Scripted

Nippon TV’s scripted drama Life’s Punchline is getting a Korean adaptation, with Happy Anding, produced by Studio Dragon, set to premiere on South Korean broadcaster tvN on November 6. The 12-episode series will air on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 PM through December 12. The adaptation is directed by Jung Jee Hyun (Twenty-Five Twenty-One), written by Ahn Areum (Once Again), with Yang Hee-seung (Crash Course in Romance) participating as creator.
Sally Yamamoto, scripted format sales and licensing at Nippon TV, said: “We are delighted to bring Life’s Punchline to Korean audiences through this adaptation by Studio Dragon and tvN. The original series resonated with viewers in Japan through its deeply human story of overcoming setbacks and finding hope to move forward. At its heart is a simple message: Life is a grand comedy—that our failures and detours are never in vain, but rather the setups that ultimately lead to an ending filled with warmth and laughter. We hope audiences in Korea will embrace this story as warmly as viewers did in Japan.”

The original Japanese drama follows three aspiring comedians who decide to disband at 28 after a decade of pursuing stardom. Facing financial insecurity and the feeling of falling behind their peers, they find themselves navigating a quarter-life crisis. Their lives become intertwined with a burned-out fan and her younger sister, as the five characters search for the courage to start again. The cast includes Kang Hoon (A Time Called You), Cho Hyun-chul (D.P.) and Kim Jeong-jin as the three members of comedy trio Asura, alongside Lee E-dam (Daily Dose of Sunshine) as their devoted fan. Yoon Ga-i (SNL Korea) plays her younger sister, while Moon-hee (Duty After School) portrays a member of Asura’s girlfriend. Lee Seo-hwan (Squid Game) also joins the supporting cast as the trio’s former high school teacher.

The upcoming premiere marks another Korean adaptation of a Nippon TV drama for tvN, following the 2018 remake of Mother, which was selected for the official competition at the inaugural Cannes International Series Festival (CANNESERIES).