Happiness (2021)
A Korean thriller series where a viral outbreak traps residents of a high-rise apartment, exposing the fault lines of class, fear, and survival.
Happiness - Series Information
- Original Title: 해피니스
- First Air Year: 2021
- Last Air Year: 2021
- Created by: Han Sang-un
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (67 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 12
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Korean
- Spoken Languages: Korean
- First Air Date: November 5, 2021 (United States - TV-14), November 5, 2021 (Germany - 16), November 5, 2021 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: tvN
- Alternative Titles: Happiness (KR), 疫楼 (SG), happiness (YU), 毒樓 (TW), 幸福 (CN)
- Production Companies: Studio Dragon
- Production Countries: South Korea
Happiness - Plot
A new type of deadly virus spread throughout the city, and the apartment where has different social classes of people is sealed off. With the fear of the virus, and the conflicts of the different classes, the residents have to spend and survive in the new habitation.
Happiness - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see what awaits inside the quarantine:
Trust disappears. unbearable thirst. there's no going back.
Where to Watch Happiness
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Happiness - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Han Sang-un
Main Cast
- Han Hyo-joo
- Park Hyung-sik
- Joo Jong-hyuk
- Lee Ju-seung
- Jo Woo-jin
- Lee Jun-hyeok
- Park Joo-hee
- Bek Hyun-jin
- Baek Joo-hee
- Moon Ye-won
Writers
- Han Sang-un
Executive Producers
- Jay J Yang
Happiness - FAQs
Where can you stream Happiness Korean drama?
Happiness is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. It's also available on Rakuten Viki, both with a subscription and with ads. These platforms give you easy access to all 12 episodes of this gripping Korean thriller.
Is Happiness a zombie show or a virus thriller?
It's both, really. Happiness blends zombie horror with a tense viral outbreak narrative. Infected individuals develop an uncontrollable thirst for blood, behaving like zombies — but the series frames the crisis more as a pandemic thriller, exploring how fear and social division can be just as deadly as the virus itself.
Who are the lead actors in Happiness?
The series stars Han Hyo-joo as elite police officer Yoon Sae-bom and Park Hyung-sik as detective Jung Yi-hyun. Their characters enter a fake marriage to secure an apartment, only to find themselves trapped inside when a viral outbreak locks down the building. Their chemistry is one of the show's biggest draws.
What is the fake marriage storyline in Happiness about?
Yoon Sae-bom and Jung Yi-hyun agree to a marriage of convenience to qualify for a coveted apartment. What starts as a purely practical arrangement slowly evolves into something far more genuine as the two face life-or-death situations together inside the quarantined building — a slow-burn romance that fans found deeply satisfying.
Does Happiness have a satisfying ending?
Most viewers found the finale genuinely rewarding. The series wraps up its central storylines with emotional payoff, particularly the relationship between Sae-bom and Yi-hyun. While some felt the resolution of the viral outbreak was a bit tidy, the character arcs land well and the ending leaves audiences feeling fulfilled rather than frustrated.
When did Happiness first air and how many episodes are there?
Happiness premiered on November 5, 2021, on the South Korean cable network tvN. The series ran for a single season comprising 12 episodes, each averaging around 67 minutes in length. It concluded in 2021, making it a complete, self-contained story with no loose ends left dangling.
Is Happiness worth watching for non-K-drama fans?
Absolutely. Even viewers unfamiliar with Korean dramas have praised Happiness for its tight pacing, strong performances, and smart social commentary. It earned strong critical reception and audience scores, drawing comparisons to Western genre hits. The blend of zombie horror, class conflict, and slow-burn romance gives it broad appeal well beyond K-drama circles.
What shows are similar to Happiness?
If Happiness left you wanting more, try Sweet Home (2020) for Korean apocalyptic horror, or Station Eleven (2021) for a thoughtful pandemic drama. Hot Skull (2022) and Three-Body (2023) offer similarly cerebral sci-fi tension, while Fear the Walking Dead (2015) and Black Summer (2019) scratch the zombie survival itch from a Western angle.
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