The 12-episode series, titled Happy Anding, will air on tvN in South Korea, marking another adaptation of a Nippon TV drama for the Korean market.
Nippon TV announced that Happy Anding, the Korean remake of its Japanese drama series Life’s Punchline, will premiere on South Korean broadcaster tvN on November 6. Produced by Studio Dragon, a subsidiary of CJ ENM, the 12-episode series will air on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. through December 12.
The adaptation follows a struggling comedy trio that decides to disband after a decade pursuing stardom, alongside a devoted fan whose life becomes intertwined with the comedians’ stories. The drama explores failure, personal growth and the challenge of finding a new direction when long-held ambitions do not materialize.
Directed by Jung Jee Hyun (Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Search: WWW) and written by Ahn Areum (Once Again), the series also features Yang Hee-seung (Crash Course in Romance) as creator.
The cast includes Kang Hoon (A Time Called You), Cho Hyun-chul (D.P.) and Kim Jeong-jin as the three members of the comedy trio Asura. Lee E-dam (Daily Dose of Sunshine) plays their devoted fan, while Yoon Ga-i (SNL Korea) portrays her younger sister. Moon-hee (Duty After School) and Lee Seo-hwan (Squid Game) are also part of the cast.
The original Japanese series centers on three 28-year-old comedians who decide to disband after ten years together. Facing limited career prospects and financial uncertainty as their peers settle into more conventional lives, they confront a quarter-life crisis. Their paths cross with those of a disillusioned fan and her younger sister, leading all five characters to reconsider their futures.
The Korean adaptation incorporates elements of Korean comedy, including situational humor and dress-up sketches, while retaining the original’s central themes and character relationships. These include the bonds between sisters, close friends, long-term partners and comedians and their fans.
For Nippon TV, the upcoming premiere further extends the company’s scripted formats business in South Korea. The project follows the Korean adaptation of its award-winning drama Mother, which premiered on tvN in 2018 and was selected for the official competition at the inaugural Cannes International Series Festival (Canneseries).
“We are delighted to bring Life’s Punchline to Korean audiences through this adaptation by Studio Dragon and tvN,” said Sally Yamamoto, Scripted Format Sales & Licensing at Nippon TV. She added that the original series resonated with Japanese viewers through its story of overcoming setbacks and finding hope, conveying the message that life’s failures and detours can ultimately lead to a meaningful new beginning.
