[K-drama] Dramas that come to mind every winter

 That drama that comes to mind when I think of winter

*Source: Big Issue Korea Brunch. Article from January issue No. 219.

KBS <Winter Sonata>, 2002.01.14 ~ 2002.03.19.

Kang Jun-sang (played by Bae Yong-jun) and Jeong Yu-jin (played by Choi Ji-woo) were each other's first loves when they were attending high school in Chuncheon. However, Jun-sang dies in an unexpected accident. Ten years later, Eugene, who runs an interior design company, is a radio producer and is engaged to Kim Sang-hyuk (Park Yong-ha), Jun-sang's former rival. However, when Lee Min-hyung, who has the same appearance as Jun-sang, suddenly appears, Eugene falls into confusion.

A drama about what happens when a man who resembles her dead first love appears to a woman about to get married...

<Winter Sonata>: Creating the Korean Wave in Japan

It was <Winter Sonata> in 2003 that brought about an explosive response to Korean dramas in the Japanese market and led to a large-scale expansion of cultural exchange between Korea and Japan. Even after the declaration of Korea-Japan popular culture exchange in 1998, when cultural exchange was restricted, there was no significant change, and only a small number of Japanese cultural products were spread to Korea and formed a fan base. At this time, <Winter Sonata>, which was broadcast on NHK-BS2, received an explosive response and was rebroadcast in succession in 2003 and 2004, and was also rebroadcast in Korea accordingly. <Winter Sonata>'s terrestrial TV viewer ratings were 20.6% in the Kanto region and 23.8% in the Kansai region, which was a phenomenal viewership rating even when aired at 11 p.m. After <Winter Sonata>, Korean culture entered Japan on a large scale, and a demand base for Korean culture in general was created, centering on some singers.

SBS <My Love from the Star>, 2013.12.18 ~ 2014. 02.27.

A romance with an alien who crash-landed in the Joseon Dynasty. The crazy romance between Do Min-jun, who came to Earth 400 years ago, and Cheon Song-i, a famous top star and idiot. Cheon Song-i remembers the person who protected her in danger as a child and the strange and ambiguous situation, but one day, something happens that makes her feel like she sees the person she met back then. Who is he that he remains the same and has not changed?

Do Min-jun looks like a human, but he is an alien. He has been alive for a whopping 404 years and looks the same as when he first came to Earth. His abilities are also enormous. He is a smart and capable alien who has no knowledge thanks to his long life, and he works as Cheon Song-i's university professor.

Global ‘My Love from the Star’ phenomenon

*Source_Overseas Culture and Information Service

In March 2014, at the Two Congresses, China's largest political event, Wang Qishan, Secretary of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission of China, met with the Beijing delegation and mentioned a Korean drama that has recently taken over China.

Wang Seo-gi diagnosed the reason why Korean dramas are taking over the Chinese market and influencing the United States and Europe across the sea because “the core and soul of Korean dramas is the sublimation of traditional culture.”

Due to the ‘My Love from the Star’ craze, interest in the main characters’ fashion as well as overall Korean culture, including food and literature, is increasing in China. As the female protagonist, Cheon Song-i, played by Jeon Ji-hyun, ate 'Chicken and Beer' (short for chicken and beer), 'Chicken and Beer' menus appeared in Chinese restaurants and the number of people looking for 'Chicken and Beer' increased. In addition, thanks to the male protagonist Do Min-jun, who boiled and ate ramen on a remote island beach, the number of Chinese people looking for ramen has increased, and since Do Min-jun in the play says that he likes the classic novel ‘Guunmong’ written by Kim Man-jung during the Joseon Dynasty, Chinese translations of it are selling like hot cakes in bookstores.

A drama critic said, “It is natural that high-star actors appear in romantic genres that are easy for viewers and attract box office success, but the fact that Chinese politicians and leading American daily newspapers paid attention is a strange phenomenon in itself.” He added, “China is continuing to develop economically. “It is a signal that we will accelerate the growth of popular culture, a high value-added industry,” he explained.

In addition to these two dramas, there are many dramas with beautiful winter backgrounds, as their titles contain winter.

• That winter was warm, [That Winter, the Wind Blows] 2013
• I miss you when the first snow falls, [Goblin] 2016
• Park Hyo-shin ‘Snow Flower’ OST, [I’m Sorry, I Love You] 2004

etc.