Why People Love Korean Dramas:
A Woman’s Perspective By: A K-drama fan in Indonesia*. I have been watching Korean dramas for more than 10 years now, and I can say that they are one of my favorite forms of entertainment. I am not alone in this, as many Indonesian women share my passion for K-dramas. According to a survey by Snapcart, 85% of respondents said they enjoy some form of Korean culture and entertainment, and the top form was TV and streaming series. But what makes Korean dramas so appealing to us? Here are some of the reasons why I love K-dramas and why I think they resonate with many Indonesian women.
• They have diverse and relatable female characters. One of the things that I appreciate about K-dramas is that they feature a wide range of female characters who have different personalities, backgrounds, goals, and challenges. They are not just stereotypes or sidekicks, but they have their own stories and arcs. They are also relatable, as they face issues that many women can empathize with, such as career, family, romance, friendship, health, and social pressure. Some of my favorite female characters are Woo Young-woo from “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”, who is a brilliant and compassionate lawyer with autism2; Kim Hye-jin from “She Was Pretty”, who struggles with her self-esteem after losing her beauty and job; and Cha Eun-jae from “Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 2”, who overcomes her fear of surgery and becomes a confident doctor.
• They have realistic and respectful romance. Another thing that I love about K-dramas is that they portray romance in a realistic and respectful way. They do not glamorize or trivialize love, but they show the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, the conflicts and compromises of relationships. They also respect the agency and consent of women and do not force them into unwanted situations or actions. They show that love is not just about physical attraction or chemistry, but also about emotional connection, communication, trust, and support. Some of my favorite romantic couples are Yoon Se-ri and Ri Jeong-hyuk from “Crash Landing on You”, who overcome the barriers of politics and war to be together; Seo Dal-mi and Nam Do-san from “Start-Up”, who grow together as entrepreneurs and partners; and Kang Mo-Yeon and Yoo Si-jin from “Descendants of the Sun”, who balance their careers and values as a doctor and a soldier.
Why do They Work?
• They have positive and empowering messages. The last thing that I love about K-dramas is that they have positive and empowering messages for women. They encourage women to pursue their dreams, to stand up for themselves, to challenge the status quo, to overcome their fears, to learn from their mistakes, to support each other, and to be happy. They also inspire women to be more confident, independent, creative, resilient, compassionate, and optimistic. They show that women are not weak or inferior, but strong and capable. Some of the K-dramas that have inspired me are “Itaewon Class”, which tells the story of a group of misfits who open a restaurant and fight against discrimination and corruption; “Search: WWW”, which follows the lives of three women who work in the competitive field of web portal management; and “Hotel Del Luna”, which depicts the journey of a woman who runs a hotel for ghosts and learns to heal her past wounds.
Why You Love It!
These are some of the reasons why I love K-dramas and why I think they are popular among Indonesian women. Of course, there are many other factors that contribute to their appeal, such as the quality of production, the talent of actors, the beauty of culture, the humor of comedy, the thrill of suspense, and the diversity of genres. But for me, the most important thing is that K-dramas make me feel happy, entertained, inspired, and empowered as a woman. And I hope that they will continue to do so for many more years to come.
*Full disclosure, written by Bing and I.
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