The Ethics of Care Representation in the Drama “Nabillera” from the Perspective of Care

This study analyzes the ethics of caregiving representation in the drama “Nabilera” and critically examines how caregiving is marginalized and reduced to the private sphere. Care ethics is a moral theory that emphasizes human vulnerability and interdependence, seeking to improve existing social inequalities and realize social justice through empathy and relationships. Kerry Wearness views care not only as physical assistance but also as a social capacity necessary for welfare and prosperity, explaining it in three dimensions: “interpersonal care”, “spiritual care”, and “political care”. In the drama Nabillera, Deok-chul's wife Hae-nam's care is depicted as superhuman sacrifice, her labor is made invisible, and she does not even have the leisure to take care of herself. This reflects the reality that care is considered the responsibility of women and is not socially rewarded or recognized. On the other hand, the relationship between Deok-chul and Chae-rok is a bond of friendship and care that fulfills each other's needs and supports each other's dreams. The ballet studio where Deok-chul and Chae-rok meet functions as a place of understanding and communication between Seung-joo, Deok-chul's ex-wife, and Deok-chul's second son, Sung-gwan. However, the reconciliation, self-realization, and hospitality of the characters are based on Hae-nam's sacrifice and labor. This study critically analyzes the representation of care in the drama Nabillera and emphasizes the need to overcome the structure in which the responsibility of care is borne by individuals and to realize the value of mutual care as a society. To this end, it draws on the theoretical foundations of Joan Tronto, Donna Haraway, and Virginia Held's ethics and practice of care.