연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2024-04-29 09:49:23
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- In the year 2025, as an asteroid approaches Earth, scientists attempt to alter its orbit but fail. According to calculations, the asteroid is set to collide near the Korean Peninsula, leading to the loss of lives for all residing in South Korea, Japan, and East Asia. With approximately 200 days until annihilation, the situation is dire.
Netflix's latest original series, "Goodbye Earth," released on the 26th, is set in the near future where the Korean Peninsula faces imminent destruction. The storyline revolves around Jin Se-kyung (played by Ahn Eun-jin), a middle school teacher in the fictional town of Woongcheon, and her boyfriend, Hah Yoon-sang (played by Yoo Ah-in), a bioengineering researcher.
At a point where only 300 days remain until doomsday, a global announcement reveals Earth's impending fate to all. In the midst of impending doom on the Korean Peninsula, a coup attempt results in missiles being launched domestically, destroying data centers and halting various online services.
With South Korea quickly descending into lawlessness, criminal organizations resort to kidnapping children for profit or committing heinous crimes. Jin Se-kyung, formerly a middle school home economics teacher, embarks on a quest to uncover the identities of the child kidnappers. However, even the military, represented by Jin's friend, Kang In-ah (played by Kim Yoon-hye), claims to have no means to intervene. Undeterred, Se-kyung ventures into the criminals' lair alone.
Meanwhile, Hah Yoon-sang, who had been immersed in research in the United States, returns to the dangerous Korean Peninsula to marry his lover, Jin Se-kyung, and plans to leave for safety in the United States together.
"Goodbye Earth" is based on the eponymous novel by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka. While the original work presents the asteroid collision announcement eight years prior and depicts a situation with three years remaining, the drama announces the collision 300 days in advance, with the storyline set 200 days before impact.
The early episodes of the drama follow the general syntax of post-apocalyptic fiction, depicting the rise of criminal organizations and the protagonist's resistance against them. Scenes of Jin Se-kyung bravely confronting the criminal syndicate to protect children are portrayed.
However, from the middle portion onwards, the drama delves deeply into the characters' backgrounds and emotions, highlighting the human drama aspect. This characteristic becomes even more pronounced in the later episodes.
Most characters are shown shedding tears as they recall the impending end or mournfully bid farewell to family or friends. Such scenes are frequent and receive considerable screen time.
In particular, "Goodbye Earth" consists of a total of 12 episodes, each approximately 60 minutes long, making it longer than typical online streaming service (OTT) original series. This might be perceived as somewhat tedious for viewers expecting fast-paced and thrilling narrative.
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]