K-Drama Meets the Undead. The Hybrid Form of Newtopia (2025)

Abstract

This essay examines how Newtopia (2025) blends horror and romantic comedy within the stylistic and narrative framework of a Korean drama. Through close attention to tone, pacing, and recurring genre markers, the study explores how the series reworks zombie conventions to fit the emotional and cultural expectations of K‑drama storytelling. By tracing how these genres intersect and shift across the series, the analysis considers what this hybrid form reveals about Newtopia’s approach to genre mixing.