Oasis’ Disappointing Male Lead: A Submissive Character, Contributing to the Low Ratings of the Drama

Oasis is a new Korean drama that has just aired. The drama is set in South Korea in the 1980s, a time of great upheaval with youth-led riots. The unique setting compared to the current standard of Korean dramas, along with a talented young cast featuring two famous names, Jang Dong Yoon and Seol In Ah, had raised expectations that Oasis would become a “blockbuster” of KBS television network at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, when it aired, the drama did not receive the expected attention.

Oasis has currently released 4 episodes, which are enough for the audience to understand the story’s context as well as the characters’ backgrounds. While other Korean dramas released at the same time have received great attention, Oasis has almost not been mentioned by audiences on film forums. The reason for this failure is attributed to the unlikable character development, especially the male lead of the drama.

In the drama, Lee Doo Hak (Jang Dong Yoon) plays the role of leading the story. From episode 1, Doo Hak made the audience extremely uncomfortable because he was portrayed as a kind and overly patient person. He was always in a submissive position to Choi Cheol Woong (Choo Young Woo). Doo Hak was willing to do anything to avoid upsetting Cheol Woong, including making himself perform poorly in his studies.

The reason for this submissive behavior is that Doo Hak was influenced by his father, who believed that their family was poor and indebted to the Choi family, so Doo Hak could never surpass Cheol Woong. Doo Hak even went to prison in place of Cheol Woong. After his release from prison, instead of seeking revenge or at least staying away from Cheol Woong, Doo Hak supported and helped Cheol Woong fulfill his dreams.

Source: K14