Chogiwa – A friend of mine asked me why I now prefer Korean Drama instead of American TV series?
Have you watched Korean Drama “18 Again”? It is a remake of 2009 Zac Efron’s “17 Again”. How I know that? Because I used to love watching American TV series and movies.
When I was younger, I used to love American TV series such as “Hannah Montana”, “Gossip Girl”, “Heroes”, “Supranatural”, “La Femme Nikita” and many more.
I was a big fans of Hollywood movies. Since 2004 when I have access to all Hollywood movies, I watched them all. But then I just stopped watching it in 2012, when I was forced to work in the middle of nowhere, with zero access to cinema, Hollywood movies but Korean dramas.
I never thought of the change of my preference before but now I think I know why. I will give a simpe example from Korean drama “18 Again” a remake from 2009 Zac Efron’s “17 Again”.
#1 Cultural Gap
Zac Efron’s “17 Again” is a movie from 2009. It means 11 years ago. I was around 22 at that time.
When I was at that age, I clearly remembered that I enjoyed the movie so much. I didn’t really care when a high school teacher said “Asking a high schooler to be abstinent is impossible”.
I thought it was funny at that time.However, as a mother of two, I found that sentence really disturbing. I mean, can you imagine if the teacher of your children said that kind of thing?
That’s why I thought there is a big cultural gap between American and Asian’s culture only from this single scene came from 11 years ago.
Fortunately, I didn’t find similar scene in the Korean drama “18 Again” a remake of 2009 Zac Efron’s “17 Again”.
#2 Liberalism
I’m not really into moral philosophy but liberalism is a kind of principle which would never on my personal understanding.
Unfortunately, most American movies sell this view a lot. In some ways, I just cannot relate. I didn’t say that Korean drama is not because Korea is a big capitalism country which is not so different but at least the culture is similar.
Once again, I remembered a scene when Maggie (played by Michelle Trachtenberg) ‘attack’ Zac Efron in a bedroom because she thought he likes her. This scene is possible in a country when you have ‘freedom’ for every aspect of your life. At that time, I thought it was funny, but when I think about it again. That is so inappropriate in all aspects.
However, in Korean drama “18 Again”, the character Hong Shi-A (played by Roh Jeung Eul) has different perspective toward the character of Ko Woo Young who happened to be the younger version of her father. Instead of thinking of liking him back, the story is perfectly adapted to be appropriate with Asian culture, whereas she thought all the gestures shown by Ko Woo Young remind her of the memories of her father.
#3 Different Point of View
From the Korean drama “18 Again” a remake of 2009 Zac Efron’s “17 Again”. We could see that the main problem of story is different.
In “17 Again” the problem is about how the father keeps complaining he cannot afford this and that because he only a high school graduate; so basically it’s all about the money.
However, in Korean drama version, the problem is because the father has no time for his family because he’s busy working. It’s still related with money but the approach is different.
Of course, both American and Korean series, drama and movies have their own ups and downs but those three reasons are just example of why I prefer Korean drama now.
If you think I’m too saint-like when choosing something to watch. Well, of course I’m not because I’m still so much enjoying kissing and romantic scene in Korean dramas and movies but at least I could minimize all the things that I thought disturbing.
Besides, my preference is changing now. When I used to love Zac Efron or Tobey Maguire, now without even think about it I prefer to watch Do Kyungsoo’s drama with marathon mode or wait patiently so I could watch Cha Eun Woo’s True Beauty.
