Why ‘Now, An Affair’ Is More Than a Korean Infidelity Thriller

Verdict: A must-watch for fans of messy, secret-filled relationships

The Now An Affair drama, officially titled “Infidelity Is Not the Problem Now,” is a Korean infidelity thriller that uses cheating as a trigger rather than a destination, unfolding into a black comedy where intertwined secrets and moral compromises drive two families toward chaos and disaster. From the first episodes, my verdict is clear: this is a must-watch for anyone who likes relationship drama analysis that prioritizes emotional depth storytelling over shock-value affairs. It is not a conventional melodrama; infidelity fades fast, replaced by the ripple effect of secrets and the way one reckless choice reshapes everyone’s fate. That makes it ideal for viewers tired of flat adultery plots but less suited to those wanting calm romance or moral clarity. As an OTT original from Coupang Play, it sits in the premium, event-drama bracket rather than casual weeknight comfort viewing.

Infidelity as the spark, secrets as the engine

Although marketed as a Korean infidelity thriller, the series quickly proves that the affair is only the opening move in a much bigger, nastier game. Multiple different incidents—infidelity, the relationship between the children, and a hit-and-run accident—become tangled at once, turning the show into a chain-reaction black comedy where each person’s choices affect another’s life. That structure gives the relationship drama analysis real bite: we watch how tiny lies and buried resentments grow into blackmail, cover-ups, and eventually a murder case. The fun of the drama lies not in the infidelity itself, but in its aftermath, as hidden desires and fissures explosively cascade through both households. As episodes progress, the presence of infidelity fades; the true narrative engine becomes the massive ripples of secrets that all must bear. This is emotional depth storytelling built on consequence, not scandal.

Characters with bite: Kim Hye-soo’s armor and Kim Jihoon’s volatility

Character work is where Now An Affair drama earns its breakout buzz. Kim Hye-soo’s Kyung-hee is an influencer and interior CEO who climbed from semi-basement poverty to a luxe townhouse, wearing her success like armor in hot pink sets and bold silhouettes that turn fashion into character. Her bespoke clothing and primary colors signal confidence, but once she faces the greatest crisis of her life, that glamour hides a mother willing to dispose of a body for her family while wrestling with guilt. Opposite her, Jo Yeo-jung’s Su-jung is an elegant dermatologist whose polished exterior conceals obsession, stress smoking, and a capacity to upend the table with her own choices. Kim Jihoon’s performance as Jae-hong is the show’s most exciting surprise: he adds tension as an unpredictable variable, playing a bright, glib unknown actor whose inferiority complex leaks through small gestures rather than loud outbursts. His volatility makes every scene feel unstable in the best way.

Direction, structure, and where it stumbles

Director Lee Chang-hee handles the series with sensory, paced direction that turns it into a madcap black comedy instead of a standard affair drama. He compresses backstory into tight scenes and a few lines of dialogue, throwing moments at the viewer and trusting us to fill the blanks. The most striking device is the variation in perspective: by setting different central characters in each episode, the same event is viewed from a new angle, and different episodes appear to flow independently but converge into one massive incident. There is plenty to see, from visually pleasing fashion to unpredictable characters. The downside is that this relentless pace and multi-plot structure can feel overwhelming; quieter emotional beats sometimes compete with “dopamine crazy drama” energy. Viewers who prefer simple, linear storytelling or clear moral framing may find the tonal mix of thriller, black comedy, and family crisis more exhausting than thrilling.

Format, commitment level, and who it’s really for

Infidelity Is Not the Problem Now is an 8-part series, with one episode released each Friday on Coupang Play. That compact run makes it a focused, weekend-friendly commitment rather than a sprawling long-term watch. The direction comes from Lee Chang-hee, known for genre pieces like “The Killer’s Shopping List” and “Others Are Hell,” with Firstman Studio, which includes “Squid Game” director Hwang Dong-hyuk, participating in production. Rather than a familiar infidelity drama, it is closer to a genre piece mixing black comedy and thriller, confronting imperfect human beings whose problems are far greater than cheating itself. If you look for relationship drama analysis and emotional depth storytelling—where wardrobe, space, and tiny choices reveal character—the show delivers. If you mainly want soft romance, clear heroes and villains, or comforting resolutions, its spiralling secrets and brutal cause-and-effect will feel more like a moral minefield than escape entertainment.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Now An Affair drama if you want a Korean infidelity thriller where secrets and consequences, not cheating, drive the story forward.
• Skip the Now An Affair drama if you prefer gentle romance with clear moral lines instead of messy, ethically grey relationship drama analysis.
• Buy the Now An Affair drama if you enjoy emotional depth storytelling with multi-plot, chain-reaction narratives that reward close attention.
• Skip the Now An Affair drama if fast, madcap black comedy pacing and constant twists leave you feeling more drained than entertained.
• Buy the Now An Affair drama if you are drawn to strong performances and stylised direction, particularly Kim Hye-soo’s fashion-as-character and Kim Jihoon’s volatility.
• Skip the Now An Affair drama if you dislike thriller elements like murder, blackmail, and hit-and-run accidents woven into family drama.