Kim Hee-jung to star in bold new drama about mother's fury

A new KBS 1TV daily drama depicting the frontal collision between a mother who has dedicated her entire life to her family and her self-centered children is coming to living rooms. Actress Kim Hee-jung has promised a raw and direct brand of laughter, different from traditional family dramas, by transforming into a mother who clashes with her three children in every single case.

The new KBS 1TV daily drama 'Mom Has Gone Crazy' will premiere on the 28th at 8:30 PM. It is directed by Sung Joon-hae, written by Na Seung-hyeon, and co-produced by Fantagio and Monster Union.

The work centers on the stories of a mother who has sacrificed her life for her family, another mother who has chased only her own happiness, and children who are tied together simply because they are parent and child, yet feel like enemies to one another. While adopting the traditional family drama trope of 'sacrificing parents and immature children,' the series is characterized by expanding this into more extreme conflicts and comedy.

The first teaser released on the 31st compactly captured the intense yet ridiculous daily life between Kim Hee-jung, playing Jo Mi-mi, and the three siblings.

Jo Mi-mi, who has lived for her family, pressures her youngest daughter, Kang Da-mi (Jung Min-ah), saying, "Do you want to grow old and die in this house without ever having dated at your age?" Da-mi fires back, "It's not that I couldn't, it's that I didn't," revealing the clash of values between generations.

The conflict with the eldest son, Kang Kang-nam (Kang Eun-tak), is even more direct. When Kang Eun-tak says, "Mom, I'll be forty soon, reaching the age of no delusions," Jo Mi-mi snaps back, "Don't talk about being forty. Look at you, having squandered all your assets and coming back after a divorce." The second son, Kang Dae-chi (Jonghoon Kim), also continues the psychological warfare between mother and son by cheekily responding, "Mom, you said you wouldn't kill me."

Eventually, Jo Mi-mi explodes. She rushes toward the three siblings, shouting, "How can you children all act like this toward me?" and "You all deserve to be beaten to death by my hands!" As the children simultaneously scream, "Mom, are you crazy?", the paradoxical family relationship implied by the title is fully revealed.

The interesting point is that this work does not stop at merely glorifying the sacrifice of a 'suffering mother.' It uses comedy and conflict to unravel the dynamics within the family community, where a parent's devotion is sometimes perceived as interference by the children, and a child's independence is perceived as betrayal by the parents. As opposing values such as love and duty, and independence and responsibility surrounding the family collide, it is expected to serve as a device to re-examine generational relationships.

Kim Hee-jung is an actress who has shown realistic acting and a strong presence in various works. This time, through Jo Mi-mi—who constantly nags her children but ultimately cannot let go of her family—she plans to express both tenacity and human flaws. In particular, her ability to deliver extreme lines through realistic life acting is expected to dictate the comedic rhythm of the work.

Jung Min-ah, Kang Eun-tak, and Jonghoon Kim, who play the three siblings, also take on characters who test their mother's patience in different ways. A major point of interest will be how the three children, living with different desires and failures, clash with Jo Mi-mi and how that internal family conflict transforms into a narrative of growth and reconciliation.

'Mom Has Gone Crazy' is the successor to 'Our Happy Days,' which is currently maintaining a viewership rating in the 10–11% range. Interest is high regarding whether it can secure a new viewership base by drawing everyday empathy from viewers through the fast-paced conflict development and family narratives typical of daily dramas.

Ultimately, the question 'Mom Has Gone Crazy' poses is not as simple as its title. In the closest relationship of all—the family—the boundaries between love and anger, and sacrifice and resentment, easily blur. Attention is focused on what kind of realistic generational conflict and message of reconciliation the 'family war' between Jo Mi-mi, played by Kim Hee-jung, and her three children will leave behind the laughter.