At the Noodle Road event yesterday, I was interviewed several times. As usual, I was asked "Why do you watch KDramas". Additionally, in reading some of the posts here and talking to some people I think it would be helpful if I repeat (and expand on) what I told the reporters.

KDramas have what I like to call the McDonald's effect. McDonald's became so popular (and remains so) because people know what's on the menu no matter where they are in the World. (Ask any of the ladies where they ate when they were in Seoul and they will tell you it was Outback.)

We watch KDramas because we KNOW the boy will get the girl but it will be a struggle. It is the journey NOT the destination that keeps us entertained.

We all make fun of the cliches - the parking spot right in front of the building, the humidifiers in every hospital room, the magic clear IVs, etc... but if we didn't have these things, would we really watch?

I know some of you are not pleased with the caliber of writing in some of the dramas. I urge you to consider a few things before passing judgment.

-KDramas are written for Koreans NOT the rest of the World. A few Americans complaining about the writing/story line, etc is not going to change the industry.
-We are understanding the story based on the subtitles. If the subtitler is clueless it makes for a disjointed story.
-Often times the networks hire outside subtitling companies. Most are very good, some not so much. The best subs come from fans because they LOVE THE DRAMAS and this shines thru.
-The wonderful thing about having 300 channels is that you can change the channel if you aren't happy with what is on. If nothing is on, your local library has millions of books to keep you entertained.

We are truly lucky to be able to share these dramas with each other and the rest of the World. Think of how much you have learned and the experiences you have had thanks to the dramas. If not for the dramas - would any of us have "met"? I know many of us have developed long lasting friendships off the Board. I know for myself, I probably would not have met these wonderful people otherwise.

So as you are poking fun at the cliches and pissing and moaning about the writing, please bear these things in mind.

 

Well said T.!!

You're right, Theresa. All those silly cliches and tried-and-true formulaic scripts and plot elements are a part of what makes K-dramas so entertaining to watch. Sure, I may poke fun at those cliches and criticize the writing from time to time (along with everyone else), but I do it purely out of love for the shows and because those things are fun to discuss - not to try and change the industry.

G-Man wrote:

... but I do it purely out of love for the shows and because those things are fun to discuss - not to try and change the industry.

I think most of us do Greg. But there are a few that don't and even more that don't realize that's why we do it.

 

Yesterday I posted the NY Times review of "MOTHER". Time Magazine named "THIRST" one of the 10 best movies of 2009. IRIS would probably get a few EMMY awards if it was eligible. Great stuff is coming out of Korea, but we need to remember that some of the things we are watching are the daily equivalent of "DAYS OF OUR LIVES" which no one would compare with Shakespeare. You're right, Theresa, in that we enjoy the journey & those who don't might have to look elsewhere for a better tourist package!

I've never been able to explain to family & friends why I watch, Theresa -- so thanks for your post.
I am happiest when there was a regular drama on during the week and an historical on the week-end.

I'm not capitivated or inspired by much on American tv, and I can't really understand why some of the themes in these dramas stir things up for me and make me consider things about family and responsibility. My 11 year old son was watching Pure In Heart with me one afternoon and saw the male lead teaching the girl how to ride a bike. They were flirting k-drama style, and I glanced at my son and he was smiling so big while watching, and it hit me that my two boys never see that kind of innocent fun and friendship between the sexes on American tv, it goes straight to the heavy hook-up.

I also really like the way they reflect on their behavior and who it may have harmed. That is something really lacking all around so its satisfying to see if only on K-Dramas.

I also must confess the only impressions I had of Korea was MASH! The historicals inspired me to read up on its history and culture and I am not quite as ignorant as I once was. The big mystery to my sons is still how worked up I get watching the flaming arrows and swordplay!

My answer as to why do I watch, is very simple. Because I enjoy watching Kdramas much more than anything that is available on American television, including the Spanish language telenovelas, of which we have dozens here in Miami, and which I find so silly. Nothing on regular TV holds my interest like a Kdrama.

I guess maybe I'm bored with American television. I know I've always loved Asian programs when I could find one on PBS occasionally, and they were usually Japanese, with an occasional Taiwanese movie.

