Soap Opera? K-Drama? What’s the big deal?
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008Korean Dramas.
They’re here. Get used to them.
These television shows are comparable to primetime television programming in America (think Grey’s Anatomy or Heroes). These Korean series bear little resemblance to what we refer to as “daytime” television. The production format is closer to a “miniseries” (think Band of Brothers or Lonesome Dove). However, when westerners hear the term “K-drama” or “soap opera” we instantly think of cheesy dialogue, unnecessarily long pauses, overacting, unrealistically overdone characters, and untimely bizarre deaths (think General Hospital or The Young and the Restless or your dramatic cousin on your dad’s side). While the Korean equivalents certainly share some of the surface level similarities, there is much difference to be found.
Korean soap operas are so big that they are hard to ignore. When I say big, I mean it in every way. Big drama, big secrets, and especially big budget. I liken them to a perpetual Superbowl game playing on all channels. It’s hard to ignore. If you didn’t like them before, you like them now. Admit it.
See? Doesn’t that feel good? No? Dirty? Yes, of course.
Come on. I’m from Texas. You may see a grown man cry once in a blue moon but you sure won’t see him watching a soap opera anytime soon. With Korean dramas though, they are insidious. Infectious. Just watch one episode. No biggie. Your buddy said it was a good show, right? And he can drink his weight in 소주…Of course at that point, I convince myself that it is all in the name of learning the language. Yeah, so really, it’s like homework. I mean, that’s not wrong at all, right? Just doing some homework?
Actually, in that regard, many dramas fill in that role nicely. The dialogue is close to natural, the dialect is usually standard, and common speech is used frequently. Whereas if an ELL (English Language Learner) were to imitate the speech used in Prison Break…not so effective. Some Korean dramas even go so far as to be quite deliberate in their speech that it’s hard not to pick up at least some of the language.
Truth be told, not all are fantastic. They can run the risk of dreadful predictability and the use of rehashed, overused themes. However, some challenge social norms and break the mold of what a television show should entail. Some entertain while others educate. Some take modern settings while others assume alternative realities. Some are a showcase for dialects and subcultures. In addition, a plethora of historical-based dramas are arguable in their own category by themselves let alone seeped in Korea’s surprisingly saucy history.
Oh and make no mistake, you will cry. Oh yes. There will be tears.
One particular difference in these shows is the demographic viewing audience. Typically, American soap operas are viewed by non-working or stay-at-home homebodies. It’s also fair to point out the majority of the viewers are older women. Korean soap operas are viewed by people of all ages, gender, and class. Working class people watch them, but so do white-collar business people. And apparently so do young twenty-somethings from America 
It’s also interesting to point out the group factor in watching Korean dramas. When seemingly unrelated people sit around and watch the same show, they now share something in common. This reminds me of an ancient form of online blogs and forums. Really! Think about it. I dropped by a nice little 목욕탕 to find the group room filled with locals all in an awed hush over the K-drama playing on the television screen. If you want something in common, try all hating all the same spoiled brat on the screen. Add into that formula a natural group-centered culture such as the one found in Korea and you have a recipe for K-drama addiction. The poorly taken photo below doesn’t show the fury that was in the room. We were all watching the same spicy program. The funny part is that there were people that I could have sworn were sleeping, but they would react when something shocking would happen in the plot. A sort of “He said what?!” reaction.
Likely, everyone who has professed an interest in K-dramas are especially fond of their first show they watched. Like many other foreigners, mine was Full House. Furthermore, many students of the Korean language have openly admitted that it is because of Korean dramas that initially sparked their interest in the language and culture. Can you imagine KBS producing shows with the unintentional side effect of being a sort of diplomatic representative showcase for a whole culture? The ramifications of 비’s poor acting are quite profound now that I think about it…
Thoughts?
Posted by Matthew in How Koreans Do It |
October 14th, 2008 at 7:02 am
many students of the Korean language have openly admitted that it is because of Korean dramas that initially sparked their interest in the language and culture. … hahahaha just today I was writing my personal statement for my uni application, and mentioned Korean movies and TV dramas as being one of my first experiences of the language XD;;;
October 14th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Oh, I agree cause I am one of them. I really believe that Korean Dramas like Full House are becoming a portal for westerners to Korea and Korean culture in short order. I also think that calling them Soap Operas is like calling a cow, a duck.
Our American soap operas where named so because these cheese bits of Americana were originally sponsored by soap companies.
I teach a Global Studies course and I taught a unit called Asian culture thru television. When I tried looking for some Asian TV here in the US, all I could find was ridonculous Japanese game shows that once again stereotyped Asians.
Then I ran into Full House (picked it cause I thought the actors were all very pretty) and planned to show the first 3 episodes in class. Well, my students were instantly hooked!! I almost had a revolt in my hands at the end of episode 3. They wanted more…
The next Monday, nearly 1/3 of my class was “sick” and did not show up. Turns out they were glued to their laptops finishing Full House all weekend and into Monday morning. I then gave them a list of other, newer dramas (Coffee Prince, Kim Sam Sung, Goong..etc) and the crazy addiction began. Many moved on to Japanese and Taiwan Dramas as well and not to mention the slew of Korean movies (they loved Shadowless Sword!!) and now Korean TV (they love One night Two Days, YSMM, etc..).
My students now use Korean language expressions, expletives, and even cultural body language in their daily conversation. It is quite hilarious to hear them say stuff like, “Omo, we have a test today?” or “Is my paper due Monday? jinjja?”
