Korean drama

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Korean drama (Korean: 한국드라마) refers to televised dramas, similar to Western miniseries, produced in the Korean language for Korean audiences. Many of these dramas have become popular throughout Asia and have contributed to the general phenomenon of the Korean wave. Most popular Korean dramas have also become popular throughout East and Southeast Asia. Some of the most internationally popular Korean dramas are Full House, Stairway to Heaven, My Girl, Dae Jang Geum, My Lovely Sam Soon, Autumn in My Heart, Princess Hours, 1st Shop of Coffee Prince, and Boys Over Flowers. Recently some Korean dramas have gained modest popularity in Latin American countries such as Mexico[1], Peru, Chile, and Brazil.[2] [3][4]

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[edit] Plot

There are two main genres of Korean dramas. The first genre is similar to soap operas but without the never ending plot and frank sexual content. These dramas typically involve conflicts such as marital relationships, money bargaining, relationships between in-laws (usually between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law), and often complicated love triangles. These dramas last anywhere from 16 episodes to over 100 (most often not exceeding 200). The other main genre is Korean historical dramas, which are dramatizations of Korean history. Korean historical dramas typically involve very complex story lines with elaborate costumes, sets and special effects. Martial arts, sword fighting and horsemanship are frequently a big component of Korean historical dramas as well.

[edit] Popularity in the USA

Korean dramas have recently become popular in the United States particularly in regions with populations of ethnic Koreans. The spread of the popularity of Korean dramas typically centers around these regions because Korean drama programming is publicly available. Korean drama fan clubs have appeared in Hawaii[5], California[6] and the metropolitan areas of Chicago[7] and Philadelphia[8], Pennsylvania. Cable channels in the U.S. (such as AZN, KBS World, MBC America) have featured several Korean dramas during primetime, in addition to offering daytime and late-night Korean programming. The dramas are subtitled in English rather than dubbed.

Blockbuster currently sells Korean Drama DVDs in limited locations across the United States. As of November, 2008, Netflix began offering several Korean Dramas as part of their video selection.

[edit] Similarities with other Asian dramas

Korean television (comic programs, dramas, news, and other genres) shares some similarity with Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese television as opposed to American (Western) television. Some popular Korean dramas such as Dae Jang Geum ("The Jewel in the Palace") and Jumong ("The Book of Three Han") have also showcased traditional Korean ways of life, and often depict Confucian values.

Korean dramas often have various clips from the next episode played during the ending credits in order to keep viewers interested.

Korean stars have now become familiar faces throughout Asia - for example Choi Ji Woo, Kwon Sang-woo, Song Seung Heon, Bae Yong Joon, Won Bin, Hyun Bin, Bi/Rain, Lee Young Ae, Song Hye Kyo, Jang Dong Gun, Yoon Eun-hye, Joo Ji Hoon, Gong Yoo, Kim Tae Hee, Koo Hye Sun, Lee Min Ho, Kim Bum, Jeon Ji Hyun , and Lee Jun Ki.

The format was parodied in MADtv with Bobby Lee and Korean American guest-stars Sung Kang and Cathy Shim. Korean drama clichés also appear in a comedic way, including the camera set-up style, constant replayed clips, melodramatic music, and the tragic love triangle. The MADtv parody also features exaggerated English "subtitles" which are relevant to the plot, but do not actually translate the Korean words spoken that are actually irrelevant to the plot, satirizing the incorrect and exaggerated subtitles found on some foreign-language films and TV shows.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.korea.net/News/news/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20061116016&part=110&SearchDay=&source=
  2. ^ http://hellohallyu.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html
  3. ^ http://www.seoulstyle.com/cultural.htm
  4. ^ http://kimsamsoon.blogsome.com/2005/11/30/hawaii-hallyu/
  5. ^ http://808dramafans.proboards21.com/index.cgi Hawaii K-Drama Fans
  6. ^ http://www.runboard.com/bcjkdramasincalifornia CJK Dramas
  7. ^ http://deiner.proboards48.com/ Chicago Korean Drama Fan Club
  8. ^ http://www.koreandramas.net Korean Drama Group

[edit] See also

v • d • e
Dramatic television series
China • Japan • Hong Kong • Philippines • Korea • Soap opera • Taiwan • Telenovela • Téléroman

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_drama"
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