I've mentioned before that I found my very first Kdrama by a fluke. Back in 2002, I found a music video online that intrigued me, and I looked it up to learn more about it, and I found that it was from a Korean drama called "Winter Sonata". It looked so interesting that I looked it up online, I found an online store that sold it, and I bought it for close to $100.00. That was a lot of money, but I just had to watch it! When I got it, and watched it, I was hooked. I went online and bought another, and another, and another. And I became a fan of Korean dramas. Before that, I didn't even know that Korea had such a huge television industry, but I've been hooked ever since.

Now that Kdramas are readily available, I can't get enough of them. I love them. Simple as that.

I would disagree with /modify a few points:
1. We ate at Bennigans - not Outback. However, the service was lousy.
2. Poking fun at the clichés are kind of like the MST3K thing: that's half the fun (I picture myself as Crow). Ma hates it when I talk back to the show, but that's half the fun for me.
3. Some of the storylines are just plain dogs, no matter the country. The last few KBS daily dramas have sucked (which probably accounts for the much more focused storyline in Cha Cha Cha - viewers were sick of the mediocrity). Some have been pulled in Korea just because of this (viz. Barefoot Youth, which sucked). I think Korean and American taste isn't really so different, overall.
4. Fan subtitling is problematical. Some fan subbing is truly clueless. When the subbing is done at Network level, it's pretty bad (consider Hello, Francesca). I understand enough Korean to realize most translations are far from literal - which is a good thing. Literal translations just don't work. KBFD does most of the subs for the ones I watch, and I think they do an outstanding job - typos aside.
5. I agree that the clichés are what make these shows so addictive, but the best shows are the ones that break the mold, or go beyond the mere clichés. Consider KSS, R/R, and Happiness - they were all outside the bocks.

I watch these dramas because they really move me. I feel more pure emotion when I watch them, than when I watch American TV. The simple, honest nature of the interactions makes you appreciate things more- when the guy finally holds her hand- you feel it more- when they admit they love each other, you treasure it. When someone admits they were wrong ( Grandma in OMR) you are moved to tears yourself. I like the focus on family, as well as the focus on redemption. I haven't seen nearly as many shows as some of you, so I think I've avoided some of the not so great ones and seen alot of gems-- maybe they fill a void for all of us-- I am so happy to have found them

I suspect all of watch KDs and KMs because we want to, and frankly, that is the best reason I can think of!

I watch Kdramas because of the families.
I love the interactions of the different generations.
Their homes, the way they eat there meals...day to day life.

What keeps me coming back, is good trumiphs over evil, boy & girl fall in love.
What makes me laugh, is people being followed & never knowing someone is right behind you.
Parking spots directly in front of apartments, hospitals & business.
There is only one shopping mall in all of Korea. No matter where you live, you will run into the other family that you are fueding with. <Spoils your day out everytime >

If the writing style is not to my liking, I know there are more to choose from!

I don't know why I love kdramas but I know why I will always watch - to complete my study on how many characters go to sleep in their street clothes. LOL! (Just kidding)

Chris wrote:

I watch Kdramas because of the families. I love the interactions of the different generations. Their homes, the way they eat their meals...day to day life.

Those are the exact reasons I became fascinated with Korean Dramas. I criticize and get annoyed, but these are normal emotions when watching any Drama-Korean or otherwise- and everyone does not have the same taste. Some people hated TRH and I loved it! In Likeable or Not, Mrs. Na watches her dramas too and talks to the TV just like we do on the boards. I shall continue to watch as long as they remain available. I enjoy the culture so much that I gave one of my children's book characters a Korean friend. I also like the fact that I met great people who are as addicted as I am.

I never met a historical drama that I didn't.....LOVE.

A hundred plus episodes? No problem.....bring it on. My Channel
#63.5 (all Chinese, all the time ) is showing a Korean historical
drama with Chinese sub-titles AND Chinese voice-over dubbing.
It drove me crazy that I didn't know what the title was. I copied
the Korean lettering title for comparison and went off to "SEARCH."

Looking at photos of different h-dramas, I was able to figure out
that the show I'm watching, but can't understand is "Huh Joon."
(A former punk who eventually becomes interested in medicine.)

