I love K -Drama or Korean dramas to be exact! I think most people had watched a Korean drama especially during this pandemic when most people are in a stay home mode.
In the Philippines, TV stations like ABS-CBN, GMA-7 and TV5 started airing TV Korean dramas in 2003 due to huge demands from the Filipino tele viewers. The very first Korean drama aired by GMA Television was "Bright Girl"; while ABS-CBN was "Meteor Garden"- a Taiwanese Drama, which was quite so popular that the cast came to the Philippines.
My journey in watching Korean dramas started in 2005. I bought a Korean CDs entitled "Saved the Last Dance" which contained 20 Compact Discs. During that time, digital video recording was stored in a DVD format. It might be difficult to imagine that online streaming wasn't even a thing then. "Save the Last Dance For Me" leading cast are Eugene, Ji Sung, Ryu Soo-young and Lee Bo-young. The drama is about two lovers who did not let amnesia get in the way of their love and live happily ever after.
Then it was followed by "The Princess Hours Goong" which has 24 episodes. It is based on Korean manhwa "Goong" meaning Palace by Park So-Hee. We enjoyed watching this K drama as there is so many delightful and funny scenes between the characters named Chae-gyeon, an ordinary art high school student and Ju Ji-hoon who played the Crown Prince Lee Shin. It is the story about young love in face of tradition, politics, and intrigue in an Imperial Household or Palace setting.
Then with the power of internet, live streaming started: online streaming, video streaming become popular. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and Apple TV+ are among the few online streaming platforms that are popular nowadays. Watching Korean dramas are made easy with the online streaming. Gone are the days that you have to buy compact discs and used a DVD recorder to watch a Korean dramas. You can now watch K Drama 24/7 anytime and anywhere as long as you have an internet and a streaming apps available in your mobile.
The historical Korean dramas are my favorite genres in the beginning. The stories set during the Joseon eras about the Kingdom, dynasty, royalty families etc. quite interests me. Among my top favorite historical K dramas are Moon Embracing the Sun, Six Flying Dragons, The Deep Rooted Tree, Rooftop Prince and Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung.
As time goes by, my genres broaden to mystery, sci-fi and contemporary stories. The story about the South and North Korean is also an interesting plot which I enjoyed watching dramas entitled " Crash Landing On You" and "Doctor Strangers".
Romantic comedy is also the most popular genre of K-drama. There are so many common stories and had watched many of them like "The Heirs, She is Pretty, Romance is A Bonus Book, My Love from the Star, Coffee Prince, Healer, My Secret Terrius, are among my favorite romantic Korean dramas.
What is so interesting in Korean Drama that it has so many followers ? What are the reasons people are drawn to watching inspite of the language barrier. I have listed several reasons which I believe are what attract people to K-dramas:
1. Their storyline is unique and interesting.
K drama stories are creative; the brilliant twists in their stories are amazing and the element of surprise is one of the captivating attributes of their stories. It is not the stereotype or the usual plots; somehow there is always something new, an unexpected twist in their storylines and plotlines which keeps you engage, enthrall and compel to watch. The mystery that each stories present is always interesting. It is quite obvious that the team of the shows have really made an incredible effort in their selection from the scriptwriters, the leading stars and the supporting roles ,to the music, the outfits and even the location of the scenes.
2. The leading stars are beautiful and handsome.
Quite true as most of the Korean stars- may it be male or female- are all beautiful creatures in physical form. Koreans are famous for their beautiful, flawless skins and slim bodies. That is also the reason why Korean cosmetics products are selling like hot cakes in the Philippines and even in other countries. It is because of their pore less, chiseled-to-perfection faces which are simply too hard to resist and fall in love too. Some of these movie stars become real life partners, their on-screen romances blossom into real romance and for some, enter into a lifetime commitment.
