Breakthrough of Korean Series:
Korean Series, also known as Korean Dramas or K-dramas, are television series in the Korean language based in South Korea. K-dramas became popular worldwide in the early 2000s due to its Korean pop culture, also known as Hallyu/Korean Wave, and far-fetched plot twists. However, the Korean entertainment industry started booming when “Gangnam Style” by PSY hit YouTube like a tsunami. Also, Oscar-winning Korean movies like “Parasite” have spiked the growth of K-dramas all over the world. Korean dramas can go from being extremely emotional to incredibly heart-breaking to “OMG, what was that?” in a heartbeat. This is exactly what keeps the viewers coming back for more. Like any other television series, K-dramas also have many different genres such as rom-coms, historical dramas that promote Korean culture, office politics, family dramas, school life, and even horror comedies.
Korean Series: A Mental Break during the Pandemic:
Fans worldwide go head over heels for K-dramas since they help them go into the “la-la land” of romance. While K-dramas are fictional and may never happen in real life, they are still something you can believe has a possibility of happening. In other words, it’s a fantasy escape for K-fans of all age groups. During the ongoing pandemic, K-dramas seem to have had their biggest breakthroughs in India because more people found extra time and an inclination to explore contents that help them escape from the anxiety of what’s going on around them. For many youngsters, it is not only a favorite time during this pandemic but is also something that motivates them to learn the language.
The widespread craze for K-dramas led to their availability via streaming services along with subtitles in multiple languages across all over the world. Rakuten Viki, a U.S.-based Korean drama-dominated streaming platform, has witnessed an escalation in the number of K-drama viewers. OTT platforms like Netflix have also adapted this Hallyu trend and have picked up dramas like” It’s Okay To Not Be Okay,” “Start-up,” “Vincenzo,” “Crash Landing On You,” etc. Gone are those days when K-dramas were criticized for commonly used themes of love triangle/affairs or a working-class woman and a rich man being romantic. The industry is set to take unusual to the next level, blending traditional values with Western individualism and materialism. Korean dramas today mostly illustrate a meaningful message to tackle issues of Korean society such as school bullying, mental illness, corruption, classism, racism, etc.
Soundtrack and Cinematography:
The best part about K-dramas is that they emphasize high visuals and aesthetics. Also, the background soundtrack acts as a cherry on top. Being an outsider, it’s difficult to understand the language, but the melody surely hits the right chord. Even if the character isn’t speaking a word in a scene, the location, soundtrack, and background add sense to the scene so beautifully that the viewer anticipates being there.
The Influence of K-Dramas:
The craze for K-dramas has also played a pivotal role in promoting the Korean language, culture, and food. The influence of Korean culture has escalated beyond the entertainment industry. At present, a shift away from the Western-style makeup trends to K-beauty led to the growth of Korean-based commercial brands such as “Innisfree”. Interestingly, there’s also been a spike in the number of active learners of the Korean language-“hanguk.”