A Study on the perception of the times inherent in the drama “The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family”

This paper analyzes the TV drama “The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family” and explores its narrative structure and social meaning. The drama unfolds through a fantastical narrative structure that symbolically highlights inequality and the rigidity of hierarchical structures in modern Korean society. It reflects the challenges of social mobility and the unfair social structures in a capitalist system, centering on the class difference symbolized by the “dirt spoon” and “gold spoon.” The fantasy structure is particularly tied to the “spoon class theory” in Korean society, functioning as a device that imaginatively addresses the otherwise impossible rise in social class. However, the drama ultimately offers a path toward the realization of justice through the rule of law and Yoon Hyun-woo's repentance, proposing legal accountability as a possible solution in the real world. The narrative structure of “The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family” navigates between fantasy and reality, symbolically expressing the issues of inequality and class in contemporary Korea, providing viewers with a sense of emotional catharsis while also encouraging realistic reflection.