Undoubtedly, there has been a huge boom in Korean television dramas in the past few years. From Crash Landing On You to Squid Game, K-Dramas clearly have a huge range that appeals to many different audiences - and is an extremely strong competitor for Hollywood.

K-Dramas are television shows produced in South Korea. They came to be in May of 1956 when the film ‘Death Row Prisoner’ was released. The genre gained popularity during the 1960s, when they began to regularly air in South Korean TV networks. In the 1980s, South Korea began producing show programs with colorful stages and more outdoor filming. This also led to a wider variety of K-Dramas, offering more trendy dramas that many young audiences were able to relate to. For instance, the drama, “Love and Ambition” (사랑과 야망) was one of the most popular dramas at the time due to its dramatic storylines. Historical dramas such as “500 Years of Joseon Dynasty” (조선왕조 500년) also gained popularity through depicting the lives of great kings, national heroes and princes.

With the rise of streaming services also came the accessibility to Korean dramas. According to a survey conducted by statista.com, the popularity of South Korean dramas worldwide significantly rose in 2021, with almost half the respondents stating that Korean dramas were very popular in their country that year. Netflix began to produce a surplus of K-Dramas which would be amongst the service’s most popular shows, with ‘All of Us Are Dead’ and ‘Business Proposal’ in their top 10 list of most watched shows in 2022.

K-Dramas have many different appeals. Their generally high production value, intense and ‘addicting’ storylines, and quality acting that helps the audience connect with the show and characters on a deeper level. With minimal to no nudity or sexual aspects, K-Dramas appeal to a wider range of countries and ages, also those in more socially conservative groups. They also have an engaging way of storytelling, which successfully overcome societal and personal issues, with themes of friendship, family and love.

In addition to the entertaining aspects of K-Dramas, the Korean government also believes in advancing the country through the spread of Korean culture. This is apparent through Korea’s ever growing skincare market, highly popular foods, K-Pop and of course, K-Dramas. While China’s economy was rising, there was a great demand for pop culture, which South Korea could provide as their content’s values were compatible with China’s.

The first K-Drama to become a global hit was 2003’s historical drama, ‘Jewel in the Palace’. It told the story of a woman who rose from humble beginnings to the first female royal physician during the Joseon Dynasty. The way it tackled political struggles and gender roles seemed to have a connection with its viewers, as the show aired in 91 countries and received critical acclaim. The lack of sex and violence also helped the spread of K-Dramas among nations such as Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, the UAE and more. Although K-Dramas’ traditional standard of length used to only be 16-24 episodes, with the influence of American shows, renewing seasons seemed to be more cost-effective and generated much more revenue.

It is easy to appreciate K-Dramas and it is clear that they have brought an important element in Asian culture. They are treated with care and soul which reflect in how much the audiences are able to resonate with a multitude of these soap operas. It brings people closer through culture and immerses them in a new language as well.

K-Dramas: How They Took Over Our Screens

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