• Journal of Popular Narrative
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-39
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• 2020

The aim of this study is to examine how heroic characters with supernatural powers are portrayed, and what shortcomings and desires are present in the societies they are born into, with reference to television series with superheroes such as , , and out of many motifs of Korean television fantasy series. The common feature of the superheroes represented in these three dramas is that they are viewed as monsters symbolizing vigilance and alienation instead of being regarded as typical heroes that are the object of praise and admiration. All three dramas criticize the corruption and limitations of bureaucratic powers such as the judiciary, prosecution, and police. The protagonists showcase their heroics by correcting such problems and helping the weak and the victimized by using their supernatural powers. At the same time, they broach uncomfortable topics, highlight truths that some may wish to hide, and also argue the concept of 'normality' and the 'world of naturalness'. For this reason, they are treated as monsters and alienated. Despite being called upon to solve the problems in reality, the deficiencies and contradictions of our society are also revealed by them. The idea of expressing the repressed desires in reality, is similar to the attributes of fantasy in that it criticizes and overthrows reality in order to meet the desires. This study verified not only the subversive characters of fantasy, but also the limitations when such attributes were combined with the characteristics of the medium of television shows. The significance of this study is to give attention to a genre that had previously been neglected by Korean productions but is now gaining traction, and also to suggest many tasks for researching more subdivided and diversified fantasy dramas in the future.