Netflix’s 2025 K-drama Aema takes viewers back to the 1980s Chungmuro. It was the heart of Korea’s film industry, where censorship coexisted with a surge in erotic cinema. The six-part series was released on August 22. It is directed by Lee Hae-young and stars Lee Ha-nee (as Jeong Hee-ran) and Bang Hyo-rin (as Shin Ju-ae).The story follows a veteran actress and a rising newcomer who collide while making Madame Aema, a film that would change the industry’s landscape. As they navigate strict state controls, exploitative producers, and personal ambition, the two women are drawn into rivalry, survival, and an unexpected sense of solidarity.The drama raises a central question: Is it based on a true story? The answer lies somewhere in between. It does not retell the lives of real individuals but takes inspiration from Madame Aema (1982), South Korea’s first erotic blockbuster.The movie was released during President Chun Doo-hwan’s “3S Policy” (screen, s*x, and sports). According to HanCinema, the original film became a box-office sensation. It sold over 100,000 tickets in Seoul and spawned 10 sequels.Netflix’s version builds on this historical backdrop but creates fictional characters like Hee-ran, Ju-ae, Ku Jung-ho, and Kwak In-woo. It was done to dramatize the struggles of women in a male-dominated industry under censorship.Background on Madame Aema, the director’s vision, & the history behind the seriesThe real Madame Aema was directed by Jeong In-yeob and adapted from Jo Su-bi’s novel. It told the story of a woman torn between passion and loyalty to her imprisoned husband. Its bold narrative made it a cultural phenomenon and paved the way for other erotic films like Mulberry (1986) and Eoudong (1985).Still from Netflix (Images via X/@NetflixKR)Yet, while such films thrived commercially, they often faced heavy cuts. It left female performers stigmatized by the industry’s treatment of them as objects of desire.At a press conference for the 2025 version, director Lee Hae-young clarified that Netflix’s series was not a biographical retelling but a symbolic one. He described his series as representing the desires and struggles of women in the 1980s.According to The Korea Times, the director said in the conference,"To me, Aema isn’t limited to that protagonist. I wanted it to represent something broader, an icon that reflects the desires of the 1980s. Living as an Aema back then meant facing prejudice, misunderstanding and violence while struggling to survive. The story I created is meant to support and honor those who endured and stood strong during that time."Lee Yun @LeeYunnesLINKA black comedy with big heart is generally you dont see especially when it is based on entertainment industry. The drama instead of addressing the traditional cliches of an actor's life, tried to deep dive into the filming process and the struggle that comes with it #AemaHe said that it is for those who endured prejudice and violence while trying to survive in a restrictive environment. His intent was to honor those voices rather than recreate specific lives.By reimagining Chungmuro, which was then dubbed “Korea’s Hollywood,” the series shows both the dazzling façade of cinematic success and the darker realities behind it.It borrows imagery from Madame Aema, such as the symbolic horseback motif. Meanwhile, it fills the narrative with fictionalized characters. Lee crafts a story that blends fact and fiction.The result is not just a retelling of one controversial film but a wider commentary on ambition, censorship, and the resilience of women in a turbulent era of Korean cinema.All six episodes of the series are on Netflix to stream.