Korean drama
- Also called:
- K-drama
- Related Topics:
- South Korea
- television program
How has the global popularity of Korean drama impacted South Korea?
What are some common themes in Korean drama?
Who are some notable actors and actresses in Korean dramas?
News •
Korean drama, television series in the Korean language originating in South Korea. First produced in the 1950s, Korean drama series have since garnered a robust global fan base. The shows are especially noted for their evocative narratives, nuanced characterizations, and cinematography. The international popularity of Korean drama has cemented its status as one of South Korea’s most influential cultural exports.
Origin
Heaven’s Gate, a forerunner of modern Korean drama, was broadcast in 1956 on HLKZ-TV, South Korea’s first television station. In the 1960s and ’70s the production of television dramas accelerated as three broadcasters—Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Company (MBC), and Tongyang Broadcasting Company (TBC)—began creating such shows and television sets became more common in Korean homes. In the following decades, shows such as Chief Detective (1971–89), Love and Ambition (1987), and Eyes of Dawn (1991–92) gained nationwide popularity.
The onset of hallyu and global popularity of Korean drama
In the late 1990s drama series such as What Is Love? (1991–92; released in China in 1997) and Star in My Heart (1997) drew a following in China, attracting non-Korean viewers for the first time. This marked the beginning of hallyu (“Korean Wave”), a term used by Chinese journalists in the late 1990s to denote the success of Korean popular culture in China. In 2003 Korean drama viewership further expanded when Winter Sonata (2002) captivated Japanese audiences.
Gradually, Korean drama reached viewers outside East Asia as television networks across the world began broadcasting the shows. The rise of online streaming services in the 2000s and the entry of Netflix in South Korea in 2016 contributed significantly to the global popularity of Korean drama. In 2021 a new high was achieved with the sensational success of the first season of Squid Game (2021), which won 44 awards internationally and amassed about 1.65 billion viewing hours within the first month of its premiere. In the first half of 2024 three Korean drama series—Queen of Tears, Parasyte: The Grey, and My Demon—collectively amassed more than 72 million viewing hours on Netflix globally. While Korean drama remains a key driver of hallyu, with series available on major global streaming platforms, the rise of K-pop and international popularity of groups such as BTS and Blackpink have provided an unparalleled impetus to the Korean wave.
Format and themes
Korean drama storylines typically unspool in about 12–20 episodes, and most dramas run for a single season, although some release multiple seasons. An original soundtrack (OST), comprising multiple songs, accompanies a drama.
Korean drama is often categorized into specific genres (popular ones are romance, historical, supernatural and fantasy, and thrillers), but most shows borrow elements and tropes from multiple genres. Recurrent themes include dynamics of human relationships, self-discovery and growth, and sociocultural challenges. Some dramas feature socially relevant subjects such as disabilities and mental health (It’s Okay to Not Be Okay [2020], Extraordinary Attorney Woo [2022], Daily Dose of Sunshine [2023]); bullying (The Glory [2022–23] and Weak Hero Class 1 [2022]); and government corruption (Lawless Lawyer [2018] and Watcher [2019]).
| genre | K-dramas |
|---|---|
| romance | Boys Over Flowers (2009), Inheritors (2013), My Love from the Star (2013–14), Descendants of the Sun (2016), What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018), Crash Landing on You (2019–20), Queen of Tears (2024) |
| historical | Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), Mr. Queen (2020–21), Youth of May (2021), Pachinko (2022, 2024) |
| supernatural/fantasy | The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016–17), Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016–17), Hotel Del Luna (2019), The King: Eternal Monarch (2020) |
| thrillers | Flower of Evil (2020), All of Us Are Dead (2022), Sweet Home (2020, 2023, 2024) |
| legal and medical dramas | Law School (2021), Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022), Dr. Romantic (2016–17, 2019–20, 2023), Hospital Playlist (2020, 2021) |
Notable personalities
The international success of Korean drama is often attributed to the charm and appeal of the artists the industry has utilized over the years. Numerous actors, such as Lee Min-Ho, Park Seo-Joon, Song Joong-Ki, Ji Chang-Wook, and Kim Soo-Hyun, and actresses, such as Song Hye-Kyo, Kim Go-Eun, Park Min-Young, Park Bo-Young, and Kim Ji-Won, have established themselves as globally renowned Korean stars. Several K-pop idols, such as Ok Taec-Yeon (a member of 2PM), Cha Eun-Woo (Astro), Lee Hye-Ri (Girl’s Day), Kim Se-Jeong (former member of I.O.I and Gugudan), and IU, have found success in Korean drama.
Acclaimed directors such as Park Shin-Woo (It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Lovestruck in the City [2020]), Park Joon-Hwa (Alchemy of Souls [2022], What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?), Ahn Gil-Ho (Record of Youth [2020], The Glory), Lee Jung-Hyo (Romance Is a Bonus Book [2019], Crash Landing on You [2019–20]), and Lee Eung-Bok (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God [2016–17], Descendants of the Sun [2016]) have created some of the most popular productions of the past decade.
Impact and future
In 2023 Netflix announced its decision to invest $2.5 billion in the production of Korean content (films and scripted and reality shows). The worldwide popularity of Korean drama has helped increase interest in the language, fashion, and cuisine of Korea. South Korea’s tourism industry has also received a boost with about 16 million international visitors to the country in 2024, up by more than 45 percent from the previous year.