If you are new to watching Korean Dramas, it can seem a bit odd at first. Just getting adjusted to reading the subtitles is something that can take a couple episodes to getused to. Plus, there are cultural differences to adjust to as well. So in this blog, I want to give you a few things to be aware of when watching Korean Dramas and then I will give you short list of a few that you might enjoy to get started.
First, physical contact is a big deal. It's not unusual for the main characters in a romance to not even hold hands until a few episodes into the series. In fact, there is a term for physical contact. It's called skinship and this refers to literally any kind of physical contact. From hand holding to putting your arm around someone to kissing...it's all skinship.
Second, we are used to there being lots of special effects or cgi in the shows that are popular in the USA, but those are not as common in Korean Dramas. That's not to say it never happens, but its not the norm. It is my understanding that most Korean Dramas are airing even as they are being filmed so not a lot of time is allotted for editing and special effects.
Lastly, there is often bullying of some form in the shows. Sometimes it's in a school, sometimes it's a parent to the girlfriend/boyfriend of their child, and sometimes it's someone else. But bullying is awful in Korean shows. It can be cruel and sometimes hard to watch because the people are so mean...though it is rather satisfying to see them get their comeuppance in the end. So, fair warning...
Ok, now to introduce you to a few Dramas that are good for the beginner to K-drama. These are all available through Netflix, Dramafever.com, or Viki.com if you are looking for a place to watch them.
Let's start with a mini-drama. These are usually only a few minutes long and are a great way to begin your viewing. Dream Knight (available on Netflix and Dramafever) is an idol drama starring the members of the K-Pop group GOT7. This is truly a bubblegum type show. Somewhat silly, somewhat funny, somewhat cheesy, but that being said, I like it. In fact, I am currently watching it for the 3rd time. Why? Why not! First it is short. There are only 12 episodes and each one is around 10-12 minutes long. Plus, I like the music in it and the story is cute. It reminds me of the kind of shows I watched as a teenager like "Saved by the Bell" and "California Dreams". Just fun and easy to follow.
I loved the drama Something about One Percent. This is a remake of one called 1% of Anything (Both can be found on Dramafever), but I like the new version much better than the original. It's a fun and sometimes funny show about two people who get thrown together through very strange circumstances and end up falling in love. It's such a cute show.
As for classics in the K-Drama world, I really enjoyed Boys over Flowers, Goong, and Full House. All of them are romantic comedies and all are fun. Boys over Flowers has literally every drama trope there is within it's 25 episodes, but it will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first K-Drama I ever saw. Goong and Full House are both dramas that follow semi-forced marriages between couples who either don't know each other well (Goong) or don't like each other (Full House). Goong is about a prince who must marry and the non-royal girl who it was arranged he would marry when he was born. She has to adjust to both marriage and being royalty all at the same time. Full House follows a woman whose goes out of town and finds that her home has been sold when she returns. She makes a deal with the man who bought her home and all sorts of craziness ensues. I liked both of the shows and, personally I find them all re-watchable as well. All three of these can be found on Dramafever and Viki.
If you are looking for something with a bit more action, may I suggest Descendants of the Sun. I loved this drama and have watched it twice. It has action, romance, humor, disasters, heroic events and more. The four main characters are all great fun to watch...especially when they interact together, but the extended cast is top notch as well. It was a super popular drama when it aired and I can easily understand why. This show can be found on Netflix, Dramafever, and Viki.
So, that's my intro to Korean Drama. I'd love to hear what you think if you are just starting your journey to Dramaland or if you've seen these shows.
Until, next time...
