2017 Aug 28
When my friends and I say we like Korean dramas, the questions we typically get include; ‘Don’t they have such chinky eyes?’ and the ever famous ‘I can’t understand why you would! Aren’t their better TV shows?” Hence, for the purpose of clearing up this controversy, here are 5 reasons why Lankans should give K-dramas a chance.
1. The Plotline
One of the most compelling reasons to watch Korean dramas is because the series won’t stretch over 200 episodes like SL teledramas. You will not have to sit by and watch as the main characters grow old and their great great grand-children take over. Also, remember when your favourite character gets stabbed in the season finale, the scene cuts to black and you have to wait another 5 months to find out what happened? Well say goodbye to those agonizing waits because K-dramas are neatly broken down into 16-20 episodes and the series will not take a break.Not to mention, the plotlines are brilliant! You will find an amazing mix of creativity, suspense and surprise endings that will never disappoint.
2. Cheesy Romance
Remember what romantic movies used to be like? Boy meets girl, girl meets boy and they do not jump into bed together that very night ( um.. yes that happens now. Bridget Jones’s diary!) If you are craving cute romance… you know, the adorable dates and the wrist grabs followed by the “I’ll always protect you” speeches, then Korean dramas are certainly the way to go. I know that all sounds a bit cheesy, but I promise you these episodes will warm your heart nevertheless. Particularly if you have had a long hard day and your boss is being a jerk, some chocolates and cheesy Korean romance will go a long way (Oh you already have a significant other for that? Never mind then…)
3. The Actors Look Fiiine
Ok ok I know this is quite a subjective reason. But it shouldn’t be!! In all honesty, Korean actors are a work of art. Those eyes, those cheekbones! (So what if they got plastic surgery here and there?! It’s called PERFECTION). And the real miracles is, these handsome men don’t seem to age. Ladies, google Bi Rain (The flower boy from the K-drama that captivated Sri Lanka; Full House). As you can probably see, he has not physically aged since 2004. Furthermore, these actors don’t just charm you with their looks.They can sing, dance, model and unleash some lethal tae-kwondo. I mean seriously what’s not to like??
4. Experience the Culture
Surely you watched enough American movies to learn all you need to know about the US culture. Eating junk food and a bit of racism is all there is to it (Allegedly!). Now let’s experience a new life-style. There are numerous things about the Korean culture that is interesting; The fashion, Korean Pop music (a.k.a K-pop) and their undying love for Samsung 😉 However, I am going to convince you with a more universally appealing aspect. FOOD! Every drama will feature at least five Korean meal moments. So to all you foodies out there, forget Master Chef (It’s all staged anyway) and enjoy some mouth-watering K-drama episodes.
5. The Life Teachings
On a more serious note, whether it be about love, friendship, school and even politics, K-dramas carry wonderful lessons we all could learn from. God of study is a drama solely dedicated for encouraging students, even the ones who are not wealthy enough for tutors, to pursue their studies passionately. King 2 hearts depicted unrelenting love, not limited to a partner, but also to the nation’s dream of unifying North and South Korea. So really, it’s not all cheesy romance and cute guys. Korean dramas make a real impact in peoples’ lives.
“If you want to tackle daily problems in a calm way, watch Korean dramas to take the edge off things. It really helps!”
Thiruni G.
Sri Lanka
“K-dramas leave you feeling warm and happy. Life is stressful so everybody needs K-dramas!!”
Navindi W.
Sri Lanka
“Korean dramas show so much of my country’s history in a creative and interesting way. There really is no other like it. Sri Lankans should give it a try! You won’t regret it.”
Seoung Eun Joh
South Korea
“K-dramas are a good escape from the real world. And god knows we all need an escape sometimes”
Ovini P.
Sri Lanka
Well, there you have it. Forget the naysayers who complain about how Koreans speak and their chinky eyes. Experience it for yourself and decide. Happy watching!