I still have NO CLUE about what anybody is saying. But that minor detail
doesn't stop me from watching for 10-15 minutes, anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love the good guys. I love the costumes, the settings, the computerized ballet,
OOPS! I mean the battles, and I really love yelling at the villains. Korean historical
dramas are the best thing on my TV. Unfortunately, that's not such a big compliment.
The American TV "competition" is (with some great exceptions) mostly garbage.


*

I watch because it makes me understand other cultures more and make me more "human".

I also watch Indian, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Norwegian dramas on the various Comcast stations.

For monetary reasons, I can’t travel to foreign destinations, but I can through the dramas.

I find that we are all the same: looking for love, family acceptance, find ourselves and fulfill dreams (like Kdrama MIL the perfect DIL, by what ever means necessary).

We had a question on the board as to why the Kang’s, on Jolly Widows, started calling each other Dang-shin from Yobo. I found a site “The Korean” that answers your emails. I was told that Koreans don’t really use proper names, they are refer to each other as forms of “you” - male friend , place they live, parents of children . As we know Yobo – honey (relaxed you) , while Dang-shin, as it was explained is a more formal you. It has a different meaning if used for a non spouse – to call you out to fight ( those are fighting words).

I would not have thought of delving into another culture if not for kdramas.

PS I am still trying to learn all the “crazy” US customs different nationalities have brought to US states and have interwoven into US culture.

I know T is talking about my friends but it is SAD, SAD, SAD, SAD, SAD (X 100) that you would fly halfway around the world to Korea, a place where cuisine is a huge part of their culture as well as being incredibly varied, fresh, and delicious and eat at an AMERICAN CHAIN restaurant! For shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


That aside, for those who haven't watched a lot of TV in Korea and seen all the other programming that isn't dramas- that would give you a better prespective. There is a lot of other stuff, some pretty crazy I might add... It would be like only knowing American TV as daytime soaps, a la General Hospital and The Young and The Restless...

I agree with you all-But I also watch for the lovely eye candy and gorgeous outfits. American TV can't compete and I enjoy being able to watch TV with my pre-teen son.

For a closet fashion Diva, only Kdrama can feed my soul with new trendy fashions-especially for men. Yummy! Only problem now, is that I keep wishing the men around me would start dressing like the guys in the drama.Oh well.

I like the simple plots-I am watching TV to De-stress, not to think. It is the dialogue, the eye candy, and often times the laughs/misunderstandings that make it so great. Yes, there are some real lame dramas out there, but for every one of those, there are 2 to 3 great ones worth the watching.PS-the clichés are some of the things that make you laugh in Kdramas. Because there are so many, it is really easy to use them for a drinking game. For each time they eat, for a slap, for drinking (this earns two sips), and for carrying one on your back, you get to take a drink from your beer or soda<wink>For Pasta, it was "Chef!"-I took a drink for each time that was said-talk about buzzing.LOL

I don't find American TV humor funny any more. It is too risque or offensive, while Korean dramas remind me of the screw-ball comedies of the 30s thru 60s (Doris Day & Cary Grant). I loved the movies from that time and Kdramas allow me to have that in modern settings.

My son who just turn 13 loves kdramas too. He says they are hilarious. He doesn't find regular TV funny. He likes being able to rant about the evil chic/guy. They always have something that justifies your hatred for them and make the good look so much better.

He also likes the slow process of being together romantically unlike American which he really can't relate to-he is a bit shy. I rather he think of romance like that portrayed in kdrama than what is on regular TV(ex. Kdrama, the couple freaks out if the girl walks in on the guy with just his tank top on-Oh no, there's bits of skin revealed! While in Amer. TV, the girl is getting drunk and plotting a way to sleep with the guy she likes).

Some of the Kdrama male leads remind me of Cary Grant, with their fashion style, suave way of being a man and the gentleman way of being respectful to their parents and women. I would rather have my son act that way than some of the men I see on regular TV. My son wears the outfits on the dramas that he sees because he thinks they are cooler looking than t-shirt & jeans. (Yes, he wears button shirts, along with scarves and dress shoes to school-Although he isn't asian, he has become a fashion diva too)

And yes, I rant about how I would have done the drama differently or how cliché something is, but that is the fun of it. Right next to yelling/talking to the screen as it is playing. (Similar to watching those horrible B horror flicks of the 50s, everyone knows what's going to happen, and everything is so cliche-heck slut girl has to be the one to die. Yet we all enjoy watching and yelling "I wouldn't do that if I was you", knowing they will and knowing they will be sorry for doing so).

