The Popularity of Korean Drama Across Asia and the World

Korean drama, who hasn’t watched even one episode? Let’s face it, Koreans know how to entertain and leave a mark on its audience. People are hooked and they are asking for more. Though it has limited popularity in the Americas, focused mainly in Korean communities, in Asia, particularly in Central and South East Asia, Korean television dramas are extensively supported. It is one of the longer spanning trends in national television and therefore, most Korean stars are experiencing international acclaim. There are many reasons why these dramas are being supported heavily in countries like Philippines, China, Thailand and Hong Kong.

  1. The actors- let’s face it, they are the freshest faces that we have come to see on TV. They are attractive and they are just adorable. It is a great advantage for South Korea which seems to be heavily populated by gorgeous people.
  2. Fashion- the fashion statement can be androgynous at times especially with the guys where the styling can ultimately feminize them but let’s face it, their fashion is the current style of the modern youth. It is a mix of glamor, trendy, urban and common everyday outfits. It may be too hot to wear leg warmers in the Philippines but they still offer some other amazing fashionable styles.
  3. The story- Korean Drama comes in a number of very common plots. Here are some of them

Poor Girl, Rich Boy

There will always be a regular girl from a simple family. She could be a very light hearted individual or she may be street smart and tough. She will always meet a rich, successful or very popular boy. This trend is very common in most Korean Dramas and is selling very well in countries like the Philippines. The girl is a modest and humble person and she transforms the guy and then he falls in love with her.

Relationships

These plots are pretty much established in all forms and shapes. However, the more common aspect would be the dramatic conflict. It could be between a poor girl and a rich girl fighting over a rich guy. It could be a married couple and another girl. It could be a popular love team and a regular girl. Conflict or maybe insecurities are major themes and they recur in most plots of Korean drama.

Fantasy romance

From a magical mythical character, a super chef, a princess, or other illustrious and incredible back stories, there is always something unique and well embedded in Korean culture that is connected to the story.

No matter what, the plots that are showing in the stories are absolutely popular to everyone. Even senior citizens seem to appreciate the Korean Factor. With the popularity of such drama series in international shores, these stars have amassed a very big network of fans from various countries and of course, it fuels the industry to do more and offer more, making Korean drama, a staple in Asian and global television. Take some time to watch one. You might even do a series marathon after one episode.