The Healing Effects of K-Dramas

 

K-Dramas, along with K-POP, form a significant part of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), captivating and moving viewers around the world. Many reports suggest that people find healing and comfort through these dramas. This demonstrates that dramas can transcend mere entertainment to heal and transform individuals, showcasing the strength of our culture.

 

[Korean Today] MBC Drama ‘Dae Jang Geum’ Poster ⓒ Reporter Park Chan-doo

 

‘Dae Jang Geum’ tells the story of Seo Jang-geum, the first female royal physician in the Joseon Dynasty. This drama, which aired in 2003, inspired many people with its story of the protagonist overcoming adversity to achieve her dreams. ‘Dae Jang Geum’ gained immense popularity in various countries worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. There are stories of a grandmother in Belarus, a Koryo-saram, who soothed her nostalgia for Korea through ‘Dae Jang Geum,’ and another grandmother who forgot her depression while undergoing liver cancer treatment by watching the drama. It had a particularly significant impact on female viewers, healing the emotional wounds of women in the Middle East and Africa and instilling them with dreams, confidence, and self-esteem through the success story of an ordinary woman.

  

[Korean Today] Iran is currently experiencing the ‘Dae Jang Geum Syndrome’ (Photo provided by Naver Photo News) ⓒ Reporter Park Chan-doo

 

In Iran, the airing of ‘Dae Jang Geum’ sparked a Korean Wave, with many people showing interest in learning about Korean food and culture. This cultural exchange contributed to enhancing understanding and solidarity among people. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Tourism Organization in 2006, foreign tourists who watched ‘Dae Jang Geum’ had a higher tendency to understand Korean culture deeply and express a desire to visit Korea. This clearly shows that dramas also play a role in cultural exchange.

 

[Korean Today] MBC Drama ‘Hur Jun’ Poster ⓒ Reporter Park Chan-doo

 

‘Hur Jun’ is a drama about the life and medical practices of Hur Jun, a renowned physician of the Joseon Dynasty. The protagonist Hur Jun’s dedication to treating people despite difficult circumstances deeply moved the viewers. His patience and dedication provided courage and hope to many. Since its airing in 2013, ‘Hur Jun’ has gained popularity not only in Korea but also in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.

 

A patient undergoing treatment for a brain tumor for eight years felt deeply moved and emotionally healed by watching Hur Jun’s compassionate treatment of patients. Additionally, the traditional Korean medicine and treatments introduced in the drama sparked interest in healthy living among many people and promoted a healthy lifestyle. ‘Hur Jun’ went beyond being just a drama, providing emotional healing, courage, and hope to many people worldwide, instilling a sense of mission, pride, and self-esteem in medical professionals.

[Korean Today] Goblin, Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun Poster (Photo provided by Naver Blog) ⓒ Reporter Park Chan-doo

 

The 2016 drama ‘Goblin’ gained immense popularity not only in Korea but also globally, garnering many fans. This drama, dealing with themes of love and separation, life and death, deeply moved many viewers. After ‘Goblin’ aired, many viewers reported that the drama provided them with emotional support and psychological stability. The beautiful story and touching messages of the drama offered empathy and healing effects to many people.

 

 One viewer mentioned that watching ‘Goblin’ helped heal their depression and anxiety, and the line “All the time I spent with you was dazzling. Because the weather was good, because the weather was bad, and because the weather was just right. Every day was good,” provided solace and healing to those living lonely and melancholic lives.

 

[Korean Today] Mr. Sunshine Poster (Photo provided by tvN) ⓒ Reporter Park Chan-doo

 

The 2018 Korean drama ‘Mr. Sunshine’ gained immense popularity among overseas fans with its historical background and touching story. This drama, through the stories of protagonists who do not lose hope and courage even in difficult times, provided many viewers with emotion and comfort. Particularly in Japan and China, this drama contributed to enhancing historical understanding and emotional stability and raising awareness of history.

 

While watching the broadcast, one viewer expressed deep emotion, saying, “The weekends I spent with you were truly like a picnic,” and “It was a dazzling day. We were flames, and everyone bloomed and withered fiercely. And again with the remaining embers.” This way, it healed the monotonous daily life, turning it into a beautiful picnic and providing psychological healing with its beautiful visuals.

 

[Korean Today] JTBC Itaewon Class Poster ⓒ Reporter Park Chan-doo

 

‘Itaewon Class’ tells the story of starting a business to avenge his father’s enemy, eventually surpassing and acquiring the enemy’s company through efforts, providing many viewers with the strength to overcome adversity, lead a team with their beliefs, and the ability to empathize and show humanity.

 

One viewer said, “I keep thinking about why I couldn’t do this in my youth and want to go back to that time, even now after watching the drama.” They were moved by the beautiful love in the drama and found hope and courage again, hearing the line, “Time is given equally to everyone. Depending on how you spend that time, it creates different results.”

 

Through K-Dramas, viewers not only receive emotional healing but also experience fresh and unpredictable plots, naturally encounter various cultural elements such as traditional Korean food, clothing, and holidays, and are provided with social issues or messages to think about.

 

Additionally, not only the main characters but also the supporting characters are portrayed attractively and three-dimensionally, drawing viewers deeply into the story. The excellent acting skills of the actors immerse viewers in the drama, and the romance in the drama is lyrical, touching, and exciting, with rich and delicate emotional expressions that allow viewers to deeply empathize with the characters.

 

Moreover, by covering various genres such as romance, thriller, fantasy, and historical dramas, it satisfies people with different tastes, maintaining high quality in all aspects of production, including filming techniques, visuals, and music, providing visual and auditory pleasure.

 

Furthermore, streaming services like Netflix make it easy to access anywhere in the world, delivering emotion and joy quickly, promptly, and conveniently.

 

In this way, K-Dramas provide healing, comfort, hope, and emotion to viewers with their various features and advantages and their interesting and touching stories. These examples show that Korean dramas are not just entertainment but also beloved elements by viewers worldwide, contributing to widely promoting K-Culture.