3. There outfits and sense of fashion is catchy and trendy .
Koreans are also trend setters from the clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories they wear and promote. There’s something about the way Koreans dress that looks like doll or mannequin straight from a fashion magazine or a runway show. Both men and women carry their outfits with such aplomb and style. They are influencers, their glossy, designer clothes and the accessories are simply divine and a favorites. Especially if the theme of the story is about a rich and famous lifestyle. You will surely see the grand, lavish displays from the OOTDs, the house, the settings, as "luxurious lifestyles" is showcase and highlighted in the drama.
4. The food are delicious and looks tasteful.
Korean dishes are a" feast" as they have abundant side dishes which is part of their meals . You will also crave with their food such dishes as Korean barbecues, Kimchi, Tteokboki or simply Chicken. And not to miss that green colored bottled wine name" Soju " which is a perfect partner with a pork belly barbecue and a favorite among Koreans and even the Filipinos now.
5. The romantic moments are tastefully done, and it is wholesome .
Korean Dramas are wholesome. They use the kissing scene as a very important spice in their dramas hence it is use sparingly, so the viewers have something to look forward to as the story progresses. The creative teams behind the shows made the kissing scenes worth the wait, and give them the spotlight they do deserve. Another thing that is good with the Korean dramas, the kissing scenes don’t lead into a bed scenes which is admirable as it is not exploited to get more viewership's. Most of the dramas are decent and the viewership can be categorized as "general patronage". And if they do, it is done with a classy approach which can be watched and the it is done as part of the romantic excitement. The family-friendly themes are applied well and with a taste, that's why family-related stories never fail to tug and touch our hearts.
6. Their love teams are chosen well and pairings are blended like a perfect match.
The pairings of the lead stars for every show always change depending on the script and characters of the stories. What’s great about this is viewers are always treated to a different kind of chemistry. And as such it is done so well, that most partners ended becoming real partner off the screen. I think that it is quite natural as they internalize their characters well and it become part of them and the romance is continued after the drama is completed.
7. The cinematography and the music.
These two are important part of any K dramas and it is added as the perfect ingredient to complete the story. The music chosen are selected and done carefully. The song must express the mood and complement the structure of the story as a finishing touch. There are songs originally compose and became a soundtrack of the TV dramas. The song played in the "The Heirs" entitled "Love is the Moment" which was played every 5 minutes created a connection that even until now you still remember the song and the story. The Crash Landing On You is one of the most popular dramas in the Year 2020 and it is because of the original soundtrack and having famous singers like Yoon Mi-Rae, Baek Ye-Rin, and IU, and because of that, it contributes to the success of this drama.
Here are My Top 30 Korean Dramas listed below:
- The Moon Embracing the Sun
- Crash Landing On You
- Descendants of the Sun
- The World of the Married
- Goblin
- Pinocchio
- Memories of Alhambra
- 100 days my Prince
- The Penthouse
- Start Up
- The Rookie Historian
- 49 Days
- Secret Garden
- The Vagabond
- The Baker King
- While you Were Sleeping
- Iljimae
- The Great Queen Seondeok
- The Empress Ki
- Mr. Sunshine
- Dong Yi
- Moon Lovers : Scarlet Heart Ryeo
- Faith
- Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
- Hwarang
- Jewel in the Palace
- My Sassy Girl
- Oh My Venus
- Suspicious Partners and
- The Girl Who See Scents"
K-dramas become a part of my leisure and entertainment life . It is supposed to be a weekend treat but admittedly I became hooked on watching that even in the evening it occupies my time and space. It is a temporary situation since I am a freelancer, I can manage my time once I am finish with my blogging and Social Media posting. On the positive note, watching Korean dramas veers me away from the negative news and worries happening around us because of the pandemic. I always look forward for any new K drama series in the Netflix.
So what about you? What are your top and favorite K-dramas ? What are your most unforgettable K dramas that you have watched and have not forgotten till today? What are the most popular K Dramas that touch your heart and make you watch them again and again and from time to time?
Hope you will share your thoughts here. Thank You for reading . Stay safe and stay HEALTHY.
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