To me, kdramas bring quality to TV-with the sense that the bad guy will pay,love over-comes, there is redemption, family is necessary and needs respect, sometime the end doesn't end happily together and love is a journey that needs not to be rushed.

I'll be shallow but honest: I watch for the great looking men and because I like having to agonize through half of the episodes and loads of eyesex before there's a kiss. Korean television is just more romantic than American television!

Lucas wrote:

That aside, for those who haven't watched a lot of TV in Korea and seen all the other programming that isn't dramas- that would give you a better prespective. There is a lot of other stuff, some pretty crazy I might add... It would be like only knowing American TV as daytime soaps, a la General Hospital and The Young and The Restless...

My point as well...I watch KBS world & there are some dumb game shows, etc., that would only be shown on cable channels & not American networks. Something like IRIS would be a prime time drama/mini series.

I watch because I think these shows have beautiful stories, scenery and people. They touch me. Before I started watching Kdramas I had pretty much quit watching tv all together. None of the shows on tv here do anything for me. In fact, I don't even have a tv anymore! I just watch what I like on the internet or on dvds. I pretty much just watch Korean and Chinese dramas. In fact, it was a friend of mine in Hong Kong who got me into Kdramas to begin with - he told me I just had to see Dae Jang Geum. That was the end of it for me

Caidanbi wrote:

That was the end of it for me

Well put! KDs have been the end of it for me, too!

Caidanbi wrote:

........he told me I just had to see Dae Jang Geum. That was the end of it for me.

As they say on "Family Feud," GOOD ANSWER!


*

It's the exotic costumes, the pony tails and top knots, the flaming arrows, and the warriors with kick-a$$ martial arts skills. Its the Warrior Girls, the loyal sidekicks, and the Slimeball villains. Its the predictability of the lackey running into a tent of soldiers yelling "Jangoooooooooon!!!!!!!!" Or the ambush that surely awaits any general foolish enough to march his army through a ravine. Or royal families squabbling over who gets to be the next king. Its the fun of trying to identify which roles the actors played in previous dramas.

To me one of the appeals of kdrama/movies is that they are more real/honest about portrayal of everyday life than american/western shows I'm used to. Things in america are so sanitized...no foul language, mis en cine is scrubbed of any real character.

cursing, farting, pooping (including sound of poop plopping into the toilet, etc) all add to the humor and endearing nature of kshows. Some scenes in some dramas are so real you can almost smell the place where the scene takes place.

In some sense they are dare i say it......more grounded and earthy than the sanitized american fair with their visually acceptable mis en cine. Plus with so much edits and close ups it sometimes makes me dizzy watching western shows. Also after you watched couple of american shows they all have the same cadence in terms of timing and plots, etc. which makes it boring.

Also, i've noticed that popular american shows seem like they are written for grade school kids with very little subtlety with so much exposition and obvious predictable acting.

kdrama on the other hand also has it's faults but the plot line moves much quicker than american shows per episode.

in addition kmovies/dramas really are very emotional and tend to move me. I can't remember the last time i was moved to tears watching american movie/show except for shear agony of sitting through dumbed down rubbish.

for me, i've pretty much given up on american shows...except for a few....everything else is just waste of time.

but the thing is the real appeal of kmovie/drama for me is the "tearjerk" factor. you KNOW somewhere down the line your going to cry and that the plot line is setting you up for the emotional release. And even though you know this already and can predict it to some extent....i sometimes don't want to get ahead of the predictions but want to let the story line wash over me so i can experience the cathartic moment for myself.

it's the emotional aspect of these shows that's so addictive.



*Edit by Cathy--topics merged*

I could not have said it any better.

After watching my first K drama, I hardly watch anything else. They are so addictive. Many are an emotional roller coaster ride but I love them. I was watching a scene from Three Brothers recently and was bawling my eyes out. Seriously, box of tissues an' all.

After a while the characters feel like your own friends and family. This is a testament to the superior casting, acting and directing of many of these dramas and the attention to detail and subtlety.

