, articulating widespread yet unspoken burdens of introversion and emotional fatigue.
A recent watershed came with “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” which reframed conversations about autism in Korea. Rather than casting autism as a limitation, the series celebrated different ways of thinking and working, showing that neurodiverse perspectives bring unique strengths to professional and private life. Korean dramas are increasingly nuanced, moving beyond tragic stereotypes toward healing-oriented narratives that encourage understanding and compassion.
Another standout, “Our Unwritten Seoul,” explores the toxic side of South Korean work culture and the hidden toll the race for success takes on mental wellbeing. These stories resonate far beyond Korea’s borders, as similar social pressures and taboos around mental health persist in Thailand. According to a 2020 study published in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry, stigma around mental illness remains a major barrier to therapy and support systems in Thailand, especially among adolescents and working professionals (source). In this respect, K-dramas are not just entertainment; they’re popular catalysts for social change, prompting audiences from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to rethink their own assumptions.
Mental health professionals in Asia have praised these developments. A Korean-American therapist interviewed by News24 argues that K-dramas expound mental health in ways that fit the local context, saying, “There are deeper reasons so many people relate to Korean dramas—these stories foster empathy and can spark personal healing” (News24). “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” according to expert analysis on Tatler Asia, has given “a platform and a voice” to families navigating autism, a subject long unaddressed in mainstream Asian media (Tatler Asia). A professor of psychiatry at a top Thai university said, “K-dramas are an important icebreaker, especially for Thai youths. They start discussions in families and peer groups that would otherwise be unthinkable.”
The impact is quantifiable. In a 2021 survey by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, over 40% of viewers reported that shows addressing mental health made them more likely to seek information or support services. Thai data echoes this trend, with mental health organizations noting a marked increase in online queries during the broadcast of series like “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” and “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (Vogue India). Social media platforms in Thailand have witnessed a surge in hashtags related to mental wellness, signaling that viewers are reclaiming their own narratives.
The global appeal of these series further reinforces their power. As platforms like Netflix drive Korean content into Thai living rooms, subtitled and often dubbed, the reach is exponential. The cultural nuances may differ, but the emotional truths resonate universally. For Thai viewers, who face similar educational and professional pressures, the characters’ struggles reflect their own realities. In fact, popular Thai dramas, such as “Project S: Skate Our Souls,” are beginning to mirror this shift, incorporating mental health storylines and even drawing inspiration from their Korean counterparts (Dramaholic).
This new embrace of mental health storytelling in K-dramas doesn’t mean challenges are resolved overnight. Stigma persists, and mental health services in both Korea and Thailand remain under-resourced and sometimes difficult to access, particularly in rural areas. As reflected in the research published on PubMed, systemic change requires more than media representation; it demands broader policy support and education (International Journal of Social Psychiatry).
Nevertheless, the progress is meaningful. Cultural analysts observe that K-dramas are achieving what few public campaigns or policy directives could: putting a human face on mental health, challenging assumptions, and encouraging empathy. For many Thai fans, seeing relatable characters struggle, adapt, and succeed without being defined by their conditions offers reassurance and hope.
History shows that Thai society has both struggled with and shown compassion for mental health issues. Traditional beliefs often ascribed mental illness to spiritual or supernatural causes, influencing attitudes toward seeking medical help. Recent years have seen a slow transition toward scientific understanding, aided by growing advocacy and education. The younger generation, digital-savvy and media-literate, are particularly receptive to these new messages, using K-dramas as a springboard for social media campaigns and youth club dialogues about wellbeing.
Looking ahead, industry insiders predict a continued boom in Asian dramas featuring mental health storylines, not only in Korea but across Southeast Asia. Cross-cultural collaborations and local adaptations are likely, and the boundary between fiction and advocacy may blur further, creating new platforms for destigmatization and support.
For Thai audiences, the practical takeaway is clear: Use the momentum K-dramas provide. Organize watch parties, start conversations, and don’t hesitate to seek professional counseling if you identify with any of the issues depicted. Schools, universities, and workplaces can utilize these popular series as educational tools, fostering an environment where discussing mental health is not only accepted but encouraged. Thai content creators are also urged to keep pushing for authentic mental health representation, learning from Korea’s example while embedding local realities.
As K-dramas continue to reclaim and enrich mental health narratives, they offer Thai society a model for healing, dialogue, and transformation—on and off the screen.
Sources:
- Allkpop - How K-Dramas are reclaiming Mental Health Narratives
- Vogue India - K-dramas about mental health
- Tatler Asia - K-dramas and Mental Health Awareness
- News24 - K-dramas reshaping mental health therapy globally
- International Journal of Social Psychiatry - Stigma and mental health in Thailand
- Dramaholic - Thai drama and depression