Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Never seen a K-Drama Where do I start.
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
flash viego



Joined: 20 Jan 2013

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:30 am    Post subject: Never seen a K-Drama Where do I start. Reply with quote

Not that I'm a soap opera person or anything, but there have been so many references to K-Dramas here, and it seems like a big part of the culture.

I'm curious, and would like to watch one or 2.

If you had to recommend 2 K-Dramas, Series, or even episodes, which one's would they be? I think I can find them once I have some names.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Start with the most famous one: Winter Sonata. This one made the male protagonist a sex-symbol in Japan. Made Chinese women romanticising about Korea. After all these years, it still is the standard bearer of Hallyu.

Last edited by andrewchon on Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
almosthome



Joined: 16 Nov 2012

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lie to Me is a fun K-dramedy; that would be my recommendation for a first-timer.

Although Winter Sonata is famous (and was shot in beautiful locations), it is wicked sad and serious. In fact, after the huge blow in episode 3(?) I asked myself, "Why the $*%$ do Koreans willingly subject themselves to this?" and stopped watching completely. A few months later I decided to give it another go. It does get better, but you can fast forward through a lot of the second half's slow melodrama. If you want something similar but less depressing, try Spring Waltz.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
flash viego



Joined: 20 Jan 2013

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool. I'm going to check them both out. I guess if there were one's that give you a sense of real life in Korea, that would be really cool as well.

I'm guessing subtitles are on all these.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Norn Iron



Joined: 06 Feb 2013

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

flash viego wrote:
Cool. I'm going to check them both out. I guess if there were one's that give you a sense of real life in Korea, that would be really cool as well.

I'm guessing subtitles are on all these.


I don't think reflecting real life is the concern of K-Drama......to not face real life is why people watch them.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, they both are posted with sub-titles.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
comm



Joined: 22 Jun 2010

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Norn Iron wrote:
I don't think reflecting real life is the concern of K-Drama......to not face real life is why people watch them.

True... but for a drama to be successful, the audience has to relate to the characters. So the way that characters react to events in K-Dramas can help you to understand how Koreans think.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jyang486



Joined: 25 Nov 2011

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My favorite dramas from the last two years is Gentleman's Dignity and All My Love. While GD is funny, it's not completely a comedy like All My Love. Both were really good. When I downloaded these two dramas, the subbing was terrible so I watched without subs. Lucky for me I understood most of it, and when I didn't I wrote it down and I asked my Korean friends.

But my two favorite of all time were All In and Happy Together, if you can find some place to watch them with a good set of subs, you won't be disappointed.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
almosthome



Joined: 16 Nov 2012

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you watch through DramaFever or Netflix the subtitles are usually good. (Hulu streams content from DramaFever, too.)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nicwr2002



Joined: 17 Aug 2011

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:42 pm    Post subject: ok Reply with quote

I would start with Chuno (Slave Hunters). It's a very good period drama and you can find it on Hulu I think if you have a proxy service or crunchyroll.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
overdrive2023x



Joined: 08 Aug 2011
Location: San Diego, CA

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. IRIS
2. A Gentleman's Dignity


A Gentleman's dignity is hailed as a Korean "Sex & the City" for guys. Very new. Shows current Korean styles. And pretty good story. 4 Guys that have been best friends since High school, now each 40, and trying to lock down a woman in their life.

IRIS, was just badass. At that time, the most expensive Korean drama ever filmed with the superstars Lee Byung Hun and Kim Tae Hee. It's a spy espionage drama. Really effing good.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
spaceman82



Joined: 01 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

overdrive2023x wrote:
1. IRIS
2. A Gentleman's Dignity


A Gentleman's dignity is hailed as a Korean "Sex & the City" for guys. Very new. Shows current Korean styles. And pretty good story. 4 Guys that have been best friends since High school, now each 40, and trying to lock down a woman in their life.

IRIS, was just badass. At that time, the most expensive Korean drama ever filmed with the superstars Lee Byung Hun and Kim Tae Hee. It's a spy espionage drama. Really effing good.


I may have to check A Gentleman's Dignity out. I liked Iris but got into after they stopped showing it on TV much and could never find it on at the right times. Any options other than downloading for keeping up with this kind of stuff? DVDs at Yongsan or anything like that?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cdninkorea



Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's an American review of Dae Jang Geum:
http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2010-summer/dae-jang-geum.asp (my wife also said it was good).

If you want a stereotypically sappy Korean drama that will make your groan and roll your eyes, check out Cheongdam Alice. That show is the king (queen?) of cheese.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Norn Iron



Joined: 06 Feb 2013

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 12:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

comm wrote:
Norn Iron wrote:
I don't think reflecting real life is the concern of K-Drama......to not face real life is why people watch them.

True... but for a drama to be successful, the audience has to relate to the characters. So the way that characters react to events in K-Dramas can help you to understand how Koreans think.


Yes, I'd say that's essentially true, but the characters tend to be exaggerated stereotypes of Korean 'archetypes', not realistic characters.

The archetypes and storyline that has been popular for many years now is the 'Cinderella' story. A good honest girl with integrity falls in love with rich elite young man. She teaches him humility and tenderness. After predictable trials and tribulations true love wins out and the live happily ever after.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
wishfullthinkng



Joined: 05 Mar 2010

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

while i only watched the very beginning i found iris to be entertaining. it was nice to see one that was filmed outside of an idyllic multi-million dollar korean house out in the "country" or in a smokey sool jip/club/hostess room. they filmed a good portion of it in budapest which is (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International