Way to go Korea! Love yah! Yeah mon!

prettypat wrote:

I could not have said it any better. After watching my first K drama, I hardly watch anything else. They are so addictive. Many are an emotional roller coaster ride but I love them. I was watching a scene from Three Brothers recently and was bawling my eyes out. Seriously, box of tissues an' all. After a while the characters feel like your own friends and family. This is a testament to the superior casting, acting and directing of many of these dramas and the attention to detail and subtlety. Way to go Korea! Love yah! Yeah mon!

hear hear!

agree on both ideas.

Also, I've noticed less fetishizing of sexuality on korean shows. For instance some of these kdramas/kmovies show not even a kiss but there is soooooooo much romance. Kshows are more into cuteness factor rather than BLATANT sexuality. Everytime I think about "my sassy girl" they did soooo many things RIGHT in that film. This is complete opposite to dumbed down western shows that automatically equate sex/physicality with romance. It's just that western writers are poor script writers I think.


Also especially in the kdramas every age group is represented from kids to grandmas/pas. When's the last time you saw something like that in american shows or movies? Instead, with youth worship in america most of the time you just see youthful people on screen and rarely old folks mixed in the plot as major story lines. It's this interweaving of generations that also adds to the realism and "earthiness" of kshows. kshows are less likely to ignore old folks.

i can see why american version of "my sassy girl" failed epically. hollywood trying to use it's tired and warn out methods/formulas to recreate a very nuanced story/acting/directing was not going to work. after i watched the american version of my sassy girl it almost made me hurl.

Elisha Cuthbert = total ditz acting, juvenile and unable to carry that character. One got the sense it was contrived and she was trying too hard to be "cute/funny".

contrast that with the Jeon who added charm, beauty, boyishness, stubbornness with softness with such subtly and cohesiveness it all made sense in a crazy likable way.


what hollywood is good at is making summer blockbuster scifi movies that appeal to middle school kids with 2 dimensional blunt characters/story lines ........they don't have it to make anything fresh. Most attempts are fraught with overacting, blunt scripts/storylines, sanitized devoid of life, etc. just plan rubbish.

kshows = roller coaster ride indeed!

seacorrie wrote:

I also really like the way they reflect on their behavior and who it may have harmed. That is something really lacking all around so its satisfying to see if only on K-Dramas.

i was very impressed with "assorted gems" kdrama with it's internal dialogue/reflections.

Could you recommend some other shows that have reflections on behavior etc? it was educational for me.

Lucas wrote:

I know T is talking about my friends but it is SAD, SAD, SAD, SAD, SAD (X 100) that you would fly halfway around the world to Korea, a place where cuisine is a huge part of their culture as well as being incredibly varied, fresh, and delicious and eat at an AMERICAN CHAIN restaurant! For shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K-FOOOD!! = 3rd character in EVERY kshow

oh glorious k food!!

everytime i watch an eating scene my mouth waters and I get a craving for some kimchi/jja jong myun!!!

compared healthwise, variety and taste......is it just me or is k food just better than american fair???

in terms of variety of protein sources and vegetables and spices and sauces used I find k food more varied

healthwise k food use less fat/butter....it's more starchy and close to peasant food

as far as taste goes k food has more varied tastes and spices. maybe i'm just sick of the usual cream and tomato based foods of western culture.

thirddyfrk wrote:

Some of the Kdrama male leads remind me of Cary Grant, with their fashion style, suave way of being a man and the gentleman way of being respectful to their parents and women. I would rather have my son act that way than some of the men I see on regular TV. My son wears the outfits on the dramas that he sees because he thinks they are cooler looking than t-shirt & jeans. (Yes, he wears button shirts, along with scarves and dress shoes to school-Although he isn't asian, he has become a fashion diva too)

you know who reminds me of cary grant?

Cha Seung-won.

the way he carries himself and his expression and stature sometimes reminds me of Cary Grant.

i REALLY enjoyed watching him in.....

kick the moon (by the way that lady who was the love interest reminded me of "my sassy girl"; tomboyish tough but cute.)

Small Town Rivals (funny)

My Teacher, Mr. Kim (tearjerker/comedy)
A Day with My Son (tearjerker)
Over the Border (tearjerker/romance)


i like him in comedies........rather than serious roles.

in comedies he appears to be thinking 2 steps ahead.