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K-Culture
The Appeal of K-drama
Descendants of the Sun (Photo: NEW)
Soap operas are one of the most popular types of TV shows in the world, originating in the West with the advent of consumerism and marketing in the mid-20th century. Now, however, Korea is shining in the soap opera light.
Latecomers often outshine those who went before, just as blue outshines indigo (청출어람, 靑出於藍) and just as the old will eventually defer to the next generation (후생가외, 後生可畏). So, too, are Korean dramas reaching for the stars as they stand on the shoulders of those who came before them.
Korean soap operas have shown remarkable development since the 1980s. This is partially thanks to the freedom enjoyed by creative writers and producers in Korea, backed by the development of democracy and a general opening of Korean society. There has been a diversification in TV watchers, too, thanks to economic development, a growing appreciation for cosmetic beauty and leisure activities, and the central government's active support for media and the arts.
Korean dramas have evolved very interestingly, as the plots are generally just based on standard content found across human society, but then added to the top are elements of fiction and imagination. This is partially thanks to the strong fan base from around the world and to their love for Korean TV shows.
Let's learn more about the wonderful world of Korean dramas.
A library inspired by K-dramas
Lyudmila Mikheesku A little while ago, I wrote a column about the characteristics of Korean dramas, talking about how bothered I am by product placement in TV shows. To...
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K-drama masterpieces (7): ‘Feelings’
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Jan 13,2017
Why the world is going crazy over "Goblin: The Lonely and Great God"
God, this drama is the BOMB! I can’t even!I don’t even know where to start with my praises for this awesome new Korean drama.I’ve been watching Korean soap operas for a f...
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K-drama masterpieces (6): ‘Jealousy’
The 16-episode TV series ‘Jealousy,’ aired on MBC in 1992, hit the highest viewer ratings of 56.1 percent. A 1992 TV drama series sparked romance, and also jealousy ...
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K-drama masterpieces (5): ‘Eyes of Dawn’
The 36-episode TV series ‘Eyes of Dawn’ aired on MBC in 1991. It starred Choi Jae-sung (left) as the main male character Choi Dae-chi, and Chae Shi-ra as the main female ...
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K-drama masterpieces (4): ‘All In’
The hit SBS TV show ‘All In’ aired from Jan. 15 to Apr. 3, 2003. It saw some of the highest ratings ever, with 47.7 percent viewership numbers. In 2003, soap opera fans...
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Korean Wave’s ever-rising popularity in Bulgaria
For the past decade, Korean pop, commonly known as K-pop, has been bringing diversity to the music scene worldwide. Often inspired by trends in U.S. pop and hip hop durin...
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K-drama masterpieces (3): ‘Full House’
The KBS TV series ‘Full House’ aired from July 14 to Sept. 2, 2004. It had more than 40 percent viewership in its time bracket. A sweet love story warmed the nation...
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K-drama masterpieces (2): ‘Autumn in My Heart’
In the autumn of 2000, a fairy tale story toughed many hearts. The KBS soap opera “Autumn in My Heart" (가을동화), running from Sept. 18 through to Nov. 7, brought many ...
Aug 29,2016
K-drama masterpieces: ‘Star in My Heart’
Soap operas like SBS's “My Love from the Star" (별에서 온 그대) (2013-2014) and KBS's “Descendants of the Sun" (태양의 후예) (2016) were sensational hits from their very first episo...
Aug 01,2016
