Comments on: No, really, we are.

By: gaijin

gaijin — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 22:07:54 +0000

Found this great summary of Korean TV Dramas on the web.

http://www.koreanfilm.org/tvdramas/index.htm

By: torgodevil

torgodevil — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 03:58:47 +0000

My wife watches a few Korean dramas, but they all tend to run together into a blur after the second or third show about a plucky but determined woman torn between her virtuous poor suitor and her rich husband. Yeah, I’ll watch some occasionally, but that’s just to see if I can follow the plot.

I’d guess the series Gyeoul yeonga, “Winter Sonata”, which was absolutely HUGE in Japan a few years ago would be on any Korean drama broadcasting line up. It’s what started the Korean culture export boom. Women from Japan would go CRAZY for the star and visit the island it was shot at. When I was in Busan, there were several tour groups selling “Winter Sonata” themed tours. You couldn’t go to a single market without seeing socks or shirts with the cast of Winter Sonata on them. The Japanese started buying import soju and kimchi because of the series. That was two or three years ago.

I’ll try to keep up on a few dramas from time to time to see what they are about. Thanks for the idea, I’m always looking for something to write about.

By: gaijin

gaijin — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:43:16 +0000

BTW, I should have added that the Korean dramas are shown on the AZN network with “English subtitles”. I can see how you would not be too interested when they run on Korean TV (without subtitles). I find the translations almost as entertaining as the shows. Oh, yeah, they have a ton of historical dramas as well. I find the contemporary shows much more watchable. Besides, who cannot be amused by the unique “tonal inflections” of the Korean actresses and pouty facial expressions. If anything, I find them to be travel guides to the present day Korea.

By: torgodevil

torgodevil — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:01:51 +0000

Thanks for the idea. I have no idea what the AZN network shows, or what they acquire from Korean networks. Searching around on the website, they seem to have the shows you listed. They could be called “Typical Korean Drama A” and “Typical Korean Drama B”, as they look to be a dime a dozen. Hours of those kinds of shows are on every night, and I’d have no way to know which of them are better than the other because I don’t watch them.

If they haven’t shown them already, a few years ago there was some really popular Old style Royal cooking drama called,Dae Jang Geum, about a woman that rises to power in one of the old dynasty periods by cooking and introducing medicine into the royal house. This was all done in high Korean “historical drama” fashion, with the huge snaking hair on women, the men with crepe beards, etc. It was supposedly based on a true story. I don’t know if it is too cultural to show to American audiences, but it was very popular here.

By: gaijin

gaijin — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:51:43 +0000

This post is OT. Enjoyed your Geek in Korea Blog for over a year now. I know from your postings that you like Korean movies, but what about Korean TV Dramas. Am able to watch the AZN network here in the states, and I have to admit I’m hooked on Korean TV Dramas. How about your take on what’s coming down the pike for future viewing in the US. I found the series “Rooftop Room Cat” or “Attic Cat” to be great fun. Currently they are showing the series “Hotelier”, a show about the zany antics of the ficticious ‘Korea Hotel” staff and their attempts to thwart off the creditors. Great stuff. (BTW, it was shot on location at the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel, in Seoul). These shows were shown in Korea about 2 to 3 years ago. Just wondering if you are into Koean TV shows. Might be a good topic for a future blog entry.

By: daeguowl

daeguowl — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 21:58:47 +0000

I don’t know how old you are, but do you perhaps look young for your age and therefore people are assuming you are too young to be married?

Anyhow, I don’t think you have too much to be worried about, twice my wife and I have been mistaken for brother and sister despite the fact that she is an extremely korean-looking Korean and I am a typical white north-european (my hair is brown but it is a western brown).