How Korean dramas are gaining new global fans through Netflix

2020-05-26 3

해외에서 넷플릭스 통해 주목받고 있는 K-드라마 인간수업, 더 킹덤 등 인기 이유는 무엇?

These days, Korean dramas and movies on Netflix are attracting many new viewers from all around the globe. Our Kim Bo-kyoung met a culture critic to find out why these dramas are becoming so popular.
Korean dramas on Netflix are getting more and more attention from viewers around the world.
'Kingdom' deals with political upheaval in the Joseon dynasty amid a zombie apocalypse.
Its first season was named as one of the '30 Best International TV Shows of the Decade' by the New York Times which called it a "most radical departure from Korean-drama norms."
Season two has also received positive reviews from fans.
A culture critic says Korean dramas are getting such attention because they are tackling familiar subjects from a fresh perspective.
"'Kingdom' has zombies in it, a familiar monster to foreign audiences. Yet they are portrayed very differently as quick and dynamic monsters. Some people even call them "K-zombies". Korea's Joseon dynasty also provides unique and attractive visuals.
'Extracurricular' is another "can't miss" Korean show.
This teen crime drama tells the story of a high school student who has been abandoned by his parents and leads a double life.
Critics say fans of Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' will enjoy 'extracurricular', which the Los Angeles Times called the "cream of the crop" of the Korean dramas produced by Netflix.
"Of course, director Bong's Oscar-win paved the way for the worldwide audience to pay more attention to Korean content. But a more fundamental reason behind the attention is that streaming services such as Netflix offer an escape from the regulated drama format, freedom from the subject and capital."
For those unfamiliar with Korean dramas,... Kim recommends 'Crash Landing on You', a love story set across the divided Korean peninsula.
KIM Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.