In recent years, Korean series, or K-dramas, have conquered the world – and thanks to streaming platforms such as Netflix, they are becoming increasingly popular in our country too. More and more people are captivated by these emotional stories full of twists and turns. If you’re a fan of K-drama, you might know the feeling of not being able to stop after an episode. But if you haven’t watched one yet, you might wonder what makes them so special that others can get stuck watching them for hours? In this article, I’ll explore why it’s so hard to stop watching K-dramas and how they can become a mirror of your own life.
From Brazil to Korea: the power of emotional stories
When I was a kid, Brazilian series were everywhere. They were also hard to tear the viewers away from. I remember that my mother and grandmother were also loyal viewers of these series, which kept viewers captivated with their short episodes and endless stories. Think of how many people have made their lives so that they can watch the next episode at the same time every weekday!
K-dramas have taken a different path. A K-drama episode is often at least an hour long, and most series are 16-20 episodes. The characters are well developed, the plot is twisty and the stories often touch on emotional themes that are easy to identify with. In addition, the musical world of K-dramas (the OSTs, or theme songs) is a distinct genre. Just think of Chanyeol and Punch’s Stay with Me, which became an instant hit, or BTS’ Sweet Night, which made the Itaewon Class series even more memorable. But it also became a big hit with Lovely Runner’s Sudden Shower. These emotional, romantic, catchy tunes not only add to the success of the series, but also have a huge fan base on their own.
Why is it so hard to stop?
The psychological power of stories
K-dramas have a strong emotional impact. The characters’ emotional journeys (love, loss, self-doubt and self-discovery) deal with issues that are easy to identify with as a viewer and also provide a sense of emotional satisfaction. The impact of K-dramas is often so strong that you can’t stop watching them, and you watch several episodes at once. The series is sucking you in, so to speak, because of the thrilling twists and turns and the “what happens now?” questions left at the end of episodes. And the new episodes are like a little gift that you look forward to and feel better for it. Your brain simply enjoys this emotional variety and wants more and more of it.
Romantic idealism and the “rich man” trope
This perhaps needs the least explanation. We humans simply long for the dream world where love triumphs over any differences and difficulties. We love idealized, fairy-tale love relationships. Of course we also long for a happy ending. Most viewers do not get the happy ending they want in real life, but this emotional satisfaction is available in these Korean dramas. Last but not least, these series also provide an escape. They help you escape from everyday difficulties and problems and transport you to a world where everything is beautifully ordered and emotions are clearly expressed. It is a real stress reliever in the face of everyday problems.
Emotional rollercoaster and addiction
They are great at mixing suspense, drama and romance in a series that is almost addictive. One moment you’re basking in happiness, then you’re experiencing a heartbreaking drama, then suddenly there’s an exciting twist. It’s hard to escape this constant emotional variety, it’s simply captivating. So the emotional intensity is unusually intense, and it’s hard to stop. You’re blown away by these experiences, and you want to relive this special feeling again and again. And you wait for the next part to get that emotional “dose”.
Social media and community impact
On Facebook you can find lots of K-drama or C-drama groups. Fans love the actors, post about new series that are just coming out, post their favourite episodes or suggest new series to watch. Some people are happy to see “how nice to see the change, how the male characters are suffering while the girls are happy, focused on their careers and thriving”, while others wonder “why is Lee Jongsuk so hot?”. There are many who share their passion in this way, finding a community for themselves, and this further strengthens their attachment to the genre. One of my friends, for example, joins Facebook groups like this because it gives her new ideas of shows she hasn’t seen yet but might be worth checking out.
Why is it so hard to stop?
For fun and relaxation or not, it can be useful to understand why we are drawn to these series and how we can relate this experience to our own lives. Let’s look at what this means in practice.
Recognising emotional resonance
Why do you feel moved by a character’s story? Perhaps it echoes some personal experience?
Why do you like the dynamics of a certain relationship? Could this reflect your own relationship needs or challenges? By understanding which emotions you are responding to, you can better identify which emotional desires in your own life you are seeking or want to better experience.
Identifying ulterior motives
K-dramas tend to present idealised worlds and relationships, the appeal of which lies in the fact that they offer things that may be missing from the viewer’s life. Such is the case with Romance. If the romantic scenes in k-drama are particularly affecting, it may indicate a desire for greater intimacy or attention in real life. However, if adventure and excitement are sympathetic to them, and exciting twists and turns keep you glued to the screen, you may want more challenge or adventure in your own life.
Exploring emotional needs
The attraction to k-drama often stems from the fact that certain emotional needs are satisfied. For example:
- The search for a happy ending: life is often uncertain and full of difficulties, but k-dramas provide a “happy place” where everything turns out well. It can be a refuge from everyday stress.
- Feelings of connection and belonging: if you are attracted to the emotional connection with the characters in k-dramas, it is worth examining whether you are satisfied with the emotional connection in your real-life relationships.
Inspiration for real life
Are you a K-drama fan? No problem, you can use it for self-improvement as well as entertainment. A story or character can even inspire you to do something. For example, it can inspire you to
- Fight for your goals and don’t give up.
- You try to pay more attention to yourself or others.
- Care more about your human relationships.
This doesn’t mean that you have to look in reality for exactly the same things as the series present, but about understanding what you feel is important right now.
You can also use K-dramas for self-reflection. For example, you might think about:
- What do you learn from these series? Through emotions, conflicts and stories, you can learn lessons about your own life.
- Why do these stories appeal to you? They may touch on topics that you dare not approach in reality, such as fears, desires or life goals.
- How could you make your life happier based on these? For example, if you like the harmony, strength of relationships or courage in the world of k-dramas, you can try to consciously incorporate these into your own daily life.
This doesn’t mean that you have to look in reality for exactly the same things as the series present, but about understanding what you feel is important right now.
You can also use K-dramas for self-reflection. For example, you might think about:
- What do you learn from these series? Through emotions, conflicts and stories, you can learn lessons about your own life.
- Why do these stories appeal to you? They may touch on topics that you dare not approach in reality, such as fears, desires or life goals.
- How could you make your life happier based on these? For example, if you like the harmony, strength of relationships or courage in the world of k-dramas, you can try to consciously incorporate these into your own daily life.
Do you enjoy watching k-dramas in your life? That’s fine, keep watching them, but it’s worth understanding why you need these emotional experiences. Recognising these can make your viewing more conscious and enriching, while also helping you to find balance in the rest of your life.
Haven’t watched a K-drama yet? Start with these!
- Lovers of the moon (2016) – Watch it here.
- What’s wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018) – Watch it here.
- Mafia lawyer (2021) – Watch here.
- The King’s Love (2021) – Watch it here.
- Business offer (2022) – Check it out here.
- The Enchanting Demon (2023) – Watch it here.
- King the Land (2023) – Watch it here.
- Captivating the King (2024) – Watch it here.
