By Amalia Theocharidou,
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many discoveries of new hobbies that would keep us occupied during the difficult times of isolation. One that has escalated into a global phenomenon is K-dramas. Binging on these Korean shows, which mostly have a romantic turn, became a habit that turned many, including myself, into fans. So, to get things straight, K-dramas are South Korean shows, mostly consisting of 12 to 20 episodes, of which the most known are the romantic ones, which can actually adapt to any style and preference. But, what is it about these shows that’s so appealing?
Firstly, the government itself gives its all in the funding of these series, as they have been proven to be a source of not only income but tourism as well, in the case of people visiting South Korea to see the filming location. The augmentation of these productions has brought to the spotlight some of South Korea’s best writers. Women. With more than 90% of them being females, the spectator gets to meet characters that are, as we call it, written by women. Therefore, the emphasis is given to the purity of the romance, the feelings, and the ideal type of relationship, leaving behind the stereotypes imposed by men (MATTSON, 2022).
In order to boost the ideality of the plot, the choices of actors are important. Actors are always picked after long auditions and their beauty is outstanding. Tall men, with nice hair and fashion sense who know exactly what they want and would climb mountains for their loved ones. Fierce women who fit the Asian beauty standards that demand a “cute and innocent” way of acting, which can sometimes lead to funny scenes, are used to get more viewers. These people aren’t and are perfect, at the same time. As I’ve stated above, the main attraction of a K-drama is ideality, giving us something we couldn’t rationally have, altering our standards to an extreme degree, and making us believe that unconditional true love exists. Emerging with the problems of a young and handsome CEO in-the-making, who has it all, but still adores his girlfriend can be a stress-free way for one to cope (Libero-Cruz, 2018).
The extremely unique and impossible plotlines are another factor that contributes to the popularity of the genre. For example, in the drama “See you in my 19th life”, we follow the life of Ban Ji Eum, who for unknown reasons in the beginning, dies and is reborn again each time in a different life and body, while still having the ability to remember each one of her past reincarnations. In her 18th life, in which she’s in the body of a little girl, she falls in love with her neighbor, a young and lonely boy. Now, in her 19th life, in the body of a woman in her twenties, she has managed to find that boy, who’s now a successful businessman, and make him fall in love with her all over again.
K-dramas not only showcase pure love but also provide an insight into South Korean culture. Even in sci-fi, one can spot pieces of their culture, from the food to the clothing or the cinematography. South Koreans are proud of their culture and that’s why they tend to love showcasing it. But they also manage to highlight important downsides of their society, such as the exhausting and barbaric educational system, the importance of wealth in human relationships, and the distant relations between parents and their children.
K-dramas can be an effective escape from reality and a ray of hope for the existence of pure feelings in our harsh times. The beautiful cinematography and the well-written dialogues are just a few other factors contributing to why one should give them a chance. What may seem like an ordinary show on the first episode, can get one hooked in a very short time.
References
- Why Korean Dramas Are So Much More Addictive Than You Think. Collider. Available here
- 15 Reasons Why K-Dramas Are Extremely Addictive. METRO style. Available here
