With changing circumstances, human needs change too. At some point in time, when one is on the edge of bankruptcy, one believes money is the only answer to one’s problems. However, by the time one has enough money to survive, one’s needs alter. Although it is not always the same for every person, money does amplify the magnitude of desires. There are some people who are always parched for more. We have certainly encountered such people in our lives, and a similar scenario has been portrayed in one of the Korean dramas that I recently watched.

Happiness is a South Korean drama that was released at the end of 2021, with a total of 12 episodes. It is a thriller and romantic drama that captures a highly lethal viral infection that changes human behavior. In such a terrifying atmosphere, one might only think about survival while being locked up in an apartment, but the drama shows a different angle too—a more detrimental trait in human beings that could barely keep them protected from their own desires.

The climax of the drama begins with the shifting of two civil servants into a new luxury apartment as a married couple. Park Hyung-sik, as Jung Yi-hyun, and Han Hyo-joo, as Yoon Sae-bom, both of whom, in collaboration with a military officer, struggle to overcome the crisis of the viral infection and the envy among the other residents of the apartment. The other problems they faced were equally challenging to deal with.

The drama kept me seated because I was anxious about the harm that might be inflicted upon the “cop couple,” as the residents of the apartment referred to the main characters. The viral infection was another challenge, but I believe the foremost task was to stay protected from the evil mindset of people.

This is similar to the current crisis of the world. Given the daily recorded incidents, human beings are the only harmful creatures roaming around freely, capable of attacking others based on their personal agendas.

The most concerning and disturbing thing to witness in this drama was human greed. It was extremely petrifying, as it drove people to kill and harbor criminals while hiding their true faces behind the infectious disease.

The drama exposed their true nature and their willingness to commit heinous crimes, including killing or betraying their own people, for the purpose of saving themselves as much as they could while the crisis was still ongoing.

While watching the drama, I experienced things from different angles that were certainly not the main priority of the writer, but it covered a major reality of human traits: human behavior, their reluctance to die, and their willingness to go beyond any limit to keep themselves protected.

Being a big fan of South Korean dramas myself, I have always witnessed major issues being portrayed explicitly through thrilling and engaging stories. I would certainly recommend this drama. It is short and engaging, with a strong focus on a viral disease and human nature during a lethal crisis.

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