Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Happiness, which became one of the most unique and socially conscious zombie thrillers on Netflix, blending horror with sharp commentary on modern society and class divisions.
Happiness premiered in November 2021 on tvN and later became available on Netflix with 12 episodes, each with an average duration of 65 minutes. This Korean drama was created by writer Han Sang-woon and directed by Ahn Gil-ho, known for their work on critically acclaimed series.
This zombie thriller takes place in a near-future Korea where a new drug called “Next” creates zombie-like symptoms, trapping residents of a luxury apartment building during a city-wide lockdown. The series combines elements of horror, social satire, and romantic drama, using the zombie apocalypse as a backdrop to explore class inequality, human nature, and societal breakdown.
The show’s unique approach focuses less on traditional zombie action and more on psychological tension and social dynamics, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that mirrors real-world anxieties about pandemics, isolation, and community breakdown.
Pandemic Lockdown and Human Nature
Happiness centers on Yoon Sae-bom and Jung Yi-hyun, two police officers who enter a fake marriage to secure an apartment in an upscale building. When a new synthetic drug called “Next” creates violent, zombie-like behavior in users, the entire city goes into lockdown, trapping the residents inside their building.
As the infection spreads and resources become scarce, the apartment residents reveal their true natures, with class divisions and personal prejudices coming to the surface. The series explores how crisis situations strip away social facades, revealing both the worst and best aspects of human behavior.
Each episode peels back layers of the residents’ personalities while building tension around the growing infection threat, creating a dual narrative about external zombie danger and internal human monsters.
Yoon Sae-bom’s Fierce Determination
Han Hyo-joo delivers a powerhouse performance as Yoon Sae-bom, a former military officer turned police detective who possesses natural immunity to the zombie virus. Her character represents resilience, loyalty, and moral courage in the face of overwhelming chaos.
Sae-bom’s evolution throughout the series showcases her transformation from someone focused on personal survival to a leader willing to protect the entire community. Her fierce determination and unwavering moral compass make her a compelling protagonist who refuses to compromise her values even when faced with impossible choices.
Jung Yi-hyun’s Protective Love
Park Hyung-sik portrays Jung Yi-hyun, a police detective who has harbored feelings for Sae-bom since high school and becomes her fake husband to help her secure the apartment. His character represents loyalty, sacrifice, and the power of unconditional love during crisis.
Yi-hyun’s character arc explores themes of protection, devotion, and moral flexibility as he struggles between his duty as a police officer and his desire to keep Sae-bom safe. His relationship with Sae-bom provides the series’ emotional anchor, showing how love can provide strength during humanity’s darkest moments.
Final Confrontation Between Humanity and Monsters
The series builds toward a climactic showdown where the apartment residents must choose between self-preservation and community survival. This confrontation involves not only fighting off zombie threats but also confronting the human monsters who have emerged during the crisis.
The final episodes masterfully balance action sequences with emotional resolution as characters face the consequences of their choices throughout the lockdown. The climax explores whether humanity can overcome its worst instincts when faced with extinction and whether community bonds can survive ultimate testing.
The Apartment Community
Happiness features a diverse cast of apartment residents who represent different aspects of Korean society, from wealthy entitled families to struggling middle-class workers. Characters like the selfish lawyer Oh Ju-hyung and the privileged housewife Han Tae-seok serve as antagonists whose classist attitudes and selfishness create internal conflict.
These supporting characters effectively illustrate how crisis reveals true character, with some rising to heroism while others descend into selfishness and cruelty, creating a microcosm of society’s response to disaster.
Success on Netflix
Happiness gained international recognition on Netflix for its intelligent approach to the zombie genre, praised for using horror elements to deliver sharp social commentary about class inequality and community responsibility. The series was acclaimed for its realistic portrayal of pandemic-like conditions and lockdown psychology, resonating with global audiences who experienced similar situations during COVID-19. Han Hyo-joo and Park Hyung-sik’s chemistry received widespread praise, with many considering their relationship one of the most authentic romantic partnerships in recent K-drama. The show’s success demonstrated that zombie thrillers could be both entertaining and intellectually engaging, elevating the genre beyond simple horror into meaningful social discourse.
If you love zombie thrillers with deep social commentary and strong romantic elements, Happiness is the perfect series to binge on Netflix.
A brilliant blend of horror and social satire that uses the zombie apocalypse to expose the best and worst of human nature during crisis.
Series Details:
- Number of Episodes: 12
- Platform: Netflix (originally tvN)
- Rating: 7.9/10 (IMDb)
- Genre: Zombie Thriller, Social Drama, Romance, Horror
- Protagonists: Han Hyo-joo (Yoon Sae-bom), Park Hyung-sik (Jung Yi-hyun)
- Antagonist: The Next virus/infected zombies, selfish residents like Oh Ju-hyung and Han Tae-seok who represent human greed and classism