Korean Drama?

Hello.

During 1970-1990s, when Internet, stream video, downloading tool isn’t a hit yet to Malaysia, radio and television are sources we received news and entertainment. With no doubt, television drama especially from HKG can be said to be our 精神粮食 (meal for our spirit). While eating dinner (show time of 6-8pm drama), everyone is holding with a bowl of rice and the eyes is facing to the television.

Today, I read 1 post from Weibo as below:

【看韩剧的人收入低？】首尔大学教授姜明求的研究称，青睐韩国与台湾地区电视剧的中国观众，趋向于低收入和低学历，而这些观众之所以爱看韩剧，是因为部分韩剧逻辑性较差，观看时无需动脑子，可以单纯的“感情发泄”。而高学历、高收入观众喜欢“理性而轻松”的电视剧，因此多选择观看美剧。(时代周报)

[People watch Korean drama lead to low income?] Professor from Seoul University found that: those Chinese citizens who prefer Korea and Taiwan region drama are usually in low income and low academic performance band. These people who love Korean drama is because of Korean drama isn’t logic, so people can just watching for relax and distress because low usage of brain. For those high academic performance and high income audience more prefer “relax and logical” drama, so usually they choose American drama.

After read above comment of research outcome, what do you think?

My 1^st impression is: Serious?

Although not a K-pop fans, but I watch Korean drama too. Below are some of my opinion to Korean drama:

(a)    Too lovely, too romantic (early 2000s, when Korean drama is a hit, cry from episode1 to episode 20 seems is a MUST)

(b)   Too complicated (why must have 4 characters love relationship? And the story line is almost the same for every drama)

(c)    Too dragging (a story that can finish in 15 episodes but drag up to 40 episodes)

(d)   Cinderella kind of story line …..

(e)   Illogical (maybe)

However, all above seems has a change for past few years (although some characteristic of Korean drama still remain). Below are some of my observation from lately Korean drama:

(a)    More occupational/ interest driven story (e.g Medical, Musical kind of story line)

(b)   More political driven story (e.g North-South Korea relationship?)

(c)    More betray and revenge kind of story

Compared to American, and Japanese drama, obviously Korean drama still have a lot of room for improvement. As Japanese drama, enforce on high quality of script and bring in a lot of real life example. (I seldom watch American drama, can’t comment any, paiseh). But overall, Korean drama shouldn’t fall to “Low Brain” drama criteria, it is more to audience choice of drama they chosen.

Anyway, A BIG APPLAUSE give to Korean drama maker’s efforts and contributions. FIGHTING !!!! Beat above professor’s comments and produce more and higher quality drama.