I must say that I, and I think my students have a much better understanding of Korean culture and therefore feel more kinship with Korean people (and Asians in general) in general thanx to these delicious addictions. In the part of the US where I live, Asians tend to be (or seemed to us to be) in a very closed community. Walking into and Asian grocery store and not be able to recognize 90% of the food was daunting and intimidating, especially cause we couldn’t read any of the labels.
Well, now my students have no problems waltzing into Mrs. Kim’s store, greeting her politely in Korean, heading straight for the Kimchi fridge to get the large jars of her homemade miracle, grabbing a box of spicy nong shim noodle variety pack off the shelf and sucking on a jujju bar (sp?) on the way out. They have also become regulars in the local Korean restaurants.
So thank you KBS and MBS…
True Story!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Matinga….. Your story is unbelievable! LOL! Spreading the Korean culture through dramas in a classroom environment. That’s awesome, lol!
October 14th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hi! I am a Korean man myself and can’t say I am not ‘hooked’ on K-drama.
Who doen’t like a dramatic life when your life is mundane and flat, working 9 to 5 or a morning star to night stars, having no time for such a life but only time ㅣㄷㄽ to eat, sleep and a little left over for entertainment too short to go that far to encounter such a surreal life on earth?
How could a homely looking and ‘have not’ women or men, meet and fall in love with actor or actress-like person, not going one way?
Anyway, my point is not about dramatic life but about the mono play of the author of any drama.
There are many different kind and type of people in a casting of a drama. but all of them share only one eyes to see and a mouth to speak out their thoughts and feelings- none other than the author’s who wrote the screen play.
People are basically ‘unique’, meaning that no single person would act the same way as the acting people in a drama.
If you consider the different life style, circumstances, background of all sort, tastes, conviction, or desires, you can agree with me without any difficulty to agree.
So, please be aware of the danger of your thought being shaped up by the mono thought of an author.
I am thinking about the brain-washing effect of the media, news or drama.
PS, We like actors and actress in a drama, but not in a real life, 진짜로.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Korean Dramas are definately not soap - the soaps, I can take or leave, wheras a K drama once started just has to be seen in full from start to finish no matter what time of day or night and I have to watch the screen for the subs so I can’t do the ironing at same time (even though have a pile of ironing the size of 남산!)
If I don’t have much time I will watch a film, but I do enjoy the dramas more as you usually get more time to understand the characters and situations.
The most recent one I watched was “lets go to School sang Doo!” which stared 비 as main character, it had me laughing and crying in almost every episode! (the ending…………̷
I am supposed to be learning Korean language but it is so easy to get distracted - my excuse being that I will learn how things are pronounced better if I watch a drama or 2,or 3…. as I have no native Koreans to interact with nearby!
October 15th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Pamela, thats exactly my reasoning.
I watched so many dramas before I was actually trying to study. I would watch 16-20 episodes of dramas continuously and work full time. I didn’t go out much. Lol.
I would basically watch 2 or 3 complete dramas a week for a while. I was emotionally drained. But completely addicted. I only watch one or two movies a week now.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Pamela you’re right - they are so addicting that I have to “schedule” them in the summer and winter break so I can devote some time to marathoning them. The only American equivalent thus far (where I just HAD to see the next episode) is “Lost”
*sigh* I’m still in the middle of a marathon actually…and not proud of it.
And henry brings up a good point too. It’s like Paris Hilton - why in the world did the American media follow her actions so much? Why do we care? Well, we don’t - we generally don’t like people that live in excess like her but because their lives are so different from our own, we can’t help but be curious or at least keep up. Embarrassing as it seems, I bet Americans know more about Lindsay Lohan than the difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:59 am
i can’t say that i’m a huge drama fan, to be honest.. but i do love variety shows! i am currently addicted to 우리 결혼 했어요 (we got married)… it’s basically like a drama, though, haha….
October 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I do remember with fondness the first Korean drama I ever saw…Rooftop Room Cat. I don’t get tired of watching it because of this nostalgic attachment, and because re-watching it is great listening practice. I must say, I watch it with a touch of sadness since the lead actress was among the suicide cases that plague the Korean entertainer population. But perhaps continuing to enjoy the series is a good way to honor her.
And yes, dramas got me “into” the Korean language. Honestly, Rooftop Room Cat was my first exposure to Korean (I am not counting Tae Kwon Do classes, when I was too dripping with perspiration and fearing bodily harm to notice foreign language phonology.) I remember being so pleasantly surprised at how interesting and pretty it sounded. Love at first sight…
And no, I don’t watch just that one series. Actually, since starting graduate school, I’ve watched zero Korean dramas! But the ones I saw, saw part of, or just heard of and want to watch are ever increasing in number.
Thank you, Hallyu!
October 19th, 2008 at 12:10 am
The closest thing I’ve ever done to this is go to the park where 광한루 is located in 남원. This is where they shot a lot of the scenes for 임권택의 영화 “춘향가”. It was great looking at all the sights there.
As for K-Dramas, I’m not such a big fan of them. Although I was intrigued by “Devil” (마왕/魔王) from the first couple of episodes that I saw.
I do like the variety shows where they have several silly games that celebrities play, like XMan and Star Golden Bell (especially the “Speed English” portion - which is funny yet problematic for me as a linguist - anywho…).