Emergence of K- Drama in India

After months of  hard work by the seniors, things were getting quite interesting in the First Frame office and steadily the team was making way to host one of the biggest celebrations of Students' International Film- The First Frame Festival 2014! At that particular time, our film festival became stronger than ever by collaboration with Korean Cultural Center, also the official presenter of a popular Korean drama on Indian television.

This was the time when I became familiar to the term 'K-drama', living in the land of melodramatic "K" soaps ( Ekta Kapoor shows of Kyunki Saas genre) could have mistaken you, also generating some curiousity about the worldwide popularity and acclaim for the K-Dramas. Therefore, I googled the term to know more about it. 

Korean drama refers to televised dramas, in a miniseries or telenovela format, produced in South Korea. The land of PSY (Gangnam Style fame) and birthplace for brands like Samsung and Hyundai likewise produces some of the interesting cult shows ( majorly falls in the genre of Romantic Comedy or History). It was then, I learnt much more about the Korean wave (Hallyu: Korean Pop Culture) that has been hitting the world.

The dramas have been slowly emerging on the television sets in the Indian subcontinent attracting the Indian viewers. The  K- drama is quite popular in North-East especiallly Manipur, because for them in the start of 21st century, a ban on Hindi films and channels was imposed. At that time, Korean industry filled the vacuum setting the scene for the entertainment for the localites. The prestigious KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) stepped in and started the broadcasting of TV dramas, which marked the beginning of Korean culture in India. Since then, the country remained an honest audience of their shows meanwhile also getting gelled with the popular US dramas and sitcoms.

I personally been an audience to just one Korean show-"Dr Hur Jun", autobiography of South Korean Doctor who faced social barriers and overcame hardships on the journey of becoming a physician. Back in 2000, when the show was transmitted in Korea gained maximum viewership and was also ranked No.3 among the maximum viewed shows. It is currently broadcasted in Hindi on DD Bharti in association with Korean Cultural Center, India. The show aims to gain the same viewership in India as well with its rich content and relatable storyline. It unveils the culture, social norms and relationships in their country which is quite similar to conditions in India. 

The poster of Korean Drama: Dr. Hur Jun

While reading about this genre, my search results were constantly hit by some of the most popular Korean shows ranging from romantic comedy to sitcoms and family dramas among many more. Hence, I would like to share a few popular shows here on the list:

1.  The Heirs (Drama/Rom-com):

 The trendy drama television series set in a high school populated by the privileged and rich, embarks their journey as they are groomed to take over their family business empires. This was the first Korean drama co-produced by American digital distribution platform DramaFever and Korean production company Hwa & Dam Pictures.

2. Boys over flowers (Drama/Comedy): 

At the prestigious school Shin Hwa High School in Seoul, four boys comprise the group known as the Flower Four who are spoilled, rebellious and powerful. A new entrant girl enters their group who slowly captures the hearts of many, even of the Flower four group. 

3. Coffee Prince (Romantic Comedy):

 One of the most popular dramas, this romantic comedy tells the story of Han Kyul, the handsome son of a wealthy hotelier family who is set in his bachelor ways and constantly deflects his family’s attempts to make him commit.

4. Secret Garden (Adventure/ Romance) : 

This quirky, high concept drama follows a neurotic businessman and a passionate stunt woman who come to possess each other’s hearts and bodies.

5. You 're beautiful ( Romantic Comedy/ Drama):

You’re Beautiful is hilarious fun with a solid grounding in romance and emotional heart. Punctuated by original music and propelled by the pitch-perfect performances, You’re Beautiful is an enjoyable romp from start to finish.

South Korea is a house to many such prime-time hit shows which are finding its way all over to India, which will then blend the culture of the two countries making their relationships even more strong. K- dramas are a cultural phenomenon, slowly taking over the youth and cinematics of the country. While exploring this genre, I found many Facebook groups and discussions panels aimed at discussing and giving opinions about this genre. 

It even inspires the fashion statement of the youth ranging from wearing bright coloured fancy clothes to aping their hairstyles (those 'Super-COOL' spikes). These dramas are slowly taking the world by storm and presently India has been hit by the WAVE...  

*This post has been written for the blogging competition being conducted by Korean Cultural Centre India, the country partners for First Frame 2014- Sixth International Students’ Film Festival organised by MBICEM.

PS: I am yet to watch the full fledged Korean dramas but while researching for this post, I gained good amount of information about the shows and its emergence at the world level. 

Also if you are crazy about these dramas and have opinions about it, HERE (in the comments box)  the discussion on the  'K-drama' is ON!

Source: Wikipedia/ Korean Bridge