Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

I'm doing research for something. In your opinion, what makes a Korean drama successful?

Plot? Actors? Casting?

Also, which are your favorite dramas, and why?

[conrad2]

Its not production quality.

[aboxofchocolates]

Social constraints VS love! With everyone resisting their desires until they can no longer (disaster ensues) or they can get what they want without breaking with tradition (series ends). I am basing all this on coffee prince and assumptions. Essay, hmm? Funtastic!

[PatrickGHBusan]

Conflicts of a basic nature.

Actors

Theme thats in fashion: for a while the biggest dramas were about Korean Choson period or about Koreas foundation period.

Current or recent shows seem to focus more on other eras or themes (see Iris for example).

Production value has also risen meteorically....the costumes, sets and effects are getting pretty damn good.

Koreans I know also like drama in the sense of gut wrenching sad events.

My two cents.

[MollyBloom]

In your opinion, do you think Koreans would like/watch a drama if it had:

1. a lot of English in it (let's say half the script was in English and half in Korean, but there were subs for both languages when needed)

2. a foreign actor as one of the main characters

*I know there were two recent shows that had foreign guys on the cast, but there were supporting roles.

Also, would you watch a drama if its plot was about the EFL/ESL industry?

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions!

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Dixon]

I just picked up the DVD Please Teach Me English directed by Kim Sung-soo. I'll let you know how it goes. It's not a drama though:

In this romantic comedy from the director of MUSA THE WARRIOR, shy Youngjoo was "recommended" to take English classes so that she can assist the English customers. She falls in love with handsome playboy fellow classmate Moonsoo. But Youngjoo must compete with her sexy Australian English teacher for Moonsoo's affection. Humor and complication ensue in the classroom!

[FMPJ]

Traditionally, skeezy marketers have had to pay subjects for market research.

[meangradin]

i think the first thing that needs to occur is hiring people than can actually act. also, try and go five minutes without someone crying and ten without a fighting sequence (that's more of a movie complaint). next, how about more realism and less over the top drama. again, just my opinion, but i think korean shows are awful on so many levels. but hte good thing for me is that i read much more than i did in north america

[littlelisa]

Plot is clearly not the most important thing; just look at 꽃보다 남자.

[andrewchon]

Wait on, MollyB's trying to sell to the Korean market.

Acting is over-rated, good-looking face works.
Gotta have a mystery with a promise of an answer;
lost parents/children/sibling through turbulence of recent Korean history;
much over used but still works.

If you want an ESL setting with a non-Korean as a protagonist,
then begin by selling the stereo-typical expectations; arrogant foreigner,
Koreans fight back (they love the small guy out-smarting the powerful).

Finish with happy ending. Both sides learn from the conflict and
then unite to fight a common enemy; choose from USA, Japan, or IMF.

Too formulaic? You bet, but TV watchers are not film critics, are they?
They'll only take what they like.

[itaewonguy]

actors, casting? isnt that the same thing?

plot... yes the story is the most important part...the writing..
then in korea you need a big star attached...

if the star is big and the story is weak still can mean a good drama..
but it could also be a disaster...

esl? well possible if the writing is awesome...the characters need to be interesting ... no reason the drama cant take place in a hakwon..
writers can set the scene anywhere..

look at PASTA

foriegner as the lead actor speaking only english? NO...I doubt it.. if the script was sold to a company, they would cast a korean in the lead.. daniel henny or someone like this...
can you name a hollywood show where an Indian or an asian is leading a cast in a big show?

[PaperTiger]

Korean dramas follow a very strict formula, ask your students:

poor girl likes rich guy, rich girl hates poor girl...intrigue/revenge ensues

someone gets cancer

someone dies in a horrible car accident

regardless of what happens, each episode should feature a protracted episode of hysterical screaming/crying/fighting

characters should randomly engage in soliloquy, because voice-overs are just beyond the technological reach of Korean tv producers

father disapproves of son/daughter's girlfriend/boyfriend, has a psychotic break

girl gets drunk, guy (her boss, co-workers, stranger, estranged husband/boyfriend) puts her over her shoulder, takes her to a hotel and rapes...I mean, makes passionate love to her (while she's unconscious)

Also quite important: low production quality, using same sets and props as at least five other shows, play the same damn song the second the plot starts to get lukewarm...which is pretty much every five seconds, have an English-speaking character that everyone understands but does not speak English to

[cj1976]

This guy pretty much nails it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMvk0KqS8aQ

[seonsengnimble]

The only show I ever got into was My name is Kim Sam Soon. I have absolutely no idea why. Maybe it was the over the top melodrama. Maybe it was the fact that no one could ever love the morbidly obese woman who wasn't technically overweight.