By Lee Jihae
Photos = Lee Jeongwoo


A K-drama exhibition in Seoul features scenes that made viewers' hearts flutter, lines of familiar dialogue and touching lyrics from songs to stir up memories and rediscover love.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization on July 5 opened "K-Drama, Love Chapter: Moments of Love in Drama Rekindle" to highlight such moments at Cheongwadae Sarangchae, a museum in the city's Jongno-gu District.

The display shows the narratives of such dramas through 3D and audiovisual experiential methods.

Black and white photos of scenes from K-dramas are displayed on the ceiling of the first floor lobby at the museum Cheongwadae Sarangchae in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.

The event starts on the lobby of the exhibition hall on the first floor. Black and white photos cover the ceiling and give the impression of going back in time with scenes from nine popular K-dramas including "Crash Landing on You," "Moon in the Day," "See You in My 19th Life" and "Strong Girl Nam-soon."

The monochromatic photos seem to evoke deeper emotions. Even the way the characters' eyes look at each other and their steps of walking away from each other probably affect visitors as well. 

A work at the media art room of Cheongwadae Sarangchae shows a love story between a man and a woman.

The media art room depicts a story that seems like a short K-drama, featuring a love story at  domestic tourist destinations in the background.

A man and a woman meet by chance while taking photos at the scenic Nasa Beach in Ulsan. They later walk along a famous pine forest in Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and part ways at the historical site 1934 Dongnae Station in Busan, but eventually reunite by the Hangang River in Seoul, with N Seoul Tower visible in the background.

Songs like "Fly Away" from "Castaway Diva" and "Scattered Seasons" from "Moon in the Day" are played along.

The exhibition shows the emotional changes that K-drama characters experience through a video showing a variety of colors and light.

The interactive Travel Library visually expresses the emotional flow of K-drama characters. The entrance shows a media art video showing a series' main characters with various colors and lights projected on the walls that change from moment to moment, showing how K-dramas affect all senses, not just sight and sound.

Key scenes from a K-drama are projected on glass columns with the soundtrack playing in the background.

The highlight of the exhibition is glass prism columns installed in a dark room. Reflected on the pillars along with light are key scenes from hit K-dramas such as "Crash Landing on You," "Although I Am Not a Hero," "Welcome to Samdal-ri" and "When Life Gives You Tangerines."

Each scene is accompanied by songs like "I Will Go to You Like the First Snow" from the series "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" and "You Are My Everything" from "Descendants of the Sun." The room features colorful lights to boost the visitor experience of watching the characters fall in love.

The exhibition shows how K-dramas are more than just stories to watch but convey a language of empathy that stirs emotions and revives memories.

To run through Nov. 30, the free exhibition is held daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except Tuesdays.

jihlee08@korea.kr