The appearance of the live-action drama 'Riding Life' in Daechidong.
The Genie TV original drama 'Riding Life' (directed by Kim Cheol-kyu, written by Seong Yoon-ah and Jo Won-dong, planned by KT Studio Genie, produced by Betty & Creators) is garnering intense attention as it premiered on March 3. While many dramas dealing with high school students' entrance exams have been produced, 'Riding Life' has caught the eye with a unique story. The saying 'The drama reflects reality' is applicable here, as it captures the hot topic of private education for prospective elementary school students, stirring discussions in mom cafes and communities since the first week of its release. Notably, the recent parody by comedian Lee Soo-ji as 'Daechi mom' has further increased interest in the drama.
'Riding Life' is a drama depicting the lives of three generations of women, focusing on the passionate working mom Jeong-eun (played by Jeon Hye-jin) as she entrusts her mother Gi-a (played by Jo Min-soo) with her daughter's '7-year-old entrance exam' riding lessons. The first two episodes excitingly unfold the struggles of Jeong-eun to keep up in Daechidong and her unavoidable participation in her grandchild's riding lessons.
# 'Is this really reality?'
Above all, the reason 'Riding Life' stood at the center of attention is due to its unbelievable reality. The drama depicts prospective elementary students carrying heavy books in wheeled backpacks to school and memorizing British royal speeches for English debates. The act of riding children to their academies has resonated with recent moms beyond Daechidong. For those with experience, it triggered a storm of immersion, while for others, it sparked curiosity. Moreover, it was filmed in actual academy areas in Daechidong, heightening its realism. Viewers responded with comments like, 'Is this really reality?' and 'Reality is even more than the drama.'
# 'A timely drama for today's era.'
The sight of children thrown into competition raised awareness. Jeong-eun's daughter Seo-yoon (played by Kim Sa-rang) said, 'I think mom will be happy if I come in first, but it's so difficult,' evoking a sense of tenderness with her pure desire to make her mother smile. Min-ho (played by Kwon Yul), a student at Daechidong's 'English TOP,' bit his nails out of pressure from a speech contest, creating a sense of pity. The portrayal of Gi-a paying attention to these children's emotions has drawn interest in what new atmosphere it may create among the moms in Daechidong. Viewers expressed that watching the drama brought about 'a curious feeling' and noted, 'It's a timely drama for today's era.'
# 'The portrayal of working mom Jeong-eun resonates deeply.'
In particular, Jeong-eun's frantic movements between work and parenting resonated not only with working moms but also with all mothers, garnering empathy and support. Jeong-eun rushes down the street to take Seo-yoon to her academy while saying, 'When you become a mom, there's no shame or anything,' expressing her desire to do anything for her daughter. Jeong-eun's struggles in finding a sitter, akin to reaching for the stars, and her need to ask her own mother for help resonate as realistic episodes. The impactful performance by Jeon Hye-jin, a working mom herself, further enhances the immersion. Attention is drawn to how Jeong-eun will seek answers in the fierce Daechidong life and the story that Jeon Hye-jin will depict.
The Genie TV original drama 'Riding Life,' creating a buzz as a live-action drama in Daechidong and providing intense immersion for mothers, airs every Monday and Tuesday night at 10 p.m. on ENA and is exclusively available for free VOD on KT Genie TV immediately after the broadcast. It can also be viewed on the OTT platform Tving.
[Photo] Genie TV original drama 'Riding Life'
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