Even top celebrities who were once popular in the industry now express concerns and anxiety over the transforming market.

Recently, the broadcasting industry has been experiencing a decrease in the number of drama productions, and even if they are produced, it is difficult for them to secure slots to air on broadcast. This is due to the influence of the overseas OTT streaming platforms and pre-produced content, resulting in a shift in the so-called 'drama ecosystem'.

Many top celebrities who were once blue-chip players in the drama industry are candidly expressing their thoughts on this matter and seeking new paths to sustain their livelihoods.

On March 6, actor Lee Jang Woo posted a video of him making lunch boxes and cooking his unique recipes on his YouTube channel. In the video, he also participated in a "Mukbang" of the cuisine cooked on this day and shared his honest thoughts about his career.

He reminisced about the days he would film dramas and shared, "When I'm filming (dramas), we would order these lunch boxes. They're delivered hot but then the food would get cold when the filming gets prolonged. There was a time when all I could think about was the lunchbox getting cold (while filming). Then I would ask the director if we can film after a little break."

The YouTube channel production team joked, "Then isn't it the lunch box's fault that you're not able to film any dramas?" Lee Jang Woo responded, "I really, really want to film dramas. I hold the importance of my value and position of actor Lee Jang Woo." He continued, "Right now, I'm in a position where I don't appear in dramas. I will mature more and I have to put in more effort to lose weight and do everything."

The actor also recently brought attention to the fact that the domestic drama market in South Korea is deteriorating. He explained, "The drama scene is a mess right now. Where did all the golden capital go?" and spoke about the declining viewership ratings of weekend dramas.

Actor Kim Ji Seok also expressed his concerns and anxiety on the JTBC reality show 'Actors' Night Out.' He openly expressed his anxiety about not receiving any work offers, and he revealed his disappointment about not being chosen for roles.

He confessed, "This has never happened before. I feel anxious and worried about not being able to film even 1 project this year. I heard these other actors filmed 6-7 projects last year but I only filmed 1."

He then told his manager on the phone, "I don't care if it's a supporting role or a supporting role for a supporting role. I just want to do a project that is good no matter what. I want to be an actor doing many projects."

Actress Han Ye Seul also shared her thoughts on the changing market.

She explained through her YouTube channel, "I want to participate in a project but there are no projects." 

Han Ye Seul also candidly shared her anxiety about her uncertain future as an actress. She explained, "To be honest, I've become worried about my future path. I even went to school to study skincare. I thought I would at least be able to do a part-time job with a certificate."

Actress Oh Yoon Ah also shared that she feels the drama market has decreased. She explained, "These days, there are no dramas. The drama (market) has shrunk to half the size (of its peak) so it's hard for dramas that were already filmed to find airing time slots. Before, I was able to pick and choose after being offered different (projects)." She also expressed gratitude that she is still able to appear in front of people through variety and reality shows.