Why do some people seem to move forward while others are left standing on the platform? Why can other people’s success sometimes awaken our own doubts? Available on Netflix, the new K-drama We Are All Trying Here explores these questions with rare subtlety.
Some series are about ambition. Others focus on what happens when ambition is no longer enough. Created by Park Hae-young, one of the leading figures of Korean television, We Are All Trying Here was first broadcast on the South Korean network JTBC before arriving on Netflix in several countries.
Made up of 12 episodes of around 70 minutes each, the series has gained momentum thanks to exceptionally positive word of mouth and enthusiastic critical acclaim. Its subject is not success itself, but the universal fear of never quite living up to the expectations we set for ourselves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W9wOtwEWE8
A failed director at the centre of a brilliant group of friends
At the heart of the story is Hwang Dong-man, an aspiring film director for the past… 20 years. While his former film club friends have gone on to build respected careers in the audiovisual industry, he has never managed to turn his ambitions into reality.
To conceal this wound, Dong-man talks incessantly, criticises everyone around him and tries to maintain a position of authority within his friendship circle. Yet beneath his cutting remarks and constant need for attention lies a man consumed by self-doubt. The series captures with remarkable precision the mix of frustration, envy and shame that can accompany unrealised ambitions.
Rather than judging its protagonist, We Are All Trying Here chooses to explore his contradictions. The result is a deeply human story that is as funny as it is painful, where every character hides their own vulnerabilities behind a more or less convincing façade.
The highly anticipated return of Park Hae-young
One of the series’ greatest strengths is its writer. Park Hae-young is among South Korea’s most respected screenwriters thanks to acclaimed works that have achieved cult status, such as My Mister (2018) and My Liberation Notes (2022).
Her speciality? Turning the most ordinary emotions into compelling drama. Where others favour spectacular plot twists, she prefers awkward conversations and invisible wounds that shape human relationships.
With We Are All Trying Here, she continues her exploration of everyday lives with remarkable sensitivity. The dialogue feels authentic, the characters seem genuinely real, and the situations resonate far beyond the Korean context.
One of the strongest casts around
The series brings together several of the most prominent faces in contemporary Korean film and television. Koo Kyo-hwan, best known internationally for D.P. (2021–2023), lends his trademark nervous energy and intensity to Hwang Dong-man. Opposite him, Go Youn-jung—one of the most popular actresses of her generation thanks to Moving (2023) and Alchemy of Souls (2022–2023)—once again demonstrates her immense talent.
The cast also includes Oh Jung-se, unforgettable in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020), alongside Park Hae-joon, Bae Jong-ok, Han Sun-hwa and Choi Won-young. Each brings a distinctive depth to this ensemble of characters searching for balance in their lives.
A Netflix success despite modest television ratings
During its run on JTBC, We Are All Trying Here did not achieve the spectacular ratings of some major Korean hits. However, the series found a very different audience through streaming. Its arrival on Netflix allowed it to reach international viewers drawn to its nuanced writing and complex characters.
Its journey perfectly illustrates the changing landscape of the Korean entertainment industry: some productions no longer become phenomena through traditional television, but through audience recommendations and word of mouth.
With its clear-eyed look at failure, jealousy and the need for recognition, We Are All Trying Here stands out as one of the most subtle and moving K-dramas of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w50jce60jC0
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