The Coupang Play series 'Family Matters' successfully completed its European premiere at the 2025 Series Mania Festival.
'Family Matters' tells the story of a mother with the unique ability to edit memories at will, who teams up with her family to give villains a taste of their own medicine. With Kim Jung-min's original world-building, the stylish direction of directors Kim Gok and Kim Sun, and the compelling performances of actors like Bae Doona, Ryu Seung-bum, and Baek Yoon-sik, the series has been hailed as the most talked-about production of 2024, offering an unprecedented mix of shock and freshness.
The Series Mania Festival is Europe's most prestigious series festival, selecting noteworthy series from around the globe for nomination. This year, it attracted 5,000 industry professionals and a record-breaking audience of 110,000 from 75 countries to Lille, France. 'Family Matters' was the only Korean work officially invited to the International Panorama competition, where it successfully made its European debut.
The response from judges and audiences who experienced 'Family Matters' at its European premiere was overwhelmingly positive. Critics praised it for "shaking up genre conventions," "masterfully unraveling the complex dynamics of modern families through black comedy," and "deftly exploring the contradictions of its characters, keeping viewers on edge until the very end." These accolades highlight Coupang Play's unique storytelling prowess on a global stage.
Additionally, 'Family Matters' has been nominated for two categories at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, set to take place on May 5th: Best Screenplay (Kim Jung-min) and Best Supporting Actress (Kim Guk-hee). Kim Jung-min has been recognized for creating a unique universe based on the concept of 'brain hacking,' delivering intense catharsis to viewers with each episode. Actress Kim Guk-hee has been lauded for her "intense performance" as 'Oh Gil-ja,' a character with a dark inner world, brought to life with sharp dialogue and nuanced acting.
Ahn Hye-yeon, head of Coupang Play's original productions, expressed her delight, saying, "It's an honor for 'Family Matters' to be recognized on the world stage as a representative of Korean works and to be nominated for the Baeksang Arts Awards. Thanks to our viewers' love, we had the precious opportunity to introduce the series internationally. We will continue to break the mold with innovative storytelling that captivates audiences."
Meanwhile, 'Family Matters' has set new records across all metrics, including a 425% increase in viewership compared to its opening score after the release of its fourth episode, making it Coupang Play's most successful hit to date.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)