After decades of holding onto the repetitive nostalgia that Hollywood romantic comedies and sitcoms offer, a new contender has made its mark on this generation’s pop culture: Korean entertainment. While Korean culture has found international success in music, beauty and fashion, one aspect that has only now begun to gain traction in America is Korean dramas.
Often featuring a cliche plot with an overly dramatic twist and containing hints of comedy, K-dramas appear to be the mirror image of American dramas–until they aren’t. Creative and addicting, there is a reason why these shows have accumulated a devoted fan base around the world.
Based on not just one category, Korean dramas have a little bit of something for everyone, ranging from cliche romance to timeless, historical dramas. Each plot is carefully constructed to tell a story from a variety of perspectives without compromising its quality or clarity, a quality that has long been forgotten in the overused storylines of American television.
“I’m a sucker for romantic comedies, but Korean dramas usually span a variety of genres, which is why I love them so much,” junior Katie Song said via Instagram.
Adding to their appeal is the ability to tell a story within a matter of episodes rather than sprawled out through unnecessarily numerous seasons. Not only does this prevent redundancy in the plot, it also keeps the audience engaged by only highlighting what is pertinent to the story.
“Rather than having endlessly boring continuous seasons that get worse and worse like ‘The Walking Dead’ or ‘The 100,’ most dramas are short, 16-episode miniseries that end without leaving the watcher any disappointment and, oftentimes, wanting more, “ freshman Jeremiah Jung said.
Almost as important as the storytelling is the performers who bring that story to life on the screen. And, in the case of Korean entertainment, it’s actors and actresses who truly immerse themselves in portraying the character at hand. Whatever the scene calls for, the actor is able to evoke that very emotion, prompting an equally emotional response from an audience who hang on every word.
“My favorite part of K-dramas are the cast and the OST [original sound tracks] because the music really gets you into the drama and the casts are all beautiful and amazing actors/actresses,” junior Kai-Min Tsuei said.
Along with each drama is a soundtrack showcasing the voices of prominent South Korean artists. These original sound tracks are matched to a particular scene from the drama, allowing audiences to connect to the show even after they have finished watching the drama.
Nevertheless, there remains an overarching meaning to the popularity that the Korean entertainment industry has garnered within this decade. Once overshadowed by Hollywood blockbusters, this new generation of diverse American youth seeks people who represent them in media, something Hollywood has rarely provided.
Korean dramas offer us a glimpse of what the future holds in terms of both quality and diversity. Especially now, in a time where we are trapped in the limited consistency of our mundane home lives, these shows offer an escape to connect to a world that we can only hope will one day be ours.