From Patriarchal Motherhood to Feminist Mothering? The Depiction of the Single Mother Tongbaek in the K-drama When the Camellia Blooms (2019)

Abstract:

The South Korean television series When the Camellia Blooms (Tongbaekkot p'il muryŏp, 2019) was one of the highest-rated and most-discussed miniseries dramas of 2019. It is notable that the K-drama has succeeded in attracting viewers from all demographics. This popularity seems to be related to the issues that are highlighted in the drama, such as the #MeToo movement, misogynist murders, and new concepts of family. This article focuses on the portrayal of the single mother Tongbaek in the drama and argues that When the Camellia Blooms used intertextual references to other single mothers from Korean literature and film as a contrast to portray its own message as progressive. The title alone suggests understanding When the Camellia Blooms in relation to both the title of the short story When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom (Memilkkot p'il muryŏp) from 1936 and the film title Ms. Camellia (Tongbaek agassi) from 1964. Both the short story and the film depict the single mother as a self-victimizing character reduced to her role as mother. In contrast, the K-drama chooses the other extreme and celebrates the single mother as a self-sufficient heroine. While the drama's idealization of motherhood seems to be at odds with the feminism it promotes, the emphasis on solidarity and alternative parenting/caring communities toward the end of the series suggests a more open-minded narrative. I argue that by providing diverse messages on mothers, mothering, and motherhood, the drama stimulates the discussion on how to overcome patriarchal motherhood and move toward feminist mothering.