Let’s explore Korean dramas again. In previous blogs, we discussed my favorite show, “The Heirs,” from where my journey started, and compared “Boys Over Flowers” with the Chinese version, “Meteor Garden,” noting the similarities in the dramas. In terms of culture, I found many similarities.
Title Songs:
But first things first, the title songs attract me the most. The use of animation and the ability to tell a story within a few seconds with attractive visuals is impressive. I think every part of a K-drama or C-drama represents exceptional camera and editing skills, a strong hold on the visualization of the concept, and finding different ways to present it. For example, the drama “Descendants of the Sun” (태양의 후예) shows a story narrative in the title. In the opening scene, we see the lead characters Yoo Si-jin (유시진), played by Song Joong-ki (송중기), and Kang Mo-yeon (강모연), played by Song Hye-kyo (송혜교), in action, which sets the tone for the series. Similarly, “Business Proposal” (사내 맞선), “W” (더블유), and “The Good Detective” (모범형사) also present strong narrative openings in their title sequences.
Background Voices and Different Music:
The sounds in comic scenes or when characters are having thoughts in their minds are entertaining. For instance, in “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?” (김비서가 왜 그럴까), the character Lee Young-joon (이영준), played by Park Seo-joon (박서준), often has humorous inner dialogues accompanied by quirky sound effects.
Animation:
While showing thoughts or imaginations, they use cute animations, giving a different vibe. As an Indian audience, we have rarely, if ever, seen this in our content. For example, in “Strong Woman Do Bong-soon” (힘쎈여자 도봉순), the protagonist Do Bong-soon (도봉순), played by Park Bo-young (박보영), imagines herself as a superhero, and cute animations are used to depict her thoughts.
Cultural Similarities with India:
I found that Indian and Korean societies encourage similar values. For example, respect for elders is common. In many scenes of dramas, interactions with elders in the family are portrayed very sweetly and empathetically. In “Reply 1988” (응답하라 1988), the character Deok-sun (덕선), played by Lee Hye-ri (이혜리), often interacts with her parents and grandparents, showing deep respect and affection.
The focus on education, particularly education from abroad with high standards, is evident. Almost every serial has a character admired for their skills, often coming back from abroad or getting an opportunity to go abroad. One thing I liked is that many lead characters refuse to go abroad, saying they have great opportunities in their own country, reflecting patriotism. For instance, in “Sky Castle” (SKY 캐슬), the character Kang Ye-seo (강예서), played by Kim Hye-yoon (김혜윤), is constantly pushed towards achieving academic excellence and studying abroad.
The intense competition for jobs, schools, and employment opportunities is a common theme in all series. Shows like “Crash Course in Romance” (일타 스캔들), “The Heirs” (왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라 – 상속자들), and “Boys Over Flowers” (꽃보다 남자) depict how middle-class society strives to uplift their status through education.
Common Scenes or Must-Have Scenes in Dramas:
- Business Crisis and Love: If the boy is smart or from a wealthy background, his family faces a business crisis exactly when their love is in full bloom, and they part for a short time. In “The Heirs” (왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라 – 상속자들), Kim Tan (김탄), played by Lee Min-ho (이민호), faces a family business crisis just as his relationship with Cha Eun-sang (차은상), played by Park Shin-hye (박신혜), starts to blossom. Similarly, in “My Love from the Star” (별에서 온 그대), Do Min-joon (도민준), played by Kim Soo-hyun (김수현), faces a crisis related to his identity and past just as his love story with Cheon Song-yi (천송이), played by Jun Ji-hyun (전지현), unfolds.
- Rival Lovers: A boy pursuing a girl has a strong rival who is more capable, sweet, caring, and devoted to her, but still, our lady falls for the bad guy who has hurt her multiple times. In “Boys Over Flowers” (꽃보다 남자), Gu Jun-pyo (구준표), played by Lee Min-ho (이민호), is often at odds with Yoon Ji-hoo (윤지후), played by Kim Hyun-joong (김현중), over Geum Jan-di (금잔디), played by Ku Hye-sun (구혜선). Similarly, in “The Heirs” (왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라 – 상속자들), Choi Young-do (최영도), played by Kim Woo-bin (김우빈), competes with Kim Tan for Cha Eun-sang’s affection.
- Childhood Connections: Linking with their childhood: One always remembers something from childhood, and the other recalls it in the last episode. In many series, a girl or boy’s parent faces an accident, the child survives, and in that moment, another character becomes a support for a short while, which sticks in their mind and always holds a position in their heart. This connection is revealed at a later stage. In “The Legend of the Blue Sea” (푸른 바다의 전설), the characters Heo Joon-jae (허준재), played by Lee Min-ho (이민호), and Shim Cheong (심청), played by Jun Ji-hyun (전지현), have a childhood connection that is revealed later in the series. Similarly, in “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” (달의 연인 – 보보경심 려), the past connections between Hae Soo (해수), played by IU (아이유), and the princes, especially Wang So (왕소), played by Lee Joon-gi (이준기), play a significant role in the plot.
- School Reunions and Nostalgia: If they are school friends, they always have a reunion, visit old places, and show the signs they left there secretly for their loved one, like a message on a wall or under a tree where they buried love letters or things showing affection. In “Reply 1997” (응답하라 1997), the characters Yoon Yoon-jae (윤윤제), played by Seo In-guk (서인국), and Sung Shi-won (성시원), played by Jung Eun-ji (정은지), revisit their school and reminisce about their past. Similarly, in “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo” (역도요정 김복주), Kim Bok-joo (김복주), played by Lee Sung-kyung (이성경), and Jung Joon-hyung (정준형), played by Nam Joo-hyuk (남주혁), revisit their childhood memories and places.
We will meet again in the next episode with more interesting similarities. Until then, bye and lots of love.