MBC offers live broadcast subtitle services with "Chief Detective 1958" starting April 19. Captured from MBC

Adding Korean subtitles to live drama broadcasts has become the new norm for terrestrial broadcasters.

Following MBC, SBS has also started offering subtitles for general viewers, as confirmed on May 7. Both broadcasters, having initially introduced subtitles experimentally during drama reruns last year, have recently extended this service to live broadcasts.

MBC began offering live broadcast subtitle services with "Chief Detective 1958" starting April 19, marking a first in the history of terrestrial dramas.

This move signifies that the era of watching dramas with subtitles on TV, following online streaming services, is now fully underway.

Subtitles appear during the live broadcast of SBS drama 'The Escape of the Seven: Resurrection' on May 4. Captured from SBS

Two factors behind expansion of subtitles

SBS has begun providing subtitles for live broadcasts starting with the drama "The Escape of the Seven: Resurrection," which has had subtitles since April 26. An SBS official revealed plans to expand this service to future productions, starting with the upcoming series "Connection," during an interview with the Hankook Ilbo, a Korean-language daily newspaper.

This rapid shift in TV viewing culture can be attributed to two main factors: the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the popularization of OTT platforms, cultivating a new cultural standard for watching dramas with subtitles or quickly skimming through plots, and the aging demographic of terrestrial drama viewers.

This explains why broadcasters have moved from providing subtitles only in reruns to including them in live broadcasts. Historically, terrestrial broadcasters offered subtitle services to the hearing impaired through specific devices.

While Korean subtitles enhance dialogue delivery, unlike OTT services, TV does not allow viewers to toggle subtitles on or off. This has led to mixed reactions, with some critics arguing that subtitles disrupt immersion, while others appreciate the clarity they bring, noting the benefits for viewers with hearing impairments as well.

The director and cast pose during a press conference for MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama "Chief Detective 1958" at a conference hall in Seoul, April 18. Yonhap

Dilemma of censoring explicit content

The expansion of subtitle services on live broadcasts has brought new challenges for broadcasters, particularly around the handling of explicit content.

For instance, MBC has chosen to soften certain profanities in "Chief Detective 1958." SBS, on the other hand, has opted to censor harsher swear words by using the letter "x."

In contrast, on OTT platforms, both dramas feature subtitles that include the uncensored, explicit dialogue as delivered by the actors.

This results in separate subtitle productions for TV and online platforms, highlighting a unique aspect of the media industry here where content standards vary significantly between traditional television and online.

This variation reflects differing regulatory standards for content on TV versus online platforms, illustrating an evolving landscape in media consumption.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.