Korean dramas are a fantasy space. They don’t show the world we live in but the world we wish we could access. The underdog conquers all obstacles; the painfully average person achieves greatness. Love is always true and good always wins. The poor gain opulent wealth without surrendering their…
The majority of us have seen them, loved them, cried over them and envisioned ourselves being the lead in one many times before. Korean dramas have a way, just like dramas from all over the world, of drawing viewers in. But it seems many of us are starting to become…
The alien messiah has not ceased to be a spectre of popular consciousness since the late 20th century. As a character archetype in science fiction films like Superman, the alien messiah is often depicted as one who comes from a place that is both distant from and technologically superior to…
It’s no secret that Korean variety programmes are successful around the world. Running Man, one of Korea’s top shows, is now sold in 9 territories in Asia outside of Korea and the recent explosive reception of the show’s cast in an airport in Sydney, Australia shows how…
Much has been made of the extreme “chastity” in Korean Dramas. In a previous article, I’ve already covered the emphasis on female purity in dramas, where women’s storylines have more in common with June Cleaver than Detective Stella Gibson. Dehlia has also shown the connections between squeaky 60s…
Go on the website of any governmental organisation aimed at promoting Korean tourism or culture and it won’t be long before you come across something to do with Korean pop culture. Whether it’s the ‘Hallyu Today’ tab right in the centre of the Korean Tourism Organisation’s English…
Ah 2013, you’ve been an odd one. There have been just as many documented highs and lows this year but alas as we come to the end and look back we have to ask ourselves these few words: What the hell has gone on over the past year?! From…
