The Account of my K-addict journey

Here, a long, completely indulgent account of how a person dwindles into k-drama addiction. You have been warned.

When exactly did I go completely nuts? A first wash of Hallyu wave came unannounced and swept me away. The wave was called Stairway to Heaven. It came at the right time in 2005 (when I was so badly stressed with exams) and I would watch without fail, eyes fixated on tv, cried “Unfair!” at Choi Ji-woo’s endless sufferings, swallowed whatever angsty shenanigan bait they throwed at me with passion. It was sweet. Stairway wasn’t my first Korean drama – it was a Chinese dubbed copy of All About Eve from years earlier – around 2002-2003 me thinks). About the same time I went gaga for a Taiwanese drama called The Prince Who Turned Into A Frog, which is populated with cliches as dense as Ming Dao’s eyebrows. He’s a rich mean bastard, she’s poor and plucky! He forgets and becomes nice! He remembers he’s mean and forgets about her! Back then I didn’t know those are standard formula, I just gushed “This is tragic! Riveting! Asian dramas are cool!”

However, it wasn’t until three and a half years ago, when I started to have more free time and acquired reliable broadband internet connection, that I decided to reap more of this newfound hobby. Light entertainment, ogling hot guys, are what I was after. Nothing more! So, those hit romcom trendies can do me no wrong! I remember a friend raving about Full House and started to tune into a popular streaming site (that was once awesomely crunchy but now criminally, utterly useless). The first few episodes were amazing – funny, cute, addictive. Since that time my parents were visiting, they were super worried that their daughter would dwindle in addiction instead of studying for exams. They were right actually, I was so happy on nights of relegating myself to the sofa bed, watching until 4am in the morning, laptop and self  burrowed under the blanket so no one knew I was actually awake watching drama.

K-cliches

Time and time again a friend will ask me, why do you like all there Korean dramas? They’re all the same thing. Seeing one is enough. I then sigh, it’s true, you can’t separate cliches from k-drama – taking them away will just strip them off their identity. Think cars. Why do they all have the same basic shape, why don’t we have globular cars? And seeing one drama is definitely NOT enough. Especially if you choose and pick carefully, taste a few craps (me thinks that is necessary), and enjoy some rare gems, you will be richly rewarded. Besides, there’s something fun about taking a tried and tested formula, twisting it into something creative and fresh. The use of old tired recycled cliches then becomes a true measure whether a drama is worth watching or not. So I decided to make this list, to lovingly remind me of those damn cliches, it’s not even limited to Korean dramas. In alphabetical order.

Stairway to Heaven

Amnesia. The type where he / she completely change into a different person, usually an old meanie turning into a nice softie. A popular pattern is the 1-2-1, or mean-nice-mean, or the forget-remember-forget. Insert true love in the nice stage, and lots of wailing after. Totally got me the first time in The Prince Who Turns Into a Frog (a Taiwanese drama). A second amnesia project is where rich heroine loses her memory, her privileged identity, the kid who liked her since age 4 (hello Stairway to Heaven!). Fear not, she’s turning into our optimistic plucky heroine. She will get the identity and the kid (now a dashing man) back from the clutches of second evil girl (or, will she die of cancer?).

The Airport chase. The second one realise their feelings towards one’s true love, usually when there’s not much time left and this is the final episode, dammit! He will dash to the airport, or the train station, or bus station, or wherever, to stop her from leaving. Sometimes he’s too late but she ends up not leaving anyway. Sometimes he stops the her from leaving and all ends well with an epic kiss. Sometime they still kiss but she still leaves town (then… dum dum dum… a few years later…..) Some other time, he chases her to the next train station (hehe).

Birth Secrets. They’re filthy. They’re stinky. Don’t be fooled by fish-lip kisses, you’ll be surprised by how these people (or their parents, actually) do without you seeing. It’s what creates the angst of faux incest… of falling in love with your blood brother! Half brother! Step brother!  I’m wondering though, is there a k-drama that actually goes that far to create a real incest

Chaebol. Is Korea a country of chaebols? Is it like Monaco?